The 5 Winners of Our Best Steam Cleaners of 2025 Tests

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Steam your troubles—and stains—away with our top picks.

Paige is a former contributing writer for Better Homes & Gardens with over six years of professional writing and editing experience. She has contributed to various publications, covering decor, cleaning and organizing, kitchen gadgets, food, sustainability, and more.

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Finding the best steam cleaner for your home can vary from person to person. Some people may want something that can blast away soap scum on shower tile and grout, while others are looking for something that can freshen up carpets and furniture.

Or you may be looking for something that can do it all, with plenty of attachments to tackle all of life’s messes. Jade Piper, operations manager at BetterCleans, a house-cleaning service based in Milwaukee, says, “The steam plus high temperature makes it possible to eliminate germs, bacteria, and allergens.

"They’re great at removing tough stains, grime, and grease, which makes them a real lifesaver in kitchens, bathrooms, and even outdoor spaces. Compared to other cleaning tools, they do much better deep cleaning and sanitization without leaving any residue behind," Piper says.

We tested some of the most popular steam cleaners on the market to determine which ones were the best based on effectiveness, ease of use, design, portability, and value.

To learn more about how we tested steam cleaners, check out our testing process below.

It may be ideal for heavy-duty cleaning, but this steam cleaner is surprisingly lightweight, comfortable to hold, and easy to swap out attachments for fast cleaning sessions.

The single steam setting seemed too hot to use regularly on delicate flooring.

In our testing, the McCulloch MC1275 quickly became our preferred tool for cleaning most hard surfaces. It replaced the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser as our go-to method for cleaning bathroom sinks and around the edges of the tub, producing the same results with no scrubbing or chemicals required.

It worked well on tough areas in the kitchen, such as the sink, faucet, stove, dishwasher, and backsplash, allowing us to remove grease and grime from tight crevices without much effort. In our cleaning tests, we didn’t have to refill the tank at all—a plus if you want to work with minimal interruptions.

The cleaner was comfortable to hold, and we appreciated the ability to lock the steamer button for a continuous stream during longer sessions. It comes with 18 attachments for different tasks; we reached for the nylon utility brush often, and the brass utility brush was great for removing burnt residue.

We felt the single steam setting was too hot to comfortably use on vinyl plank flooring; while we cleaned around a baby’s highchair with the mop function and included microfiber pads without damaging the floors, the high heat made us nervous, and we needed to use a washcloth to fully remove stuck-on food.

Overall, we think the cleaner performed better on other hard surfaces and would probably stick to a regular mop for flooring. Two other cons—the handle could be better insulated, as it got hot with longer use, and the water tank is difficult to drain. Since there’s only one hole, we needed to flip the entire thing over to empty.

The steam cleaner comes with 18 accessories, and we found it easy to remove one attachment and simply slide on the next one. It worked quickly and efficiently to clean a wide variety of surfaces, including window tracks, tile and grout, and a glass board.

The cleaner doesn’t leave behind much excess water—surfaces dried very quickly during testing.

It’s awkward to hold as a handheld, making it hard to reach certain areas.

The PurSteam 10-in-1 is one of the least expensive steam cleaners we tested, and it also happens to be one of the best. We found that it was more effective at certain tasks than our usual cleaning methods, such as removing hair from grout lines and cleaning the stovetop.

Unlike many steam cleaners we’ve tested, the PurSteam didn’t emit a ton of extra water, and the floor dried quickly after we cleaned it. In general we found the cleaner user-friendly—it was easy to put together and use, and easy to refill the water tank.

The tank holds about 12 ounces of water, which is definitely small, but we were pleasantly surprised at how long it lasted. We were able to complete quick jobs without refilling, and we managed to clean most of the kitchen and mudroom on one tank.

We appreciated the versatility of the device, since it can be used as both a steam mop and a handheld cleaner. While we occasionally wished the microfiber mop pads had more scrubbing power, they gathered a ton of hidden dog hair from between grout lines on the tile.

As a handheld cleaner, it worked pretty well on shower walls and upholstery stains, however it was a bit awkward to hold and maneuver; we weren’t quite able to hit all the angles we wanted in the shower, resulting in some leftover grime.

This steam cleaner doubles as a steam mop, making it more versatile to clean different surfaces, including floors.

The attachments have a tendency to detach on the high setting.

For heavy-duty cleaning, the McCulloch MC1385 boasts a 64-ounce tank that allows you to take on longer cleaning sessions with fewer refills. When you do need to refill it, the cleaner includes a measuring cup (though this only holds 16 ounces, so prepare to make a few trips to the sink).

The cleaner comes with 23 accessories, which is the most of any option on our list. Our favorite was the nozzle attachment—combined with the extension wand, it was great for removing mildew and soap scum in the shower, as well as the grouted tile in the bathroom.

It’s worth noting that it was not as effective on the kitchen backsplash—we felt we needed a chemical cleaner to completely remove the grease, although some did come off with just the steam. But the nozzle attachment and nylon utility brush were much more effective at cleaning the stove.

