With those cleaners, you’re more likely to run out of steam than the cleaner is and you can keep on going until, say, the downstairs floors are clean or the bathroom is free of any hint of dirt or grime. However, some models now include a separate feeder tank that you can refill while the cleaner is in use, or even an inlet you can keep tipping water into while the machine is up and running. On some models, you can only refill the tank once the steam has been turned off and the cleaner cooled, which means you can only clean for as long as there’s water in the tank, restricting each stint to ten or 15 minutes.īest hard floor cleaner 2021: Give your floor the treatment it deserves with these fantastic hard floor cleaners Obviously, the size of the tank makes a big difference. Steam cleaners differ when it comes to capacity, convenience and cleaning power. These are great for cleaning up the kitchen and bathroom, but with small tanks and less powerful boilers they’re not really designed for tackling larger areas. They’re now almost as versatile as the classic steam cleaner, but they’re easy to use and very compact.įinally, you can buy smaller handheld steam cleaners. As the name suggests, these are really designed to work as a super-powered mop, but a growing number can also double as a regular steam cleaner, either by having a smaller, removable boiler unit or by allowing you to attach additional heads instead of the mop head. These integrate the boiler and the head into one upright cleaning machine. However, steam cleaners usually come with a selection of attachments, including brushes for intensive cleaning of smaller areas and scrapers or wipers for, say, cleaning worktops or glass. The main head is usually a mop head, with some kind of pad or microfibre cloth attached so that the steam separates the grime from the surface and the pad or cloth wipes it away. First, you have the classic steam cleaner, comprising the steamer unit – where the water is housed and boiled – which connects through a pipe to the head where the steam is dispensed. Steam cleaners come in three basic formats.
How to choose the best steam cleaner for you What sort of steam cleaner should I buy? The most powerful steam cleaner: Karcher SC4 EasyFix.The best steam cleaner for stamina: Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B.The best value steam cleaner: Kärcher SC3 EasyFix.The super-versatile steam mop: Russell Hobbs Poseidon.The best 2-in-1 steam mop: Hoover Steam Capsule 2-in-1.The best “no frills” steam mop: Shark S6003UK Klik n' Flip Automatic Steam Mop.The best budget steam mop: Vileda Steam Mop.The most versatile handheld cleaner: Hoover SteamJet Handy SGE1000.The best handheld steam cleaner: Bissell Steam Shot.
Best steam cleaners and steam mops: At a glance