The Best Steam Cleaners To Tackle Stains, Dirt And More

Weight: 9 pounds | Tank capacity: 54 ounces | Recommended surfaces: Hard floors, carpet, grout, tile, fabric, windows, mirrors | Cord length: 16 feet

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight
• Has a surprisingly large tank capacity
• Comes with four primary cleaning tools

Cons:

• Doesn’t come with a scraper tool
• Cord could be longer

Most canister steam cleaners are an eyesore, but the Dupray Neat offers impressive cleaning power, a large tank capacity, and 17 accessories—all in a relatively compact, attractive package. It’s a versatile option that can tackle just about any household cleaning job, from floors and grout to furniture to appliances. 

It has four primary cleaning tools: a basic floor tool, a triangle tool for accessing tight corners, a window tool and a steam lance. The floor and triangle tools are paired with microfiber pads or cloths to tackle floor and upholstery cleaning, while the window tool can be used on both windows and mirrors. The steam lance offers the most precise cleaning ability, as it can be used with small brushes (the Neat comes with five nylon brushes and one brass brush) to effectively clean grout, car interiors, ovens, sinks and even toilets.

At 9 pounds, it weighs less than competitor canister steam cleaners, but the shorter cord length limits its portability in larger spaces. A 16-foot cord isn’t nothing, but similar options on our list have 25-foot cords, so if you plan to clean a sizable room, this might be something to consider. 

Weight: 4.4 pounds | Tank capacity: 12.8 ounces | Recommended surfaces: Hard floors, carpet, grout, tile, fabric, glass, clothing | Cord length: 16 feet

Pros:

• Most lightweight option on our list
• Can convert into a handheld

Cons:

• Small tank capacity
• Only comes with three brushes

This handy steam cleaner offers the most bang for your buck and can be converted from an upright to a handheld model for extra convenience. Unlike our best overall pick, this is a steam mop, not a canister cleaner, and therefore, is lightweight, compact and intuitive to use. 

When used as a steam mop, this machine quickly and effectively cleans hard floors and carpets (it comes with a carpet glider attachment). Converting it into a handheld, though, really lets it shine. It doesn’t come with as many attachments as our best overall pick, but the attachments it does come with are real standouts. The angled nozzle and steamer jet attachments make quick work of grout and appliance cleaning, while the scrape tool is ideal for removing the toughest buildup. Plus, the squeegee attachment is surprisingly versatile—you can use it to clean mirrors, shower doors, windows and fabric (when used with the garment cloth).

Weight: 22.5 pounds | Tank capacity: 128 ounces (1 gallon) | Recommended surfaces: Carpet, fabric | Cord length: 25 feet

Pros:

• Designed to penetrate tough stains on carpet and upholstery
• Wide cleaning path and extra large tank capacity
• Generous cord length 

Cons:

• Only comes with two tools, neither of which have steam functionality
• Cannot be used on hard floors
• Heavy 

While many steam mops and cleaners can be used on carpets, they typically have a smaller cleaning path and aren’t suitable for heavy-duty cleaning. If you want to clean your carpets and upholstery thoroughly, invest in a true carpet cleaner with steam functionality. The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam is a solid option with three cleaning modes for removing fresh and deeply embedded stains like dirt, urine, food, grease and even blood. The steam feature works in conjunction with a cleaning formula (Bissell has a few options) for a deeper clean.

This model comes with two additional tools: a 2-in-1 pet upholstery tool for cleaning both wet and dry messes on furniture, and a 6-inch stair tool for cleaning tricky stairs and other tight spaces. Unfortunately, you can’t use steam with those tools—the steam feature can only be utilized with the main carpet cleaner. Still, this is a powerful machine that’s more than capable of tackling tough messes.

Weight: 6.1 pounds | Tank capacity: 11.8 ounces | Recommended surfaces: Hard floors, grout, metal, upholstery, glass, clothing | Cord length: 25 feet

Pros:

• Converts to handheld with an extension wand
• Comes with a garment steamer attachment
• Long cord length
• Highly portable

Cons:

• Small tank capacity

On the other hand, if you plan to mostly steam your hardwood floors, then a steam mop with some added features is ideal. The Bissell PowerFresh Slim is a simple machine that can do quite a lot, thanks to its 3-in-1 capability. The mop setup can be used on any sealed hard floors (including ceramic, linoleum, granite, marble and hardwood), and the generous 25-foot cord is suitable for rooms of all sizes. You can also convert it into a handheld cleaner by removing the top pod or keeping the extension wand on to get into those hard-to-reach areas.

If you use the handheld pod, you have a few different attachments to choose from, including a grout tool, a scraper tool, an angled tool and three scrubbing brushes. There’s even a fabric steamer attachment, which you can use with either a cloth (for steaming clothing and curtains) or a squeegee (for steaming windows, glass and mirrors). 

Weight: 10.8 pounds | Tank capacity: 48 ounces | Recommended surfaces: Hard floors, grout, tile, metal, upholstery | Cord length: 18 feet

Pros:

• Powerful steam output
• Long run time

Cons:

• No attachment designed specifically for glass

While any steam cleaner with a grout attachment can get the job done, the McCulloch MC1375 has extra features that make it especially suitable for tackling grout. Firstly, it’s a powerful machine—it delivers steam pressure up to 58 psi, which beats the Dupray Neat (50 psi). This power makes it easier to blast away grime, even if it’s set in. Plus, there are a variety of brushes to choose from, including five nylon brushes and five brass brushes, as well as an angled nozzle to get into the crevices of your grout.

In addition to cleaning grout, this machine cleans floors, furniture and more. It’s designed for heavy-duty cleaning and has a large mop head for hard floors, a triangle brush for corners, an extension wand for reaching high or low spots and a scraper for extra tough grime. All of this comes in a fairly compact package, with a 48-ounce tank that has a runtime of about 45 minutes on high. 

Weight: 3 pounds | Tank capacity: 6 ounces | Recommended surfaces: Hard floors, grout, tile, metal, upholstery | Cord length: 15 feet

Pros:

• Comes with an impressive number of attachments, including an extension hose
• Affordable

Cons:

• Small tank capacity means a shorter run time
• Not as powerful as traditional steam cleaners

Since most steam cleaners can convert into a handheld, it’s often more cost-effective to buy a traditional steam cleaner rather than a specific handheld model. Still, handheld steam cleaners are typically much more affordable than a canister steam cleaner or a steam mop, so they’re worth buying if you don’t want to steam floors. Another thing to keep in mind is that there simply aren’t a lot of good handheld models out there—a