The 10 Best Steam Cleaners - June 2017
Every week we analyse the technical specs, reviews and prices of every steam cleaner on the market in the US to determine our top 10 list.
In total we compared over 190 steam cleaners, 359 reviews and 252 prices. Last updated 20 June 2017.
Pyle PSTMH02
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$31.50View Details
Shark S3455
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$68.96View Details
Pyle PSTHH05
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$53.29View Details
Bissell Lift‑Off Steam Mop
Black & Decker FSM1605
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$134.76View Details
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Steam Cleaner Buying Guide
A steam cleaner is a specialised floor cleaning machine - it heats up water to produce steam, which is then used to clean floors,curtains or upholstery at very high pressure. The mixture of the very hot steam and the pressure mean that it is far more effective than a vacuum cleaner for shifting stains and dirt from floors and carpets - think of it as a super-powered version of a standard mop and bucket! There are 3 main types of steam cleaner - upright, cylinder and portable:
Upright
These steam cleaners look like traditional vacuum cleaners, with a handle on top, the steam generator built into the main body, and a flat cleaning head on the bottom. The design makes it easy to clean large areas of floor at once, though the all-in-one design means that it's far more bulky for cleaning upholstery and curtains.
Cylinder
This make of steam cleaner has a separate section (usually on wheels) for the steam generator and power, then a nozzle and cleaning head extending from the base. Unlike the upright design, the nozzle is free-moving and very flexible. This means cylinder cleaners are extremely versatile - they can be used on floors, upholstery and curtains with equal ease. However they do tend to be the more expensive option.
Portable
As the name suggests, these steam cleaners are smaller and handheld. Because of the lack of size, they aren't designed for cleaning floors or carpets - instead these devices are meant for cleaning upholstery or curtains. Their handheld size makes them extremely flexible and can reach awkward corners with ease, but their size comes with a tradeoff in power and water capacity, so are nowhere near as effective as thier larger brothers.
Water Capacity
Steam cleaners have an onboard water tank that is used to generate the steam used for cleaning. The capacity of these tanks can vary considerably - from small 0.2L handheld tanks, to enormous 2L tanks in the bigger models. The larger the water tank, the more steam can be generated before the machine needs to be refilled. This means larger machines can be used for longer at a time, and so are more efficient for larger cleaning jobs.
Steam Pressure
Steam cleaners have a pressure rating, measured in 'bars'. The higher the pressure rating, the stronger the steam will be 'pushed' against the floor or carpet. This leads to more effective, deeper cleans, meaning your carpets get cleaner, faster! We have models with pressure ratings from 1 to 5 bars.
Included Accessories
Finally, many steam cleaners come equipped with a range of different nozzles, brushes and accessories to help with different cleaning scenarios. Be aware that some of the extra accessories may come with an additional cost, but the increased utility is usually worth it. Things to look for include:
- Specific nozzles for cleaning windows, corners and upholstery
- Brushes for better cleaning hardwood and vinyl floors
- Accessories such as gloves and pads to make deep cleans much easier
Steam Cleaner Retailers, Prices and Features
Steam Cleaner Prices
In total we found 5 steam cleaners ranging from $26 to $770. The average price of a new steam cleaner is $221 and the 80% of steam cleaners are priced between $69 and $770. The Shark S3601 is the cheapest steam cleaner at only $26, and Polti Fav30 is the most expensive at $770.
Steam Cleaner Brands - Price Range
The average price of Polti steam cleaners is $770 which is the highest average price of all steam cleaner brands. Polti steam cleaners range in price from $770 to $770.
The second highest average steam cleaner price out of all brands is Black & Decker steam cleaners with an average price of $135. Black & Decker steam cleaners range in price from $135 to $135.
The third highest average steam cleaner price out of all brands is Bissell steam cleaners with an average price of $104. Bissell steam cleaners range in price from $104 to $104.
Steam Cleaner Brands - Average Ratings
We have analysed 1 expert reviews and 184 user reviews for steam cleaners from across the internet and used these reviews to evaluate the average rating for each brand of steam cleaner. VAX is the top rated steam cleaner brand with an average rating of 85%. Shark is the second best brand with 79% and Polti is the third best brand with 49%.
Biggest Steam Cleaner Retailers
The biggest steam cleaner retailer by number of products currently for sale is eBay. We found 4 current steam cleaner offers from eBay. The second biggest steam cleaner retailer is Walmart with 2 offers. That means eBay is much bigger than Walmart when it comes to steam cleaners. Best Buy is the third biggest retailer with 2 current offers.
When Are Most New Steam Cleaners Released?
Over the last 3 years we couldn't see any obvious pattern in the release month for new steam cleaners. 12 new steam cleaners were released in October 2016 making it the biggest month that year for new steam cleaner releases. The biggest month in 2015 for new steam cleaner releases was January, with 18 new steam cleaners released that month. May was the biggest month in 2014 for new steam cleaners, with 48 new steam cleaners released that month.
How Fast Do Steam Cleaner Prices Drop After Release?
In the first 6 months after release, steam cleaners drop in price by 44% on average. That means that on a typical steam cleaner costing $221 you could save on average $96 by waiting 6 months before buying.
Capacities
Across the range of steam cleaners, the capacities range from 0.06L to 500L. The capacities of most steam cleaners range from 0.33L to 0.6L. The SharkS3601 has the biggest capacity. This steam cleaner is a 500L capacity steam cleaner and is available at $26.01. The SharkS3601, which is on sale for $68.96, has the smallest capacity and is a 0.33L capacity steam cleaner.
Powers
Across the range of steam cleaners, the powers range from 550W to 2,450W. The powers of the majority of steam cleaners range from 1,500W to 1,700W. The steam cleaner with the biggest power is the SharkS3601, which is a 1,550W power steam cleaner and sells for $26.01. The steam cleaner with the smallest power is the SharkS3601, which is a 1,300W power steam cleaner and sells for $134.81.
Biggest Steam Cleaner Retailers
The biggest steam cleaner retailer by number of products currently for sale is eBay. We found 4 current steam cleaner offers from eBay. The second biggest steam cleaner retailer is Walmart with 2 offers. That means eBay is much bigger than Walmart when it comes to steam cleaners. Best Buy is the third biggest retailer with 2 current offers.
Which Are the Cheapest Retailers for Steam Cleaners?
The cheapest retailer by number of steam cleaner for which they offer the cheapest price is v with the cheapest price on 3 steam cleaners.