Attaching the larger-than-average detail nozzle straight to the main unit, I set about cleaning some soap scum and limescale off my kitchen sink. The cleaner managed to rid most of the marks, with the last bits requiring a bit of a scrub with the brush. We test steam mops on hard flooring, noting how long it takes to remove food stains and muddy deposits. We also 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. To ensure you get the best out of your steam cleaner, it’ll need a little maintenance. This is just to rinse out the water tank every now and then, and to wash the accessories easy with water from the tap or in the washing machine. The ultimate test was the oven, for which we used the copper brush. Our oven’s seen better days so we had no concerns about doing so, but we’d recommend the concentration nozzle if you’re worried about scratching your shiny new kitchen appliance. Last year 6,997 Which? Connect panel members and 3,003 members of the public told us about more than 20,454 individual products. We calculate a brand's customer score, fault rate and proportion replaced or repaired based on the results of our annual survey.

There are three main types of steam cleaner. To help you choose the right one for your home, here’s all you need to know. Which? has a wealth of information on Britain's favourite brands. Every year we ask Which? members to tell us about the home appliances they own – from how likely they would be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once they get them home. However, the handle is supplied separately from the frame and needs to be attached with a screw (included). This was easy enough, but you’ll need a screwdriver. It’s clear this steam cleaner has a quality build, but you’d be wise to remove the main unit for storage; it reduces the weight of the appliance meaning it will be less likely to topple over. The dirt grip floor pads can then be clipped into place by slotting it on at all of the four corners.Equipped with two automatic steam controls, you can clean a variety of surfaces with complete confidence. A 500ml capacity helps you get through more of the chores in one go, and refilling the tank is easy thanks to the included fill flask. What’s more, the S6005UK heats up in just 30 seconds, offering up to 15 minutes of steam power. Once you’re all set up, you’re ready to start cleaning with steam. It’s a corded steam cleaner which means that you’ll need to be plugged in, preferably in the same room as where you’ll be cleaning. Steam cleaning the floor 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. Only Which? members can log in to view our verdict on the brands listed below and see whether they are worth buying. 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.

The proportion faulty is the percentage that experienced a fault, and the proportion repaired or replaced is the percentage of steam cleaners that were fixed or thrown away due to the fault. The Shark S6005UK has two automatic steam settings that you can change at any time you feel the need to. The two settings of this steam cleaner features are low and high. These two are pretty much different from each other, and each one has its own use. So, let’s go ahead and talk about when you should use the low setting and when you should use the high setting. The low setting is the one that you’d probably use the most for light to normal day by day cleaning. This setting is used for daily situations, so that pretty much means it’s perfect when it comes to dealing with both light dirt and the usual everyday mess. It’s a steam cleaner that looks good, too, with a high-gloss, grey-and-white chassis, an ultra-slim handle and flexible mop heads with a chevron design which wouldn’t look out of place on a racing car (the jury’s out on whether or not this will speed up your cleaning sessions). It feels incredibly tactile, with an ultra-smooth finish and extra cushioning in all the right places, such as the top of the handle. We've pulled together our fault data, customer insight and average performance in our independent steam cleaner tests to give you an in-depth look at each brand. When the main unit is removed from its frame and connected to power, only the Tools indicator will start blinking. If the steam trigger on the main unit handle is held down, the light will stay on, and the cleaner will start emitting steam.It can be so frustrating when you’re mopping the floor and the microfibre pad gets too dirty to continue cleaning. Thankfully, the clever folk at Shark have come up with a solution: you can now carry on cleaning your floor for twice as long as when one side of the super-absorbent microfibre cleaning pad is dirty, you can easily just swap to the clean side by rotating the mop handle and flipping the head. Five accessories, including a steam blast scrubbing tool, a copper brush and a steam crevice tool will – at least, according to the blurb – help to cut through grease and grime in seconds, no matter what type of surface is being cleaned. The strong fumes from a lot of floor cleaners can be too much for some people, not to mention the damage they can cause to the environment. The high temperature of the steam released from Shark’s Lift-Away Steam Mop will kill 99.9% of common household bacteria (a promise only Shark steam mops can make), giving you complete peace of mind without the need for chemical cleaners. Suitable for most sealed hard floors.

Just over 24% of owners of steam cleaners reported the this fault, and stated that they had their product repaired or replaced by the manufacturer. The Good Housekeeping Institute tests every steam cleaner on ceramic tiles, vinyl floors, inside an oven, on gas hobs and on windows, using them in the same way you would at home. If you’re interested in this item, then you should keep reading since this has a lot of features that you will love.Most of the mops in our list are two-in-one models that also double up as handheld units for cleaning hobs and tiles. We've crunched the numbers for the biggest manufacturers – including Bissell, Karcher, Shark and Vax – and have calculated a customer score for each, so you know which brands come recommended by owners. Our survey data takes into account which steam cleaner brands had faults reported, and whether they needed to be repaired or replaced. A padded tool features a spatula-shaped plastic frame, which is covered with a removable and washable pad that’s microfibre on one side and metallic fibres on the other. This tool is only to be used with the pad attached, and is meant for “small, uneven surfaces, corners, and edges”. However, it also works for smoother surfaces, such as mirrors and shower screens.