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Ready to discover the cleaning power of steam? Here are the GHI’s top picks, from steam mops to cylinders.

Steam cleaners help keep our homes safe and clean by blitzing bacteria off all manner of floors and surfaces. Heat treatment requires nothing but tap water, meaning you can steer clear of harsh chemical cleaning products, and it has been shown to be effective at killing viruses like coronavirus.

In fact, the Government advises using a steam cleaner to disinfect items that you can’t launder or clean using regular detergents, such as soft furnishings, upholstery and mattresses.

Here are the GHI's top-rated steam cleaners:

There are two main types of steam cleaner, so consider what you want from yours before you buy:

Compact and lightweight, steam mops are easy to set up and use. They work like regular mops but are much more powerful cleaners. Their handles have built-in water tanks that heat up in about 20 seconds. They'll need refilling more often than cylinder cleaners (below) as they're smaller, but this makes them far easier to manoeuvre around your home. Many come with a swivel head for reaching under furniture and kitchen appliances.

Though best at cleaning sealed hard floors, many steam mops can also refresh carpets and rugs when used with an attachable carpet glider. Most of the mops in our top 10 are 2-in-1 models that double up as handheld units for cleaning hobs and tiles.

Cylinder steam cleaners tend to be heavy, but they have wheels to minimise the need for lugging. They tend to offer the same functions as two-in-one steam mops, only with a more powerful steam output and a higher capacity water tank that needs less frequent refilling. They often come with multiple attachments that connect to the hose and tackle a range of household tasks. Some models can be used on upholstery but others won’t be suitable.

In addition to accessories, there are some extra features you may wish to consider:

The smaller the water tank, the more often you’ll have to top it up. The larger the tank, the longer it’ll take to heat up before it’s ready to use, but it will last longer. Cylinder models tend to have large capacities, with some holding up to two litres, while steam mops tend to hold up to 450ml. Note whether the tank is detachable and easy to fill at the tap, or if you need to fill it with a jug (these are sometimes included).

How long a steam cleaner takes to heat up before it starts pumping out steam is largely determined by the size of the tank. This may be as little as 20 seconds for a steam mop and two minutes for a cylinder, but exact timings can vary greatly between models.

Every model in our top 10, bar our budget handheld buy, offers variable steam settings, be it an adjustable control dial or buttons. However, if you’re only going to be using your machine for quick and simple tasks, one steam mode should get the job done just as well.

The majority of steam cleaners come equipped with attachable accessories suited to an array of household chores. Standard steam mops that don’t have a detachable handheld unit usually only come with additional cleaning pads.

Cylinders and 2-in-1 mops, meanwhile, tend to feature extra tools such as scrubbing brushes, scrapers and grout cleaners for super-thorough cleaning. Other attachments for specific surfaces may include upholstery tools, ironing attachments for curtains and squeegees for windows and glass. Some models come with detergent, but this merely provides a fresh scent, rather than extra cleaning power.

Our team at the Good Housekeeping Institute tests every steam cleaner on ceramic tiles, vinyl floors, inside an oven, gas hobs, windows, and, if applicable, carpet. We make sure to use them in the same way you would at home.

We test steam mops on hard flooring, noting how long it takes to remove food stains and muddy deposits. We look at how easy it is to move the mop around awkward areas and judge whether the floor looks shiny and streak-free after cleaning.

With cylinders and two-in-one models, we also test their attachments. We use the scrubbing brushes to remove dried food from the hob and clean tiles and grouting, and we put the squeegee to work brightening windows and glass shower doors. We use the carpet attachment to clean muddy footprint marks. We also look at whether the controls are easy to navigate, how quickly the cleaner heats up and if the attachments are easy to fit.

Kärcher's most powerful steam cleaner is a large cylinder model that comes equipped with ample accessories to cover most household cleaning tasks. We found it straightforward to put together and quiet in use. There's no need to worry about running out of steam before you finish your chores (not literally, anyway!), thanks to a high-capacity 1.5-litre water tank and 0.5-litre steam boiler reservoir. The tank heats up in a surprisingly speedy three minutes and offers a great range of steam outputs.

This steam cleaner scored top marks for cleaning ceramic tiles in a mess-free fashion and it left vinyl flooring shiny without the need for scrubbing. It left our windows spotless and they dried quickly. It only dropped a couple of marks in our oven and hob cleaning tests, too.

The only downside was that it produced a lot of steam quickly, and with that came excess water, which meant some mopping up between cleaning. Still, this seems a small price to pay given its all-round excellent performance.

Key specifications Type: Cylinder Water tank capacity: 1.5L + 0.5L Weight: 6kg Cord length: 6m Wattage: 2200W Variable steam?: Yes Included accessories: Small and large round brushes, detail nozzle, extension tubes, decalcifying powder sachets Guarantee: 3 years

Read the full Karcher SC5 EasyFix Premium Steam Cleaner review

If you prefer uprights to cylinders, look to this Polti model. Its flexible joint helps you clean under furniture and kitchen appliances, and its long 7.5-metre flex means you won't need to keep switching plug sockets. The water tank heats up in just 15 seconds, but it takes several seconds longer to emit steam, even when the ready light is on. 

