Steam Cleaner Types

What Type of Steam Cleaner Do You Need?


1. Handheld Steam Cleaner

Convenient to use and prepared to give you efficient results, a handheld steam cleaner is easy to move around the house. As they are available in a variety of sizes, you can choose one according to your purpose. A handheld can clean almost any surface. However, it’s ideal only for small cleanups.

Build to remove dirt and grimes; a handheld steam vacuum also gives you freedom from unwanted germs, harmful virus and mites. Due to such effective cleaning, it protects you from allergens and their adverse effects.

Advantages:

  • Affordable
  • Perfect for cleaning narrow areas or corners
  • Small footprints; so easy to store
  • Lightweight and easy to operate

Things to remember:

  • Not suitable for large cleaning tasks
  • Cannot provide a high level of cleaning like the other more significant variants

2. Steam Mop


If you want easy and convenient traditional cleaning, especially on a hard floor, you should choose a steam floor mop. These mops come with minimal attachments; however, works with a powerful flow of steam to give you a clean surface.

A steam mop cannot clean the grouts or any other materials apart from the floors. It’s reason why beginners mostly use swabs because of their low price tag and easy-to-operate nature.

Advantages:

  • Inexpensive and environment-friendly
  • Lightweight and hence easy to move around
  • Take little space during storage
  • Effective in removing germs, bacteria and other contaminants

Things to remember:

  • Not suitable for hard-to-reach areas or corners
  • Needs specialized attachment for carpet cleaning
  • Need several refuelling for an extensive cleaning area

3. Cylinder steam cleaner


Also known as canister steam vacuums, cylinder cleaners are famous for their large size, and high weight when compared to a handheld or steam mop.

The large size is mainly due to the big water tank, which allows you to clean an extended area without refilling the water. Cylinder steam cleaner gives you unmatched cleaning results; better and more efficient than handhelds or steam floor mops/uprights.

Advantages:

  • Versatile cleaner
  • Comes with a large water tank
  • Includes many accessories

Thinks to remember:

  • Expensive
  • Difficult storage due to large size
  • Not portable enough

4. Vapour Steam Cleaner


Instead of steam, such vacuums use water vapour to clean the surface or objects. Suitable for cleaning grouts and hard-to-reach corners, a vapour steam cleaner is an appropriate option to sanitize carpets.

A vapour cleaning is ideal for a big family with kids as well as pets, who wants a sanitized house without much wait. Moreover, it’s also suitable for individuals who don’t like to wait for long for a surface or objects to dry.

Advantages:

  • Versatile vacuum; can clean most of the surfaces and objects in the house
  • Avoids excess moisture and protects delicate products
  • Efficient in killing germs and other contaminants
  • Comes with a wide range of attachments

Things to remember:

  • Expensive
  • Not easy to store due to the large footprint

Popular Steam Cleaner Brands in the UK


Apart from knowing the types and factors that you should consider while purchasing a steam cleaner, you should also be aware of Top UK brands that manufacture high-quality cleaners.

After checking with thousands of buyers and steam vacuum stores, we have a bright idea of how the vacuum brands are performing in the UK market. Below is a brief description of some of the top brands for steam mops or vacuums.

Kärcher: A German brand renowned all over the world for its high-pressure vacuums and many other floor cleaning equipment including wet and dry vacuums, regular uprights, battery-operated brooms, steam floor mops and regular upright vacuums. The company has more than 10, 000 employees all over the world, handling 100 subsidiaries in around 60 countries.

Shark: Operational under SharkNinja Operating LLC, Shark is a household name in the UK when it comes to residential cleaning and maintenance products. By manufacturing innovative, high quality and efficient products, Shark is one of the leading brands in the UK for steam vacuums and mops. Whether you need an upright – corded or cordless, robot or stick steam vacuum, you will get it from Shark.

Vax: Headquartered in the UK, Vax manufactures products for floor and air cleaning. Initiated in 1977 and one of the leaders in the steam vacuum market now, Vax operates under a Hong Kong-based company called TTI Co. LTD. The company has three different series of steam vacuums that you can get starting from 70 pounds and above.

Vileda: Another German brand that sells cleaning products like steam vacuums, mops, brooms etc. Established in 1948, Vileda is currently active in around 50 countries. Their high-quality, innovative and reliable products are very efficient to make your busy life more comfortable. Its parent company is Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions GmbH (FHCS).

VYTRONIX: Economical and sturdy, these are two qualities of a Vytronix steam vacuum. Established in 2015, it is a comparatively new brand, but due to the high-quality customer support and excellent cleaning products, Vytronix is leading the pack. Currently, they only have a couple of variants in the section of steam cleaners – one is a steam mop and another is handheld.

Polti: The brand has an extended range of steam vacuums as well as mops. Most of their steam floor mops and vacuums are lightweight and ready quickly. So you can invest in one of the Polti Steamers if you find a suitable variant. Since 1987, the brand is one of the leaders in steam cleaner selling. There must be reasons behind it.

Bissell: With a history of creating innovative cleaning machines, Bissell sells exceptionally built steam mops and handheld vacuums. Most of their products are affordable and come with lots of features to give you the full worth of your investment.

BLACK+DECKER: Since 1910, the brand is one of the leading providers of household cleaning products. For versatile, all-around cleaning products, choose Black & Decker. They have perfect steam vacuums and mops for every floor type. Several models also can convert into a handheld, so that you can take better use of them.

Hoover: Steam vacuums from this brand are most suitable for carpets. They have an upright mop series called SpeedJet that has received mixed reviews from our experts. The product has attractive features; however, its longevity is the only concern.

About Mosabbir

As the Executive Director of Smart Housekeeping's Home Care and Cleaning department, Mosabbir brings over 12 years of experience as a consumer products expert to the table. He utilises his advanced analytical skills and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, and housekeeping products to provide valuable cleaning and home care advice for SH. Mosabbir also holds a Masters degree in business management, which enables him to oversee the department efficiently while producing insightful content for the company.