Best handheld steam cleaners for carpets, wood floors, and more - Mashable
Best handheld steam cleaners for carpets, wood floors, and more - Mashable |
| Best handheld steam cleaners for carpets, wood floors, and more - Mashable Posted: 01 Oct 2018 12:00 AM PDT  Make your cleaning tasks easier, faster, and more eco-friendly with our favorite picks. Disclosure Every product here is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our work.
Let's face it: Unless you're Rachel Lindsay from season 13 of The Bachelorette, you probably don't take pleasure in dancing around with your vacuum cleaner all day. But cleaning your living space is just one of those adult things we all have to do. So how can you make that process as quick and painless as possible? Enter the handheld steam cleaner. Many handheld steam cleaners offer a more eco-friendly and more modern alternative to whipping out the mop and cleaning chemicals. That's because the only thing you need to get rid of 99.99 percent of the germs and bacteria in your home is steam, heated from plain old water. There's a reason bed bug exterminators use steam to eradicate the invasive species from your home. Steam cleaners have extreme heat that can kill germs, bacteria, mold, dust mites, and yes — even pests like fleas and bed bugs. There are several other benefits to handheld steam cleaners. They're portable enough for hard-to-reach areas, powerful enough to remove sticky substances, and dry quickly enough to beat plain old water cleaning. However, if you're in the market for a handheld steam cleaner, you'll want to consider several factors. For example, some steam cleaners are meant for deeper cleans, while others are meant for spot removal. Some specialize in fabrics while others focus on hard tiles. There's also a limit to what you can clean with steam cleaners. Delicate fabrics, walls with paint, and certain types of flooring may warp if you're not careful about proper usage. When it comes down to it, you'll have to decide your primary purpose for buying a handheld steam cleaner. Are you looking to refresh your clothes, removes stains on upholstery, get rid of grout, or find an all-in-one solution? Narrowing down your primary reasons for getting one will help you make the best purchase possible. And hopefully, that'll mean less time spent cleaning and more time spent doing what you actually enjoy. Let's dive into the pros and cons of several different handheld steam cleaners so you can find the best one for your home. 9-piece accessory set • Most affordable • Small • Fast heating • Stands upright by itself Reviewers have reported it overheating after 10 minutes • Cord could be longer • People with hand pain may hurt from holding down trigger This handheld option is a great starter for those who aren't ready to splurge on a big or expensive alternative. If you don't have much to spend on a steam cleaner but still want something that gets the icky job done, this one is your best best. The PurSteam Handheld Pressurized Steam Cleaner is the most affordable option by far. It also boasts more accessories than just about any of its competitors — even the ones that costs hundreds of dollars more. The 9-piece accessory set includes features such as an extension hose, ironing brush, straight nozzle, and window squeegee.
The biggest downsides reviewers noted included the necessity to refill with water more often because of its small size. Some people also noted that holding down the trigger for long periods of time was difficult if they already had pre-existing hand pains. Overall, though, this budget option has earned an average of four stars out of over 700 customer reviews. As Anne C. Reade put it in her Amazon review:
Long handle for easy floor cleaning • Detachable handheld steam cleaner included • Longer-lasting steam times • Easy to maneuver Handheld directions can be confusing • On the higher price end for mops Despite any minor problems, this is one of the most powerful, easy, and chemical-free ways to clean your floors (and then some). 2. Light 'N Easy Steam Mop CleanerDitch the mop water and make cleaning your floors faster, easier, and more sanitary with two different types of handheld products in one.
This steam mop is a fan favorite on Amazon, clocking in an average of 4.5 stars from nearly 1,500 reviews. The Light 'N Easy Steam Mop Cleaner has a wide range of functionalities that you can use, but its standout feature is the ease of use for cleaning floors. Unlike handheld-only steamers which would require you to bend down to the ground, the handle makes for easier floor mopping. Its powerful steam usage also lifts grout and other ingrained dirts with more power than your average mop. The steam mop cleaner has a 20-foot cord, allowing you a fair amount of leeway to move around the place as you clean. It also has a detachable handheld steamer if you don't feel like lugging the entire mop around with you. That helps to steam clean other surfaces such as pillows, clothes, or other kitchen items. The water reservoir within the steam cleaner will give you about 20-25 minutes of cleaning on the lowest setting, trumping the refill time of other smaller handheld cleaners out there. Much like the other steamers, you won't need to add any detergents to clean the floor. The steam kills 99.99 percent of bacteria and helps you eliminate pollutants and chemicals from your floor cleaning routine without sacrificing the cleanliness of your home. As Helen L. put it in her Amazon review:
Near commercial-grade power without the price • Longer-lasting steam time than many of its competitors • Highly versatile for just about every type of household use Almost too powerful - be wary with wallpaper or paint if you don't want to remove it • No gauge to see how full the tank is with water • Short cord If you're looking for a powerful and versatile tool for nearly any kind of cleaning scenario, this is well worth the investment. 3. Wagner On-Demand Steam CleanerThis versatile product works for just about every cleaning scenario you could imagine, without using cleaning chemicals.
