Best Steam Cleaner 2020 – Buyer’s Guide

GOOD FOR: Handheld tasks, hard floors, fabrics

Black and Decker are incredibly well respected when it comes to cleaning and power tools, and this steam mop is no different.

The 1300W of power and 0.5L tank will give you around 20 minutes of use before it needs refilling, which should comfortably clean one room’s flooring. The tank is fully removable, making it easy to take to the tap with no struggles.

Autoselect™ Technology will automatically adapt the amount of steam required for each floor surface, and you get a special fabric cover head which is perfect for windows and glass. There is also a squeegee included to get them dry, and Black and Decker also say you can steam fabrics such as clothing or curtains for a freshen up. This makes it an ideal multi-surface item.

The tank detaches from the main body of the cleaner so it is a bit more adaptable and able to reach higher surfaces or steam your hob and shower area with the included brush fittings. Anti-calc technology should help if you want to use tap water, but we would still say it is a good idea to use it post-filtered.

GOOD FOR: Handheld tasks, hard floors

Bissell have a whole host of fabulous steam mops to choose from, but we have selected this one as their best. It is a similar shape to a cordless vacuum, so there is no bulkiness or struggling to move it around the floor.

You can take the top section off to transform it into a handheld model, perfect for around the shower and grouting. Or keep it all together for the hard floors in your home. It comes with soft, hard and scent pads, and a three piece brush set for when you want to use the handheld on the hob/tiles/benches. One tank of water will see it clean for 15 minutes, giving you plenty of scope to get the job done thoroughly.

When you’re done, it can be stored on the wall mount. This means it is not only always within reach, but it won’t take up room under the stairs nor get damaged.

GOOD FOR: Carpets, hard floors, handheld tasks

An update of the 9-in-1 720020 model which made our list, the 720022 ups the game and gives you a huge 12 functions within one little device.

There are both upright and handheld modes depending on the task at hand. Upright gives you the option to choose between hard floor or carpet glider functions to give it a freshen up, and handheld will allow you to tackle the kitchen benches, shower tiles, grimy oven and BBQ or even give your garments or curtains a little hygiene boost.

The 400ml water tank isn’t huge but should allow you to tackle those more minor jobs with plenty left over, and it also makes it nice and easy to slot under the tap for a refill, although it is always recommended you use filtered water.

It is compact, ready in quick time and the head is a great size which will cover more as it goes, saving you time to do something which is a bit more enjoyable. Having said that, it is certainly one of the most enjoyable steam mops to use, and if you’re still on the mop and bucket method, then the price and change will be huge.

GOOD FOR: All types of hard and sealed floors including hardwood, marble, tile and stone

Able to tackle the most stubborn mess and stains, this steam cleaner from Shark is incredibly efficient at its job.

The Klik n’ Flip name comes from the ease of turning over the Dirt Grip cleaning pad. Designed to be touch-free, all you need to do is flip it over to get even more out of it in one go. Once you are done, the pad can be removed and washed in the washing machine which helps you cut down on waste and the cost of buying a new one with each clean.

For any hard to remove stains, just give it a quick blast with the concentrated, superheated steam nozzle. The head can be flipped back into place to wipe afterwards. There are three steam settings for use across all types of hard floor, whether it be wood or tile.
Up to 99.9% of all bacteria is removed, which is fabulous for any allergy sufferers or homes with little ones around.

GOOD FOR: Sealed hard floors

The benefits of thorough cleaning with no chemicals required. 99.9% of bacteria can be removed from hard flooring with this fab cleaner.

A height adjustable handle and swivel head makes it easier to manoeuvre. Plus, you can adjust to make it all a comfortable experience and reach right into the corners and edge of your home. If there’s any particularly ground-in stains, the steam blaster mode can remove them with no extra effort from you.

The heat pads which are included are really effective in picking up all the dirt and locking it in, so you won’t just be spreading it about your floor. They are machine washable, so there are no extra costs involved when concerning replacement pads and detergents.

