Best steam cleaner

Best Steam Cleaner

Best steam cleanerFind the best steam cleaners and floor mops for tiles, laminate, carpets and pets. We have reviewed top rated:

Most modern houses have different floor types in different parts of the house with a fair mix of carpeted floors and hard floors. You therefore need the steam cleaner that will glide through all your different surfaces without any trouble.

Best Steam Cleaner 2018

The key tip here is to look for steam cleaners that work well in most hard floors and also have carpet glider functionality.

Also different floor texture have different temperature threshold. For instance porcelain tiles that are unglazed and porous are not suitable for high temperature vapour pressure because glazed material is water resistant and leaves a wet finish. With such floors you need a cleaner that has variable settings and dries floors superfast like the that dries floors superfast after cleaning.

This variable floor setting functionality employs smart settings to regulate the hot water vapour pressure and temperature suitable for your floors.

Best Steam Cleaners- Buyer’s Guide

What exactly is a steam mop? A steam mop is designed to clean soft surfaces like carpets and floors of all types, both hardwood, laminate, ceramic and marble. Most steam mops do not require detergents or cleaning agents because of the mechanism behind the steam mop.

Steam mops mainly use steam to clean. Water is poured into a reservoir attached to the mop. The water is then heated to very temperatures, upwards of 120 degree centigrade to release steam. The steam soaks a micro-fibre that is fitted beneath the steam. The jetting steam in turn soaks and traps dirt that is sucked from surfaces.

One good thing about steam mops is that they restore the gloss of the floor. You do not have to deal with messy detergents or dirty water. Steam mops do not leave residues or stains on floors. The super hot steam jetting from the steam mop can kill up to 99.9% of all germs on any surface.

Best Steam MopWhen choosing which is the best steam mop or cleaner to buy UK 2018, check out for those that are easy to assemble. If it is too complicated to fit together, move over to the next one because it takes away the delight of buying it.
Read through the product description to be sure that you can assemble the gadget you buy with relative ease.

If you are like most people, you always want immediate gratification from what you buy, do not let assembling the product you buy stand in the way.

Fortunately all the best products we have reviewed can be assembled effortlessly.

Streaks Free:
When you use clean microfibre pads, your floors will never leave streaks that steal the gloss a good run of cleaning is supposed to give you.
I see in forums and reviews people venting their frustrations by complaining that their products leave streaks on their floors.

Truth be told, no best cleaner is designed to leave streaks.

In most cases when a cleaner leaves streaks, it is normally due to the fact that the floor head cloths/microfibre pads are not quite clean. So always remember to toss the microfibre pads in the washing machine or give them a hand wash with ordinary washing powder.

Fast Drying Time:
When shopping for the best mop, check out for those that guarantee you fast drying time. Efficient cleaners should leave your surfaces dry in at least five minutes after cleaning.
When using high hot vapour pressure especially if using high pressure bar cleaners like the 4.5 pressure bar Polti Vaporetto eco pro, you need to dry your floor with a dry cloth after cleaning with hot vapour.

For best results clean in small sections preferably 2 metre square then dry it with a soft dry cloth before you progress. If you work through your floors like this, the floors will be left gleaming.

You will find that a number of multi-purpose steam mops have this capability of leaving your floors really dry after cleaning. This is because they are fitted with the best microfiber cloths that sap up the condensation as they trap all the dirt in the cloth.

Of course you don’t want your floors wet after cleaning especially with children and even dogs walking up and down the house. This could be hazardous. Go for cleaners that come with a wiping cloth accessory.

Decent Cord Length:
Check out how long the electric cord is. As always you want a long electric cord to save you the task of unplugging from one socket to the other as you work through the surfaces of your house.
You don’t want to be burdened with the inconvenience of buying a number of electric socket extension cords once you have already purchased your cleaning equipment just because the cord attached to your cleaner is short. It is therefore crucial that you consider this factor (length of cord) when shopping.

Replacement Jugs and Micro-Fibre Pads:
In identifying a quality gadget, you should look out for models that come with a top up jug in their accessory kit. This will spare you the task of having to remove the water tank once the water runs out of the reservoir for refilling. A replacement jug also reduces the chance of water spilling in the process of refilling the tank.

