Key specs – Type: Handheld steam cleaner; Water tank capacity: 0.36l; Power: 1,050W; Max steam pressure: 4.5 bar; Accessories provided: Jug, extension hose, 3 x detail brushes, concentrated steaming tool, window squeegee, flat scraper, microfibre cleaning cloths; Cord length: 4.8m; Dimensions: 21.6 x 24 x 13cm; Weight: 1.5kg; Warranty: 2 years Second, you have steam mops. These integrate the boiler and the head into one upright cleaning machine. 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. They’re now almost as versatile as the classic steam cleaner, but they’re easy to use and very compact. Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers. The Grobell Swift Vapore includes all of the instructions you need to properly steam clean your car, and it’s straightforward to operate. A storage bag is also included to keep your steam cleaner’s attachments organized.

Overall, we found the SteamShot simple to use, and we like the large variety of brush heads for many purposes. However, the small water tank capacity means you may need to fill it more often. What Customers Are Saying Carmel absolutely loved using the Polti, even if it is a bit on the pricey side. The controls are excellent, the design is practical and it feels weightless in the hand, so much so that you can lift it to clean windows, curtains and more. Use on a tiled wall was particularly easy too, so if you hate cleaning your bathroom, this is a great cleaner to consider. It builds up a good head of steam in around 15 seconds, with enough welly to sort out areas of stubborn grime, though it can leave floors and surfaces pretty wet. And if you need to shift attention to sinks, shower screens and worktops, you can just pull out the handheld cleaner, attach the appropriate nozzle and get to work. It comes with three brush nozzles to cover different surfaces and dried-on grease and gunk, along with a squeegee to handle your windows, mirrors and more. With a 350ml water tank, you’re good for around 20 minutes of solid steaming, which is more than some hybrids can manage. We’ve yet to meet a 2-in-1 that can match the cylinder models when it comes to serious cleaning, but the Steam Capsule 2-in-1 comes very close. When comparing different steamers, you'll want to look at their heat and steam times. The former indicates how long the unit takes to heat up and be ready for use, while the latter indicates how long the steamer runs when the tank is full. The longer the steam time, and the larger the water tank capacity, the more garments you can often de-wrinkle in one steaming session, without having to run to the sink to refill the tank.If you only want to steam clean floors, consider a simple machine that doesn’t convert to a handheld. It will be light, easy to manoeuvre and you won’t have to store fiddly tools that you’ve no intention of using. The best steam cleaners and steam mops you can buy in 2023 1. Bissell Steam Shot: Best handheld steam cleaner Steam: Use a steam cleaner along with a cleaning solution that’s suitable for your car’s interior and upholstery.

Lightweight and portable steam cleaners are most convenient for detailing your car. We also considered cord length and hose length when assessing portability. It’s important that a steam cleaner can reach every part of your vehicle. Key specs – Type: Steam mop; Water tank capacity: 380ml; Power: 1,200W; Max steam pressure: Not supplied; Accessories provided: 2 x microfibre pads; Cord length: 8m; Dimensions: 10 x 11 x 119cm; Weight: 2.7kg; Warranty: 2 years

Select your smoke brush and set the opacity around 70-80%. Move the angle of the brush to get the right direction of the steam that you want. The power of the boiler also has an impact, simply because it can take time to boil and pressurise the steam. Newer cleaners have got much better at reducing that wait time, but it can still be several minutes before you get a usable head of steam. What’s more, many steamers need a breather now and then while they get steam together before they can continue. Certain cleaners are better at minimising this than others. The majority of steam cleaners come equipped with attachable accessories suited to an array of household chores. Standard steam mops that don’t have a detachable handheld unit usually only come with additional cleaning pads. Each steamer is used at full power on the fabrics, completing an up and down motion across the creases. This is repeated five times.

How long a steam cleaner takes to heat up before it starts pumping out steam is largely determined by the size of the tank. This may be as little as 20 seconds for a steam mop and two minutes for a cylinder, but exact timings can vary greatly between models. Protective pad: If you are worried about steam causing damage to your doors or wall, then you want to look out for a protective steam pad. These allow you to steam with confidence, adding a protective layer between your garment and the surface, sort of like an ironing board cover. We used one during our testing and it worked well. Cylinders and two-in-one mops, meanwhile, tend to feature extra tools such as scrubbing brushes, scrapers and grout cleaners for a super-thorough finish. Other attachments for specific surfaces may include upholstery tools, ironing attachments for curtains and squeegees for windows and glass. Some models come with detergent, but this merely provides a fresh scent, rather than extra cleaning power. How we test steam cleaners A steam cleaner is an excellent interior detailing tool for your vehicle. Steam cleaners can destroy mold and bacteria as well as help dislodge built-up gunk and grime . Many steam cleaners are designed for home use but work just as well for automobiles. Steam cleaning is great for auto detailers who want to cut down on chemical use.The most portable garment steamers make useful travel companions to spruce up clothing that has been creased in a suitcase. Some we've tested even include accessories suited to travelling, such as mini clothes hangers or the ability to use a bottle of water instead of the tank, meaning you can travel more lightly. Many say the Grobell is powerful and simple to use. It is a reasonably priced portable steamer that gets the job done. One man hails the product description’s accuracy, as true to its word, the Grobell heated up to 255.0 degrees Fahrenheit in under a minute. Steam rate is the amount of steam created by the clothes steamers per minute. In theory, the higher the steam rate the more powerful and effective the product should be. Though this cleaner is large, it’s easy to move this steam cleaner. The power cord is 198.0 inches and retractable. The steam hose is detachable, making this the most portable of the larger steam cleaners we tested. Another nice feature is the storage compartment, which holds several attachments.

The worst clothes steamer give hand fatigue after a while, are uncomfortable to grip and positioned our hands too close to the hot steam. Compact and lightweight, steam mops are easy to set up and use. They work like regular mops but are much more powerful cleaners. Their handles have built-in water tanks that heat up in about 20 seconds. They'll need refilling more often than cylinder cleaners (below) as they're smaller, but this makes them far easier to manoeuvre around your home. Many come with a swivel head for reaching under furniture and kitchen appliances.There are no handheld cleaning tools with this cleaner as it’s just for floors. It’s heavy (4.4kg) and perhaps not as versatile as some of the other options on this list, but it does have the value of a vacuum and steam cleaner combined.