A lot of people think that steam cleaners are the same as steam mops.
This isn’t necessarily true though there are similarities between both appliances. One thing is clear though and that’s the fact that they’re both extremely useful to have around at home.
Cleanliness and hygiene is extremely important and this is true for both our health and the environment at home.
We’ll be discussing (and comparing) both appliances in detail a little bit later and have a wide range of steam cleaner reviews but it’s important to note the main purpose of these cleaning appliances.
Most of us just vacuum the floors and find it to be sufficient just because the dirt has disappeared. We don’t even think about the hidden dust and stains that can’t be eradicated that easily. The truth is that the hot vapour produced is capable of doing this and will leave your home neat and tidy.
Before making the purchase, you’ll have the opportunity to choose between a steam mop and cylinder and handheld steam cleaners. Each of these types has their own advantages and again, these will be discussed a little bit later.
In general though, the mop is more suited for hard floors while the cleaners provide more versatility and can be used to clean floors alongside other types of surfaces.
The main aim of this buying guide is to help you choose the best appliances that not only perform brilliantly well but are also associated with an excellent value for money.
Without further delay, let’s get started!
Our comparison of the Best Steam Cleaners 2022
| Name | Power | Includes detergent? | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BISSELL Vac and Steam (11327) | 1500 | No | 2 Years | £££ |
| Vax S86-SF-C 15-in-1 | 1600 | Yes | 2 Years | ££ |
| Vax S86-SF-CC 10-in-1 | 1600 | Yes | 2 Years | ££ |
| Vax S7 2-in-1 | 1600 | No | 2 Years | £ |
| Morphy Richards 720020 9-in-1 | 1500 | No | 2 Years | £ |
| Vax S2S+ Hard Floor Pro+ | 1600 | Yes | 2 Years | £ |
Top 3 Best Steam Cleaner Reviews
1. BISSELL Vac and Steam (11327)
(4.7 / 5)
If you’ve come across this machine before, you’ll already be aware of some of its standout functions. As the name would suggest, this not only utilises vapour but can also be used as a vacuum cleaner. For me personally, this is extremely impressive, as you don’t need to buy a separate machine for each purpose.
Having looked at this BISSELL model in detail, I can confidently say that this is one of the most impressive home cleaning appliances I have ever come across. Of course the best part is the fact that you can mop and vacuum the house at the same time. As you can probably imagine, this is going to save a lot of time.
In terms of the design, this model weighs at just over 4 kilograms, which is on the heavy side. While this can be considered as a disadvantage, I believe that it’s beneficial because of the impressive build quality and sturdiness. On top of that, where are you going to find a complete steam cleaner for use at home? The materials are all high quality and this is bound to work for quite a number of years.
The vacuum is cyclonic and sufficiently powerful for large or small forms of dust and waste lying around the house. There are a lot of accessories included too – namely two types of microfibre pads. One of these will be soft while the other one will be perfect for scrubbing. These pads are made very well and also utilise an antimicrobial agent that will sanitise your floor.
When it comes to these types of machines, the main issue is that some models can take a little bit of time to power up. However, this one can usually be ready for use within 30 seconds. In addition to this, it has a 4-litre tank so you won’t need to keep refilling it.
I’m sure you’ll agree that when it comes to cleaning, you need an appliance that’s efficient, easy and convenient to use and this is exactly what the BISSELL Vac and Steam will do for you. I genuinely believe that this is the best steam cleaner available in the UK right now!
2. Vax S86-SF-C 15-in-1
(4.6 / 5)
While the Vax S86-SF-C doesn’t come with a vacuum feature, it is still one of the best models to buy. Furthermore, it’s a lot cheaper than the BISSELL model we just discussed. I would say that this would be suitable for anyone that doesn’t mind mopping and vacuuming separately.
In terms of the design, you’ll be looking at a very convenient and easy to use machine. This is also built very well and is extremely powerful.
