Leifheit Wischtuchpresse Review: The Genius Mop System Making Old-School Buckets Obsolete

Leifheit Wischtuchpresse (Leifheit Profi XL floor wiper press set with rollers) promises to end soaked hands, aching backs, and streaky floors in one clever system. We dig into whether this German-engineered cleaning kit really turns dreaded mopping into a fast, almost satisfying ritual.

You bend over the old bucket, twist the heavy mop with both hands, and somehow still end up with dirty water splashing on your feet. Your back hurts, your floors are streaky, and the whole thing feels like a chore from another century. Sound familiar?

For most of us, mopping is the ultimate domestic energy drain: cumbersome gear, wet hands, and a floor that never quite looks as clean as it should.

This is exactly the headache the Leifheit Wischtuchpresse set – officially the Leifheit Profi XL floor wiper press with rollers – is designed to solve. Instead of a flimsy mop and a basic bucket, you get a German-engineered press system that lets you wring out the mop without bending, without touching dirty water, and with a lot more control over how wet your floors get.

Meet the Leifheit Wischtuchpresse: A No-Touch Mop System That Actually Feels Modern

The Leifheit Wischtuchpresse set combines three key pieces in one kit:

• A sturdy rectangular bucket with an integrated press (the "Wischtuchpresse" / wiper cloth press)
• An XL Profi floor wiper (flat mop) with a wide 42 cm / ~16.5 inch head
• A 3-piece handle/pole and smooth-rolling transport wheels on the bucket

The idea is simple: you mop the floor with the flat wiper, then place the mop head into the press on top of the bucket, push down with the foot pedal and handle, and the mechanism squeezes out the dirty water. No hand-twisting, no drips everywhere, and far less bending.

Leifheit – the German household brand behind this kit (Leifheit AG, ISIN: DE0006464506) – is well known in Europe for clothes drying racks, ironing boards, and cleaning gear built to survive years of use. This system is their flagship for anyone who wants professional-style mopping at home without the industrial look.

Why This Specific Model?

There are plenty of spin mops and cheap bucket sets out there, so why are so many people in forums and reviews specifically calling out the Leifheit Wischtuchpresse as a game-changer?

After checking Leifheit's official product page and reading through user feedback on retailers and cleaning forums, a few clear themes emerge.

• Hands stay dry, always. The pressing mechanism is entirely mechanical. You slide the mop into the press and use the handle & pedal action to squeeze out water. For users with sensitive skin, allergies to cleaning agents, or just a low tolerance for gross mop water, this is a huge plus.
• Less bending = happier back. The Profi XL wiper has a telescopic or long handle (depending on regional version), designed for upright use. Insert, press, mop – without crouching over the bucket every time. On Reddit and German cleaning forums, users with back issues often highlight this as the standout benefit.
• XL head, faster cleaning. The rectangular 42 cm / ~16.5 inch mop plate covers more ground in a single swipe than most round spin mops. That matters when you have a lot of tile, laminate, or vinyl to get through.
• Flexible, low-profile head. The Profi XL mop has a full 360° joint that lets you slide under low furniture and around table legs. In practice, that means fewer "I'll get that corner later" areas that never actually get done.
• Machine-washable wiper pad. The microfiber pad is removable and designed to be machine washed (typically up to 60°C, always check the label). Instead of a mop that gets progressively nastier, you actually start each big clean with a fresh pad.
• Bucket on wheels. This specific set includes rollers on the bucket, so you can pull it along instead of lifting it full of water. In reviews, this is described less as a nice-to-have and more as "why doesn't every bucket do this?"

Translated into daily life: you spend less time, less effort, and end up with a cleaner, more evenly dried floor. For busy households, pet owners, and anyone with mostly hard floors, those gains add up quickly.

At a Glance: The Facts

Feature	User Benefit
Integrated wiper cloth press (Wischtuchpresse) in bucket	No need to wring by hand; hands stay clean and dry, less contact with chemicals and dirty water.
XL Profi floor wiper with approx. 42 cm / 16.5 in mop width	Covers a larger area per pass, cutting cleaning time significantly on larger rooms and open-plan spaces.
360° swiveling joint and flat, low-profile mop plate	Easily cleans under furniture and around table legs without kneeling, making edge and corner cleaning less of a chore.
Machine-washable microfiber wiper cover	Pad can be reused many times, stays hygienic, and offers strong dirt pickup on tiles, stone, and vinyl floors.
Bucket with integrated rollers/wheels	Bucket can be rolled instead of carried, reducing strain on arms and back when moving between rooms.
Foot-activated press and ergonomic handle design	Less bending and twisting; more comfortable for older users or those with back and joint issues.
Compatible with replacement Profi XL covers (various versions)	Can adapt to different floor types or cleaning needs by swapping pads, extending the life and versatility of the system.

