Are steam mops safe to use on hardwood floors?

This is the single most contested question across the reviewers we read. Specialist-community threads repeatedly warn that hot steam on porous or improperly sealed wood can strip finish and cause warping over time, while several manufacturers market their mops as hardwood-safe for sealed floors. The practical consensus: only use steam on fully sealed hardwood, keep passes brief, and test an inconspicuous area first. If your floors are unsealed or aging, reviewers lean toward skipping steam entirely.