High Quality Microfiber Pads:

Hot vapour mops are normally fitted with a cloth or microfibre pads beneath them. These clothes/microfiber are quite important in cleaning your surfaces because through them dirt from your surface is trapped on the floor head leaving your surfaces clean and fresh.
If you are likely to be using your cleaner on floors, it will be advisable to buy those fitted with microfiber pads as opposed to cloths. A microfiber pad fitting helps your floor to dry up quicker. They are also washable and reusable. They last longer than clothes and are easy to clean when compared to clothes.

How to Maintain Microfibre Pads:

When shopping, check for pads that are easier to maintain. Though the cleaner comes with a supply of replacement pads, these pads eventually run out and you have to buy replacement. However, if you take good care of the pads by regularly cleaning them after use, the pads will last long and spare you the cost of replacing them regularly.

The microfiber fitting is easier to maintain. Here is why: Microfibre pads are made of synthetic material which is easier to wash than clothes. It is advisable to let your gadget cool down before storing it. This will protect the surface floor of your storage room.

Of cause depending on how much storage space you have, you should choose a cleaner that will not be awkward and bulky to store.

Storage and Safety Aspects of Your Cleaner:
Consider the storage and safety aspects of your gadget. Depending on your budget, it is advisable to buy a cleaner that has its own safety mat to hold the gadget after cleaning.
This saves you time you could have spent waiting for the cleaner to cool down before you store it. Alternatively shop for those that have continuous cleaning setting embedded in them.

Consider Versatility However do not use it as a vacuum:
Read reviews to find out which cleaner enables you to clean both hard and soft areas. This is convenient and efficient since you end up with a “one stop machine” to cater for all your surfaces.
However do not use it as a vacuum.

This will wear your gadget down. Always vacuum before cleaning to enable the cleaner do the heavy lifting job of deep cleaning your floors. Hot vapour mops kill 99% germs on your surfaces and can sift even the tiniest of dust particles.

Fresh Scent:
Though most cleaners reviewed here will not only clean in a super fast fashion and leave your surfaces spotless, some of us actually prefer fresh scented smell to crown everything up.
If adding a freshener to your gadget appeals to you, then you need to shop for the one that has a component that allows you to add a freshener in your water tank.

Most Vax cleaning products for example come with a specially designed scented detergent. However, adding chemicals and fresheners without due regard to manufacturer’s specification might damage your gadget.

That is why you should think about whether you really want to use a mop that allows you to add a freshener and buy one that has this capability.

Continuous Floor Setting:
Most ordinary cleaners normally need some cooling off period/time before you can refill the water tank. However most quality cleaners use cutting edge technology that enables them to be refilled on demand without the need for the gadget to cool down. This of course has an overall effect of not only saving you time (no waiting for the gadget to cool down while cleaning) but could extend the life of your cleaner (the risk of overheating is reduced).

Accessories:
Most cleaning products come with an assortment of attachment such as : an adjustable nozzle, hard and soft brushes, squeegee, carpet glider, and Velcro microfibre pads that could be customized to clean different parts of the house. Most 2 in 1 mops normally give you value for money.
They can be detached to clean hard to reach places. With the right accessories, you can customise the handheld cleaner that are embedded in most highly top rated steam mops UK to spruce up most of your surfaces.

You will find that most of the multi-purpose best cleaners give you more capability and flexibility. You can use them to clean Grout, Cookers, Upholstery, Windows, Carpets Hard floors and Tiles. These are the products that fit the bill of a quality hot vapour gadget in the UK.

With such multiple accessories to use on your hand held cleaner device you get flexibility of use that turns your gadget into a complete cleaning system.

Powerful Motor Engine:
Another important factor to consider when choosing the best is the size of the motor engine. The motor is the one that powers your cleaner.
Of course you want a powerful machine that will make your cleaning task quick, fun and easy. To achieve this, you need a motor with considerably high wattage because the more the wattage the more powerful and effective the cleaning will be.

