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Use these useful household appliances to power you clean and sterile surfaces

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To perform true deep cleansing without chemicals, it is time to use the power of steam. Ideal for aseptic floors and shiny kitchen countertops and windows, steam cleaners can achieve amazing results without much effort. Trust us, you will look around for the next item to be cleaned-they are very satisfying to use.

We tested a range of widely used steam cleaners, from small hand-held devices to comprehensive floor cleaners. We look for models that can provide quick-drying results after use, and come with a series of accessories to gauge which tools are best for the job.

The finalists we selected were excellent all-rounders, and they dealt with everything from repairing and cleaning fluff on old carpets to cleaning windows and upholstery or steaming toilets and shower doors.

It is best to use filtered or softened water in the tanks of these products. We always recommend it, especially for those in hard water areas, because mineral deposits and scale will accumulate on the nozzle and tank and affect performance. There is no need to add detergent when you are at full speed, so don't mistakenly pour detergent or cleaning fluid into the tank, as this is a quick way to void your warranty and/or cause corrosion damage to your equipment. machine.

One of the models we recommend has a spray function, but you can try using a large amount of diluted essential oils instead of harsh cleaning products. You really don't need them to help clean up the trash.

Another warning before you get a trigger at home: powerful steam cleaning can easily damage certain types of surfaces. First of all, untreated wood floors will warp or swell under long periods of humidity and high temperature. If overused, laminates will usually blisters and warp. If you don't at least choose an adjustable model and choose a low-power setting, then delicate surfaces (such as vinyl, varnish, and furniture veneers) will also be affected.

We always advocate trying to test the area first when starting any work. During the test, we found that attaching a steam refrigerator door with wires is a bad idea (yes, well, we were taken away), and you may find that bathroom accessories that look expensive may not be real chrome after all.

Finally, regardless of the setting, the steam is very hot. So please use it with caution and don't let your children try your new toys. Now, when you realize how satisfying the deep steam cleaning process is, plug it in and try not to get overwhelmed.

This beautifully designed steam cleaner can start working in less than 30 seconds after filling the water tank, and the maximum steam intensity is very suitable for moving heavily soiled tiles in corridors with heavy traffic. You can stand on the outer edge of the main cushion to release a small triangular scrubber, which is very convenient for entering narrow corners. The combination of bristles and steam drives our cleanup work. 

Disassembling the water tank for hand-held cleaning is a breeze. We use a combination of a copper brush and a nozzle with a restriction to deeply clean the toilet and sink where the scale accumulates. We will never scrub with chemicals again-steam is the method.

Best: for carpets and rugs

Our testers have just completed some construction work in their kitchen area, so this Beldray steam cleaner must have passed its pace. Although it is one of the cheapest models in our final selection, after the initial sweeping and vacuuming to suck away the builder's dust and grit, it can easily restore the floor and kitchen cabinets to their best sanitary condition. 

Although the powerful function of steam cleaning can remove stains and remove almost all bacteria on the surface, some people prefer to spray cleaners to make things smell fresher. This model has a small water tank that can release a short spray in front of the cleaning head by triggering an action when needed. We think that the rotating head makes this lightweight floor cleaner very easy to operate, and the glider can easily push over carpets and carpets.

This powerful steam cleaner has two steam modes-high or low-meaning it is suitable for cleaning in almost every household. After testing in an area out of sight, we used it on a low setting to clean the skirting board, quickly moving the velvet, wedge-shaped head on the surface to remove dirt immediately. The pickup on the floor is impressive, especially; we like being able to flip the large microfiber mat to provide twice the cleaning surface area for wiping. 

Thanks to the large 8m power cord, we can move on without unplugging the power source. When removing the washing pad for washing, we don't need to remove it from the main body-with a light press, it will fall into the laundry basket. We like this model very much-it is versatile and well constructed-although it is not a budget option.

Read the full Shark S6005UK floor and handheld steam cleaner review

Compared to some of our finalists, the accessories included in this wheeled tank model are limited, although Kärcher does sell a range of accessories separately. Through kitchen cleaning, freezing defrosting and backsplash degreasing, it works well in basic cleaning. We like the way to refill without delay, because there is no need to let the machine cool down. The sturdy cleaning handles and accessories of this model seem to be of better quality than some of the other steamer baskets we have seen, but the price does reflect this.