We also appreciated the cleaner’s ability to clean our hardwood floors and remove scuffs using the mop head and microfiber scrub pad. Since not all steam cleaners are meant to be used on floors, this was a nice feature. The array of accessories makes it a versatile machine that can tackle a variety of cleaning tasks.

The nozzle attachments had a tendency to discontent when the steam was on the highest setting. We also found it necessary to wipe excess water from the steam with a towel while cleaning, which was a bit of a hassle, but not uncommon with steam cleaners.

While the larger capacity is ideal for big cleanups, keep in mind that this machine is about the size of a small suitcase, meaning it needs a good amount of space for storage. The large size can also make it more difficult to take up any staircase, though we found it fairly lightweight.

The brass bristle brush made quick work of cleaning stuck-on food residue, mud, and dirt without damaging surfaces.

You have to hold the trigger down to release steam.

We found this steam cleaner more effective than chemical cleaners and manual tools at cleaning stuck-on messes. It was effective for removing muddy dog footprints, baked-on grease, food grime, and dirt from multiple surfaces. The breadth of accessories also impressed us.

Our favorite attachment was the brass bristle brush, which easily removed caked-on food from the oven door, including the glass without scratching it. The grout and angle concentrator tools were useful for cleaning floors and the crevices in the washing machine and refrigerator.

Each of the accessories we tried was nearly perfectly suited to the intended job, though in the future we’d probably also use a bristle brush in certain areas to help remove tougher residue. While the device didn’t feel heavy at first, the weight became more difficult to manage the longer we cleaned.

The biggest drawback is that you have to hold the trigger button down the entire time to release the steam, which is not only tiring on the hand, but causes the steam to cut out if you lose your grip.

The Steamfast Deluxe Canister steam cleaner features adjustable steam flow, allowing you to use more or less steam as needed.

The jet nozzle on this particular cleaner isn’t quite as powerful as some other brands and models, although the other attachments did perform well in our tests.

One sticking point is that steam cleaners can be hard to use, whether they have buttons that are hard to press while steaming or attachments that are tricky to remove or click into place. These common problems aren’t an issue with the Steamfast, which we found to be one of the best steam cleaners because of how easy it was to use.

We appreciated the handle design, which includes a lock for the steam trigger, allowing you to lock the steam for continuous flow or prevent it from accidentally releasing steam when you set it down. The lock button is easy to access with one finger while pressing the trigger, so don't have to stop what you’re doing to find the buttons.

Another great feature of the device is the adjustable steam flow dial, which will let the cleaner release more or less steam, depending on your preferences. It also packs a lot of clever storage design elements, like a caddy for cord storage and a compartment to hold the attachments.

You can store the wand in a holder on the steam cleaner, rather than needing to carry it from room to room with you. One drawback that we noticed was that the jet nozzle attachment wasn’t as powerful as similar attachments on other products tested. This made it slightly more difficult to thoroughly clean dirty grout.

We appreciated the design, effectiveness, and overall value of the McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner, which is why we crowned it the best steam cleaner. We liked hat it came with 18 accessories that were easy to swap out, so we could work with minimal disruption when we needed a different attachment.

To determine the best steam cleaners, we tested 19 models in our testing lab over a series of tests. In one test, we used a steam cleaner to tackle soil buildup in window tracks. In another, we cleaned caked-on mud from tile and grout. In a third test, we cleaned blue dye stains from a glass panel.

Before cleaning, we measured the weight of each product once it was unboxed and put together, then took the weight again once the water reservoir was filled. We also recorded the amount of time each product took to heat up as well as how long it took to clean each material.

We noted if we needed to refill each product, if at all, during the cleaning tasks and how many attachments we used for each cleanup. After testing, we compared our findings to determine which products made our list.

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While powerful steam cleaners may perform well, they could be too heavy comfortably to carry from room to room. You’ll want to be able to safely lift, hold, and carry the steam cleaner to get the most out of the device. If choosing a heavy model, make sure it has wheels for easier transport.

When considering weight, you’ll also want to take into account how heavy the unit will be once it’s filled with water. We recommend looking for wheels on heavier machines. If it’s a smaller unit, a handle will help you carry it from room to room.

The average weight of the products we tested came out to about 7.21 pounds without water and about 9.07 pounds when filled with water. The Steamfast is the heaviest product we recommended, but despite the 16-pound weight when full, it was also the easiest steam cleaner to use thanks to its clever design.

Tank capacity refers to how much water the steam cleaner can hold in its clean water tank. A larger tank capacity means you’ll be able to run the cleaner for longer before you need to unplug it, let it cool down, and refill it. But a larger tank capacity also often means a heavier machine—especially when it’s full.

Of the products we recommend, the McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe Canister Steam Cleaner has the largest tank capacity at 64 fluid ounces. While it did have a bigger tank capacity than the others in our list, it still only took 5 minutes, 17 seconds to heat up.