Perhaps the best feature of this product is its versatility. It’s basically a multi-purpose machine that comes with a wide range of accessories that will make it simple for you to clean all kinds of floors and surfaces. This is because you can use it to mop up floors but then change it to a handheld steam cleaner very quickly. This will allow you to clean hobs, ovens, tiles and even windows! If you think about it like that, it’s almost as if the S86-SF-C is a kind of a transformer used to carry out different tasks. This is by far the most impressive characteristic of this model.
While we know that steaming can be extremely efficient to kill bacteria, this model also distributes detergent. This will increase the penetration, improve efficiency when it comes to eliminating bacteria, dirt and stains while also leaving a lovely citrus fruit fragrance.
Just like the BISSELL model, this is also extremely easy to use and you won’t need to be a pro to get it started or to use any of the extras. This machine also doesn’t take that long to power up and should be ready to go within 30 seconds.
When it comes to buying home cleaning appliances, it’s extremely important to take account of the price and compare it with similar products. The Vax S86-SF-C is extremely affordable and I would consider this aspect to be one of the biggest positive points. In my opinion, this leads to an excellent price to performance value!
Throughout our time in compiling this list of the best steam cleaner reviews, we were highly impressed by this model.https://web.archive.org/web/20180320004641if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/BokZppEyKPE?feature=oembed
3. Vax S86-SF-CC 10-in-1
(4.4 / 5)
When checking out the S86-SF-CC, my first impression was that it looked quite decent and was easy to assemble. Furthermore, it felt quite light and flexible while at the same time came with a lot of different accessories.
Truth be told, this model performs brilliantly well and is relatively similar to the more illustrious S86-SF-C bar a few differences. It performs just as well but it is cheaper so we can expect some superior features to be associated with the S86-SF-C. In my opinion, if you’re looking to minimise your spending then you shouldn’t be bothered by this difference in overall quality.
Both models will clean all sorts of surfaces through steaming and distributing detergent to leave a fresh and clean surface. They also come with a similar set of tools. However, the main difference is that the S86-SF-CC steam cleaner will only include one microfibre pad. In addition to this, you won’t get a hose like you do with the S86-SF-C.
This model also doesn’t include a scrub brush that is supposed to eradicate dirt or debris that is extremely stubborn. This is one area where the S86-SF-C far surpasses the quality of the S86-SF-CC. However, if you keep your home maintained quite well then it probably won’t even matter.
I actually found the S86-SF-CC to be brilliant and it certainly provides a good value for money as well. For this reason, if you decide to get this, you can get it with confidence that it’ll be really handy to have around your home. This was definitely one of the top products in our list of steam cleaner reviews.
Affordable Top-rated Steam Mop Reviews in the UK
1. Vax S7 2-in-1
(4.3 / 5)
Just like the Vax S86-SF-C, the S7 can also be used as a steam mop and a handheld steam cleaner. This makes it a total cleaning appliance and one that has been associated with superb overall quality. As a matter of fact, it’s currently the bestseller on Amazon.co.uk under the Steam Mop category.
While I don’t think this is as good as the other two machines we’ve already spoken about, it’s worth remembering that this is also the cheapest product to make it onto this list. This means that it’ll be perfect for anyone who is on a strict budget and is looking to spend as little as possible.
While looking at this model in detail, once again, I was highly impressed by the number of tasks I could complete with this. Obviously, it can be used to clean the most stubborn of dirt on hard floors. Additionally, it comes with several accessories that will allow you to clean other appliances and other surfaces such as tiles and wooden or laminated floors. It also comes with a carpet glider if you wish to refresh carpets and rugs at home. This is truly exceptional for a product that will cost you less than 40 pounds.
While the vapour and detergent produced from the S86-SF-C is great, it’s important to note that the S7 doesn’t have this feature. This means that you’ll only be able to use high-pressure vapour to eradicate dirt and bacteria. Obviously, this might not be as effective but in my opinion, the detergent could also be toxic so I don’t mind this too much.
The Vax S7 is extremely easy to set up and use! It’s certainly effective in carrying out the task it’s assigned for and it does this at a fraction of the cost of an expensive machine. For this reason, this is possibly the best steam cleaner at this price and I’d highly recommend it for home use.