What Users Are Saying

There's no single English Reddit thread dedicated to the "Leifheit Wischtuchpresse" name, but user sentiment around the Leifheit Profi XL press system and bucket across retailers and cleaning forums is remarkably consistent.

The big pros that come up repeatedly:

• Build quality feels solid. Many buyers mention that the bucket and press feel sturdier than cheaper knock-offs, and that the mechanism still works smoothly after months or years of use.
• Floors dry faster. Because you can properly control how much water is pressed out, users report less streaking and quicker drying – especially important for laminate or engineered wood.
• Back and knee relief. Reviews from older users and those with back problems are particularly positive: being able to stay upright while mopping is a tangible quality-of-life upgrade.
• Genuinely speeds up weekly cleaning. People with large tiled kitchens or hallways often comment that they now mop more often because the hassle factor is lower.

But it's not perfect. The most common complaints:

• Bucket footprint and storage. The bucket is a bit larger and taller than a basic one, especially with the press top attached. If you're living in a very small apartment with minimal storage, you'll need to plan where it lives.
• Price vs. cheap sets. Compared to generic spin-mop bundles, a Leifheit set often costs more up front. Fans argue that longevity and convenience justify the price, but budget-focused shoppers do notice the difference.
• Best for flat, hard floors. This is a flat-mop system, so it's optimized for tile, vinyl, stone, and sealed wood. If you have lots of uneven surfaces or prefer a traditional string mop feel, this may not be your favorite.

Overall, the sentiment skews clearly positive: people who buy into the idea of a professional-style flat mop with a no-touch press tend to stick with it and recommend it to friends.

Alternatives vs. Leifheit Wischtuchpresse

The cleaning market is crowded, so how does this system compare to the usual suspects?

• Spin mop systems (round mop heads + spinning bucket)
  These are wildly popular on Amazon and big-box shelves. They're often cheaper and feel intuitive if you're used to string mops. But they typically:
• Use round heads that are slower on large, open floors
• Don't get as easily into corners and along baseboards
• Sometimes feel flimsier over time (especially the spinning mechanism)

The Leifheit Wischtuchpresse wins on coverage speed, corner reach, and build quality, while spin mops win on initial price and availability.

• Simple flat mops with no press bucket
  These are minimal and cheap, but you're back to either wringing by hand or living with a too-wet mop. If you're mopping often or dealing with pets and kids, the lack of an effective wringing system becomes annoying fast. The Leifheit set adds structure and ergonomics that make frequent cleaning realistic.
• Spray mops / disposable-pad systems
  Great for quick touch-ups, not so great for deeper cleaning. You're also tied into buying new pads constantly. The Wischtuchpresse system is better suited for weekly or post-party deep cleans where you're lifting real dirt, not just dust.

If your home is mostly hard flooring and you clean more than once a month, the Leifheit Wischtuchpresse hits a useful sweet spot: more powerful and ergonomic than basic flat mops, more durable and precise than most budget spin sets, without tipping into industrial janitor-cart territory.

Final Verdict

The Leifheit Wischtuchpresse isn't a flashy gadget; it's a quietly clever upgrade to one of the most annoying household chores.

By combining a wide, flexible flat mop with a robust press bucket on wheels, it solves three problems at once: soaked hands, aching backs, and floors that never quite feel properly clean. You stay upright, you stay dry, and your floors dry faster, too.

Is it the cheapest option? No. But if you're tired of disposable pads, flimsy buckets, or spin mops that feel like toys, this German-engineered system earns its keep over time. Especially in homes with lots of tile, vinyl, or stone, it turns mopping from "Ugh, not again" into something closer to a quick reset ritual.

If you've been putting off upgrading your cleaning gear, the Leifheit Wischtuchpresse might be the rare household purchase that makes your space cleaner and your life a little easier, every single week.