Enough that a fresh one is always available — four to eight, so a tired pad never gets used because the clean one is in the wash.
A saturated or matted pad stops absorbing and leaves streaks, and it is the most common reason a steam mop is judged to have failed.
Pattern sets make quantity affordable. Check the edges lie flat on the plate: an oversized pad folds under and leaves a dry line along skirtings.
Change pads partway through a large floor rather than at the end, and wash them without softener.
Last reviewed 2026-08-15