If you’re anything like me—a person for whom mopping was once a rare and onerous occurrence—a good mop vac can transform you into a regular and enthusiastic mopper. This is especially true for parents and pet owners.

In addition to weekly cleaning sessions, I bust out my mop vac when my kids make a mess under the dinner table, when my dog tracks mud into the house, and when my husband gets a little overzealous in the kitchen (the best vacuum mops can tackle grease and grime). My mop vac is also great for doing a quick panic clean when I’m expecting guests.

While some mop vacs can technically be used on area rugs, none of the models I tested impressed me with their rug-cleaning abilities. Most mop vacs are meant for cleaning hard surfaces and they’re safe and effective on sealed hardwood, vinyl, laminate, and tile floors.

Because a floor washer effectively and efficiently mops a floor while also sucking up dirt and debris, it cuts cleaning time in half. At least. So if you have a substantial amount of flooring not covered by carpet, and you would like to spend less time cleaning those floors, a mop vac is for you.