Best Steam Cleaner 2020 – Comparison & Guide

by

If you are looking for the best steam cleaner or the best steam mop, then look no further. We have created a buyers guide where we review the best to help you make a informed decision.

 

Model Image Read Full Review Check Price
Kärcher SC1.020 Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner Read Full Review
Vax Steam Fresh Combi Multifunction Steam Mop Read Full Review
Vax S7 Total Home Master Multifunction Steam Mop Read Full Review
Polti Vaporetto Go Steam Cleaner Read Full Review
Morphy Richards 720501 Multi-Floors Steam Mop Read Full Review
Steam cleaners are one of the most important appliances that every home should have. If you have kids then this is especially important. You could have a squeaky clean home, but this is not a guarantee that your home is germ free.
If we are being honest, you can’t have a 100% germ free home. If you have a steam cleaner though, you can come close.
A Steam cleaner is an home appliance that comes with an heating element. This heating element heats up water quickly. It then uses the steam to clean surfaces.
Steam cleaners are usually fitted with cleaning pads. These pads rub directly on surfaces, cleaning off stains, dust, and dirt particles.
There are three types of steam cleaners that you can find in the market.
These are:
  • Handheld steam cleaners
  • Steam mops
  • Steam cleaners that are a combination of both steam mops and handheld steam cleaners.
Handheld cleaners are compact and designed for cleaning countertops . The beauty of handheld cleaners are that they are compact and they can reach smaller spaces. They usually come with attachments for use on different surfaces.
Steam mops are mops that use steam to clean floors.
Some steam mops come as two-in-one cleaners. This means that they can act as both a steam mop and serve as a handheld steam cleaner.
Steam cleaners have been around for quite some time. Some reasons why steam cleaners exist are to reduce the amount of time spent on cleaning. Killing off a higher percentage of bacteria is another reason.
You do not have to squeeze a steam cleaner like what you would do with a traditional mop. You also don’t need a bucket of water which you have to drag around.
With steam cleaners, one quite important aspect is you eridicate about 90% of the germs. These are germs that live on your walls and floors. This keeps your kids safe. It also prevents them from any serious medical conditions caused by germs that live in your home.
Steam cleaning is eco-friendly, cost effective and a safer solution.
This is because the majority of the models in the market do need the use of detergent.
Cleaning detergents contain chemicals that may create negative or hazardous reactions to us. Children who usually pick off things from the floors and put them in their mouths are also vunerable.
If you add up the costs of having to buy cleaning products in the long term, it can be quite a lot.
Many steam cleaners come with a variety of features that allow you to clean lots of different areas.
Some brands offer accessories and attachments. These allow you clean corners and areas where the steam pads might not be effective. Examples of these are windows and furniture.
Steam cleaners aren’t always used for cleaning floors and surfaces,. Sometimes people have used them for:
  • Taking out wrinkles on clothing
  • Degreasing kitchen sinks,
  • Descaling,
  • Cleaning toys
  • Removal of tough stains.
There is such a wide range of steam cleaners in the market today. Making a choice for which one to buy can be difficult.
We will now proceed to some tips to help you through the process of chooosing the right steam cleaner. Also we will tell you what features to look out for to make a well informed decision.

Buying Tips

Size is a good place to start when considering features that steam cleaners come with.
You need to take into consideration the size of your home when choosing the size of steam cleaner. If you live in a small flat then you may want to consider buying a steam mop. The reason why is because they are small and quite portable, hence they tend to fit in small spaces. Steam mops will fit in a closet or small corners.
Steam mops are not only easy to store but they are also very powerful. They deliver a great performance and are quite easy to manoeuvre.
If you live in a big house you should consider a bigger steam cleaner as this will allow you to cover a larger surface. You won’t have to refill as many times as you would if you had a steam mop.
Another positive for a bigger steam cleaner is that they usually have more to offer. They tend to have more features and attachments. This allows you to explore their versatility. Usually, they come variety of attachments and brushes for garments and upholstery.
You are likely to have a greater need for steam cleaners with more features, if you live in a bigger home.
You need to make a decision based on your needs. You then would see what features various steam cleaners offer and use that to make a decision.
Other factors that will guide your decisions include Price and brand integrity.
Sometimes the best things cost a lot, sometimes they don’t. There are quite a few brands that offer amazing steam cleaners at reasonable prices.
If you have considered your cleaning needs and have made a decision. If you decided that your home needs a steam cleaner with lots of features then you should invest your money.
The integrity of the brand you buy is a key factor that we will touch on in this review.
We now move to the more important part of this review. Which are the actual reviews of the best steam cleaners in the market for 2017.
We will consider design and performance to help you make the perfect choice.

 

Kärcher SC1.020 Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner

Best Steam Cleaner

The Karcher Multi-purpose Steam Cleaner is a very versatile and high performing steam cleaner with all the necessary features to keep your floors clean and germ free.

