Home Steam Cleaners Buyer's Guide

Home steam cleaners offer that vital, extra layer of cleaning power you need to sanitize and deodorize your home and render it free of mold and mites.

Steam cleaners for home use are especially important if you need to maintain a hygienic home for your young children or if you have messy pets or are allergic to the dust mites that live in your mattresses and carpets.

If you're thinking of investing in a home steam cleaner, you first need to understand exactly what they are as things are not as clear as they seem.

For one thing, though many product names contain the word 'steam', not all actually use steam for the cleaning. These are the items called 'steam vacs'. In these models, the only heat is from the hot water you pour into the device.

These "steam" vacuums push hot water and detergent into your carpets and then sucks it back out. They should really be known as carpet cleaners.

It's not always easy to tell from the name what kind of cleaner it is.

For example, despite the names, neither the Hoover SteamVac nor the Dirt Devil Easy Steamer produces steam.

They're effective at what they do - cleaning carpets, though lower quality devices may leave some water behind in the carpets which can cause mold and stains.

True steam cleaners are also known as vapor cleaners or vapor steam cleaners and feature an internal heating element that boils the water to create steam. These are not vacuums and so have no suction. One reason for their popularity is their environmental friendliness. They use no cleaning agents and are chemical-free.

They contain a water tank or a boiler which is filled with tap or distilled water. This is heated to boiling resulting in pressurized steam which is released through a hose or nozzle onto surfaces for cleaning. The pressure of the steam loosens dirt and grime which is then wiped off.

Then there's the supercharged appliance called dry steam cleaner. In these devices, dry steam is heated separately after it boils so it's extremely hot and contains no water. These are highly efficient for removing stains and killing mites and their eggs.

Remember that true steams cleaners for home use have no suction so if cleaning carpets is your main objective, you should look into carpet deep cleaners which use hot water brushes and chemicals.

If you want to remove pet odor, on the other hand, or destroy dust mites and their eggs, then you'll want to look at a real or dry steam cleaner.

Another thing to bear in mind is that real steam cleaners are far more versatile than standard carpet cleaners. In fact, they can be used in kitchens both on floor where the blasts of steam can dig down deep, to the surfaces of appliances such as cookers and refrigerators as well as steel cooking tops, curtains and metal blinds.

They're great in bathrooms, too. One popular use is for cleaning tiles and the grout that runs between them.

Higher end items come with a range of attachments for different cleaning tasks. These include large brushes for upholstery and smaller brushes for stubborn stains.

Home steam cleaners make the perfect appliance to keep your home clean and hygienic but you need to carefully determine your needs before making a purchase.