Temperature

The temperature of the steam in a handheld steam cleaner has an impact on its cleaning ability. For example, some cleaners create steam without the need to boil water. Although this can make the steam cleaner safer to hold, it doesn’t necessarily clean as well as a model that produces a much higher temperature steam. Furthermore, some steam cleaner activities require a higher temperature — to kill bed bugs, a steam cleaner must reach at least 117ºF. Keep these factors in mind when choosing your handheld steam cleaner.

Pressure
Temperature has an impact on steam pressure; higher steam temperatures yield greater pressure. In order to tackle the toughest cleaning jobs, get a steam cleaner that can reach higher pressure levels.

Warm-up time
The longer a handheld steam cleaner takes to warm up, the more delayed you may be in finishing your cleaning job. Many of the best handheld steam cleaners can warm up in three minutes or less. If you want to do your steam cleaning in a hurry, opt for a steam cleaner with a quick-heating feature.

Tank size and weight
If you get a handheld steam cleaner with a large water tank, it doesn’t need to be refilled as often. Although this may seem like a great option, keep in mind that larger tanks also weigh more when filled with water. Try to balance your desire for fewer refills with a manageable steam cleaner weight.

Ease of use

Handle and button position, difficulty of removing attachments, ease of refilling a tank, and informational indicator lights can all impact how easy a handheld steamer is to use. Assess the usability and design of the machine before choosing.

Maintenance

Cleaning a handheld steam cleaner is not difficult — the hardest thing is usually the buildup of minerals on the tank if you don’t put any additives into the water. If you clean your handheld steam cleaner regularly, maintenance should be easy.

Features

Attachments

The attachments included with your handheld steamer are intended to make the machine easier and more effective to use. A fabric-cleaning attachment, window-cleaning attachment, bent spray attachment, and long spray nozzle are some of the most useful attachments that may come with your handheld steam cleaner.

Q. Should I add disinfectant to my steam cleaner solution?

A. Although it’s possible to add disinfectant to a handheld steam cleaner, it’s not really necessary. Steam is generally hot enough to kill germs on its own, so adding chemicals only serves to add potentially toxic fumes heated by the steam.