To release the steam, you must pump the handle which can prove difficult until you get used to it. This could have be made easier if there was a button to press instead.

GOOD FOR: Sealed hard floor types such as tiles, vinyl, wood and laminate

With a dedicated carpet glider for refreshing your living areas, this Vileda model is perfect for all of the floor steaming requirements around your home.

It can heat up in only 15 seconds, ready to kill 99.9% of bacteria with no need for chemicals and detergents. Easy to lift and manoeuvre, it can be taken all around the home, with no need to worry about stairs or obstacles.

It is suitable for use on hard sealed floors, as well as on both laminate and wood flooring, so you don’t have to worry about the surface of your room. The variable steam strength options will tackle a range of stains, no matter how tough.

If you are looking to make the switch to a steam mop from an ordinary mop and bucket, this is an affordable option with great cleaning power for the price. You won’t regret the change.

GOOD FOR: Laminate, refreshing carpet

Effective and affordable, this Russell Hobbs offering is incredibly efficient at coping with those quick scoots over the flooring to remove any spills or disinfect the area. There is an 8-metre power cord, which is a lot more generous than a lot of the others on the market and great if you have large areas to cover. It is lightweight, and the 360-degree swivel head will help you tackle all of those corners and edges.

Great for pet owners and households with any young children, the steam will kill up to 99.9% of bacteria. It will soon become one of your most-used appliances in the bathroom, kitchen and entrance hallway.

It is a simple set-up, and even though there is no boost button, for a constant supply of steam which won’t soak your floor it is a steal.

GOOD FOR: Sealed hard wood, Laminate, Ceramic tiles, Slate, Marble, Granite, Vinyl, Carpet

Versatile, with the ability to clean hard floors, carpets, windows, glass and your oven or cooker, this H2O steam cleaner is ideal for those hectic homes.

It converts from upright to handheld with the flip of a switch so that you can cover the house with no hassle. It heats up in just seconds, and the 360° head makes manoeuvering it all a bit easier. When combined with the easy digital steam control, so your needs are catered for.

When storing, the foldable handle makes it more compact. It is also lightweight, so easy to carry and move from room to room in ready for the big Spring clean. A long 6m power cable will help you cover the full room without any limitations or extension cable needs.

Bacteria and viruses are eliminated with the powerful 1500W steam jet power, creating a cleaner and more hygienic atmosphere. This is all without the need for detergents and chemicals, which not only helps your home but also your bank balance.

The hard floor types are marble, ceramic, carpet, stone, linoleum, sealed hardwood and parquet floors, which should cover you. Using filtered water is best to reduce limescale, although it is suitable to use tap water. You can see how much is remaining in the tank which is handy so you aren’t disturbed and have to stop halfway through.

GOOD FOR: Hard floors, carpets, handheld

If you’re looking for a steam mop for under £100, then you have come to the right place. Falling just under this price tag is this Vax model, which is perfect for a full home clean.

It uses detergent as well as steam to help break down tough grease and grime, so it is one of the best steam cleaners for tougher cleaning. Variable steam and power modes are all within reach so you can cater it to your exact needs, and a steam boost will help budge the harder areas.

There is a quick transition to handheld ability, for when you need to clean the oven or round the bathtub. The soft scrub brush is great for agitating dried on grease and grime, and there is also a precision tool for more targeted results.

A carpet glider attachment helps tackle soft flat furnishings, giving these a freshen up too. It glides easily on hard surfaces, as well.

GOOD FOR: Hard floors, handheld

The Kärcher SC1 is a 2-in-1 steam cleaner that is versatile and can kill up to 99.9% of all common household bacteria. It isn’t only lightweight but also great value for money, whether being used as a simple steam mop or a smaller handheld steam device.

A handy feature of this steam cleaner is that the water tank is pretty small, so it is easy to fill it up under the sink. The other side to this is that the tank needs to be filled up often, which can be a drawback. It can also take a little while to heat up, taking around 3 minutes.