This compact and lightweight steam cleaner is designed to heat up really fast in order to ensure that you get on with cleaning in a very short time.

The Karcher does not require any cleaning chemicals or detergent in order to effectively remove grease and stains from the floor, also, it is fitted with a ‘Lamellae’ floor tool which allows you to clean a larger area in less time.

With the controls located on the handle, the steam pressure can easily be adjusted depending on the surface you want to clean and the amount of dirt you need to remove.

This steam cleaner is very easy to carry and move about, because of the well-designed handle and wheels which also ensure easy handling.

Positives

  • Heats up really fast
  • The Child safety lock feature is great
  • Very user friendly
  • Glides smoothly across surfaces

Negatives

  • The safety cap gets stuck and difficult to unscrew
  • A bit too pricey

Product Details

  • Item Weight: 3 Kg
  • Product Dimensions: 38 x 25.4 x 26 cm
  • Capacity: 1 litres
  • Power / Wattage: 1500 watts
  • Voltage: 220 volts
  • Iron & Steam Pressure: 3.2 bar
  • Auto Shutoff: No
  • Operating Radius: 4 metres

What’s in the box?

  • 1 x Kärcher SC1.020 Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner
  • 2 x 0.5m Extension Tubes
  • 1 x Floor Tool
  • 1 x Hand Tool
  • 1 x Detail Nozzle
  • 1 x Round Nylon Bristle Brush
  • 1 x Terry Cloth for Floor Tool
  • 1 x Terry Cloth Cover for Hand Tool

Conclusion

If you are looking to purchase a high-performance steam cleaner and you do not mind investing the big bucks to have one, the Karcher SC1.020 Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner is the product for you.

Vax S86-SF-C Steam Fresh Combi Multifunction Steam Mop

Another offering from Vax is the S86-SF-C Steam Fresh Combi Multifunction steam mop, a versatile steam cleaner that ensures that you are able to carry out more cleaning.

The S86 steam cleaner comes with a scrub brush which is built with the floor head that ensures that tough stains are tackled where it may be difficult to achieve using just the cleaning pads on the floor heads.

With an in-built detergent tank this steam cleaner gives you the option to use detergents.

If you are interested in experiencing that after-cleaning scent from detergents, this is the steam cleaner for you.

The use of detergents with steam cleaners is not totally necessary because the powerful steam pressure is adequate for stain and grease removal, therefore this is the steam cleaner that suits different preferences.

Like other steam cleaners in the Vax series, the S86-SF-C Fresh Combi Multifuntion steam mop also has a detachable handheld which can be used to clean all kinds of surfaces in your kitchen and bathrooms.

Positives

  • Quite easy to use
  • Compact and stores easily
  • Caters to different uses hence, quite versatile
  • The option to use detergent

Negatives

  • The attachments do not fit quite well and are a little flimsy

Product Details

  • Item Weight: 3.7 Kg
  • Product Dimensions: 30 x 116 x 31 cm
  • Capacity: 0.465 litres
  • Volume Capacity: 0.5 litres
  • Power / Wattage: 1600 watts
  • Runtime: 12 minutes
  • Special Features: Steam Regulation

What’s in the Box?

  • 1 x 15-in-1 steam cleaner
  • 1 x Concentration nozzle
  • 1 x Squeegee tool
  • 1 x Small plastic brush
  • 1 x Metal brush
  • 1 x Measuring cup
  • 1 x Carpet Glider
  • 1 x Microfiber Velcro Pads
  • 1 x Window cloth
  • 1 x Shoulder strap
  • 1 x cooling tray

Conclusion

Vax S86-SF-C Steam Fresh Combi is overall a good steam cleaner for its price in the market, and also, compared to other brands within its price range this steam cleaner does a great job. If you like to enjoy the scent of your lemon scented detergents, we recommend this steam cleaner.

Vax S7 Total Home Master Multifunction Steam Mop

When it comes to cleaning appliances, Vax is one of the major brands who have built a reputation for creating effective and great performing cleaners over the years.

The Vax S7 Total Home Master Multi-Purpose Steam Mop is an addition to the steam cleaner series which comes with amazing features that we find really exciting.

One of such exciting features is the integrated handheld which can be detached and is ideal for cleaning windows and smaller surfaces as well as areas where the mop head will naturally not be able to reach.

It comes with a 16 piece tool and accessory kit.

The angular head design of the mop allows it to reach corners and places that regular rectangular heads cannot reach.

This steam cleaner is very easy to use and easy to store without taking so much space compared to the larger and bulkier units, can be used for all your upholstery and also to remove wrinkles from your clothing.

When it comes to versatility this Vax steam mop holds its own quite well and delivers a good performance. The S7 Total Home Multifunctional Steam Mop is perfect for all home sizes, especially smaller homes.

