Best Steam Cleaner Options: The Best for Carpet, Tiles, Floors, and More

Steam cleaning is a popular way to renew, sanitize, refresh, and deodorize a vast assortment of surfaces. Everything from auto upholstery and grout lines to bathroom fixtures can be steam cleaned. If you’re on the quest for a new steam cleaner, there’s a wealth of options to choose from.

While some are suited for one purpose, such as steam cleaning mops for floors, others are versatile and can get many surfaces spick and span. And, if you don’t have the luxury of time, you’ll find products that include vacuuming capabilities.

So, whether you want to eliminate bacteria from your carpet, clean old windows, keep your hard floors in good shape, or refresh your tiles, the best steam cleaner will get the job done.

How Does A Steam Cleaner Work?

Steam cleaners are efficient machines and are similar to the broader range of vacuum cleaners out there, though steam cleaners have superior functionality.

A steam cleaner has a tank that harnesses the power of its motor to heat water and generate steam at high pressure. The vapor penetrates different types of surfaces that are meant to be cleaned and sanitized by blitzing away all kinds of stubborn dirt, allergens, and germs.

Best Steam Cleaners

Below is our list of the best steam cleaners currently on the market.

Pure Clean XL Rolling Steam Cleaner

If you’re searching for a product that can deep clean a broad range of surfaces, then the Pure Clean XL Rolling Steam Cleaner is your best bet. As a 1500-watt multi-purpose product, it can effortlessly handle ceramic tiles, laminate tiles, cotton and wool carpets, washable wallpaper, waterproof wooden floors, and granite.

With a 16-foot power cord, this steam cleaner takes about 8 minutes to heat. And, it has the ability to produce steam continuously for 45 minutes. The pressurized steam output is 1.2 ounces per minute, which can get rid of mold, grease, bed bugs, grease, and stains without the use of harsh chemicals.

The Pure Clean XL Rolling Steam Cleaner has 18 attachments that make it a breeze to get the interior and exterior of your home spotless.

These include a triangular brush, measuring cup and funnel, a pair of microfiber mop pads, steam jet nozzle, two extension wands, scrub pad, squeegee, mop head, a brass utility brush, and five nylon utility brushes.

The cleaner also comes with a 1.5-liter boiler that weighs 9 pounds and requires 120 Volts of AC with a 60Hz frequency to function seamlessly.

 

McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam Cleaner 

With the innate ability to sanitize and deep clean a vast assortment of surfaces without the use of abrasive chemicals, the McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam Cleaner is a worthy investment.

Its steam rate falls between 15 grams and 31 grams per minute, with a capacity of 48 ounces. You’ll be blown away by the water tank’s capacity to heat within a maximum of 10 minutes then generating steam consistently for up 90 minutes.

The onboard storage saves you the hassle of storing accessories elsewhere. The McCulloch MC1375 uses plain water and increases its temperature to highs of 200 °F, thus cleaning various types with ease. It’s uniquely-designed with a 3-pronged plug that’s effective in curbing the risk of electric shock.

As a one-way-in plug, the McCulloch MC1375 is a snug fit in a polarized power outlet. And, it has 4-bar controls (58 psi) that effortlessly blitz away dust, dirt, grime, grease, and filth. The steam safely seeps into the nozzle via an insulated hose that permits convenient access.

The McCulloch MC1375 comes with some useful attachments. These include a 3” scrapper, extension wands, 4” triangle brush, 2 round scrub pads, a large mop head, and a brass utility brush.

You’ll also find an angled and jet nozzle, bristle brush, large brush, nylon utility brushes, a fill cup, microfiber mop pad, and a storage bag.

 

McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner 

With a 15.7-foot power cord and power requirements of 1500 watts, the McCulloch MC1275 has the uncanny ability to handle even the toughest cleaning jobs. The 48-ounce water container keeps the supply of pressurized steam running non-stop for 45 minutes.

Thus it’s good for workshop and garage cleaning. The water heats to 200 °F in less than 10 minutes. And, you have 18 accessories at your disposal to efficiently handle any cleaning challenge thrown at you.

The McCulloch MC1275 produces 43 psi of pressurized steam at a rate of 33 grams to 37 grams per minute. With the 9-foot hose, steam can be channeled as you deem fit or set to uninterrupted flow with the lock switch. The power jet nozzle channels the flow of steam to get rid of grime and dirt. This makes it ideal for cleaning BBQ grills, cookers, toys, and other surfaces.

Some useful accessories also come with the McCulloch MC1275:

• 5 nylon utility brushes
• A mop head
• A squeegee
• 2 extension wands
• A measuring cup
• A scrub pad
• A water funnel
• Carrying handle
• A triangular brush
• A steam jet nozzle.

I should mention it comes with microfiber pads and a brass utility brush.