The water will be heated up in record time and you get longer time to use the cleaner. The wattage can go as high as 1800 watts. However with 1200 Watts and above, you should be treading on quality grounds.

The search for more power however comes at a price. The more the wattage the device has the heavier it will be, so you need to factor that into your plan. There are cleaners that have wheels on the base though, in which case weight of the cleaner is no issue because you won’t have to push it around.

The cleaner you end up buying depends really on your individual needs. Before you set out in search of the cleaner you desire, you should first decide what you would really want to use it for. Consider the size of your house and the kind of surfaces that you are going to it on.

  • Do you have different surfaces across the house?
  • Do you have pets?
  • Do you have children who crawl about your floors?
  • Are your surfaces tiled, laminate, hardwood, vinyl, all carpeted, a mix of carpet and hard surfaces?
  • Are the surfaces sealed? Are there insurance clauses regarding cleaners?

These factors will enable you to choose the steam mop that is tailored to your needs.
What are the Best Functionalities to look for?

Once you figure out what you plan to use your cleaner for, you need to decide the size and weight of the gadget that will closely fit your preferred way of working. Most floor mops come in different shapes, weights and capabilities.
Here are the basics. You want to go for a gadget that is easy and convenient to use on all your floor surfaces. Ideally it should have a carpet glider that can be locked into place when in use.

The best product should heat up really quick to avoid any waiting moments but still give you extended cleaning time. It should be easy to handle and store, it should ideally have an extension cord that is suited to the size of your house, one that could enable you to be creative and add a freshener to it.

The list is longer than this but I hope you see that choosing a best quality cleaner UK takes some meticulous considerations. Now let’s break these points down:

Considering Your Floor Type:
What is the best gadget for your floor type is a crucial consideration. Like we all know, most modern houses have different floor types in different parts of the house with a fair mix of carpeted floors and hard floors. You therefore need a cleaner that will glide through all your the different surfaces without any trouble.

The key tip here is to look for cleaners that work well in most hard floors and also have carpet glider functionality.

Different floor texture have different temperature threshold. For instance porcelain tiles that are unglazed and porous are not suitable for high temperature vapour pressure because glazed material is water resistant and leaves a wet finish. With such floors you need a cleaner that dries floors superfast like the Vax S86-SF-C that dries floors in only 3 minutes after cleaning.

You also need a product that has variable settings. This functionality employs smart settings to regulate the hot water vapour pressure and temperature suitable for your floors.

What Tank Size:
One thing you should definitely watch out for when choosing the best product is the tank size. The bigger the water tank, the more cleaning time you get from the cleaner. This is especially important if you have large areas of surface to cover. The best tank size should give you at least 20 minutes of uninterrupted output. If you have a big house and many rooms, you should look out for a good cleaner that can cope with active use for considerable lengths of time like the Polti Eco Pro Vaporetto. The Polti Vaporetto cleaner has a 2 litre tank that can give you 40 -45 minutes continuous cleaning time.

Are Lightweight Steamers Really the Best?
While shopping, keep in mind that very light models are normally designed for lightweight duty or for one particular use, for example, floor cleaning only as opposed to being used for a variety of cleaning tasks.

If for example you need your newly acquired cleaning gadget to clean your upholstery and other parts in your house then probably the lightweight models are not exactly for you. However you can get a fully functioning best buy steam cleaner that weighs only 2.5 Kgs like Vax S7 .

Which is the best steam cleaner UK 2018? It really depends on what you want to use it for! If it is for cleaning floors, Vax 15 in 1 steam cleaner and the H20 HD 5 in 1 high definition steam cleaner are the best among others (detailed reviews below).

If it is a portable steam cleaner for spot cleaning, or cleaning stoves, sinks, windows, shower curtains, car upholstery, counter tops and refrigerators, the comforday handheld steam cleaner is the best. And if it is for refreshing carpets, Vileda steam mop is the best.

Frequently Asked Steam Mop Questions (FAQ)

Can You Use A Steam Mop To Clean Carpets? / How Do You Deep Clean Your Carpet?