There's a variable steam dial and we found the trigger switch on both the stick and handheld unit handy. It's fitted with an anti-calc filter and there's the option of adding freshener to perfume the steam when cleaning and refreshing surfaces. 

Performance-wise, it fared better on hard and sealed floors than carpet, where it struggled to remove embedded stains. The built-in bristles at the rear of the floorhead efficiently scrubbed stubborn grime off vinyl, but the bristles on the included round brush started to bend after tackling stubborn food remnants. 

Key specifications Type: 2-in-1 mop Water tank capacity: 0.3L Weight: 2.4kg Cord length: 7.5m Wattage: 1800W Variable steam?: Yes Included accessories: Small nylon brushes, small brush with window cleaning fitting, carpet accessory, steam concentrator, washable microfibre cloth, sockette, funnel Guarantee: 2 years

This robustly built steam cleaner has a triangular brush that can detach from the floorhead for scrubbing and deep cleaning. It offers low, medium and high steam settings and can convert into a handheld for tackling windows and worktops. It cleaned our oven of stubborn food deposits in less the seven minutes, which is a lot quicker than we could manage manually. 

It comes with a great range of tools, including a carpet glider, but the round brush's bristles bent out of place after only one use. Floor cleaning requires screwing the handle into the main body - there's no need for a screwdriver, but it's stiff and fiddly all the same. We found the trigger switch uncomfortable to hold down for long periods and would have preferred a wider hole for refilling the 350ml water tank. That all said, it feels reasonably priced at just shy of £100. 

Key specifications Type: 2-in-1 mop Water tank capacity: 0.35L Weight: 3.5kg Cord length: 7m Wattage: 1700W Variable steam?: Yes Included accessories: Carpet glider, copper round brush, deep cleaning pipe, detail brush tool, window squeegee tool Guarantee: 1 year

If you're struggling to clean awkward spaces properly, this steam cleaner can help - once you get past the fiddly assembly requiring a screwdriver, that is. It has an extra-long flex, allowing you to clean all surfaces from one plug socket, and the mophead is easily maneuverable, turning into corners and tilting to reach under furniture. It comes with lots of useful tools and you can order more online, but we'd have liked a window squeegee and carpet glider in the box. 

Its multiple steam settings include a steam blast feature for eradicating embedded floor stains, but there's no way of telling when the steam is ready until it starts emitting. The mophead detaches at the press of a button, no handling required, but the cloths shrunk when we washed them according to the manufacturer's instructions. It's not freestanding and the handle isn't telescopic, but it can also be used as a handheld. It's a trusty choice if you've got a lot of cleaning to do and not much time to do it!

Key specifications Type: 2-in-1 mop Water tank capacity: 0.5L Weight: 2.8kg Cord length: 8m Wattage: 1050W Variable steam?: Yes Included accessories: Concentration nozzle, steam blast scrubbing tool, copper brush, steam crevice tool, small above the floor pocket tool, filling flask, dirt grip pads Guarantee: 2 years

It's hard to beat a reliable handheld steam cleaner for battling the most stubborn stains on your worktops and windows. This model cleverly concentrates its steam on one small area at a time to prevent messy splattering. It cleaned the inside of our oven in no time and the included wide window squeegee covered a large surface area of glass efficiently. However, this wasn't an enjoyable task, as the unit felt heavy and its handle proved too chunky to use comfortably for long periods. 

We like the choice of wet and dry steam modes, and the trigger switch has a safety lock if you're worried about small children playing with it. Unfortunately, it takes over two-and-a-half minutes to heat up the water tank, which is longer than it takes to tackle most basic cleaning jobs! Said tank isn't see-through, either, meaning it has to fully run out of water before you know it needs refilling. With these downsides in mind, we'd only use it when we've got a lot of grime to clean. If its bulky weight doesn't put you off, it's an affordable and highly effective dirt blaster. 

Key specifications Type: Handheld Water tank capacity: 0.37L Weight: 1.74kg Cord length: 5m Wattage: 1000W Variable steam?: Yes Included accessories: Deep cleaning conical pipe, refresh conical pipe, curved nozzle, round brush, copper brush, comb nozzle, shovel plate, scraper, multi-purpose nozzle, measuring jug, descaling tool, textile pad Guarantee: 1 year

This versatile cylinder model with adjustable steam output boasts a useful “turbo steam” function for banishing stubborn stains. The handy display unit lets you know when the 1.3-litre water tank is ready to go (in about six minutes) and when it needs refilling. It comes with plenty of attachments, including a carpet accessory for sanitising and refreshing carpets and soft furnishings. Everything fits onboard the machine for convenience and the full setup requires less storage space than most.

We were highly impressed with its cleaning performance. It was especially good at cleaning carpets, ceramic tiles and sealed floors, removing muddy stains with ease. The bristly brush at the back of the floorhead successfully scrubbed embedded dirt from our carpets, softening and lifting grime away without damaging the fibres. 

