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Blast away stains and bacteria, with these top steam cleaners
If you’re looking to take your cleaning to the next level, investing in a steam cleaner is a smart choice. Blasting steam at grime actually kills more nasties and requires a lot less effort than scrubbing away with cleaning fluid.
Whether you’ve got a muddy dog, messy children, a toddler crawling around or you just want the peace of mind a sparkling home brings, steam cleaners are able to kill 99.99 per cent of germs, when used properly.
Even better, there’s no need for nasty chemicals or detergents when using a steam cleaner, as the hot jets of steam alone will banish dirt and bacteria. This makes steam cleaners gentler on your house and the environment, and you don’t have to remember to buy cleaning products.
When choosing a steam cleaner, there are a few different types on the market. There are handheld ones, which are a bit like a watering can combined with a kettle. These devices often come with different attachments for steam cleaning windows, curtains, and kitchen and bathroom tiles – but they’re no good for large areas or floors.
Most floor steam cleaners work like an upright vacuum, and plug into the wall. Fill a reservoir with hot water, wait for it to come up to temperature, then push the mop across your floors. You can detach the floor pads and chuck them in the washing machine. Some of these floor cleaners can also be used as handhelds, while some are more like a canister cleaner that you pull along behind you. The latter variety often have bigger reservoirs, so you don’t have to stop to refill and reheat as often – handy if you have a big surface area to cover, but cumbersome to store away.
Testing happened in a very busy household, during winter, when mud and mess are permanent fixtures. We tested steam cleaners on expanses of hardwood floors, on tiles in the bathroom and kitchen, and on soft furnishings. During testing, we wanted steam cleaners that were easy to use, quick to heat up, not constantly needing to be refilled, not too heavy, and versatile. We wanted steam cleaners that were going to add something extra to our cleaning routine, without too much faff. Attention was paid to quality and price, as value for money is never far from our minds.
It is advised not to use anything other than water in the steam cleaner, including any cleaning solutions or bleaches, as putting chemicals in your steam cleaner can cause corrosion. The heat of the steam will sterilise surfaces and floors, so you don’t really need any harsh chemicals or detergent. Most manufacturers also recommend only using demineralised water.
We absolutely love the Dupray neat steam cleaner. It’s great for large areas but doesn’t feel too massive to store away, has loads of attachments and does an overall great job, hence why it’s our best overall buy. If you’re after something that is more of a steam mop, the Shark S6002 or Vax are both excellent choices.
If you’re after a new vacuum, we’ve found the best cordless models and the best robot vacuums