How to use a steam cleaner

It's easy to see why steam cleaners have become so popular – the best models really do help you keep your house sparkling. But if you've never owned one, you're likely to have a few questions about what they can do.

Will they ruin your beautiful parquet floor? Will they banish the damp-dog smell from your carpet? And can you really use them to defrost your freezer?

In this guide, our floor-care experts answer all your most common queries. Read on to find out just how versatile they can be – and when using them may not be a good idea. 

Find out how we test steam cleaners.

Will a steam cleaner damage my floor?

This is probably the most common question of all. The short answer is – it depends. Steam cleaners can do a brilliant job, but they're not suitable for all surfaces and can warp or crack some flooring. But don't let that put you off getting one. It just means a little research is called for.

Before you buy or use a steam cleaner for the first time, it's best to double check whether it will be suitable for your home. Manufacturers often list the type of surfaces they say you can safely clean with their devices, but the information can be quite vague and may not be relevant to the exact type of flooring in your house.

Instead, we'd recommend checking directly with your flooring manufacturer or installer. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn't use a steam cleaner on unsealed wooden or parquet floors, as the moisture can cause the boards to swell and buckle.

If you're unsure whether your floor has been properly sealed, one way to check is to pour a small amount of water onto it and then wait to see if the water sinks down into it. If it doesn't, you should be able to steam clean the surface. To be on the safe side, turn the cleaner to its lowest setting the first time you use it on a new type of flooring, and always mop up any excess water after use.

Will a steam cleaner work on fabric and carpet?

A steam cleaner is no replacement for a proper carpet cleaner. These wash your carpets, sucking up the dirty water, and are great for really deep cleaning. In comparison, steam cleaners just blast your carpet with hot steam. They don't remove the dirt, though the steam can help shift stains and refresh the pile.

We test cylinder steam cleaners' ability to clean stains on carpets, as you told us you use them to do this at home. Some do this fairly well, but none were as good as a carpet cleaner. See our cylinder steam cleaner reviews to see if any appeal to you.

Some steam mops and two-in-one devices come with a carpet glider attachment for the mop head, which can be useful for carpeted areas. (Not sure what a carpet glider is? Check out our jargon buster below.)

Whatever type of steam cleaner you own, always test it on a small hidden area before using it, as not all carpet types are suitable for cleaning at high temperatures. Avoid holding it down or over-wetting any one area – and always vacuum the carpet before steaming it.

What else can I do with my steam cleaner?

1. Clean your oven and hob

Trying to shift baked-on grease and food can be a real challenge and often requires powerful chemicals. But using a steam cleaner is more eco-friendly and doesn't produce any nasty smells. However, be careful not to use the steamer near the oven's element, as this could damage it.

You can also take your cleaner outdoors to spruce up your barbecue (you may have to team it up with a wire brush for burnt-on food).

2. Sanitise your mattress

It's a good idea to clean your mattress regularly. Not only do we sweat and shed dead skin while we sleep, but the average bed contains 10,000 dust mites, which can aggravate allergies.

The high temperature of the steam produced by your cleaner kills dust mites and won't soak the mattress, so it won't take as long to dry.

As with other surfaces though, check with the manufacturer before using your steam cleaner on your mattress, and thoroughly vacuum first to pick up any loose debris, such as pet fur and dust. To find out more, read our guide on to how to clean your mattress.

3. Defrost your freezer

Yes, really. If you're in a hurry to defrost your freezer, your steamer is a quicker – and safer – option than attacking the ice with kitchen implements. The heat of the steam will also sterilise the surfaces, so you don't need to use any detergent to clean them once the ice has been removed.

The process is easy. Just take out the drawers and place a bowl in the bottom of the freezer to collect the ice, then direct your steamer's nozzle onto the ice itself. It should come away easily in big chunks, which you can then drop in to your bowl. Remember to have a towel on hand to wipe up any drips.

Do I have to use distilled water in a steam cleaner?

Some manufacturers recommend you use distilled water in your cleaner rather than tap water. This can be inconvenient and expensive, but failing to do so may invalidate your warranty.

Even if a cleaner can use tap water then it may struggle if you live in an area with very hard water. If that's the case, it's a good idea to look for a model with a built-in limescale filter.

Our steam cleaner reviews always say whether a model requires special water and whether it has a filter.

How often do I have to replace the mop heads?

Generally, when you buy a steam cleaner, you'll also get at least one cleaning pad, typically made of microfibres. Most of these are machine washable, so you can just chuck them in the wash whenever they get dirty. (Check the manual for washing instructions, as some manufacturers say you shouldn't use bleach or fabric softeners.)

If your pad becomes damaged or threadbare, you'll need to buy a replacement. You'll usually be able to buy branded pads, but generic replacements can be much cheaper.

Jargon buster

Accessories/Attachments for steam cleaners

Some steam cleaners come with attachments including brushes and nozzles to make them suitable for a wider range of cleaning jobs. Most come with a water jug to help refill the water tank and spare cleaning pads.

Adjustable steam rate

Some steam cleaners have a dial or buttons so you can adjust the steam pressure. Some manufacturers recommend different levels of steam for different cleaning tasks.

