Vapor Steam Cleaners

Best high-end vapor steam cleaners

High-end vapor steam cleaners have more features and often get hotter than other consumer models. However, they are also much more expensive.

The Ladybug XL2300 (*Est. $1,450) receives some enthusiastic owner reviews as the best steam cleaner. This light-commercial vapor cleaner looks like a canister vacuum and weighs 16 pounds, with casters for mobility. One of the pluses of the Ladybug steam cleaner is a continuous-fill system so that you don't have to wait for the unit to cool before refilling. The Ladybug XL also has a large double boiler with a 3.3 quart (105 ounce) capacity. Other features include a low-water indicator light and an audible signal. Fingertip controls help regulate steam volume. The Ladybug offers a three-year warranty on the boiler and a one-year warranty on parts. Several attachments come with the Ladybug -- four brushes, crevice tool and squeegee with two blades; all are stored on the cleaner itself. An instructional videotape and 12 terry cloth towels are also included. Several other tools are optional. One big difference between the Ladybug and cheaper vapor steam cleaners is that steam reaches 298˚ F (compared to 250˚ for cheaper models). The higher temperature and greater pressure can clean tougher stains.

The Ladybug XL2300 Steam Cleaner with TANCS (*Est. $1,700) is very similar to the Ladybug XL2300. TANCS (Thermal Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation) is a microbe killer with laboratory-certified results. This model is for commercial use, but home owners who plan to clean frequently or who have allergies or asthma might consider this model to be worth the price. The TANCS technology is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). TANCS also helps to eliminate mineral build up in the boiler, which prolongs the life of the machine. The Ladybug TANCS model also comes with an extended warranty: three years for parts and eight years for the boiler.

In between high-end commercial steam cleaners like the Ladybug and inexpensive consumer models like the McCulloch and SteamFast, there are vapor cleaners such as the WhiteWing Steamer (*Est. $450). At 14.5 pounds, the WhiteWing is a lightweight cleaner with a 67-ounce tank. Like the more expensive Ladybug, the WhiteWing has a reservoir and a separate boiler, which is made of aluminum and can heat up to 285˚ Fahrenheit. The boiler takes 10 to 15 minutes to heat up and about 20 minutes to cool down. The steam will last about two hours before the reservoir needs to be refilled -- but you do have to wait until the unit cools down to refill it. The reservoir has a safety cap and the hose handle has an on/off safety switch. The pressure gauge indicates the optimal steam level in green and low or excess pressure in red. Lights indicate when the water level is low and when the steam is ready. It also has casters for ease of mobility and it offers a one-year warranty.

In addition to an instructional video and six cotton cloths, attachments include an eight-foot hose, extension wands, two nozzles, ten brushes of varying sizes made of nylon or brass, a funnel, a filler bottle and a window tool kit. A handful of owners at Amazon.com give the WhiteWing a perfect score. Most say the WhiteWing does an excellent job and is able to clean where other methods fail.

The Polti Vaporetto 2400 (*est. $600) is mainly known in Europe and isn't readily available in the U.S. This model, which offers a stainless steel tank with a two-liter capacity, gets excellent reviews on British websites. Unlike the safety caps on other steam cleaners that also act as pressure relief valves, the safety cap on the Vaporetto remains tightly closed even when the smallest amount of pressure remains inside the boiler. Another unique safety feature is that there is a "no volt" control on the handle that instantly switches the steam off or on, without needing electricity to activate it. The model has a pressure gauge indicator and a "pressostat" that maintains constant temperature of the steam as it is released through the hose. Indicator lights let you know when the steam is ready and when the water tank is empty. If you can find them, reviews say that Vaporetto steam cleaners work well.