The 7 Best Steam Cleaners of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Our Top Steam Cleaner Picks:

• Best Overall: Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner
• Best Value: PurSteam Steam Mop
• Best Handheld: BISSELL SteamShot Deluxe Steam Cleaner
• Best Steam Mop: BLACK+DECKER 7-in-1 Steam Mop
• Best for Hard Surfaces: BISSELL Power Steamer Heavy Duty 3-in-1 Mop and Handheld SteamShot Cleaner
• Best for Carpet and Rugs: BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam Carpet Cleaner
• Best Heavy-Duty: McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe Canister Steam Cleaner

Sprays, solutions, powders, oils, gels — navigating household cleaning products can feel like a landmine of potentially toxic chemicals. But you can actually sanitize your home and prevent bacteria and allergens without any chemicals at all; you just need a steam cleaner. These machines don’t get enough credit. Steam cleaners and steam mops can fight carpet stains, polish appliances and sanitize so many items at home with just simple H2O. Here’s everything you need to know about steam cleaners and the best steam cleaner for every surface and budget. Take a look at our top picks below and see which steam cleaner is the best one for your home.

How We Tested

To find the best steam cleaner, we researched dozens of machines for customer satisfaction, manufacturer claims and overall value for price. We tested 10 top-rated steam cleaners in a series of controlled cleaning tests. For carpet and rugs, we tested each machine's performance with a half cup of spilled coffee. For hard surfaces, we tested each machine's performance with a tablespoon of soy sauce. We let these stains set for one hour and then observed how each model tackled (or failed) the job. Additionally, we used each accessory and attachment the steam cleaners came with on various jobs the attachments were intended jobs for, from grout cleaning to window squeegeeing to fabric steaming. We noted maneuverability and how easy the steam cleaners were to tote, store and empty. A total score was given to each steam cleaner and the winners for each category were chosen based on performance and price.

How Steam Cleaners Work

Not to be confused with gentle clothes steamers, a steam cleaner is a home appliance that forces water through a hose or an attachment and creates hot pressurized steam. The steam agitates dust and dirt — like teeny, tiny vapor scrubs — to clean a surface, and depending on the attachment in use, the hose then sucks up the remaining dirt, dust, pet hair or other debris with the water.

Steam cleaning is most often associated with carpet and upholstery because the steam can penetrate fabric and stains much better than traditional scrubbing and vacuuming, but there’s so much more you can do with a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners can help remove stubborn wallpaper, clean baby car seats and high chairs, deep-clean tile grout and even polish your stainless steel appliances.

Unexpected Things You Can Clean and Sanitize With a Steam Cleaner

What to Consider When Shopping for a Steam Cleaner

Household steam cleaners have been around for decades, but lately, TikTok has made these machines surge in popularity as more people discover the benefits of steam cleaning. Today, steam cleaners range in price from $100-$400, but you can find compact, handheld steam cleaners under $100 and sometimes even under $50.

Common Steam Cleaner Attachments and Accessories

Most steam cleaners come with a bundle of nozzles and hoses, and it can be overwhelming when first unboxing. However, it's important to understand the different attachments and the jobs they do. Using a scrubber instead of a bonnet on a rug could cause major pilling. Likewise, a mop head may quickly sanitize a shower wall, but a triangle bristle brush will both sanitize and remove a layer of soap scum.

Size and Style

Size is a huge factor to consider when shopping for a steam cleaner and so is weight because, depending on the water tank size, these machines can get heavy. So while a portable handheld steam cleaner is great for quick kitchen countertop cleaning, it may not be the best model for people with limited mobility. However, larger steam cleaners often have wheels, which makes toting the machine around your home a lot easier, especially if you’re working on a larger task such as removing pet hair from a staircase or deep-cleaning a living room carpet. Another option is mop-style steam cleaners which are wet vacuums with the ability to use high-heat steam. These are typically the lightest steam cleaners, but they usually have the smallest water tanks as well.

Surfaces and Materials

To determine the best steam cleaner for your home, take an inventory of your surface areas. If most of your seating is leather and your flooring isn’t carpet, you don’t need an XL steam cleaner that specializes in fabrics. Maybe you just need a steam mop for bathroom tile and faucets. Likewise, if you have a large basement or a loft apartment with all-cement floors, it could be worth it to invest in a larger steam cleaner with wheels to cut down on cleaning time.

