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Steam cleaners offer an effective way to remove dirt, grime, and bacteria from floors—no harsh chemicals required. They’re a practical option for households looking to deep clean while minimizing chemical exposure. To help you choose the right model, the This Old House team reviewed top-rated steam cleaners available on Amazon. Here are our five top recommendations.
Top 5 Steam Cleaners
- Best Mop Head: Shark S5003D Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System Pocket Steam Mop
- Best Design: Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner
- Best Medium-Duty Cleaner: McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner
- Best Heavy-Duty Cleaner: McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe Canister Steam Cleaner
- Most Versatile: PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner
Best Mop Head
Shark S5003D Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System Pocket Steam Mop
- $109.99
- $129.99
- 15% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 5.77 pounds
- 220-milliliter water tank
- 22-foot power cord
- Two mop pads included
- One-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who liked this cleaner said that it was simple to assemble and use and that it worked on multiple surfaces. Those who didn’t like this product said that it sometimes stopped working after minimal use and that it was difficult to fill with water.
Best Design
Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner
- $149.78
- $199.99
- 25% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Nine pounds
- 54-ounce water tank
- 16-foot power cord
- Seven-minute heating time
- 50-minute runtime
- 17-piece accessory kit included
- Two-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Those who liked this cleaner said that it was sturdy, got rid of tough stains, and could clean multiple surfaces. Those who didn’t like this product claimed that the steam didn’t reach a hot enough temperature to be effective and that the funnel didn’t allow you to see how much water you had added.
Best Medium-Duty Cleaner
McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner
- $149.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 12 pounds
- 48-ounce water tank
- 15-foot power cord
- Eight-minute heating time
- 45-minute runtime
- 18-piece accessory kit included
- Two-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who were happy with this product liked that it was versatile because they could use it to tackle everything from removing wallpaper to cleaning spills. Reviewers also liked that it had a high-powered steam level for tough grime. Those who didn’t like this cleaner said that the brushes wore out quickly because they were made of cheap materials.
Best Heavy-Duty Cleaner
McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe Canister Steam Cleaner
- $199.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 13 pounds
- 64-ounce water tank
- 18-foot power cord
- 12-minute heating time
- 120-minute runtime
- 23-piece accessory kit included
- Two-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who were satisfied with this cleaner said that it was easy to use, could effectively loosen dirt and grime, and had a large water tank. Some who were dissatisfied with their purchase said that the cleaner stopped working after only a few uses because it wasn’t made from durable materials.
Most Versatile
PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner
- $79.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 2.2 pounds
- 11.5-ounce water tank
- 30-second heating time
- 25-minute runtime
- 10-piece accessory kit included
What Customers Are Saying
Reviewers who left positive feedback for this steam cleaner raved about how well it cleaned hardwood floors and how quickly it heated its water tank. Those who left negative reviews said that it was prone to leaking and that it had a short power cord.
Buyer’s Guide
Steam cleaning is a chemical-free way to clean your home. However, there are several important factors to consider when determining which steam cleaner is best for you.
Type
Steam cleaners typically come in one of the following forms.
Handheld
Handheld steam cleaners are small, lightweight, and affordable. They heat up quickly, usually in under a minute, and work best for small cleaning jobs. However, they only last 10-20 minutes before their water tank needs to be refilled.
Canister
This steam cleaner has a tank, a hose, and several attachments. Canister cleaners take about 10 minutes to heat up, but they last for at least 45 minutes. Their long runtime and variety of attachments allow you to complete a wide range of cleaning tasks. However, they’re expensive, usually costing $100-$200.
Mop
This type of steam cleaner resembles a stick vacuum cleaner, as it has a long handle and a mop at the end. Steam mops are best at cleaning food spills, muddy footprints, and other dried stains on your floors. In terms of runtime and price, they fall in between handheld and canister cleaners, lasting 15-20 minutes and costing $50-$150.
Surface
Most steam cleaners can clean a variety of surfaces, including upholstery, tile, wood, granite, vinyl, and grout. Note that steam cleaners aren’t designed to clean every surface—keep them away from unsealed flooring, wallpaper, delicate fabric, cork, and other materials that don’t handle moisture well.
Portability
If you’re looking for a machine that can tackle more heavy-duty tasks, you’ll have to sacrifice portability and choose a canister cleaner. If you’re looking for a more portable model that can fit in tight spaces, consider investing in a handheld or mop version.
Attachments
Most handheld and canister steam cleaners come with a variety of nozzles, including a mop head, scrub brush, pointed nozzle, and scraper. If you want to clean more surfaces, choose a handheld or canister cleaner over a mop cleaner that only has one head.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of water should I use in my steam cleaner?
Most steam cleaners use tap water from your kitchen or bathroom sink. However, if you live in an area that has particularly hard water, use distilled water to prevent the high concentration of minerals from prematurely wearing out the machine.
Should I empty the tank before putting my steam cleaner away?
Yes. You’ll want to empty the cleaner’s tank of any unused water to prevent it from leaking during storage. If your cleaner has a mop head, remove the pad to prevent any mildew from growing on it.
Can I add a cleaning solution to my steam cleaner?
Most manufacturers will void your steam cleaner warranty if you add a cleaning solution to the product’s tank. However, we recommend reading your model’s manual because some manufacturers allow you to add vinegar to the tank.
Why Trust The This Old House Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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