The Best Handheld Steam Cleaners, Tested and Reviewed

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The best handheld steam cleaner removes stains, ground-in dirt, and grime. Here are some of the top choices for giving your home a deep clean.

A vacuum, mop, or broom works just fine for daily cleaning and upkeep, but handheld steam cleaners are more effective when removing unsightly stains, stubborn dirt, and grime. To find the best handheld steam cleaners available, we put nine models through extensive testing to discover which had the most deep-cleaning power.

Handheld steam cleaners rely on high-heat vapor from boiling water to loosen and lift tough, ground-in messes; kill germs; and sanitize surfaces. While a handheld steamer isn’t ideal for large jobs, it can work wonders on everything from upholstery to carpets, bathroom tiles to laminate floors, and even clothing and curtains.

In this guide, we’ll show you how we tested each steam cleaner and which models performed the best.

1. BEST OVERALL: Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Bissell 39N7A Steam Shot Handheld Steam Cleaner
3. BEST FOR CLOTHES: PerfectDay Portable Handheld Garment Steamer
4. BEST FOR CARPET: PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Cleaner
5. BEST MOP: Bissell 2075A PowerFresh Slim 3-in-1 Steam Mop
6. BEST HEAVY-DUTY: McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam Cleaner
7. BEST ATTACHMENTS: Phueut Pressurized Handheld Steam Cleaner

How We Tested the Best Handheld Steam Cleaners

Before testing, we researched the best handheld steam cleaners and selected popular models that fit a range of needs. We included options that are budget-friendly, convert to a mop, have a large water tank capacity, and come with multiple attachments.

We chose nine steam cleaners and put them through hard- and soft-surface tests. For our soft-surface tests, we used an upholstery board with tan microsuede fabric, a white shag carpet scrap, and a pair of light-wash jeans. We stained each surface with dirt, coffee, red wine, vegetable oil, tomato sauce, and chocolate sauce. We then used each steamer on the stains. The results were consistent across the board: All steamers removed most of the dirt, coffee, and red wine on all surfaces, but none of the portable steam cleaners could completely remove the oil, tomato sauce, or chocolate sauce.

For our hard-surface tests, we used each handheld steam cleaner (except for the clothing-only model) to dislodge grease in an oven, remove mineral buildup in a dishwasher, clean dirty bathroom grout, and loosen dried food off the floor. We evaluated how well each model cleaned various household surfaces and scored them with a rubric.

Our Top Picks

The best handheld steam cleaners are lightweight, provide adequate steam, and offer a variety of attachments. They also do a great job deep cleaning floors and removing light stains from fabrics. We tested nine models; here are the ones that made the cut.

Best Overall

Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner

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Most handheld steam mops have a relatively small tank capacity that restricts their cleaning time to 10 or 20 minutes. But the Dupray Neat steam cleaner separates the cleaning head from the tank, resulting in a capacity of 54 ounces and a runtime of up to 50 minutes. It also has an integrated funnel that makes it easy to fill.

Its extensive accessory set includes multipurpose nylon heads, a brass grout brush, floor and window tools, a steam lance, a triangle tool, extensions, microfiber cloths, and cleaning pads. A 16-foot cord and 6 feet 6 inches of hose allow good freedom of movement.

The Dupray Neat steam cleaner passed our hard-surface tests with flying colors. It put out more steam than any other model and was more efficient thanks to its 275 degree Fahrenheit temperature. We used the round brush attachment on our dingy grout, which returned it to its light pearl gray color in no time. It also dislodged mineral deposits in our shower and around our sink, degreased our oven, and cleaned our floors. We also love how slim the mophead is; it fit under all our furniture and cabinets for a comprehensive deep cleaning.

During soft-surface testing, the Dupray lifted light stains off upholstery and clothing. Like the rest of the models, it couldn’t remove dark or oil-based stains. We used it to release wrinkles on clothes, which it did quickly thanks to ample amounts of steam.

While this model is a deep-cleaning powerhouse, it does have a couple of cons. First, it sometimes spits out water after first being powered on. To combat this, we squeezed the trigger a few times before using it on upholstery so we didn’t oversaturate our fabric. Second, at 9 pounds, it’s heavier than other handheld options—though we had no problems maneuvering it around the house.