Steam mops with carpet glider/carpet attachment functionality can be used to refresh carpets. By refresh here we mean that they can actually bring up the pile and rejuvenate it by loosening surface dirt and killing germs on your carpets. This is good enough to get rid of smudges and stains on your carpets. The carpets actually look newer after refreshing them with hot vapour. Many people are turning to floor cleaning mops that clean with hot vapour as a quick fix to cleaning carpets. The good thing with steam mops with a carpet glider is that you can clean on the go (Check the top rated carpet steam cleaners here). However for deep carpet cleaning you still need a dedicated carpet cleaner. If you are looking for one, check our top 10 the best carpet cleaners UK 2018

Whenever you want to clean a large carpet area in your house, consider using a dedicated carpet cleaner. This is because they are specially designed to extract embedded dirt that are deep within the fibre without having to use high temperatures. The steam mops are also very efficient and quick whenever you want to clean large areas. They can also be effective whenever you are spot cleaning the smaller areas of your rugs and carpet.

You should, however, keep in mind that not all carpet types are suitable for cleaning using high temperature. For this reason, always test a small hidden area of your carpet before you clean it with a steamer. Most steam mops have a special carpet attachment that is also used for cleaning carpets once its large cloth is attached. A small cloth with the upholstery tool can also be used to clean your carpets if you have the hand-held steamer. To avoid your carpet holding down or even over wetting one area of your carpet, it is advisable to keep moving the tool across your carpet.

Can You Use A Steam Cleaner On A Mattress?

Yes. You can use a steam mop for sanitising mattress. The best tool to kill the dust mites and bedbugs is a steamer. The high temperatures produced by steam mops will guarantee that you will kill them.

Mattresses are well known for harbouring these dust mites. This method is highly recommended especially if people involved suffers from allergies. To clean your mattress, use the steam mop with the cloth and upholstery tool attached and make sure that you keep the tool moving over the mattress surface such that you do not over-wet the material. After steaming your mattress fully, leave your mattress lying on its side for a while (a few hours if it is possible) to ensure that it is fully dried before fitting back the bed linen.

Can You Use A Steam Mop On Vinyl Flooring? / Vinyl Planks?

Yes you can ! You will find that different steam mops are better suited to different floor types (vinyl plank floors, slate, wooden, tile, laminate, limestone, porcelain tiles/ quarry tiles, marble floors).

They also come in different shapes, size, feel and look. Some of the top end steam floor mops are factory calibrated to work efficiently with almost all types of floor types such as Vax, Shark and Karcher steam cleaners.

What Do You Use A Steam Cleaner For?

Steam cleaners are great and versatile tools that can be used for various cleaning tasks in your house. The mop produces high-temperature steam that is capable of lifting away grime and grease and also sanitising surfaces. These floor steamers with handheld cleaners do not use hard chemicals . They only use cleaning water and that is a great option that saves a lot of money and is also kind to the environment.

You can use your steam mop for:

Hard Floor Cleaning: From the bathroom floors to the tiled kitchen floors, steam mops are the best option for cleaning. This is because they help kill off the bacterial films that most detergents and cloth cannot penetrate. This will guarantee you a thoroughly done hygienic finish. The hot steam produced by the steamer is also very helpful whenever you want to clean grout in between the tiles. Most steamers have specially designed cleaning heads that you can use without the cloth and achieve the best results on the hard floors. For the best cleaning results, always keep the floor head moving and do not hold it down onto one area for long since it may damage the grout.