Anti-calc filters

Also called a limescale filter, it’s worth looking out for a steam cleaner that is fitted with one if you live in a hard-water area. Like kettles and irons, steam cleaners experience a build-up of limescale inside. An anti-calc filter helps slow this process down. Some filters will last as long as the appliance, while others need to be replaced at regular intervals.

Cable length

If you have a large area to steam clean in your home, it’s worth looking at this to give you a greater reach from your plug socket.

Carpet glider

A steam mop attachment that fits onto the mop head to make it suitable for steaming carpets.

Cleaning pads

Steam mops come with detachable cloths that fit over the mop head. They are usually made from microfibre cloth and come in different designs depending on the shape of the mop head. They are secured in place with either Velcro, a drawstring, or clamps. We’ve found that those with drawstrings must be attached very tightly so that they do not move around.

Most pads are machine washable (but check the washing instructions). Our tests found that some retain their shape after multiple washes while others shrink or become stained, so it’s worth looking at the cleaning pads rating for a product. Replacement pads cost between £2 and £4.50 for one.

Some handheld steam cleaners also come with microfibre cleaning pads to fit specific attachments (for example, to refresh fabric).

Continuous steam

Steam cleaners with this function will start to emit steam when they’re switched on and heated up. You have less control over the steam than with a trigger-activated model, but this also means there’s no need to hold a button down to keep it steaming.

Cord storage

Clips attached to the handle of a steam mop, around which you can wrap the power cord to keep it tidy when stored in the cupboard. The best have clips that rotate so it’s easy to release the cord in one go when you want to start cleaning.

Crevice tool

An attachment for handheld steam cleaners that's designed to remove stubborn grime in hard-to-reach spots.

Cylinder steam cleaner

Cylinder steam cleaners look like cylinder vacuum cleaners and comprise a body, bendy hose, plastic tube and nozzle. They tend to be heavier than steam mops but generally steam for longer. With a range of attachments, they’re suitable for the cleaning tasks of steam mops and handheld steam cleaners combined and can cost anywhere between around £80 and £400.

Detergent tank

Some steam mops have two tanks, one of which is designed for detergent.

Direct steam nozzle

An attachment for a handheld cleaner that creates a direct spray of steam for cleaning hard-to-reach spots.

Extension hose

Attaches to a handheld steamer to give you extra reach. Other accessories such as crevice tools or nozzles then attach to the end.

Extra nozzles

Cylinder and handheld steam cleaners often come with several different-sized nozzles to make them suitable for cleaning areas of different sizes. The smallest are often called 'details' nozzles, which focus a tiny but powerful jet of steam for cleaning hard-to-reach areas or grout.

Flat scrubber

An attachment for a handheld cleaner that is designed for cleaning a variety of surfaces, especially large flat areas like counter tops, walls or mirrors.

Grout brush

This accessory comes with some handheld steam cleaners and attaches to the end of a hose for scrubbing in small cracks and crevices.

Handheld steam cleaner

Usually compact and easy to store (often iron or kettle-sized), handheld steam cleaners are suitable for steam cleaning on a small scale – bathroom tiles, counter tops and hard-to-teach carpet edges, for example. They can cost as little as £20 or up to £100 and come with different attachments.

Pressurised boiler

Cylinder and handheld steam cleaners often have boilers that rely on pressure as well as heat to produce steam. They can take longer to heat up than models without pressurised boilers. You need to completely empty the water tank to ensure that the boiler is depressurised before you open the lid to refill it – or you could be faced with a face full of steam (ouch).

Pump activated

A few steam mops produce steam when you pump the handle up and down, so the amount of steam produced depends partly on the user’s efforts.

Ready indicator light

This indicates when the steam cleaner is heated up and ready to use.

Single and twin tank steam cleaners

Cylinder steam cleaners are, on average, able to produce for around half an hour. But a twin tank model can offer continuous steaming beyond this time, as you can add new water to one tank while the other is heating water. These models often have smaller overall capacities than single tank models but, as long as you keep adding water, you can clean for as long as you want.

Steam mop

Basic steam mops have long handles with a water tank and boiler attached. Models that come with a detachable handheld steam cleaner in the handle are called 'two-in-ones'. Steam mops vary greatly in price from less than £30 to more than £100.

Swivel head

Steam mops with swivel and double-hinged heads move around well and make it easier to clean around obstacles and furniture.  

Steam pressure

Steam pressure, or output, is measured in grams of steam per minute (gm) and this figure is often printed on steam cleaner packaging. The higher the figure, the more powerful the steam. We’ve found that those that offer the highest steam output often leave your floor wettest in the process.

Telescopic handle

Some steam mops have height-adjustable handles – sometimes this means the handle completely packs away inside the body of the mop, making it easier to store away.

Trigger activated steam

A button on the handle controls the steam. This means you can control at the touch of a button when you want steam – and when you don’t – which is handy if you want to pause while steam cleaning. But you’ll need to keep the button pressed all the time you want it to emit steam.

Water tank capacity

A larger water tank usually means that you’ll get a longer steaming time. There are big differences between models: some steam for less than 10 minutes while others can manage more than half an hour. However, it’s worth balancing a large tank with the weight of water you’ll have to lug around while you’re cleaning.

Window squeegee

An attachment for handheld steamers that emits a jet of steam in the middle of a plastic blade. You’ll need one if you want a streak-free finish on glass.

Ready to get steaming? Check out our steam cleaner reviews to find the model that's best for you and your home.