 

Light ‘N’ Easy 7688ANW Multifunctional Steam Cleaner

With a capacity of 11.5 ounces or 340 ml, the 7688ANW steam cleaner can deliver continuous steaming for minutes at the lowest setting, and 10-12 minutes on the highest.

Its efficient gear eliminates the need to shell out extra bucks on cleaning chemicals, including detergent.

All it requires is plain water to blast away the dirt. It’s superheated, which means it wipes away up to 99.99% of germs in under 30 seconds, thus making it useful in tile and hardwood floors, among other surfaces.

The steam level has three settings or modes: lessening hot spots, channeling the steam appropriately, and allowing for an expansive cleaning track.

You have free rein to alter the settings and regulate the steam strength based on the level of filth and type of surface.

Suitable for stainless steel, sealed grout or tile, glass, and sealed stone, the 7688ANW multifunctional steam cleaner plays many roles. It’s a steam cleaner, floor steam handheld garment steamer window, and glass or mirror cleaner.

Each ounce of steam cleans and sanitizes the areas around your pets and little ones without compromising on safety. Users will find useful accessories such as a bonnet pad, grout cleaning brushes, microfiber mop pads, and grout cleaning brushes.

 

BISSELL BGST500T Commercial Steam Cleaner

Are you looking for a steam cleaner that’s lightweight and compact with unmatched maneuverability? Then have a look at the BGST500T Commercial Steam Cleaner. It weighs 12 pounds, and comes with a 5.6-foot hose and 8-inch extension.

It’s time-efficient and apt for deep cleaning tiles, upholstery, glass windows, carpets, hard floors, and grout. And, it comes with an 8-foot power cord and towel bonnet.

The BISSELL BGST500T has a water tank that holds up to 50 fluid ounces from which steam can be produced continuously for up to 45 minutes before a refill is needed. The pressurized steam can slice through grease and dirt effortlessly like butter.

Upon purchasing the BISSELL BGST500T, you’ll notice it has handy accessories such as a floor mop, a nylon brush, and extension tubes that collectively make deep cleaning a breeze.

Its compact size and lightweight nature also make this commercial steam cleaner easy to store and use.

 

Ewbank SC1000 Steam Dynamo Cleaner 

With a remarkable reach of up to 19 feet, and with a large 1.5-quart water tank capacity, the Ewbank SC1000 is an eco-friendly cleaning system. It doesn’t use detergents and other cleaning chemicals to get surfaces spick and span.

With an 8-foot power cord for enhanced mobility, the Ewbank SC1000 is a great option for getting rid of stains, grease, mold, and dirt. Moreover, the lightweight and compact nature make it easy to carry and maneuver around surfaces with a power requirement of 1500 watts.

Armed with a steam-on-demand trigger, the cleaner allows the nozzle to produce pressurized steam (up to 54 psi) as deemed necessary. Moreover, the high water capacity permits the Ewbank SC1000 to produce steam uninterrupted for up to 45 minutes. It also eliminates the hassle that comes with frequent refills, as seen in steam cleaners with smaller tanks.

The cleaner contains a boatload of useful attachments that make it a worthwhile investment. These include:

• 2 extension tubes
• A dynamo for easy access
• Towel bonnet
• Nozzle adapter with a jet nozzle
• Nylon brush
• Floor head cleaner
• Water jug
• Push-button nozzle adapter

Other accessories are an onboard storage section that sits at the front of the steamer for easy and fast access to all the attachments, a tile/window cleaner, a mini nylon brush, and funnel.

 

How to Make the Most of A Steam Cleaner 

After investing in the best steam cleaner in the market, here’s a few tips on how to make the most of it.

Carefully Read the Instructions

While steam cleaners are generally safe to use, it’s advisable to take the time and patience to read and understand the manual before use. The set of attachments and functionalities vary from one model to another.

To get the most out of your versatile steam cleaner and diminish any slim chance of accidents occurring, it’s better to understand how to use it properly: reading the manual and watching some YouTube videos will provide a better cleaning outcome.

Quality of Water is Essential

As you know, water is the only thing that a steam cleaner uses and survives on. So, the water quality you use will directly impact the cleaning outcome.

For instance, hard water that’s packed with minerals and other impurities (like limescale) will accumulate in the machine. Distilled water will best keep a steam cleaner working perfectly for years down the road.

Keep It Clean

Steam cleaners generally have a multitude of attachments (some even up to 20 or so different items).

To keep them functioning effortlessly for years to come, you should show them some TLC and maintain them well. For instance, wash the pads and fabrics frequently with clean, hot water to prevent infections from cropping up in the machine.

Remember the Tank

The tank is where you fill water that’s then pressurized into steam. So, with every use, remember to empty the tank. And keep it dry when it’s not in use to avoid contamination, which then becomes a health hazard.

Closing Remarks

Steam cleaning is a safe and effective way of keeping different surfaces spick and span. From our top picks, you can choose the best steam cleaner that is within your budget and that will meet your needs for years to come.