There is 3 bar pressure though, so it will tackle some of the toughest dirt in your home. It includes a floor tool, hand tool, floor cloth, hand cloth, detail nozzle, round brush, power nozzle and accessory storage bag with the purchase, so you’re ready to get started straight away. It may seem a bit pricier than some alternatives, but for the flexibility and name, we’d say it is the price to pay.

GOOD FOR: Hard floors, carpets, handheld

The Vax Steam Fresh Combi is a great 2-in-1 steam mop that is lightweight and manoeuvrable. The Vax works with detergent so can cut through tough grime and grease easily, especially on carpets.

The Vax Steam Fresh Combi comes with lots of handy attachments to help clear stubborn stains and is very effective when used as a handheld. It has two separate tanks, one for detergent and the other for water. These are very easy to remove and refill, giving you more time to focus on cleaning.

This steam mop is multifunctional and can be used on so much more than just carpets. It’s suitable for sealed hardwood flooring, tiles, grout, showers, windows and lots more.

Don’t let the compact yet slightly-different-than-the-others look fool you; this is one of the most capable steam mops on the market, as you would expect of Karcher.

All you need is water, which is perfect if you want to avoid harsh chemicals. The jets are powerful, and removed grime which has been there for years when we tested it. Your floors and tiles can get to a stage where they look perfectly clean, despite not being, after a few years. A couple of uses of the SC4, and they will be back to new again.

The hard floor cleaning kit and on-board storage (to hold all the attachments and brushes you need) are the finishing touches to this fantastic steam cleaner. Accessories included are a hand nozzle, detail nozzle and round brush and a microfibre cover for the hand nozzle. This will all help you clean around doors, appliances and bathroom pieces.

The Polti Vaporetto Handy 25 Cleaner has a host of 5* reviews, and for several reasons. It is affordable for a cylinder steam cleaner, coming in nicely under £100. It also comes with a host of accessories and the British Allergy Foundation seal of approval.

Coming with an anti-slacked safety cap and convenient carry handle, there is also a shoulder belt which allows easy transport during cleaning operations. So despite cylinder steam cleaners traditionally being a bit bulky and requiring dragging around, this one is a little different and perfect for anyone who will be tackling the entire house in one go.

Accessories are conveniently stored in an onboard compartment, and you get a floor brush, extension hose, lance, window-washer, curved nozzle, spatula, nylon brush, brass brush, grout cleaner and cloth, as well as a filling jug. Polti certainly hasn’t sold us short.

Optional accessories include a Professional Steam Generator Iron, Wallpaper Stripper, Pressure Lance and Steam Disinfector accessory for sanitising surfaces and fabrics and reducing the bacterial, fungal and viral load.

As you’d imagine, it is lightweight. This also makes it brilliant for getting those hard to reach places, such as on top of cupboards or ceilings if they need more than just a dust. It isn’t the most robust because of this though – it is largely plastic, and there are little niggles such as the handle not being the most ergonomic and the clips which hold the pads on to the mop not being very secure. But in all, the versatility and ease of movement make it a gem to use. It is certainly notably better than the Go Steam, which was their previous model.

Compact and portable, the Hoover SSNH1000 is fab for anyone who wants something which can tackle tough grime in a concentrated manner.

It uses just water to get the job done, whether it be getting rid of grease on the hob and oven, mould from the bathroom taps and shower, or cleaning the grout on your tiling.

Tools include a shovel plate, angled nozzle, metal round brush and comb brush, so you have an attachment for every need and occasion. An extension hose also means it can reach higher areas, such as your cooker hood or on top of kitchen cupboards without you having to risk ladder work.

It takes quite a while to cool down, and as it has a relatively small water tank, this could mean a long wait to get it refilled and ready to go again (you have to wait until it is cool and pressure is reduced until you can open the cap). For this reason, it isn’t good for anyone who takes on large volumes of jobs. It also wasn’t the most effective at budging tougher dirt. But for something under £40, which will help you with regular steam cleaning, it is easy to use, and the attachments are effective.