Read our full review: Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner

Product Specs 

• Weight: 9 pounds
• Surfaces: Floors, upholstery, grout, tile, appliances, car interiors, furniture, mattresses, bathrooms
• Attachments: 17 pieces

Pros

• Delivers large amounts of superheated steam, allowing it to clean more quickly than most other models
• 17-piece accessory set includes floor and window tools, microfiber pads and cloth, and several brushes
• Extension wand makes it suitable for hard-to-reach jobs like cleaning showers and steaming curtains
• Trigger works for on-demand steam, and the trigger lock allows for continuous steam

Cons

• At 9 pounds with a 54 ounce water tank, it might be too heavy for some users
• Loud when using a concentrated attachment like a small round brush or steam lance

Get the Dupray handheld steam cleaner at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Dupray.

Best Bang for the Buck

Bissell 39N7A Steam Shot Handheld Steam Cleaner

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The Bissell Steam Shot steam cleaner is a 4-pound handheld steam cleaner with an on-demand trigger. It comes with 10 accessories, including three scrubbing brushes, a grout brush, a flat scraper tool, an angle concentrator tool, a window squeegee, an extension hose, an accessory nozzle, and a fabric steamer.

This model from Bissell is handy for cleaning up small messes, but it’s not ideal for large jobs since you can’t lock the steam trigger in place, and the water tank only holds 6.6 ounces.

We tested the Bissell on tile, and the provided grout brush did a fantastic job, fitting perfectly into our grout lines. We also used this model to dislodge mineral deposits in our dishwasher and around a faucet as well as spot clean dried-on sauce off the floor. It did great on all hard surface tests, and the attachments felt like they were of good quality.

The provided fabric steamer released wrinkles from clothes and was helpful in refreshing furniture. As far as removing stains, the Bissell was only able to remove light staining from upholstery, clothing, and carpet. In addition to being less effective on soft surfaces, one of the biggest cons of this model is its rounded front design. It often felt like the steamer was leaning forward in our hands and didn’t seem as steady as some of the other steamers.

Product Specs 

• Weight 4 pounds
• Surfaces: Hard surfaces, fabric, grout, appliances, shower doors, and windows
• Attachments: 10 pieces

Pros

• At only 4 pounds, this model is easy to carry around the house
• Multipurpose; worked well to clean hard surfaces and also includes a fabric attachment
• Has a long reach thanks to its 20-foot power cord

Cons

• Rounded front design makes this model feel like it’s tilted forward while in use
• Can’t lock the steam trigger in place and has a small water tank; better suited to small jobs

Get the Bissell Steam Shot handheld steam cleaner at Amazon, Lowe’s, Wayfair, Walmart, or Bissell.

Best for Clothes

PerfectDay Portable Handheld Garment Steamer

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At just 1 pound, this small travel steamer is perfect for at-home use or taking on a trip. Its generous steam flow and ample heat effectively pull wrinkles out of all fabric types.

This compact handheld unit features a 100 milliliter water tank that provides continuous steam for up to 10 minutes. It comes with a fabric-brush attachment for cleaning dirt off garments and smoothing wrinkles. Another great feature is the auto shutoff that powers down the steamer if it gets too hot or the water levels are too low.

Since this model is intended for garments, we tested it on wrinkly clothing items and stains. It removed wrinkles from clothing well, but the small water tank capacity only allowed us to steam three women’s size M shirts or two size XXL men’s shirts before needing a refill. After testing for wrinkle release, we attempted stain removal using our test jeans. The steamer helped loosen dirt, coffee, and red wine but was no match for dark or oil-based stains.

The PerfectDay portable steam cleaner is small, lightweight, and user-friendly. It can replace a clothing iron and is easy to store. The downside is that it’s for garments only and doesn’t offer the versatility of the other options on this list.

Product Specs

• Weight: 1 pound
• Surfaces: Fabric
• Attachments: 1 piece

Pros

• Compact and portable; a great item for travel
• Dual safety-protection system shuts off device when its too hot or low on water
• Budget-friendly and solidly constructed; easy to use, clean, and maintain

Cons

• Only suited for clothing and fabric; doesn’t work for cleaning other household surfaces

Get the PerfectDay handheld steam cleaner at Amazon.

