Not all cleaning gadgets are created equal. Very few clean quite as well — or with the same thoroughness — as a steam cleaner. When searching for the best cleaning appliances, you’ll likely encounter at least a few types of steam cleaners, including steam mops and handheld versions, which are perfect for sanitizing surfaces like carpets, sealed wood and tile flooring. With that in mind, I spoke with two experts, including cleaning company owners and professional home cleaners, to find the best steam cleaners to buy.
I also included some highly rated steam cleaners in this list.
SKIP AHEAD What is a steam cleaner? | How I picked the best steam cleaners | The best steam cleaners | How to shop for a steam cleaner | Why trust NBC Select?
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What is a steam cleaner?
While a clothes steamer uses hot vaporized water (steam) to remove wrinkles from fabric, a steam cleaner uses it to clean and disinfect surfaces. You can use the appliance on your hardwood or tile floors, or on upholstered surfaces like your carpets, couches, and curtains. Steam cleaners come in various forms depending on your needs, including steam mops, handheld cleaners, and cleaners with water tanks.
How I picked the best steam cleaners
You can use steam cleaners to tackle different messes, especially when using one with multiple functions, attachments, and heat settings. To find the best steam cleaner for you, experts recommend keeping the following aspects in mind:
- Type: When you search for steam cleaners online, you’ll see at least three common types: handheld, cylinder (aka canister) and steam mops. A handheld steam cleaner, as the name implies, is meant to be held with one hand and comes with a thin nozzle attachment, which you can clean small crevices and spaces, such as grout. A cylinder steam cleaner has a handheld attachment connected to a water tank that holds and heats the water, that is then turned into steam. A steam mop uses hot water to lift and remove dirt and grime from tile, hardwood and laminate floors.
- Temperature regulation: All steam cleaners come with some sort of boiler or heat regulating mechanism, according to Reuven Noyman, the owner of steaming cleaning company, NYC Steam Cleaning. This is essential for keeping water hot for as long as possible to ensure that you get continuous steam, which ultimately makes for a more deep clean. The best steam cleaners on the market can reach at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit and go up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Some industrial steam cleaners reach temperatures above 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Attachments: Steam cleaners often come with attachments such as squeegees, cloths, cleaning pads, scrub brushes of varying sizes, a hose and a nozzle. Some come with all of these and others only come with select attachments. That said, many steam cleaners are designed to tackle particular types of stains or areas. If you only want a steam cleaner to clean grout, then you can buy a handheld steamer with a nozzle. If your main goal is to keep your laminate or hardwood floors clean, you do not need a steam mop with various attachments.
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The best steam cleaners
Dupray NeatSteam Cleaner
- Large water capacity
- A lot of attachments
- Simple design
- Best for mopping
The Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner comes highly recommended by Noyman as an all-in-one steam cleaner, since it has capabilities of the main three types of steam cleaners. The canister model has a double-boiler system which “gives you steady heat at all time, plus the bar pressure or PSI (pounds per square inch) is powerful enough to remove debris,” according to Noyman. The device has a relatively simple and straightforward design; its water tank has a hose attached to the front, the end of which works with 17 attachments, including an extender so you don’t have to crouch down while you clean. This is a good option for someone who wants a steam cleaner that does a little bit of everything, including mopping, grout cleaning, window cleaning and more.
Type: Canister | Attachments: Detail brushes, nozzle, cleaning pads, squeegee, upholstery tool and extender | Weight: 9 lbs. | Tank capacity: 50 fl. oz. | Cord type: Corded | Cord length: 16 ft.
Pursteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop with Handheld Steam Cleaner
- A lot of attachments
- Detachable water tank
- Good for carpet
- Small water tank capacity
The Pursteam 10-in-1 steam mop has a 4.2-star average rating from almost 51,000 reviews on Amazon. You can use this on hardwood floors, carpet, tile and laminate, and it heats water in as fast as 30 seconds, according to the brand. The middle component of the mop detaches and acts as a handheld steam cleaner, which is great for cleaning cracks and crevices, such as grout on tile backsplashes in the shower or kitchen. It also has a glide on the end of the mop that allows it to swivel easily on carpet.