Alternatively, you may not need a steam cleaner at all. It’s a common misconception that all hard surfaces are OK for steam cleaners, but there are quite a few surfaces that you should never use steam on. Unsealed hardwood flooring is a no-go because the water will warp the wood. Any kind of laminate or flooring with adhesive backing is also a bad idea. While some claim that steam cleaners are fine with it, stone flooring such as marble should be avoided as you can damage and alter the appearance of the marble.

Additionally, not all upholstery and textiles can handle steam cleaners, especially high-heat steam cleaners. Never use a steam cleaner on antique wool rugs as the pile is likely too delicate for both the high heat and the powerful suction of a steam cleaner. As a general rule, avoid cleaning any natural fiber rugs with a steam cleaner because it can cause materials such as sisal and jute to discolor and shrink. Even cotton isn’t the best idea. Although, if it’s blended with synthetics, it might be OK. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend steam-cleaning cotton rugs. I’d rather have a machine-washable rug.

Spot-Treating vs. Sanitizing

Technically, not all steam cleaners can clean, and a machine that can "deep clean," while a highly marketable phrase, doesn’t always mean it can sterilize. Any steam cleaner can eliminate dirt, stains, pet hair and more, but to actually sanitize a surface and eliminate bacteria, the water needs to be, at minimum, 212 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are shopping for a sanitizing steam cleaner, make sure that the water temperature is hot enough.

If you’re only interested in a steam cleaner for stains and spot-treating, you likely won’t need extremely high heat and warm water steam cleaners will be just fine. Typically, these heat water in the tank 10 to 15 degrees hotter.

Steam Cleaner Safety

While steam cleaning is a great alternative to chemicals, these machines come with serious burn risks. Read the user manual thoroughly to ensure the best handling as each steam cleaner has a specific amount of time for water heating and cooling down. Never open a water tank too early. The tank is pressurized and burning, hot steam will explode out. And with canister-style steam cleaners, both the exterior and tank valve cap can become incredibly hot to the touch. Considering the amount of time steam cleaners need to heat up, stay hot for cleaning and cool down, this might not be the safest cleaning method for a home with little ones or pets.

Even after the manual-stated cooldown time, we recommend using an oven mitt to open the valve for refills. Additionally, most manufacturers instruct to empty the water tank after each use by pressing down on the nozzle and letting any remaining steam run out instead of emptying the water tank.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use a steam cleaner?

Steam cleaners heat water in a pressurized container to a certain temperature for either sanitizing or cleaning. The steam is then forced through a nozzle or mop head to clean. For sanitizing, the steam must be at least two inches from the surface to ensure high enough heat. Use the nozzle in sweeping passes or scrub if using a scrubber attachment. For steam mops, glide the mop head along a surface similar to a stick mop or stick vacuum.

Can you add cleaning solution to steam cleaners?

Do not add cleaning solution or shampoo to traditional steam cleaners as this can damage the interior lining of the water tank and affect steam performance. For steam carpet cleaners such as wet vacuums, read the user manual thoroughly as these machines typically have a strict limit for the shampoo or cleaning solution to water ratio.

What’s the difference between a steam cleaner and a carpet cleaner?

While both a steam cleaner and carpet cleaner can use steam, the difference is that a steam cleaner produces consistent high-heat steam to clean and sanitize surfaces. A carpet cleaner typically does not produce high enough heat to sanitize a surface, rather it uses steam as a first line of defense to loosen up debris and stains before then applying carpet shampoo and vacuuming debris up with a suction-powered tool.

What surfaces should you not use a steam cleaner on?

Don't use a steam cleaner on porous stone surfaces such as marble. Any unsealed hardwood or vinyl flooring should be avoided, too. For fabrics and upholstery, avoid rugs with natural fibers such as jute, sisal, cotton or wool. Additionally, while steam cleaners are great at cleaning glass windows, never clean cold glass with a steam cleaner as the high heat can shatter glass instantly.

What type of water should you use in a steam cleaner?

Like a tea kettle, it's OK to use tap water for a steam cleaner. However, like a tea kettle, minerals will build up in the boiler tank over time and you'll need to descale the tank. That's why most steam cleaner manufacturers recommend using distilled water to prolong the life of the machines and ensure the highest quality steam performance.

What’s the best type of steam cleaner for typical home use?

A traditional canister steam cleaner that heats up to at least 212 degrees Fahrenheit is the best design for general home cleaning as these machines are easier to tote around, store and come with the most common accessories needed for windows, shower tile, kitchen counters and other common household surfaces. For smaller spaces or those with lower mobility, a handheld steam cleaner is the best design for small jobs such as spot cleaning.