Introduction to Carpet Steamers

The article aims to help anyone with stained carpet, or their carpet just requires a deep clean. Carpet steamers are perfect for anyone with kids or pets, as it will help to reduce or remove any marks or damage from a carpet.

Carpet steamer

They are also ideal for anyone who wishes to save money on professional carpet cleaning services or equipment, as carpet steamers are much more affordable than floor and carpet cleaners.

Table of Contents

What is a Carpet Steamer?

A carpet steamer is an advanced cleaning device which is designed to eliminate any stubborn stains that cannot be removed with an average hoover. It is typically used in high traffic areas where spillages or accidents are more likely to occur.


White carpet steamer on cream carpet

How do you Use a Carpet Steamer?

When buying a carpet steamer, it is essential that you understand how it works and how to use it. To ensure you are using your carpet steamer properly, you should read the manufacturer's instruction thoroughly.

Silver and black carpet steamer on cream carpet

The way you use a carpet steamer will depend on the product, for instance, using a steam mop will involve the following processes:

  1. If you have a cordless steam mop make sure it is charged.
  2. You should then attach mop pads with the connectors provided and keep any spares close by.
  3. The water tank should then be filled up to the maximum mark.
  4. Move any objects out the way, such as furniture or plugs.
  5. Brush or vacuum any loose debris.
  6. You should then turn on the mop or plug it into an outlet to do so if it is not cordless and let it warm up for around 30 seconds.
  7. When using a steam mop, you should start near a doorway to prevent walking on the clean floor and work in straight lines.
  8. You should then wait for the carpet to dry completely before putting back any furniture or other objects.


Types of Carpet Steamer

When buying a carpet steamer, it is important to understand which type is best for you. There are various types of carpet steamer which are ideal for different uses, such as:

Handheld Carpet Steamer

Handheld carpet steamers are compact devices which are usually cordless and can be carried around the home and are ideal for small areas of damage. Handheld carpet steamers typically come with various attachments which are not just great for carpets but can also be used on hardwood floors, appliances and even sofa stains.

Handheld carpet steamer

This type of carpet steamer is not the best option for a full carpet clean, as it would take time to cover an entire carpet with a handheld carpet steamer.

Cylinder Carpet Steamer

If you wish to deep clean multiple carpet flooring in your home, then cylinder carpet steamers are probably one of the best options.

This is because they typically feature a large water tank which enables you to steam carpets in various rooms in your house for up to 50 minutes. They also come with several attachments which will allow you to use the carpet steam on additional surfaces.

Cylinder carpet steamer

The issue with cylinder carpet steamers is that they are harder to use due to the bigger water tank, making it much heavier than other carpet steamers.

Vacuum Steam Cleaners

Vacuum steam cleaners or carpet cleaners use a combination of hot water and cleaning products to remove any stains or odours from carpets. This is ideal for large areas as they can cover an entire carpet quickly and easily.

They are also a lot more powerful than other carpet steamers, as they are strong enough to suck any trapped dirt or water from the carpet which will allow the carpet to dry quickly and will also prevent a build-up of missed dirt.

Vacuum steam cleaner

The main problem with vacuum steam cleaners is that they are much more expensive than other carpet steamers, so if you have a low budget in mind, it may not be the best option.

Best Carpet Steamer

To help you choose the right carpet steamer, take a look at the following products:

Vileda Steam Mop

The Vileda Steam Mop has been voted the best steamer mop and is favoured by many due to its high-quality carpet performance and its ability to kill 99.9% of bacteria on carpets and other surfaces.

Vileda steam mop

This mop must be plugged in during operation, which can be restricting although it does last a lot longer than cordless models.

This steam mop features:

  • 0.4-litre tank
  • Steam power variations
  • Pivot and tilt head functions
  • Carpet glider attachment
  • 1550watt steam heater
  • Two additional mop heads

The Vileda Steam Mop costs around £99.99.

Pros:

  • Two-year manufacturer's guarantee
  • Includes carpet glider for carpet refreshing
  • Can be used on hardwood surfaces

Cons:

  • Short cable limits movement
  • The steam mop's body tends to get hot
  • Will not switch off when upright

10-in-1 Multifunction Hot Steam Mop Cleaner

This lightweight steam mop cleaner is designed to clean a wide variety of surfaces including carpet, hardwood, ceramic, stone, linoleum and more. It also features various attachments including handheld functions which allow it to be used in any room in a home.

Hot steam mop cleaner

The 10-in-1 Multifunction Hot Steam Mop Clean costs around £42.99. This steam mop cleaner features:

  • 1300Watt power
  • 450ml water tank capacity
  • Ten accessories – glider, jet nozzle, scraper tool, nylon brush, measuring cup, slender brush, carpet tool, small brash brush, window cleaner and microfibre cloth pad
  • Triangle shaped head design
  • Adjustable steam control

Pros:

  • The warm and dry indicator informs you when it's ready to be used
  • Easy to use minimum and maximum settings
  • Cleans multiple surfaces

Cons:

  • Takes longer to dry
  • Excessive water

Russell Hobbs RHSM1001-G Steam and Clean Steam Mop

The Russell Hobbs Steam and Clean Mop is a plastic, lightweight cleaning tool with a capacity of 0.38 litres which offers twenty-five minutes of cleaning time. It comes with a steam mop unit, a handle, two microfibre pads, a carpet glider, a cooling tray and a filler cup.