Type: Steam mop with detachable tank | Attachments: Detail brushes, scraper, carpet glider, squeegee, nozzle, cleaning pads, steamer jet, hose | Weight: 4.4 lbs. | Tank capacity: 12.8 fl. oz. | Cord type: Corded | Cord length: N/A
Wagner Spraytech On-Demand Steam Cleaner
- Many attachments
- Carry handle
- Good for removing wallpaper
- Somewhat large
This canister-style steam cleaner from Wagner, which has a 4.3-star average rating from 17,830 reviews on Amazon, has a total of 18 attachments, including a mop pad for cleaning hardwood floors, a window and tile squeegee, utility brushes and a jet nozzle. Aside from steam cleaning your floors, however, you can also use this to help remove stuck-on wallpaper using the included steam plate, according to the brand. It’s safe to use on tile and grout as well as to clean large appliances, such as the inside of your oven or around your toilet. All you have to do is add water to the heating mechanism, which provides up to 40 minutes of steaming, according to the brand.
McCulloch MC1230 Handheld Steam Cleaner
- Lightweight and portable
- Heats quickly
- Great for grout
- Small water tank capacity
This compact handheld steam cleaner, which has a 4.1-star average rating from 3,050 reviews on Amazon, has an extra-long 15-foot power cord and a 34-inch extension hose to give you more reach and flexibility while using it, according to the brand The water tank heats up in just three minutes and provides up to 10 minutes of steaming, according to the brand. You can use it to clean heavily soiled areas like the grout on your bathroom floor, small corners in your kitchen or the rims on your car. It’s safe to use on granite, laminate, sealed wood and ceramic tiles, according to the brand.
Type: Handheld | Attachments: Scrub pad, triangle brush, utility brush, hose, nozzle and scraper | Weight: 3 lbs. | Tank capacity: 6 fl. oz. | Cord type: Corded | Cord length: 15 ft.
Vapamore MR-75 Amico Handheld Steam Cleaner
- Lightweight
- Good for small spaces
- Small water tank capacity
The Vapamore brand comes recommended by Noyman, who says that it is a favorite among his company. This MR-75 Amico Handheld Steam Cleaner from Italian brand Vapamore is more affordable than the brand’s expensive industrial products and it’s a great size for someone who doesn’t have a lot of storage space. (“Amico” means “little friend” in Italian, according to the brand). The machine is safe to use on hard surfaces such as hardwood floors, laminate and tile as well upholstery, according to the brand. Plus, Noyman also says it would be great for cleaning baseboards, which often have small crevices with debris trapped around them.
Type: Handheld | Attachments: Detail brushes, scraper, squeegee, nozzle, cleaning pads, hose | Weight: 3.5 lbs. | Tank capacity: 6.7 fl. oz. | Cord type: Corded | Cord length: 10 ft.
Bissell Revolution Hydro Steam Pet Carpet Cleaner
- Great for pet owners
- Large water tank capacity
- Comes with cleaning solutions
- Large size
- Heavy
Cotter also recommends this option from Bissell for cleaning up after pets, which he uses at least two times a week. “It really does the job, [and it’s] easy to clean and remove the dirty water container,” he says. This model uses both water and heat to lift the dirt from carpet and upholstery surfaces, according to the brand. It’s safe to use on hardwood floors, but it’s especially effective on carpet and other areas that hold on to pet-related messes and debris, such as pet hair, according to the brand. It has 12 rows of brushes at the base that lift and remove dirt and has three modes of cleaning: steam pretreat, steam wash and quick-dry. The pretreat mode is best for stuck-on messes, while the quick-dry mode cleans and lets the carpet dry within about 30 minutes, according to the brand. Plus, you’ll get two bottles of cleaning solution: a urine eliminator and a basic cleaning wash.
Type: Upright steam cleaner | Attachments: Upholstery tool, stain tool, scrub brushes, hose | Weight: 31 lbs. | Tank capacity: 1 gal, | Cord type: Corded | Cord length: 25 ft.
