I have to admit that I find cleaning with steam, whether with a great steam mop or the best household steam cleaner, a satisfying and effective way remove dirt and even sanitize surfaces without the need for separate cleaning formulas. And today's steam cleaners are more versatile than ever. Most come with a variety of attachments that can be used to zap greasy grime in the kitchen, dissolve soap scum in the bathroom, whiten dingy grout and more.
When we test steam cleaners in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab we assess how easily they blast away the grease and stains we've applied to our Lab's test surfaces and how well they clean blackened floor tile grout. We also assess how easy — or messy — they are to use, their versatility, weight, safety features, storage footprint and more.
Household steam cleaners come in all shapes and sizes and two of the most popular models, Black+Decker's Steam Cleaning System and Dupray's Neat Steam Cleaner, offer two very different approaches to cleaning with steam. I've tested both and here are the pros and cons of each and how they compare.
At a glance
Black+Decker Steam Cleaning System
Black & Decker Multipurpose Steam Cleaning System with 7 Attachments
Pros
- Easy to store
- Heats up quickly
- Offers two steam settings
Cons
- Water tank is not removable
| Form | Stick |
|---|---|
| Steam output | Continuous |
| Attachments | 7 |
| Cord length | ~ 20 feet |
| Steam time | 23 minutes on low |
| Steam settings | 2 |
| Warranty | Two-year limited |
Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner
Pros
- On wheels for easy movement
- Large water tank
- Super-heats steam for less dripping
Cons
- Needs to cool before refilling
- Can be bulky to store
| Form | Canister |
|---|---|
| Steam output | On demand and continuous |
| Attachments | 17 |
| Cord length | ~16 feet |
| Steam time | 45 minutes |
| Steam settings | 1 |
| Warranty | 2-year limited; Lifetime on boiler |
Design
The Black+Decker steamer looks and works like a stick vacuum with the steaming unit and water tank up top. The Dupray resembles a little canister vacuum where you hold the lightweight hose and attachments and pull the cube-shaped body along behind you. The Dupray is on wheels so maneuvering it is super easy. While the Black+Decker is more streamlined and compact, the Dupray is lighter to hold and use as the bulk of its weight is on the floor. I've always been a fan of canister vacuums, so I'm leaning toward the Dupray here.
Heat up and steam time
With its large 40-ounce, pressurized water tank, the Dupray takes about eight minutes to heat up while the Black+Decker is ready to go in just 30 seconds. In my tests, I got 45 minutes of steam from the Dupray and about 23 minutes from the Black+Decker. And when it's time for a refill, the Dupray needs to de-pressurize and cool down for about 20 minutes while the Black+Decker's clear, see-through water tank can be refilled immediately.
Black+Decker produces continuous steam and offers two steam levels for tackling sturdy and delicate surfaces. Dupray produces one level of powerful steam on demand when you press a trigger or it can be locked into continuous mode for bigger tasks.
For speed, Black+Decker has the edge here. The Dupray takes longer to heat up and cool down but also steams longer before it needs to be refilled. Honestly, you could blast through another tank of water with the Black+Decker just waiting to refill the Dupray.
Cleaning ability
Both steamers cut through grease and grime, removed stuck on stains from our test surfaces and scrubbed dirty floor tile grout clean. The pressurized steam blast on the Dupray is noticeably more forceful so it did clean more quickly and with a bit less effort. Keep in mind that when steam hits a cold surface, it condenses so expect to sop up the water it leaves behind. I had to do this with both steamers, though somewhat less with Dupray's drier steam.
While both clean very well, the Dupray make it a somewhat easier, less messy process so I'm giving it points here for that and I do like the way you can switch the steam from on demand to continuous with just the press of a button.
Attachments
Dupray claims 17 versus seven for Black+Decker, but that includes the wands, microfiber pads, a cloth and the attachment adaptor. Factor those items in for the Black+Decker and it brings its total up to 13. What the Dupray offers that the Black+Decker doesn't is a triangular scrub brush to reach into corners, three microfiber mopping pads, a floor nozzle that accommodates other cleaning cloths, a wider window squeegee and six versus two round scrubbing brushes.
Black+Decker though includes an attachment with a microfiber bonnet for steaming garments, a slim, narrow grout brush and a unique mini head with a microfiber pad for steam cleaning countertops, shower doors and other flat surfaces. The mopping head on the Black+Decker is also a bit wider than the Dupray's so it will cover more ground with each pass. So while the Dupray may have a few more, Black+Decker's attachments provide greater versatility and I prefer a product that can multitask.
Storage
This one has to go to Black+Decker. Included with its system is a wall-mountable storage caddy that holds the mop and all of the accessories for out-of-the-way yet convenient access. A small box atop the caddy holds all the little brushes so none get lost and there's even a mesh bag if you prefer to corral the small attachments that way.
The Dupray does have a cool rectangular handle that recesses into the canister body and its cord winds into a well underneath the canister, but the hose is a bit bulky and unwieldy to wrap neatly around the canister making storage a bit cumbersome and the attachments have no place to go but back into the box. Black+Decker addresses the storage issue best.
Price
Neither unit is very expensive and there's only $50 separating them so I don't think price is really the main issue here. For $50 more, the Dupray produces more powerful steam and offers longer steam time but isn't as compact to use or store as the Black+Decker and takes longer to heat up and cool down. More important than price is to think about what jobs you'll be expecting the steamer to do and how much storage space you have to spare.
Bottom line: Which steam cleaner is best?
In my opinion, both cleaners do a great job accomplishing what they are designed to do, steam clean and sanitize household surfaces. You can't go wrong with either model. The Dupray harnesses the power of steam a bit better while the Black+Decker offers the convenience and versatility that makes cleaning easier. Go with the one that works best for you and your home.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Carolyn Forté is the GH Institute's Home Care & Cleaning Lab executive director. She has a B.A. in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York, and is a consumer products expert. She has been testing, speaking and writing about appliances, textiles, cleaning products and more for over 40 years as well as consulting with the appliance industry about appliance testing protocols and consumer laundry habits.
She's a fan of harnessing the power of steam both for laundry and all around the house as an effective way to freshen, de-wrinkle, remove odors, sanitize and minimize scrubbing.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
