Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaners and how they work

There are two main types of steam cleaners. Handheld steam cleaners are used to clean small areas. They are lightweight and inexpensive, but they don't hold much water. The best steam cleaners are portable canister-type cleaners, which can clean a wider area and range of surfaces, usually with a variety of attachments. These are the main type of multi-surface vapor steam cleaners. Be aware that most upright vacuum cleaners labeled "steam vacs" do not use steam at all -- most spray a solution of water and detergent onto your carpet, then suction out the water. These machines are covered in our other report on carpet cleaners .

True steam cleaners have a water tank or a boiler with a heater inside the unit. The tank is filled with tap or distilled water that is then heated to boiling. This creates pressurized steam, which is released through a nozzle or hose. Steam can be directed to surfaces for cleaning, and the pressure of the steam loosens the dirt and grime. Most full-size steam cleaners come with an array of attachments that can be placed at the end of the hose, much like attachments of vacuum cleaners. The usual tools are a floor tool, brushes of various sizes and perhaps a squeegee or crevice tool, depending on the model. Most steam cleaners also offer optional attachments at an additional charge.

Using the nozzle of the steam cleaner, a spray of steam is directed at one small area at a time. Immediately following the steaming, you must wipe away the dirt with a clean cloth or towel. You continue to clean the surface one small area at a time. Unlike vacuum cleaners, there is no suction with the steam cleaners, so you'll need to be prepared to wipe up loosened grime with a rag. Ideally, no elbow grease is necessary for a clean surface. You basically spray with steam, then wipe.

The biggest advantage to steam cleaning is that you don't need to use chemicals. The hot steam can also reach places a sponge or a mop can't. Reviews say that steam is hot enough to kill bacteria, mold and dust mites on contact, so a steam cleaner can be used as part of an allergen-control plan to clean bedding, tile grout and soap scum from shower doors.

While some models claim that you can get rid of cleaning solvents, mops and buckets, and use steam cleaners for everything, larger steam cleaners may not fit easily into small areas such as bathrooms or shower stalls. Advertising makes the process look quick and easy, however it actually takes quite a while, since you generally must clean one small area at a time, wiping up loosened grime as you go. Lastly, steam cleaning won't kill all bacteria, germs, fungi or mold in your home, though it can help.

Most steam cleaners operate in a similar way. One area where they differ is how water is added. Many steam cleaners require you to add water directly to the boiler. If you run out of steam you must wait 15 to 30 minutes for the unit to cool, then add more water and wait for it to heat up (which varies from 2 minutes to 30 minutes) before you can resume cleaning. However, a few pricey models do have a continuous-fill system. Because you add water to the reservoir instead of to the boiler, you can continue to add water throughout the cleaning process. There is no need to wait for the machine to cool down before you can safely add more water.

Budget home steam cleaners

The highest praise is generally reserved for the most expensive steam cleaners, discussed further below. However, most homeowners aren't really looking to spend up to $1,000 on a steam cleaner. We found good reviews for some simpler, less expensive machines, but they don't steam for as long and they don't have a continuous-fill feature -- which means they must be turned off and allowed to cool before refilling.

The McCulloch MC-1275 (*est. $110) earns solidly good reviews at consumer sites. This budget steam cleaner is lightweight, and it can steam for up to 60 minutes with a 50-ounce tank capacity. Many owners say the McCulloch steam cleaner works well for small jobs such as bathroom grout, shower doors and tile floors/walls. In general, owners find that using the McCulloch helps them to reduce the amount of chemicals they use, although using a steam cleaner does not completely eliminate the need to use chemicals. Most owners say it does a good job with tile grout and day-to-day floor cleaning, but the pressure never gets high enough to clean mildew off shower doors. Some say the attachments work well, but others say that they aren't very durable and that replacements are hard to find. Still, we found better reviews for the McCulloch steam cleaner than for other inexpensive models, including several from Euro-Pro.

The McCulloch MC-1275 comes with casters, which adds to the ease of mobility as compared to some other models. Accessories include several brushes of varying sizes -- most made of nylon, but one of brass. Two extension wands, a funnel, measuring cup, window tools, squeegee and a terry cover for the floor brush are also included. Preheat time is about 5 to 10 minutes, and the steam temperature can reach 250 degrees Fahrenheit (some higher-end cleaners can reach over 300 degrees). A steam control switch helps to regulate the steam flow, and an indicator light tells you when the steam is ready. You need to empty out the water tank after use -- an important step in reducing mineral buildup. Using distilled water can prevent this problem. There is a one-year warranty, but the boiler itself is only warranted for 90 days.

