5 Best Steam Cleaners, Tested by Cleaning Pros
These powerhouses will absolutely blow you away.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
Cleaning your home with steam is more than just about mopping the floors. There's so much more steam can do, like de-greasing a grill or oven, blasting build-up from around faucets, freshening hard-to-wash fabrics and, of course, whitening dingy grout.
For these jobs, you'll need a handheld or canister-style steam cleaner or at least a good steam mop that converts to a handheld for above-the-floor cleaning tasks. Most come with an assortment of attachments like a squeegee for glass, a nozzle to concentrate the steam, round scrubbing brushes for removing stuck-on grime, mopping pads, cloth covers to steam mattresses and upholstery fabrics and more. Steam cleans — plus, it even sanitizes and helps release trapped odors — without the need for any chemicals. All you'll need is a cloth to wipe the surface clean.
When we test steam cleaners in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab we assess how easily they blast grease and grime we've applied to our Lab's test surfaces. It's equally important to judge how easy they are to use, their versatility, weight, safety features and more.
- Best Overall: Euroflex Vapour Pro M4S
- Best Value: Reliable Pronto Plus 300CS 2-In-1 Steam Cleaner
- Best Canister: Dupray Neat Steam Portable Steamer
- Longest Steam Time: Steamfast Deluxe Canister Steam Cleaner
- Best for Bathrooms: Black + Decker Steam Cleaning System
Euroflex Vapour Pro M4S
Pros
- Internal boiler produces dry, high-pressure steam
- Easy to carry and use with two hands
- Includes a parking mat to protect floors and surfaces during cool down
Cons
- Hose is a bit short
- Pricey
Remove the wands and the Euroflex converts into an easy-to-carry two-handed steamer for cleaning grills, grout and more. It offers many useful features and accessories and in our tests, cleaned very well thanks to its built-in boiler that produces hot, dry and pressurized steam. And because the steam is drier than with non-boiler models, surfaces dry quickly and messy splashing and splattering is minimized too. The controls on the handle can be set for continuous or on-demand steam output, whichever you prefer for the job at hand.
When in floor mode, the front steam jets gave it a head start dissolving stuck-on soils and the heated bottom plate boosts cleaning power. The parking pad is a great place to rest the steamer while it cools, which you must do before refilling it. And while this model is powerful and convenient and comes with a bevy of useful attachments, pads and a storage bag, it is more expensive than most other models and the hose only provides about four and a half feet of reach.
Water tank capacity: 2.5 cups | Steam output: Continuous or on demand | Watts: 1,200 | Cord length: 23 feet | Adjustable steam: No | Attachments: 16
Reliable Pronto Plus 300CS 2-In-1 Steam Cleaner
Pros
- Lightweight
- Includes a wall caddy and attachment bag
- Triangular mop head reaches into corners
Cons
- Pole may be long for some users
- Small water tank
This Reliable was the first steamer we tested that mimicked the design of the best cordless stick vacuums with the power unit on top, a long pole and the cleaning head below. And like a stick vacuum, the lightweight top section is easily removable for handheld use.
A winner of a previous Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning Award, in our tests, the Reliable produced powerful steam, was very easy to steer and hold and included an impressive array of attachments for a steamer at this very affordable price. Nice perks include the wall-mounted caddy, triangular-shaped mopping pads for reaching into corners (Smart!) and a storage bag. Some hiccups are its small water tank — though a consumer tester noted it was especially easy to fill — the lack of an oblong grout brush (it includes round ones) and a long pole that short users might find a bit awkward to use.
Water tank capacity: 1.5 cups | Steam output: Continuous | Watts: 1,200 | Cord length: 19.7 feet | Adjustable steam: Yes | Attachments: 11
Dupray Neat Steam Portable Steamer
Pros
- Glides along easily
- Retractable carry handle
- Large water tank
Cons
- May be tricky to store neatly or compactly
- Squeegee attachment drips
Canister steamers have large water tanks and, like the best canister vacuum cleaners, are on wheels for easy movement. This makes them a convenient choice for big jobs, like floor grout, mattresses or grills.
Dupray's Neat Steamer tank holds 54 ounces and gave us an impressive 53 minutes of pressurized steam time. And at just 9 pounds, we found it easy to pull and tote around, even when filled with water. It did a great job cleaning grout and removing crayon and ink stains from our Cleaning Lab's ceramic tile floor and quartz countertop, though we did get some dripping from the squeegee. And while it comes with its own mopping pads, you can also attach any cloth or towel to the floor nozzle.
The Dupray very intuitive to use and the attachments are easy to put on and take off. We like its retractable carry handle and sleek cube design. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a bag to store the attachments and while there is a cord wrap at the bottom, there isn't one to corral the six-foot-plus long hose.
Water tank capacity: 6.75 cups | Steam output: Continuous | Watts: 1,500 | Cord length: 16 feet | Adjustable steam: Yes | Attachments: 17
Steamfast Deluxe Canister Steam Cleaner
Pros
- Large water tank for long steam time
- On board tool storage
- Big wheels for easy moving
Cons
- Doesn't come with a long grout cleaning brush
- Some reviewers struggled with storing the hose
Steamfast is a brand we've tested many times in the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab and with good results. Both its household steamers and garment clothing steamers have performed well in our tests. We're attracted to this model not only for its great consumer reviews — 4.5 out of 5 on homedepot.com — but for all the features it offers. An extra large water tank provides a claimed pressurized steam time of 90 minutes, more than enough for any big job.