The Wagner On-Demand Steam Cleaner has gained praise for its strength and longevity. It's even drawn comparisons to commercial-grade steam cleaners, which cost about 10 times more. For those looking for a generic use, heavy-duty tool, this is likely your ideal pick. The cleaner can last 45 minutes without a water top-up and has a wide range of accessories that support various types of household cleaning. That means everything from barbecue grills to tires, wheels, sofas and bathroom fixtures. Its long hose and extensions will also make it easy for you to clean around various parts of the house without being limited by the cord. Additionally, if you're working on a renovation job around your home, you'll find the features that allow you to remove wallpaper especially helpful. Of course, this feature can be a double-edged sword: its power means you'll have to be careful with it if you don't want to accidentally damage heat-sensitive materials. Overall, reviewers praised Wagner's on its diverse ability to loosen adhesives and gummy items, sanitize children's toys, eliminate bed bugs, and get rid of grease and grout. As Pedro put in his Amazon review:
Made to remove old and difficult stains that get stuck in upholstery • Great for people who have children and pets • Allows you to use additional cleaning products with it Not as versatile as some other steam cleaners • Not as eco-friendly because it uses cleaners • On the higher price end If upholstery or fabric is your biggest concern, you'll find this tool the most useful. Maybe those stains, crumbs, and other small blights on your home are your biggest gripe. That's where the Bissell spot cleaner comes in, which specializes in carpet and upholstery cleaning. The 5-flex hose helps you clean items such as area rugs and stairs in hard-to-reach spots. Reviewers with children and pets were especially happy with this product, which helps clean up those daily messes that would usually leave unsightly stains. Yes, think stains like wine, paw prints, coffee, mud, and even — shudder — vomit. Unlike many of the steam cleaners featured in this article, the Bissell allows you to use additional cleaning products with it. For example, shampooing your carpet to deep clean it and remove odors. Its large capacity tank will also allow you to wait longer than some competitor products to refill with water. However, you don't just have to limit it to your couch and carpets. The Bissell SpotClean is also great for auto interiors and stairs, with an attachment tool shaped for the job. As L. Blace put it in their Amazon review:
More affordable option for fabric cleaning • Small, portable, and easy to store • Easy to fully clean Smaller and less powerful than full-sized upright carpet cleaners • Not as eco-friendly because it uses cleaners If you're looking to clean smaller carpet areas and not larger ones, this is a great value. This Bissell SpotLifter Powerbrush Handheld Deep Cleaner is nearly half the price of its Bissell SpotClean cousin, while still offering many of the same benefits. The handheld cleaner features rotating brushes and suction to lift difficult stains from your carpet or upholstery. It's also much smaller than the SpotClean, making for easy storage. The manual spray trigger allows you to control how much cleaning solution you want to use. And for those who dislike the clean up and maintenance portion, there's an easily removable brush cartridge. Much like its full-sized counterparts, you can use upright carpet cleaners to deep clean spots quickly and efficiently. It helps you keep spots off your carpet clean in between those bigger deep cleans. Additionally, the 18-foot long power cord will allow you to clean as long as you need to. This runs counter to some other cleaners, which will quite literally run out of steam sometimes within 10 minutes. Reviewers were pleased with the Bissell SpotLifter's ability to clean up after small pet messes, juice spills, and even beer stains. As Curious Cate put it on her Amazon review:
More portable than most other hard surface cleaners • Very fast heat up time • Chemical free and more eco-friendly Only works for smaller spots and not larger ones • Doesn't perform as well on fabrics This is designed for people who are looking for a small, portable, and affordable option for hard surface cleaning. 6. Bissell Steam Shot Hard-Surface Cleaner