  • Barbecue Cleaning: You can use your steam cleaner to clean your barbeque very easily. However, you need to take caution not to use it outdoors if there is a risk of raining. It is advisable to bring the barbeque to the porch area because oven steamers are not designed for use in wet weather or even the garden. To clean the barbecue, you can use the wire brush on the oven and the scraper tool to remove the burnt on food and the stubborn stains.
  • Hob and Oven Cleaning: Cleaning the oven can be a daunting task, especially when you are dealing with grease and spilt food. There is an option of cleaning with detergents. However, these leave your room with a strong chemical smell. A steamer is much more eco-friendly. However, be careful not to use the steam mop in your oven near the element as this may make the oven not to work. To clean your oven, first use the steam mop on high setting with a brush tool on it, and then finish cleaning using a window squeegee tool to get a streak free finish on the glass. For the metal racks, it is better to use the wire brush tool
  • Freezer Defrosting: Using your steam mop to defrost your freezer is one of the best reasons that shows what are steam mops good for. This is because, the steamers are a much safer option than using kitchen implements to remove the ice. The heat produced by the steam is also used to sterilise the surfaces. This removes the need of using chemicals or cleaning detergents to clean once the ice is removed. To defrost your freezer, first you will have to remove the drawers then place a bowl or even a bucket in the bottom of the freezer. This will be used to collect the ice then you can direct the main nozzle of your steamer on to the ice. This should melt the ice easily and in large chunks. A steamer’s scraper tool can also be used to do this job (if your steamer has one). Once you are done, you can wipe all the surfaces with a dry cloth.
  • Window Cleaning: Whenever you clean your windows with cloth, liquid usually run down onto the surface leaving streaks. When you use a steam window cleaner, the job done is perfect, this is because the water on the window is dried, and you achieve a streak-free cleaning. A lot of streaks come with a window cleaning squeegee that does this job perfectly. To clean your window, simply attach the window squeegee on the steam window cleaner and work methodically across the window in stripes, work from top to bottom and also overlap and change directions to avoid having a striped finish. In order to achieve the best cleaning results, try draping the microfiber cloth over the window squeegee and then use the steam window cleaner on a low setting for the first run over the window, then go over again without the cloth and on high setting on the steam window cleaner. It is recommended to place a towel at the bottom of the glass before cleaning to catch the drips.
  • Chair Seats and Sofas Cleaning: The upholstery tool that is on your steam mop is best suited to clean your chairs seats and sofas. To clean your sofas, just clip on this attachment and cover with the cotton cloth supplied. Apply the steam to the upholstery surface and keep it moving over the surface so that you don’t soak the sofa material. The steam mop provides sufficient heat that will kill the dust mites and also lift stains. However, before you start steaming, it is advisable to test a small hidden area of the material to ensure that your material will not run.
  • Curtain Cleaning: The upholstery tool and cloth on your steam mop can be used to clean curtains. However, it is advisable that you check the care label that is on your curtains to ensure that they are suitable for steaming.
  • Tap Cleaning: It can be a daunting task to shift the tiny bits of grime and limescale that usually get lodged around bathroom taps and kitchen taps. A steamer can be a great tool for cleaning such areas. To clean taps, you can use the detail nozzle on the steam mop to apply much of the concentrated blast of steam, this will lift away both dirt and scale. After the steam cleaning, wipe with a clean cloth.

Can I Use Distilled Water In My Steam Cleaner?

Yes, in fact, it advisable to use distilled water especially if you live in a hard-water area. Distilled water will make your cleaner run efficiently without being clogged up by limescale that is usually prevalent in hard water.

Can You Put Vinegar In A Steam Mop?

It is not advisable to put vinegar in your mop because most vinegar (White, balsamic) is acid forming while steam mop works well with neutral liquids, specifically water so as to produce steam.

How Well Do Steam Mops Clean?

Steam mops kill 99% of all germs on your surface and it dries the floor quite quickly (3-5 minutes) to leave your floors sparkling. Those with a variable setting are the most effective because the setting allows you to control the amount of steam released to the floor depending on the floor type.

Can You Use A Steam Cleaner To Clean Walls?

Can You Use A Steam Cleaner To Clean Walls? Not really because the steam might easily damage your wall especially if you have wallpaper. The steam can easily peel your paint or wallpaper if you do not control the amount of pressure released.

Can You Put Cleaner In A Steam Mop?

Yes if it is recommended by the manufacturer. For instance, Vax and Bissel steam mops use specially designed detergents by their respective manufacturers.

Can You Steam Your Suit?

Yes of course, but you will only straighten your suit, if you need sharp lines, then a traditional iron box is most recommended.

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