A steam cleaner’s heat time refers to how long the water in the holding tank takes to heat up after plugging in and turning on the device. Typically, the larger the tank, the longer it will take to heat up. But that’s not always a bad thing, as more water means the cleaner will last longer between refills.

The Bissell Powerfresh Slim Steam Mop, 2075A heated up fastest, taking only about 28 seconds to heat the 11.8 fluid ounce-capacity tank. However, we does have to refill this steam cleaner once during a testing session.

Despite its name, the Steamfast SF-375 Deluxe Canister Steam Cleaner took the longest to heat up at 14 minutes, 59 seconds. But on the other hand, it includes a relatively large tank capacity of 48 fluid ounces.

Unless you don’t mind plugging the steam cleaner into a new outlet when you move from one side of the room to the other, you want to look for steamers with longer cords. If it has a short cord, a long hose can also help reach farther while cleaning, like with the Ewbank SC1000 Steam Dynamo.

Attachments connect to a steam cleaner and make it more versatile for cleaning different surfaces. The steam cleaners we found the most useful included at least six attachments, and the McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe Canister Steam Cleaner, included 23 pieces that made our cleaning tests easier and faster.

“A steam concentrator attachment is perfect for deep cleaning and sanitizing,” Piper says. “A fabric steamer attachment is perfect for getting wrinkles out of upholstery and fabrics, while a squeegee attachment is great for cleaning windows and mirrors without leaving streaks.”

Other common attachments include crevice tools, detail nozzles, and scrubbing brushes. Another thing to note is how easy or difficult they are to interchange. Some attachments can heat up and will require you to wear gloves before handling, and gloves may or may not be included with a steam cleaner.

We were impressed with how thoroughly and quickly the Poulan Portable Handheld Steam Cleaner cleaned up messes in window tracks and on grout. It was also lightweight and took only about five minutes to heat up.

But there were a few issues that gave us pause. For one, it was one of the noisier steam cleaners we tested, and it was hard to talk to someone in the same room when it was running. We also had to remember to press a button to click the power nozzle into place, or it could fly off when you started using the steamer.

The Wagner Spraytech On-Demand Steam Cleaner includes several handy attachments, which we found worked really well at cleaning various stains on different types of surfaces. We also liked the design, which made the steam cleaner comfortable to hold.

But the cord, which was only a few feet long, restricted how far you could go with the device, and we felt like the hose was vulnerable to kinking and disrupting the flow of steam. We also found it more difficult to attach and detach accessories compared to some of the other steam cleaners we tested.

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Steam cleaners are effective at cleaning messes, stains, and even mold, often without chemical cleaning additives. They combine heat and pressure to remove over 99% of germs on surfaces.

Steam cleaners work best on sealed hard flooring, but it depends on the type. Steam mops are great for undamaged tile and grout, sealed hardwood, or stone. Unless the manufacturer specifically says that the product will work on laminate or vinyl, avoid using steam cleaners on these, as they are sensitive to moisture.

“Avoid [steam cleaners] for unsealed wood or untreated leather, thin plastics, electronics, and paper/cardboard,” Piper says. “Steam can cause serious damage, like warping, discoloration, or even melting or disintegrating."

Toby Schulz, CEO & co-founder at Maid2Match, adds, “It’s also not recommended to use a steam cleaner on damaged surfaces, such as tile floors with chipped grout."

Steam cleaners and carpet cleaners are not the same. Steam cleaners use only water and heat to clean and sanitize surfaces. They push out steam through a nozzle and any attachments to loosen dirt and sanitize. Some may be designed for soft surfaces like carpets and rugs, but in general they are used for hard surfaces.

Carpet cleaners combine a cleaning detergent and water, and sometimes steam, to clean carpeted surfaces. They can then extract up the excess dirty water from the carpet. If you have a lot of carpet, it's probably worth it to invest in a specific carpet cleaner.

Handheld steam cleaners tend to be lighter weight and easier to maneuver, plus they are often effective cleaners. Because they are smaller, they tend to have a lower water tank capacity, which means you'll need to refill more often. They might be less effective for cleaning larger areas simply because they won't cover the surface as quickly.

Better Homes & Gardens

Paige Bennett is a writer and editor with six years of experience researching and reviewing home, food, and beauty products for a variety of brands and publications. She regularly covers cleaning products and has written similar lists for BHG.com on appliances such as steam mops, stick vacuums, and wet-dry vacs. To write this article, Paige reviewed insights from our testing team, who tried out 19 different steam cleaners in our testing lab.

She also consulted with Jade Piper, operations manager at BetterCleans; Aaron Christensen, former VP of growth at Homeaglow; Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid; and Toby Schulz, CEO & co-founder at Maid2Match, for tips on finding the best steam cleaners.

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.

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The 5 Winners of Our Best Steam Cleaners of 2025 Tests