Positives

  • Heats up really fast (20 seconds)
  • Great value for money
  • The angular head design
  • Easily converts to a handheld

Negatives

  • Integrated handheld tends to get a bit difficult to detach
  • Tends to lose steam pressure over time

Product Details

  • Item Weight: 2.7 Kg
  • Product Dimensions: 29 x 122 x 23 cm
  • Capacity: 0.4 litres
  • Power / Wattage: 1600 watts
  • Auto Shutoff: No
  • Operating Radius: 7 metres
  • Runtime: 12 minutes
  • Special Features: Steam Regulation

What’s in the Box?

  • 1 x Vax S7 Duet Master 2in1 Steam Mop and Handheld Steam Cleaner
  • 1 x Hose, Scraper tool, Grout brush, Detailer nozzle
  • 1 x Concentration nozzle, Squeegee tool, Small plastic brush, Metal brush, measuring cup
  • 1 x Carpet glider
  • 1 x Microfiber velcro pads
  • 1 x Window cloth
  • 1 x Shoulder strap
  • 1 x cooling tray
  • 1 x 2 year guarantee card

Conclusion

The Vax S7 Multi-Purpose Steam Mop has its strengths as well as its floors, but it is an overall good steam cleaner. You might not get the best on the long term, but as far as its features it is worth the investment.

Polti Vaporetto Go Steam Cleaner

This is a compact steam cleaner fitted with wheels that allow for easy movement about your homes.

One very interesting feature is the thoughtful shoulder strap which allows you to carry the steam cleaner in areas where dragging it might be difficult, like it rooms where you have a lot of obstacles that could prevent easy movement.

The Polti Vaporetto comes with an on board storage where you can store all the tools and attachments.

The mop head does a great job of cleaning and does not leave dirt on the floor that you are trying to clean.

This steam cleaner delivers a good amount of steam that is adequate in removing the toughest stains.

However, it takes a little bit too much time waiting for the water to get hot and then produce the steam needed for cleaning.

Positives

  • On board storage feature
  • Shoulder strap for carrying
  • Variety of tools
  • Delivers an impressive steam pressure

Negatives

  • Takes too long to heat up
  • Takes a little time to refill

Product Details

  • Item Weight: 6 Kg
  • Product Dimensions: 43.4 x 32.2 x 29.2 cm
  • Power / Wattage: 1500 watts
  • Steam Output: 90 gallons per minute

What’s in the Box?

  • 1 x Polti Vaporetto Go
  • 1 x Floor brush
  • 1 x Extension hose
  • 1 x Lance
  • 1 x Window-washer
  • 1 x Curved nozzle
  • 1 x Spatula
  • 1 x Nylon brush
  • 1 x Brass brush
  • 1 x Grout cleaner
  • 1 x Cloth and sockette
  • 1 x Funnel
  • 1 x filling jug

Conclusion For Polti Vaporetto

The Polti Vaporetto Go Steam Cleaner is a well-designed steam cleaner that ranks high among the affordable steam cleaners you have in the market. It delivers an impressive performance and is worth every penny that you invest in purchasing one.

Morphy Richards 720501 Multi-Floors Steam Mop

The Morphy Richards 720501 Multi-Floors Steam Mop is a lightweight upright steam mop, weighing just 2.1kg, this steam mop delivers a decent cleaning performance.

This multi-floors steam mop is quite versatile and will function effectively on a variety of floor types as well as carpets.

It takes this steam mop 40 seconds to produce steam making it quite fast compared to many other steam mops in the market that take more time.

If you are looking for a steam cleaner that won’t waste your time and keep you waiting before it can be used, you should add the Morphy Richards 720501 Multi-Floors Steam Mop to your list.

This steam mop comes with microfiber fibre pads that are very effective against tough stains.

One of the features of this steam mop that stands it out in the crowd is its extendable handle which allows the steam mop to reach further when cleaning under furniture that are heavy an cannot be easily moved or kitchen appliances like freezers.

But, most importantly, the extendable handle allows the steam mop to be used by anyone of any height

Positives

  • Extendable handle feature
  • Heats up in a short time
  • Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre

Negatives

  • Not great for cleaning carpets

Product Details

  • Item Weight: 2.1 Kg
  • Product Dimensions: 25 x 28 x 102 cm
  • Capacity: 0.27 litres
  • Power / Wattage: 1400 watts
  • Voltage: 230 volts
  • Special Features: Instant heat

What’s in the Box?

  • 1 x Steam Mop
  • 1 x Fill Cup
  • 2 x microfiber pads

Conclusion

If you are looking for a lightweight steam mop that will allow you to easily manoeuvre and can be easily stored in your small apartment, then this is the right steam mop for you. Its extendable handle and micro- fibre pad are features that you should look out for, and also the fact that it heats up very quickly.