Best for Carpet

PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Cleaner

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Gone are the days of renting a heavy carpet cleaner—this lightweight steam mop from PurSteam sanitizes deep into the fibers of carpets and area rugs. With a reservoir of 11.5 ounces, it provides up to 25 minutes of steam on the lowest setting. It works with tap water, so there’s no need for harsh chemicals.

Multiple accessories, including nylon brushes, can clean spots on carpets without leaving residue behind. But this steam mop goes beyond just cleaning carpets. It easily converts into a handheld steam cleaner with three adjustable modes and can tackle hard-surface floors such as tile and hardwood, clean windows, and steam clothing.

When we tested this mop, we were immediately impressed by how quickly it warmed up and how much steam it put out. It removed light staining on the carpet and upholstery, leaving the fabric refreshed. The jet nozzle worked to steam our carpet for sanitization purposes, and the round nylon brush was suitable as a spot cleaner. We also tested it on hard surfaces, like grout, sinks, and an oven. The handheld unit was awkward to maneuver when tackling large jobs since it lacks an extension hose, but it still cleaned well.

We also used the mop, and it was one of our favorite features. Since it delivered such a high amount of steam, it cleaned quickly. The biggest con was the short 15.9 foot power cord that didn’t reach across some of our test rooms.

Product Specs

• Weight: 4.85 pounds
• Surfaces: Hard surfaces, floors, fabric, grout, carpet, clothing, windows, mirrors, stainless steel
• Attachments: 10 attachments

Pros

• Excellent mopping power and slim enough to fit around toilets, baseboards, and furniture
• Cleans multiple surfaces, including upholstery and carpet, with only water
• Super lightweight and maneuverable; water tank can be refilled while steaming

Cons

• Handheld unit doesn’t include an extension hose, making it hard to reach some surfaces
• Shorter 15.9 foot electrical cord doesn’t stretch across long rooms, requiring users to switch outlets

Get the PurSteam handheld steam cleaner at Amazon, Walmart, or PurSteam.

Best Mop

Bissell 2075A PowerFresh Slim 3-in-1 Steam Mop

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This cleaner from Bissell offers the versatility of a handheld steamer while attaching to a long steam mop. The mop allows easy cleaning of hardwood, laminate, tile, and other hard floor surfaces, while the handheld steamer works on furniture, curtains, clothes, and other fabrics.

The onboard cleaning kit includes three round scrubbing brushes, a flat scraper, a flat surface tool, a bristle scrub brush, a grout tool, and an angle tool. The attachments can hook directly to the handheld unit or the same extension tube as the mophead, helping you reach ceiling fans, molding, and windows. A bonus garment steamer makes this unit a complete in-home cleaning system.

During testing, we used the fabric steamer to release wrinkles from clothing, and it worked as intended. We also spot treated stains on carpet, microsuede, and jeans. This model removed the light stains but didn’t make a dent in dark or oil-based ones. To continue testing, we switched to the grout brush, which dislodged the dirt in our grout lines. We appreciated that the attachments could hook to the extension tube, allowing us to clean high shower grout without straining our arms or neck.

The handheld unit also performed well on grease and mineral buildup, but this model does have a couple of pitfalls. First, there’s no hose for the attachments. When tackling larger jobs that are low to the ground, like cleaning floor grout or removing buildup in bathtubs, models with a hose sit on the ground while you hold the lightweight cleaning attachment in your hand. Since the Bissell PowerFresh lacked a hose, we constantly had to switch hands when one became too tired, especially when cleaning floor grout. Second, the handheld unit attaches to the top of the mop, so it feels heavy compared to other options.

Product Specs

• Weight: 6.125 pounds
• Surfaces: Hard surfaces, floors, fabric, upholstery, grout, appliances, showers, sinks, bathrooms, toys
• Attachments: 7 pieces

Pros

• Converts from a handheld steamer to a stick mop for whole-house cleaning
• Multiple cleaning-head attachments go directly on the handheld unit or the extension wand
• Can clean most materials and surfaces, including upholstery, kitchens, baths, ovens, and countertops

Cons

• Lack of extension hose makes for awkward cleaning on jobs like grout, sinks, and ovens
• Expensive in comparison to othe