Steam Cleaners Reviews

Steam cleaners -- also called vapor cleaners -- have been widely used in Europe for some time, though in recent years they have also gained in popularity in the United States. This is due in part to increasing interest in chemical-free cleaning, as more people become aware of the possibly toxic effects of many cleaning solvents. They are also used by people with allergies to kill dust mites and other potential allergens such as mold. Instead of chemical cleaners, these all-purpose household appliances use steam at temperatures of 240˚ Fahrenheit and up to clean the surfaces in a home. Keep in mind that steam cleaners are not vacuums. Although they can be used to spot-clean carpets, true steam cleaners don't include suction. If you're looking for a carpet deep cleaner, see our separate report on carpet cleaners . These use hot water, agitating brushes and chemical cleaners instead of steam to clean carpets and rugs.

Consumer Reports has yet to test and rate home steam cleaners, and after earlier testing and reviewing, Choice magazine (the Australian equivalent of Consumer Reports) cannot recommend any steam cleaners at all. Editors at Choice do give some tips on what to look for in a cleaner and what to avoid. Representing the other side are sites like Allergy Buyer's Club, which say steam cleaners are an excellent way to clean bathrooms, floors and upholstery without using chemicals. ConsumerGuide features reviews of several steam cleaners, but they are not comparative or thorough. We found balanced steam cleaner reviews from owners at Amazon.com and Epinions, which give a good idea how well steam cleaners work in actual use.

The best steam cleaners remove dirt, grime, stains and grease from surfaces by using only water. These appliances are not only credited with cleaning but also with sanitizing, disinfecting and killing bacteria, dust mites and mold. Although they can be used on carpet, it's a slow and tedious job. Instead, most experts say the best places to use a steam cleaner are bathrooms (tile, grout, shower doors, etc.), surfaces of large appliances, curtains, wood paneling and metal blinds. They shouldn't be used on painted surfaces or soft plastic, however.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

We didn't find many professional reviews for steam cleaners. Owners say elbow grease and chemical detergents do a better job in general. We did find a range of owner-written reviews for steam cleaners, including high-end models like the Ladybug and WhiteWing. As for more affordable household steam cleaners, owners at Amazon.com like the McCulloch MC-1275 and SteamFast SF-275 (these two are essentially the same model). We found very few recommendations for handheld steamers.