For tubs, countertops, floors, and windows, the Bissell Steam Shot has your number. This version is more portable and affordable than the larger steam cleaners that tackle hard surfaces. That means getting rid of grout in between tiles, cleaning oven grates, and removing dust from floor baseboards. It also has a faster heat-up time than nearly all its competitors: a short 30 seconds, as opposed to up to four to five minutes for the larger cleaners. Reviewers were very happy with being able to ditch both the mop bucket and harmful chemicals in their bathroom and kitchen cleaning routine. You won't be impeded by its 20-foot power cord. It also boasts one of the highest ratios of accessories, including an extension hose, grout brush, fabric steamer, window squeegee, and detail brush. Although the tank capacity isn't the largest, it works perfectly well for spot jobs and smaller cleaning tasks. As A. Marie put it in her review:
More affordable than most other steamers • Portable and easy to bring while traveling • Quick startup time Not as versatile as other upholstery steam cleaners • Runs out of water fairly quickly You'll be happy with this product if you use it what it's for — but not if you want it to do deep cleaning upholstery work. Look out board meeting, because here you come with your fresh-pressed clothes! This PurSteam product is made for those who want to show up anywhere looking presentable, even if you've crammed your wardrobe into a suitcase and are on the road. The steamer has a short, 90-second heating time, allowing you to freshen up your clothes last minute right before bolting out the door. Its 9-foot power cord will also allow ease of use wherever you are in the room. Reviewers lauded this product for its portability in travel situations, getting rid of wrinkles quickly, and the fact that it doesn't take up much space in the home. People were also happy to finally ditch their iron and have something more effective and easy to use. Additionally, the steamer allows for other fabric care, such as lightweight cleaning of pillows and curtains. However, you'll be disappointed if you try to use in the same way as the other steam cleaners here meant for spot removal and deep cleans on upholstery. At the end of the day, it's for removing wrinkles, refreshing, and sanitizing your clothes. As reviewer Elizabeth Stovall put it:
|
| 3 Best Steam Cleaners for Cars (2019) - The Drive Posted: 25 Jun 2019 12:00 AM PDT  Clean away old stains, dirt, and gunk and leave the inside of your car looking fresh with these steam cleaners for cars
Benefits of Steam Cleaner for Cars
Types of Steam Cleaner for CarsHandheldThese are built and designed to reach those difficult to clean areas like tight spaces and underneath pedals. They are lightweight and convenient to use, making them ideal to bring on long car trips. However, they don't come with a lot of power, so you'll have to charge them after each use. Their smaller form makes them quicker to heat up, so you can use them quickly when absolutely necessary. Heavy DutyThese are thicker and heavier modules built to fight the toughest of stains. Their water tanks are larger as well, giving you more power and extending the amount of time you devote to deep cleaning the car interior. This saves you time and energy by not having to constantly refill the water. However, while they are larger, they do tend to be quite heavy, especially when loaded fully with water. To help alleviate the stress of moving something so cumbersome, many come with wheels for mobility. Top BrandsMcCullochMcCulloch has been in business since 1943. It was founded by Robert McCulloch in Wisconsin before moving the company to California. Originally named McCulloch Motors Corporation, it focuses on designing steam powered cleaners and garden equipment. One of its best products is the McCulloch MC1275 Heavy Duty Steam Cleaner. Pure EnrichmentPure Enrichment has been in business since 2010 and is based out of California. It markets and designs premium steam cleaners for vehicles, homes, and other everyday uses. It makes the PureClean XL Rolling Steam Cleaner. Steam Cleaner for Cars Pricing
Key FeaturesWater Tank SizeThe size of the water tank is a major component of what makes up a car steam cleaner. Having a smaller one means you don't get as long of a clean and will have to refill the tank many times before you're finished. Getting a larger one means you get an extended cleaning time. If you have multiple cars to clean or a larger vehicle, opting for a bigger tank is the way to go. Other Considerations