Unfortunately, when cleaning smaller surfaces like ovens and hobs, the steam caused dirt to splatter onto the surrounding worktops, meaning more time cleaning. It's bulky and heavy when full and the flex is on the short side, meaning you may require an extension lead at times. Niggles aside, if you’re looking for a durable and efficient all-in-one, it's a worthy investment.

Key specifications Type: Cylinder Water tank capacity: 1.3L Weight: 5.8kg Cord length: 3.75m Wattage: 1100W Variable steam?: Yes  Included accessories: Small nylon brushes, small brass bristle brush, detail nozzle, carpet glider, anti-limescale sachets, microfibre protection covers for brushes Guarantee: 1 year

Read the full Polti Vaporetto Pro_95 Turbo Steam Cleaner review 

This Shark steam mop offers three steam levels, so you can select the necessary setting for each task. Its 350ml water tank heats up in under 30 seconds, but there's no indicator light to tell you when it's ready. It emits steam through the double-sided floorhead - simply flip it over for twice the cleaning area per machine-washable pad, before pressing the button to release and reload touch-free.

Its cleaning performance on hard floors was impressive, scoring just shy of top marks on vinyl flooring. It dried quickly and the cleaner left it shiny. Reaching under furniture and kitchen appliances was easy and the powerful steam blast feature helped to break up tough stains. 

It has a long cord, but it felt quite heavy in use, and note that it’s only designed for use on hard and sealed floors. It's not free-standing, there's no detachable handheld unit and extra accessories must be ordered separately. 

Key specifications Type: Mop Water tank capacity: 0.35L Weight: 2.8kg Cord length: 8m Wattage: 1200W Variable steam?: Yes Included accessories: 2 x double-sided cleaning pads for floorhead Guarantee: 3 years

Read the full Shark Klik n' Flip Automatic Steam Mop S6003UK review

This affordable steam mop is lightweight, compact and ideal for common spills and big clean-ups alike. Its removable 450ml water tank heats up rapidly and offers a decent range of steam outputs, but it takes a few seconds to register a reduction in power. 

It scored highly in all our cleaning tests, leaving tiles shining and easily lifting dried-on stains from vinyl flooring. As a handheld, it cleaned our gas hob quickly. The oven results were similar, but removing dried-on dirt required some further scrubbing. It left out windows smeary, too.  It comes with an array of tools, including a grout cleaner, and its rotating triangular floorhead proved helpful when reaching into corners and awkward areas. It moved clunkily over hard flooring but we loved how comfortable it felt to hold and use. Overall, it offers fantastic value for money at under £35.

Key specifications Type: 2-in-1 mop Water tank capacity: 0.45L Weight: 2.8kg Cord length: 6 Wattage: 1300W Variable steam?: Yes Included accessories: Medium brush, carpet glider, grout cleaner, scraper tool, ironing attachment Guarantee: 1 year

Read the full Vytronix 10-in-1 Multifunction Steam Mop STM01 review

This cube-shaped steam cleaner is neat and stylish, with a wide range of functions and accessories. It's an effective machine that can reach a steam temperature of 135C , but its powerful steam output of 120g/min may prove too much for lighter cleaning jobs. It's heavy, weighing 5.6kg with a full tank of water, and it takes more than eight minutes to heat up. If time isn't an issue, it offers good value for its cleaning power and the range of jobs it tackles.

We were particularly pleased with its window cleaning ability. It blasted away embedded dirt, drying quickly and leaving the glass shiny and smear-free. It cleaned vinyl flooring with just as much ease, but it's too bulky to reach underneath appliances, despite its swivel floorhead. It proved less efficient at oven cleaning - despite softening and lifting dirt away, it splattered a lot of food deposits around the oven.

Key specifications Type: Cylinder Water tank capacity: 1.6L Weight: 4kg Cord length: 4.9m Wattage: 1500W Variable steam?: Yes Included accessories: Nylon brushes, small brass brush, extension tubes, cleaning pad for floorhead, microfibre protection cover for brushes, fragrance sachet, travel adapter plug Guarantee: 2 years, lifetime on boiler

Read the full Dupray Neat Multi-Use Steam Cleaner DUP020WUK review

This handheld steam cleaner offers excellent value for money, but don't expect the bells and whistles of other models on our tried and tested list. It's a great budget buy for everyday maintenance clean-ups, effortlessly removing stubborn food residues on test. The wide squeegee tool included in the box lets you clean glass and windows quickly, but there's only one steam mode and you can't see when the water tank needs refilling. The power cord is short, too, meaning you'll have to plug it into a closer socket when you move between areas. 

It produces a lot of water as it cleans, so much so that it dripped down our ceramic tiles and windows. If you can live with the need to wipe as you go or wait while your surfaces dry, it's a helpful little machine to have at your disposal. 

Key specifications Type: Handheld Water tank capacity: 250ml Weight: Not available Cord length: 3m Wattage: 1050W Variable steam?: No Included accessories: Fabric steamer, long nozzle adapter, angled nozzle, squeegee, nylon brush, funnel, measuring cup, microfibre cloth Guarantee: 3 years