We also found some good reviews for the SteamFast SF-275 (*est. $100) , which has a 50-ounce tank. In fact, the SteamFast and McCulloch steam cleaners look almost identical. There's a good reason for that -- the two are made by the same Kansas City based company called Top Innovations. Reviews for both machines are similar.

We found better reviews for the Shark Ultra Steam Blaster (*est. $100) than we did for some other Euro-Pro Shark steam cleaners. Like the McCulloch and SteamFast models, the Shark steam cleaner has rolling canisters and looks a lot like a small canister vacuum. Like the other two cleaners, the Ultra Steam Blaster comes with an array of extension wands, a floor attachment, brushes, a squeegee and a nozzle attachment. However, the Shark Ultra Steam Blaster only holds 16 ounces of water compared to 50 ounces for the McCulloch and SteamFast models. This means you'll get only about 20 minutes of cleaning time before needing to refill the Shark model. We found good comments for the Steam Blaster, but for the same price, the McCulloch and SteamFast offer much larger water tanks and longer cleaning times.

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.

Handheld steam cleaners

Handheld steam cleaners are fine for small jobs, but at just 900 watts, they aren't nearly as powerful as larger steam cleaners, and many reviews wonder if they are worth the trouble at all. The SteamFast SF-227 (*est. $40) is a hand-held steam cleaner, but it gets a pair of poor reviews at Amazon.com. This 4-pound model has a tank capacity of 10 ounces, good for about 12 minutes of steam cleaning. An indicator light tells you when the steam is ready, and the steam trigger is easy to read. Though a small unit, the SteamFast SF-227 does come with several attachments, including a steam nozzle, two nylon brushes, a brass brush, a squeegee, a measuring cup and a fabric steaming cloth. There is a one-year warranty.

The McCulloch MC-1220 (*est. $50) is a handheld steam cleaner that also gets mixed reviews from owners. Most say it's just too small and not powerful enough to clean much, adding that the steam doesn't last long before needing a refill. The McCulloch has 900 watts of power like the SteamFast SF-227, but it weighs less and has a smaller tank capacity of just six ounces. Accessories include three nozzles, four brushes (nylon and brass), a squeegee, a fill cup and a removable 30-inch hose. There is a one-year warranty.

Important Features: Steam cleaners

Reviewers say the following about shopping for a steam cleaner.

• Stainless steel boilers heat water quickly and resist rust. However, heavy-duty aluminum boilers are also good. Size is important. Try to buy a steam cleaner with as large a boiler as possible in your price range. Fifty ounces will give you about an hour of cleaning.

• Continuous fill capacity steam cleaners are easier to use and safer because there are two tanks. You don't have to wait 15 to 30 minutes for the unit to cool down before refilling. These models also don't need safety caps, because you never have to access the boiler, just the reservoir. Unfortunately, these models are expensive.

• Look for a durable hose with a control switch to regulate the flow and level of steam. An on/off switch on the trigger instead of on the machine is also recommended.

• Safety caps on boilers prevent the escape of steam and act as pressure relief valves. For increased safety, cap removal should be a two-step process, such as pushing down and then turning.

• Consider attachments. Brushes of different sizes and made of nylon and of brass (to clean grout), a floor tool and a window tool are standard. Squeegees, extension wands, crevice tools, funnels, filler bottles and measuring cups are helpful extras.

• Instructional videos are helpful. We found many comments that such videos are really helpful. Videos often come standard with the higher-end machines. Either way, for safety reasons, it is important to be fully familiar with the operation manual prior to use.

Additionally, reviews say you shouldn't expect a steam cleaner to clean everything. They shouldn't be used on painted surfaces, soft plastic or untreated wood, for example, since the heat can melt or bubble plastic and paint and raise grain on wood. Also, steam cleaners don't include suction, so you'll still need to wipe or mop up loosened grime. Some floor attachments include a pad to help mop up dirt.

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

# of picks	Model(with Retailer links)
1 each	McCulloch MC-1275 , Earlex , Polti Cinderella, Euro-Pro Shark S3325 , Ladybug 2200S , Ladybug XL2300 , WhiteWing Steamer

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.

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