Steam Cleaner Buying Guide

Steam cleaners, or steam vacuums as they are otherwise known, use a combination of suction, water and detergent to clean carpets. Depending on the model that you buy, you are not limited to cleaning the carpet in your home but also upholstery, the interior of vehicles, and even bare floors using the variety of attachments that arrive with the best steam cleaners.

Depending on your cleaning needs, a heavyweight steam cleaner might be needed as they will often include a heating element built-in to the appliance, and have many useful tools and brushes. If you’ve never used steam floor cleaners before, you’d be amazed how much dirt and grime they can pick up from your carpet. An industrial steam floor cleaner can set you back over $1000, but basic models will cost a lot less. Choosing which make and model to buy really depends on what it is you need to clean.

Determining how often your carpet needs a thorough clean, what your budget is, and whether you require a steam mop that is portable or handheld to clean car interiors, are a few things you’ll want to consider before you buy.

Steam Cleaning Without Steam!

Despite their name, not all steam cleaners use steam to clean. A lot of models that you’ll come across will use hot water as the only means of heat. Proper vapor steam cleaners have a built-in element to increase water temperature to create the steam, but this isn’t to say that carpet steam cleaners that only run off hot water won’t clean your carpets thoroughly. They will, it’s just that you should always know what you’re buying before you buy.

Steam Cleaner Tools, Brushes and Attachments

You may very well find a number of tools, brushes and attachments that can be purchased in addition to the steam cleaner. Some of the best steam cleaner models will have all the brushes you need, but the tools and brushes are often quite heavily promoted when it comes to steam cleaners. A lot of the time, the brushes are marketed as specialized equipment for cleaning specific situations, such as pet stains. However, if you buy a good steam cleaner to begin with, you should have no problem cleaning such situations with the brushes that already come with the steam vacuum.

Most steam cleaner brushes perform similarly, despite manufacturers giving different gimmicky names to them. They will perform in either a spinning or rotating motion to agitate carpet fibers to remove the most stubborn dirt and stains.

There can be a downside to using steam carpet cleaners, but only if it’s used incorrectly or if the model you buy doesn’t perform as well as it should. What happens is that the carpet may be doused with excess water and cleaning solution, which keeps the carpet wet for longer than it should be, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold. The best steam cleaners will not flood the carpet with water, but will clean the carpet thoroughly and have the carpet dry within a couple of hours.

Like with so many household appliances, you expect the floor steam cleaner to last for many years, but in case something does go wrong it’s good to have a well-covered warranty. A lot of manufacturers will offer 1-year warranties, but others offer 2 and even 3-year cover. You should also note whether the warranty covers both “parts” and “labor”. A few of the top names to look out for when buying home steam carpet cleaners are Haan, Shark, Bissell, Monster and Hoover.

Some of the top steam cleaners can you set you back quite a lot of money, but they are well worth the investment due to their cleaning capabilities, plus of course it lessens the need to hire professional cleaners. BestSteamCleaners.net provides reviews of some of the top manufacturers of steam cleaners and steam mops, and resources to help you find the best steam vacuum for your money.