This little handheld steam cleaner has everything you could possibly want from an item of its type. It is perfectly mobile as it is lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, and there are plenty of accessories to help you tackle your whole home.

Despite the small size, it has a relatively generous 350ml water container, so you’ll be able to get a lot of work done before needing to pause and refill. You should get between 10 and 20 minutes of use with each go.

The 12 piece accessory kit is both easy to use and gives you a great range of applications. From a window cleaner to a concentrated nozzle, and a garment/upholstery tool to small nylon brush when something needs more scrubbing power, you can get your windows and oven sparking or your sofa refreshed.

The button for the steam does require a little bit of pressure, but other than this, it is an ideal solution for anyone who needs a bit of help with the cleaning work, such as those who suffer from dexterity issues or who don’t want to be scrubbing away for ages.

With a nice selection of attachments to help you clean garments, the bathroom and even the car, the Beldray 10-in-1 is one of the most popular steam cleaners on the market.

The power cord is 4 metres long, which is generous and saves you having to unplug and move around too much. You get a measuring jug, funnel, flexible extension hose, three plastic round brushes, mini mop head and an angled nozzle with the purchase, which means your entire home can be tackled. We especially liked the mini mop head, which is great for cleaning the benches in your kitchen or targeting small sections of your hard flooring.

It gives you 10 minutes of continuous steam, which isn’t the longest time of all of those reviewed so is maybe best for anyone who just needs a short blast from time to time (say you clean the bathroom a few times per week so it is all kept on top of). You also need a bit of elbow grease to lift harder dirt.

But it is under £30, and one of the most versatile hand steamers on the market without you having to buy every attachment separately. Plus it is available in blue and orange, for an added touch.

By far one of the most popular handheld steam cleaners out there at the moment, if not of all time.

The Bissell Steam Shots are compact handheld steamers, perfect for using around the home. This newest model comes with 9 attachments enabling you to clean anything, anywhere, including a window squeegee. It’s easy to use and lightweight, but it can be tricky to use for any extended amount of time thanks to the position of the trigger, which can hurt your thumb after a while.

With a steam time of around eight minutes, the Bissell Steam Shot is powerful and definitely worthwhile. It’s lightweight and easy to use, making it one of the best handheld steam devices around.

You love using your steam mop, but it just pushes around a lot of the crumbs which your vacuum neglected, and then leaves the floor so wet that you can’t walk on it for ages.

This 3-in-1 solves all of your cleaning conundrums. It will wash, vacuum and dry all of your hard floors, from sealed wood to tiles and laminate. As a bonus, you can also scoot it over your low-pile carpets or rugs, too – just press the appropriate button.
There is a little storage tray which you can keep the machine in, which also acts as a cleaning device. Simply fill with water and turn the machine on and the water will be absorbed with the spinning brush. You can also store and spare heads in the dedicated holder.

A separate dirty water tank will ensure that you only clean with fresh water and detergent. Whether you have a pack of hounds or a particular messy family, this device can clean throughout your home and remove dirt you didn’t even know was there.

Sometimes, getting a hard floor clean means sweeping or vacuuming it all before getting out the mop and bucket, or steam cleaner if you are lucky. This Kärcher model vacuums and steams in one, using SmartRoller technology. No need for exerting yourself any more than the minimum required.

It will also remove any excess water, ensuring your floors are dry after just a few minutes so everything can get back to normal. It seems to push itself along without much need for pushing it, so if you have a large area to cover it shouldn’t be problematic.

The only problem with there being a ‘vacuum’ aspect too is that it can get a bit clogged up, just like an ordinary vacuum. An ordinary steam mop would just push this to be collected at another date. As long as you clean the space thoroughly before you use it, this should not cause any huge problems.