Black & Decker 7-in-1 Steam Mop
- Detachable water tank
- Lightweight
- Easy to store
- Moderate water tank capacity
Black & Decker’s multipurpose 7-in-1 steam mop also comes recommended by Cotter, who says it’s good for cleaning just about anything. A steam mop works similarly to a traditional mop, except it uses heat and steam to clean, sanitize and disinfect hard surfaces. Depending on how stuck-on dirt and grime is, the heat and pressure from a steam mop helps to remove them with less effort, according to Noyman. You can use this to clean various surfaces such as tile, hardwood floors, sealed wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, showers and more, according to the brand. It functions as both an upright steam mop and a detachable handheld steam cleaner that’s compatible with different attachments.
Type: Steam mop with detachable tank | Attachments: Detail brushes, cleaning pads, handheld cleaning pad, nozzle, grout brush, hose | Weight: 6 lbs. | Tank capacity: 17 fl. oz. | Cord type: Corded | Cord length: 20 ft
Hoover Steam Complete Pet Mop
- Detachable water tank
- A lot of attachments
- Easy to store
- Moderate water tank capacity
While Hoover is well-known for its vacuums, it also makes a versatile steam mop that has a 4-star average rating from more than 3,000 reviews on Amazon. The 10-in-1 cleaning device is effective for carpet cleaning and for use on tiles and hardwood floors, according to the brand. The mop head is triangle shaped, which helps with cleaning corners. The mop head attaches to a cleaning pad used for lifting up messes, while its base sprays hot steam directly onto dirt, grime and debris.
Type: Steam mop with detachable tank | Attachments: Detail brushes, scraper, squeegee, nozzle, upholstery tool, carpet glider, cleaning pads, hose | Weight: 11 lbs. | Tank capacity: 12.8 fl. oz. | Cord type: Corded | Cord length: 26 ft.
Shark Steam & Scrub Steam Scrubbing and Sanitizing Steam Blaster Mop
- Spinning cleaning pads
- Steam blast
- Best for hard surfaces
This steam mop for appliance brand Shark has a 4.5-star average rating from over 7,430 reviews on Amazon. The base of this mop is different from most of the steam cleaners on this list: it has two round cleaning pads (rather than rectangle or triangle) that sanitize and spin 150 times per minute as they clean to make lifting up dirt and grime easier, according to the brand. The model is fine to use on sealed surfaces such as hardwood floors, tile, laminate, vinyl, marble and stone, according to the brand. The handle sprays hot steam when you need to get a thorough clean.
Type: Steam mop | Attachments: Steam blast, cleaning pads | Weight: 7.94 lbs. | Tank capacity: N/A | Cord type: Corded | Cord length: 20 ft.
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How to shop for steam cleaners
Deciding which steam cleaner to buy depends on what you plan on using it for and what type of device is best for you. Consider which areas around the house you clean most and then decide which type of steam cleaner is best.
Type of steam cleaners
The process, shape and size of a steam cleaner vary, but the three most popular types are mops, handheld devices and steam cleaners with a water tank. You may also find models that are a combination of all three. Before purchasing, think about how often you’ll use the steam cleaner and what areas around the house you’ll use them on frequently to help decide which device is best.
Steam mop
A steam mop has a cleaning pad that attaches to the bottom of the mop. When the water in the device heats up, the steam filters through the cleaning pad and onto whatever surface you’re cleaning. If you have hardwood floors, tile floors or laminate floors that often get soiled, then a mop is a good solution.
Handheld steam cleaner
Handheld steam cleaners are great for cleaning hard-to-reach areas and crevices around the house, such as grout and baseboards. Many steam mops have detachable components that turn into handheld steam cleaners.
Canister steam cleaner (cylinder)
A canister steam cleaner is a device that has a large water tank that boils the water. The tank attaches to a hose, which then attaches to either a nozzle, scrub brush or steam cleaning pad. These are similar to steam mops, but they hold more water.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Will Cotter is the founder and COO of cleaning services companies FreshSpace Cleaning, DeluxeMaid and HappyCleans.
- Reuven Noyman is the owner of the cleaning services company NYC Steam Cleaning.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about food, cleaning, wellness, and lifestyle. I've guides on the best steam mops, how to clean grout and how to get rid of mold. For this story, I spoke with multiple cleaning experts and included their recommendations along with highly rated steam cleaners on the market.
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