Russell Hobbs steam mop

The Russell Hobbs Steam and Clean Mop costs about £34.

Pros:

  • Two-year free manufacturer guarantee when the product is registered
  • Chemical-free cleaning
  • Chemical-free cleaning

Cons:

  • Difficult to assemble
  • Quite hard to manoeuvre

Dupray NEAT Steam Cleaner

This steam cleaner product is ideal for all surfaces and products low-moisture superheated steam which prevents excess water. The Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner also features an extra long 5m power cord and built-in funnel to avoid mess.

Dupray neat steam cleaner

The Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner is priced at £144.99.

Pros:

  • Offers 50 minutes of cleaning time
  • Portable cleaning
  • Works on multiple surfaces

Cons:

  • It takes 7 minutes to heat up
  • Lack of water-level indicator

MLMLANT Multi-purpose Handheld Pressurized Steam Cleaner

The MMLANT handheld steam cleaner is perfect for cleaning hard to reach areas in the home due to its streamlined design. It also comes with nine attachments including an extended nozzle, spray cup with a brush, measuring cup, towel sleeve, brush plate, long spray cup, funnel, and a spray cup for windows and doors.

MLMLANT steam cleaner

Costs for the MMLANT Pressurized Steam Cleaner start from £30.

Pros:

  • Chemical-free
  • Features a safety lock
  • 1050w of powerful steam

Cons:

  • Provides just 20 minutes running time
  • Small brush wears out easily

Moolan Steam Mop 12-in-1 Multi-functional Steam Cleaner

The Moolan 12-in-1 Steam Cleaner is a 1500W powerful steam mop which produces 100 in just 15 seconds. It also features a 180-degree triangular swivel head which is great for hard to reach areas. It also works well on carpet, vinyl, hardwood, tiles and more floor surfaces.

Moolan steam mop

The Moolan Steam Mop costs around £72.99.

Pros:

  • Ready to go in 15 seconds
  • Ideal for multiple surfaces
  • Does not require chemicals

Cons:

  • Care required to avoid steam burns
  • Produces a significant amount of hot steam

Vax S86-SF-CC Steam Fresh Combi Classic Multifunction Steam Mop

This Vax Steam Mop features a mixture of steam cleaning technology and detergents which freshens up carpets and other surfaces as well as removing tough stains. It also features three head options for stain scrubbing, cleaning hard floors and carpet gliding.

Vax steam mop

You will also find ten tools that are ideal for additional surfaces such as tiles, ovens and grout.

The Vax S86-SF-CC Steam Mop is priced at £59.

Pros:

  • Built-in handheld cleaner for higher areas
  • Washable cleaning pads
  • Kills up to 99% of bacteria

Cons:

  • Handheld unit is heavy
  • Detergent release issues

Karcher SC3 EasyFix Steam Cleaner

The Karcher EasyFix Steam Cleaner is a lightweight model which uses chemical-free steam to clean carpets and other surfaces. It provides a heating output of 1900W, and its maximum steam pressure is 3.5 bar.

Karcher steam cleaner

It also features extensions including an integrated funnel, hand nozzle and microfibre cover, a 2m steam hose with a gun and a descaler cartridge.

The Karcher SC3 Steam Cleaner costs around £148.

Pros:

  • Child safety lock
  • Steam flow regulation
  • Very easy to use

Cons:

  • No measuring equipment provided
  • The cable is short

Shark Lift Away Steam Mop

The Shark Lift Away model is a steam mop and cleaner which doubles up as a handheld steam cleaner. It has a 0.3 litre tank capacity and heats up in just 30 minutes.

Shark steam mop

It also comes with two scrub pockets, a direct steam nozzle, an accessory house, rectangle mop head, window squeegee, detail brush, carpet glider, flat scrubber and filling flask.

The Shark Lift Away Steamer is typically priced at £100.

Pros:

  • Can be used on wall surfaces
  • Versatile application
  • Cable reaches up to 7m

Cons:

  • Only provides 8 to 10 minutes of cleaning time
  • Difficult to remove stains from hard flooring

Thane H20 X5 Mop 5-in-1 Portable Steam Cleaner

Thane's Portable Steam Cleaner is a two-in-one product featuring a steam mop and handheld cleaner. It has a tank capacity of 471ML which provides ten minutes of steam time.

Thane portable steam cleaner

It also comes with a carpet glider, adjustable steam settings, a removable water tank, a water jug, squeegee, brush and nozzle.


The Thane H20 5-in-1 Steam Cleaer is priced at £89.99.

Pros:

  • Offers continuous fill
  • Heats up in just 20 seconds

Cons:

  • Only provides 10 minutes of cleaning time
  • Does not have a limescale filter

Sources

  1. https://www.overstock.com/guides/how-to-use-a-carpet-steam-cleaner
  2. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/rf-best-products-uk/best-carpet-steamers-reviews
  3. https://www.beststeammop.co.uk/best-carpet-steam-cleaner/
  4. https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/vileda-steam-steam-mop
Author: Heather B

I am a seasoned copywriter from Liverpool - who after graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in English Media and Cultural Studies - went on to specialise in the creation of business and lifestyle copy for a wide range of industries across the UK and USA.