2. Morphy Richards 720020 9-in-1
(4.1 / 5)
The 720020 made by Morphy Richards comes in an upright design. However, there is a small cleaner that can be detached from the machine and used as a handheld model to clean appliances like hobs and ovens.
You’re looking at an excellent machine that is more than capable of carrying out several jobs thanks to it’s power and included extras. One area that impressed was the fact that you don’t need to wait for the vapour to boil and you can use the machine pretty much straight away.
Compared to some of the other models we’ve looked at, this is one of the lightest available in the UK. It’s also quite cheap and would be suitable and affordable for most people.
Despite the low weight and minimal design, the material seems to be quite good and the machine seems to be built reasonably well. It looks good, is easy to set up and use while the water tank is also of an adequate size for average homeowners.
You’ll be able to use the machine in the upright position to clean hard floors and carpets using the included carpet glider. You can easily detach the handheld part and use the included accessories to complete various different tasks and this includes refreshing sofas and cleaning shower doors, ovens, hobs and many more surfaces.
Looking at the overall quality, performance and the price tag, I’d have no qualms about recommending this machine to most people.
3. Vax S2S+ Hard Floor Pro+
(4.1 / 5)
If you’re on the hunt for a steam mop for the single purpose of brushing up stains and keeping the floor clean, then this is the product for you. To be fair, this is probably the only high quality product within this category. We already know that using vapour to clean the floor is quite effective. However, the S2S+ adds a powerful detergent to this process in order to eradicate bacteria, keep them away and also to clear the toughest of stains.
When it comes to the usability, you’ll be able to use this for various different surfaces. These include sealed hard floors and wooden floors. Like most of the steam cleaner reviews we have discussed about above, this machine will also include a carpet glider, which means that you’ll be able to refresh your carpet and rugs as well.
The only negative point is that this can only be used for floors and you won’t be able to use this as a handheld machine. This means that you won’t be able to use this for cleaning windows and other appliances in your kitchen.
In my opinion, this is a great product and does the job very well. It’s not too expensive either so budget shouldn’t be an issue either. For this reason, if you’re looking for a machine that is dedicated to clean floors then this should be your top choice. It works brilliantly well, is lightweight and even looks quite nice. This means that this provides a decent value for money as well.
Steam Cleaners vs. Steam Mops
At this stage, I’m sure you’re already aware that steam cleaning can be quite an efficient way of cleaning your home. This is because the high temperature of the vapour not only eliminates injurious bacteria but is also capable of leaving floors and other surfaces completely spotless. This is bound to improve the hygiene and the overall environment at home.
When it comes to choosing between a multipurpose cleaner and a steam mop, you literally need to consider the tasks that you’ll be carrying out. Steam cleaners have the ability to carry out a wide range of jobs because of the number of extra tools included with these. This will allow you to clean floors alongside surfaces like kitchen appliances, hobs, ovens and even windows. This will be made possible thanks to a handheld feature. In comparison, a steam mop will not allow you to do this. You’ll only be able to use this to clear dirt and stains while keeping the floors clean and the carpets refreshed.
For this reason, you must distinguish between the two machines properly before making the purchase. The task at hand is obviously important however, there are several other factors you must consider.
Firstly, you need to take account of the price and set the maximum amount of money you’re willing to spend. This will minimise overspending while also ensuring that you don’t end up wasting too much time looking at products that you aren’t able to afford.
Other areas to look at include design features, power and additional features like vacuum and the overall weight. For example, some people might even want a cordless steam mop. However, our reviews didn’t include any of these, as they seem to be of a poorer quality when compared to corded machines.
Taking account of all of these factors will ensure that your search and eventual transaction goes very smoothly.
Final Words
If you have managed to read through this entire post, you have probably realised by now that there are lots of different products to choose from. Some will be associated with excellent performance and a terrific value for money while some won’t be great.
Our buying guide for the best steam cleaner reviews will enable you to separate the excellent products from the poor ones.
Read the above reviews and look into the products a bit further if you wish to buy a high quality machine without spending too much money.