Top Five Best Steam Cleaners For 2020

Jon Barrow

In this article

The best steam cleaners really can make your life easier. With powerful jets of steam, they easily shift stains without using harsh chemicals.

But many models can be disappointing, offering little more cleaning power than a traditional mop. And price is no indicator of quality - the most expensive steam cleaners aren't always the best, and the cheapest don't necessarily give a poor clean. In fact, we've found Don't Buy steam mops that cost more than £100, and Best Buy steam cleaners for less than £50.

To help you select the right model, we've rounded up some of the best cleaners we've tested in our table below. Whether you want a portable device for occasionally refreshing your bathroom or need a heavyweight model for powering across all your floors, we've got a recommendation for you, based on our tough tests.

We've also picked out some of the worst steam cleaners we've seen in the lab, so you know which to avoid.

Only logged-in Which? members can view our results in the table below. If you’re not yet a member, join Which? for instant access.

Best all round steam cleaner

76%

£144.99

Reviewed Feb 2019

This model is the best all round cleaner that we've tested. It's well built, comes with loads of useful accessories and is especially impressive at sprucing up glass and wall tiles.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

Already a member? Log in

Best handheld steam cleaner

69%

£35.00

Reviewed Feb 2019

This is the best handheld steam cleaner we've tested. It's great for cleaning tiles and glass surfaces and because it's so lightweight it won't leave you with an aching arm after you've finished using it.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

Already a member? Log in

Best value steam cleaner

67%

£40.00

Reviewed Mar 2018

This excellent multipurpose steam cleaner is fantastic value. The upright cleaner does a good job on floors while the detachable unit works well on other surfaces. And handily it can be used with regular tap water.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

Already a member? Log in

Best cylinder steam cleaner

76%

£144.99

Reviewed Feb 2019

This model is the best all round cleaner that we've tested. It's well built, comes with loads of useful accessories and is especially impressive at sprucing up glass and wall tiles.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

Already a member? Log in

Best steam cleaner for carpets

67%

£299.00

Reviewed Mar 2018

This cylinder cleaner is a good option if you want a steam cleaner that can be used to get stains out of carpets. It also works well on hard floors and comes with an anti-limescale compound so can be used with everyday tap water.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

Already a member? Log in

Pricing, recommendations and test scores correct as of March 2019.

Not found the product for you? Browse all our steam cleaner reviews.

Three steam cleaners to avoid

While the steam cleaners in the table above are among the very best you can buy, there are loads of poor models that you should avoid. Our testing has uncovered some badly built devices that struggle to produce a decent steam output after they've been used a few times, or stop working completely. Others struggle to lift even simple stains or have such limited capacities that you'll be forced to refill them every few minutes.

Three of the worst steam cleaners

50%

£79.99

Reviewed Jul 2019

This model is being heavily advertised but you shouldn’t fall for the hype. In reality it is a mediocre device that lacks the power to shift stains from floors and tiles. It's also frustrating to use with a very short power cable.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

Already a member? Log in

47%

£60.00

Reviewed Jun 2016

This steam cleaner is speedy to heat up and excellent at mopping muddy footprints from your textured floors. However, it’s ineffective at cleaning dried-on sauce or sticky spills and unimpressive as a handheld cleaner. Plus there’s no squeegee for cleaning glass.

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

Already a member? Log in

40%

£99.00

Reviewed Jul 2017

This unreliable unit stopped working after we'd only used it for a handful of times. We found that water had got into it and caused it to short circuit - not what you'd expect from a device that's designed to produce steam!

First month only £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel any time

Already a member? Log in

What type of steam cleaner should I choose?

There are four main types of steam cleaner. While they all work in much the same way – producing a jet of steam that you use to shift stains – they all have different strengths. Choose the one that best suits your needs:

Handheld steam cleaners These lightweight models are easy to carry around and store. They're great for cleaning small areas, such as around your bathroom taps, but their limited water tank capacity and handheld design means they're not ideal for floors.
Steam mops These upright models resemble vacuum cleaners. They're usually lightweight with a pivoting mop head that's easy to manoeuvre around obstacles and into corners. Great for floors, they often lack the accessories necessary to clean other surfaces (such as wall tiles or glass).
Two-in-one cleaners These multipurpose models combine an upright model with a removable hand-held unit, usually built into the handle. They're very versatile but are usually heavier and more expensive than standard steam mops.
Cylinder steam cleaners These are heavy, wheeled devices with a hose and mop head plus a main body that you pull along behind you. They usually come with plenty of accessories, enabling you to handle most cleaning jobs, and their large water tanks mean they can steam for far longer than an upright model. However they're bulky and expensive so won't appeal to most users.

Read our how to buy the best steam cleaner guide for more advice.