Large wheels mean easy maneuvering and unlike other steamers, it can stash some of the attachments on-board while still providing a tote to store the rest. Storage seems easy with both the hose and cord wraps at the back of the unit, though some reviewers claim it isn't as simple as it looks. It includes a wide and varied assortment of brushes and other attachments, delivers steam on-demand and has adjustable steam levels to better suit the job at hand.
Water tank capacity: 6 cups | Steam output: On demand | Watts: 1,500 | Cord length: 17 feet | Adjustable steam: Yes | Attachments: 16
Black & Decker Steam Cleaning System
Pros
- Two steam settings
- Tools for countertops and shower glass
- Includes a wall storage caddy with a box for storing attachments
Cons
- Can't use grout brush with the wands for floors
- Water tank is not removable
Small rooms, like bathrooms, can be difficult to access and clean, but we think this Black+Decker is up to the task. The mop head is compact to more easily fit into and clean tight floor spaces. Pop it off and use the handheld steamer unit and one of the other many attachments to steam clean the shower walls, doors and tracks, grout, behind and around the toilet and even glass mirrors with its squeegee attachment.
In our tests, we found the Black & Decker easy to use, but would have welcomed a removable water tank for easier filling and a grout brush that can be attached to the wands to clean floors. The fingertip controls were easy to access and the two steam settings meant that we could customize the steam to the task at hand. The wall-mounted caddy includes a box to stash smaller accessories so they never get lost.
It did an impressive job removing stubborn shoe scuffs from our ceramic tile and vinyl lab flooring. And we've never seen a steamer with a mini mop head for counters and tiled walls. Genius!
Water tank capacity: 1.5 cups | Steam output: Continuous | Watts: 1,500 | Cord length: 25 feet | Adjustable steam: Yes | Attachments: 7
How we test steam cleaners
Our Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab experts test steam cleaners by using them as the manufacturer directs — with the appropriate attachments — on surfaces like greasy stovetops, dingy tile grout, baked-on oven grime and even on the glass walls lining the halls of our Labs.
For those that can be used on fabric, we wrinkle up clothing items and upholstery fabric swatches then assess how well the appliance smooths them using standard textile industry wrinkle-grading methods.
As with the best steam irons, garment steamers or any steaming appliance we test, we measure steam output, rate and time. We weigh them and evaluate how easy they are to use, fill, adjust and store. We try all of the attachments and accessories, noting how easily they go on and come off and if they drip or fall off during use. Finally, we evaluate if using the steamer makes cleaning easier or more of a chore. After all, who needs that?
What to look for when buying a steam cleaner
Most steamers with at least 1,000 watts of power will produce enough steam to do a good cleaning job. Consider these other factors when selecting the best steam cleaner for your needs.
✔️ Style: Steamers come just as handheld models, canisters that you pull behind you and steam mops that you push to clean floors and disassemble for handheld use. Choose the style that best suits the tasks you plan to tackle, which you find most convenient and comfortable to use and the storage space you have available.
✔️ Steam: Some steamers emit continuous steam. Others do so on-demand when you press a trigger or button. And still others do both and let you decide which to choose. The most powerful, driest steam cleaners boil water in a high-temperature pressurized chamber. If you go this route, just remember that you'll have to let the steamer cool down before you can safely unscrew the top and refill it.
✔️ Attachments: Most steam cleaners come with a wide assortment of attachments, including squeegees to clean glass, small nylon and brass bristle brushes for scrubbing grime from a variety of surfaces, a nozzle to concentrate the steam and better connect the parts, narrow brushes for cleaning grout lines, wands and a head and several pads if it can tackle floors. Nice extras include smaller heads and cloth covers for steaming fabrics, storage caddies and pads and a bag to corral all the parts so they don't get lost. Some also offer plastic frames that attach to the floor nozzle to freshen carpets, though we've never found these to be particularly effective on the models we've tested.
Are steam cleaners safe for all surfaces?
In a word, no. The best advice it to always test any new cleaning method on a hidden spot first and that goes for steam cleaners too. We never recommend using steam cleaners or mops on wood or laminate floors or butcher block countertops — despite what the manufacturers say. Even natural stone countertops — like marble or granite — and the grout lines between floor and wall tiles should be sealed before you use steam to clean them. And remember, steam cleaners loosen and dislodge grime, they don't pick it up unless a cloth or pad is attached. In most cases, you'll have to use a cloth to wipe and dry the surface.
When using a steam cleaner, always select the lowest steam setting available to start. If more muscle is needed and you feel the surface can handle it, try a higher steam setting. Keep steam cleaners away from any surface that can't be safely cleaned with water.
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.
The 15 Best Tinted Sunscreens
The 7 Best Enzyme Cleaners for Pet Stains
The Best Eye Creams
The Best Ice Cream Makers