Read the full Kärcher SC3 easyfix steam cleaner review

We first tried this model on selected floors, using a plastic glider attachment to skim over the surface of the low pile carpet and slide. There is an impressive (and embarrassing) dirt on the terry pad, which is perfectly restored by washing at 40 degrees. The same goes for the mini cloths and soft big brushes we use on the fabric sofas, scrubbing the dirty armrests to make them fresh again-although we did find that the cushions were too damp to sit down, and it is recommended to dry them overnight. The window squeegee makes the window panes gleaming-very interesting to use and versatile.

We found that this Morphy Richards model is a powerful cleaner with a variety of accessories, easy to use and intuitive when installing various accessories. Before installing the water tank to the floor mode and processing the tiles, we used the work surface attachment to blow up around the kitchen in handheld mode. The spatula and wire brush accessories are the dream team that restores the creepy oven to decent. This is an excellent value-for-money steam cleaner, but we prefer a slightly larger tank with a longer service life.

This simple floor cleaning tool is very practical and very effective. There are not many fancy accessories in the box-only two head cushions and a plastic glider attachment to help it skim over the surface of carpets and carpets.

This is a very lightweight model and does not take up much storage space. Our testers often use it to tidy up the porch and corridor floors that are used and abused by two muddy dogs and multiple rain boots. Due to the triangular design of the head, it is easy to skim over the tiles and enter the corners. The mat will be stained with a lot of dirt, and it works well when washed at 60 degrees. The steam intensity can be adjusted up or down, which is useful, but there is no trigger to control the flow, so the machine constantly produces it. For this reason, it is very suitable for fast, concentrated cleaning work, cleaning work after walking the dog, but if you want to take your time, it may be troublesome to use.

If your first task is not to clean the floor, but to need a tool to handle kitchens, bathrooms, and hard-to-reach surfaces, then this lightweight model from Tower is an excellent solution at a reasonable price.

With its thick handle, this machine is not as cumbersome to use as some other models that must be switched to handheld mode. We set it up to handle everything from dirty double glazing to tired car interiors, and achieved great results. We like its neat storage and quirky appearance-if you want to add some charm to your cleaning routine, this product is also available in trendy rose gold and black colors.  

It takes three minutes to heat up, but at this price, plus an impressive range of accessories and a three-year warranty, we can wait.

Accessories: storage box, vaporflexi brush, brass brush, small brush, three small colored brushes, two floor cloths, carpet accessories, window cleaning brush, steam concentrator and brush, steam spray gun, two sockets, two Kalstop anti-scale products

It may be the most expensive machine in our product line, but it is so effective for various cleaning problems that it is a bit addictive. If there is a lot of cleaning work to be done, this is for you. 

We found this cylindrical model to be particularly good on the floor. We tried it in a huge open kitchen restaurant and managed to use high-power steam for three-quarters of an hour at a time to brighten the grout, remove stains on the tiles, and restore everything to its original shape. Its large capacity The water tank takes a relatively long time to reach the steam point, but the easy-to-install floor and hand tools are of high quality and fit, and have achieved good results on every surface we have tried. This Polti model is equipped with a selection of accessories to suit most cleaning tasks, and there is even an optional steam iron accessory available.

It is recommended not to use anything other than water in the steam cleaner, including any detergent or bleach, because putting chemicals in the steam cleaner can cause corrosion. The heat of the steam disinfects surfaces and floors, so you don't actually need any harsh chemicals or cleaners to clean them effectively. Most manufacturers also recommend using only demineralized water.

We chose the powerful Hoover capsule simply because it looks great, easy to use, heats up quickly, and comes with a full set of accessories. 

If you have more money to play, both Karcher and Polti Vaporetto Pro models can make cleaning satisfying, and we dare say that it is fun. For people who use steam engines for the first time, the tower mode is an inexpensive way to help you understand that steam can increase your cleaning ability.

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Choose from upright, wheeled tank and handheld models 

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