Best Steam Cleaner for Cars Reviews & Recommendations 2019Best Steam Cleaner for Cars Overall: McCulloch MC1275 Heavy Duty Steam Cleaner This ultra-sturdy and powerful steam cleaner for your car generate a great amount of steam, making it one of the best at removing stains and giving your car that fresh new look. It comes equipped with 1500 watts of steam fighting power and is fully heated in about eight minutes. We also found it releases continuous steam, so you can focus on the spots that need the most attention. The large tank holds up to 48 ounces of water, giving you around 45 minutes or so of steam cleaning capability. That's plenty of time to make sure you get a nice even clean throughout your entire vehicle. A feature we enjoyed most is how extremely mobile it is. It's built with a high-quality set of large wheels, capable of rolling along without issue. It comes complete with a 15-foot long power cord, capable of reaching the outlet while giving you enough maneuverability. It's also fully loaded with 18 accessories, including brushes and floor mops. We do recommend wearing ear protection while operating the McCulloch MC1275, as it can be quite loud in enclosed spaces. Some consumers also say the plastic is cheaply made and comes apart after several uses. You may also have to use more elbow grease to scrub areas the steamer cleaned. Click Here to See Prices on Amazon Best Steam Cleaner for Cars Value: PurSteam Handheld Steam Cleaner This is one of the best car steam cleaners for those who need extra mobility to get around their vehicle. There are no long hoses to get in the way of your cleaning routine. Its small size saves you time and energy from having to heft around larger steam cleaners. Coming in at about 12 inches by 10 inches, this compact cleaner weighs a whopping 5 pounds. PurSteam says not to be fooled by its stature, this thing can put out quite a lot of power. It's rated to generate up to 30 percent more steam power than other models, making it both a lightweight yet heavy-duty little steam cleaner. It also comes packed with nine accessories to help you on your cleaning mission. These include an adjustable nozzle to reach tight spaces and around or over corners. It's also rated to heat up fully at around three to four minutes. However, while PurSteam claims their handheld pressurized steam cleaner reaches a high temperature quickly, it may, in fact, take a bit longer to fully heat up to proper cleaning power. It also doesn't seem to stay hot enough long enough, so you'll be using your time waiting for it to heat back up again. Click Here to See Prices on Amazon Best Steam Cleaner for Cars Honorable Mention: Wagner Spraytech On Demand Steam Cleaner One of the best features we found about this steam cleaner is its ability to switch between its two modes for a continuous release of steam. It's also easy to tell when you can start the steaming process; a green light informs you it's good to go, while a red light means the water temperature is above 135 degrees Fahrenheit. This multi-purpose steam cleaner also comes with an 11-piece accessory set included with a jet nozzle, two extension wands, and a handy measuring cup to help you reach deep crevices or behind small spaces to remove stains. The tank is able to hold up to 48 ounces of distilled water, giving you a lengthy running time of 45 continuous minutes. While this is one of the best steam cleaners we found, it lacks in mobility. The wheels are smaller than other heavy-duty steam cleaners, meaning they get caught up more easily on cords and holes. It also can take a while to heat up, while it may say it takes five minutes, you may be waiting a lot longer to reach steam levels. Click Here to See Prices on Amazon Tips
FAQsQ: Do I need a special kind of water to run a steam cleaner?A: No, you can use normal tap water or water directly from the sink. Read the guidebook before using to determine if the steam cleaner requires vinegar mixed with the water as well. Q: How hot does the water get?A: You'll want to use caution when handling a steam cleaner, as the water and steam can reach temperatures up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Take it slow and keep your hands, face, and skin away from the mouth of the cleaner. Q: Why is there still some dirt left over after having used the steam cleaner?A: While steam cleaners do a great job at cleaning stains and dirt from upholstery and carpet, they may leave some behind. This is normal and may require you to use a rag, cloth, or additional attachments to easily clean up. Q: Can I use a high-pressure steam cleaner to do more than just auto detailing?A: Of course you can. Steam cleaners are great for cleaning kitchen tiles, grout, carpet, and those tough-to-reach places in your home. Final ThoughtsFor those who are dealing with old stains left behind in your car and want them gone with ease, consider the McCulloch MC1275 Heavy Duty Steam Cleaner. You can also choose the PurSteam Handheld Steam Cleaner. It's a more compact steam cleaner with a great amount of steam cleaning power. Do you have a car steam cleaner that didn't make our list? Let us know in the comments below. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from "handheld steam cleaner" - Google News. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
Comments
Post a Comment