Best handheld steam cleaner Handheld steamers cost less than larger canister-type machines, and their compact size comes in handy if you have limited storage or working space. They're also highly portable. Some resemble a water pitcher, with an opening for adding water to the internal boiler and a steam trigger near the handle. We don't see a lot of love for handheld steam cleaners from owners. Some of that is due to design flaws that are inherent in all handheld steam cleaners: they have short run times, performance is inconsistent, they don't have much power (which means you'll still have to do some scrubbing), and they tend to leak. Still, some of those reviews are simply unfair because many of those low ratings are due to unrealistic expectations. In other words, people buy a handheld steam cleaner and expect it to perform like a canister-style cleaner. It's like giving a Kia a poor review for not accelerating from zero to 60 as quickly as a Porsche. Handheld steam cleaners are intended only for small jobs, like removing stickers, cleaning around small areas like faucets, or cleaning toys -- not for detailing an entire bathroom or getting a large grill spotlessly clean.

If you need a big job done, see our discussion of the best steam cleaners elsewhere in this report, otherwise, keep your expectations realistic and you won't be disappointed with a handheld steam cleaner. One last caveat when it comes to reviews for handheld steam cleaners, we did some with exceptionally high ratings, but a close read revealed that they had been given in exchange for a free product. We can't accept those at face value and we suggest that you don't either. However, when all that is taken into account, the Reliable EnviroMate Pronto P7 (Est. $100) turns up as a solid choice. It gets good feedback from owners for producing 15 minutes of continuous, consistent steam. Its 10-ounce reservoir can be refilled while it's still hot and a flip-up cap makes those refills easy. Knowledgeable experts strongly recommend the Reliable EnviroMate, and say it's an excellent performer and a really great value. Users agree that the Reliable EnviroMate Pronto P7 handheld steam cleaner does a great job, although you may still have to scrub the toughest grime.

We found a few scattered durability complaints, but the Pronto is still praised for its performance, and it has a one-year warranty plus lifetime coverage on the boiler. Other notable features on the Pronto P7 include a "steam ready" indicator light and a 32-inch steam hose to help you get into tight places. It also comes with a good assortment of attachments: brass and nylon scrub brushes, angle and taper nozzles, a window-cleaning squeegee, a fabric accessory and the aforementioned 32-inch steam hose. A carry bag helps you keep it all together. For half the price of the Pronto, the Bissell Steam Shot (Est. $50) is a good choice if you just need to steam clean small spaces. It suffers from many of the same issues as we see with all handheld vapor cleaners, which means that it will mostly loosen gunk, but you'll probably have to do some scrubbing to get the best results. The 6-ounce reservoir provides anywhere from five to 15 minutes of continuous steam, and the few accessories included -- an angle concentrator, detail brush, brass cleaning brush and fabric cleaning tool -- seem to do their jobs well.

We did find some concerns about this bargain steam cleaner's durability, but it's covered by a one-year warranty. The Steamfast SF-210 (Est. $36) costs even less than the Bissell, but earns ratings that are similar. It takes about 3 minutes to heat up, then provides 10 minutes of continuous steam. pool cleaner for sale usaThe Steamfast includes several accessories, including a jet nozzle and several different-sized brushes. pool cleaner leaf basketUsers say it works very well for such a small, inexpensive steamer. las vegas hotels with wave poolsAlthough it's not for heavy jobs, owners say it definitely cuts their cleaning time down on smaller jobs, like cleaning appliances, counters and pet carriers. carpet cleaning adelaide sa

Steamfast responds to durability complaints from customers, offering to make it right for them. About Best Sellers in Travel Garment Steamers These lists, updated hourly, contain bestselling items. Here you can discover the best Travel Garment Steamers in Amazon Best Sellers, and find the top 100 most popular Amazon Travel Garment Steamers.what does it cost to rent a carpet cleaner at home depotNo matter how frequently you vacuum, carpets eventually show their age. steam cleaner rental furnitureBut often, what we consider general wear is just a combination of stains and dirt ground into the carpet fibers. Before you spend the big bucks to replace that tired-looking carpet, you might consider a thorough cleaning. There are three basic ways to do so: hire a professional carpet cleaning service, rent a carpet cleaning machine or buy your own carpet cleaner so you can haul it out whenever you need it.

Also referred to as carpet shampooers, carpet cleaners are quite simple and straightforward. They all have one or two cleaning tanks. Some have just one for cleaning solution diluted with water, others have two, one for water, and one for carpet cleaning solution. All have a separate collection tank for the dirty water. The carpet is sprayed with diluted solution, that cleaning solution is agitated by power brushes or manually by the user with a hose attachment. Some have an extra step where you can spray clean water to rinse. In the final step, the dirty water is sucked into the collection tank. Within that process, the user often has a lot of control for squirting extra cleaning solution, doing an extra rinse, or taking another pass or to suck up more water. The inconvenient part of any type of carpet cleaning is having to deal with wet carpeting. Drying times depend upon how powerful the suction action is and how much of the remaining water the unit removes. Our research shows that three hours is about the minimum wait time you can expect for dry (or dry enough) carpets from the best carpet shampooers.

Some carpet cleaners have heated, forced air systems that will speed that up somewhat. When you fill the water tank of a carpet cleaner, it's suggested that you use hot water for the best cleaning and sanitizing, but that water will gradually cool down as you work. Some carpet cleaners have systems that keep the water heated, which is a very desirable feature for some. Full-sized carpet cleaners are usually as large as, or slightly bigger than, upright vacuum cleaners, so you have to allow for storage. You also use them like an upright vacuum cleaner, pushing them back and forth along the carpet. A full-sized carpet shampooer is great not only for regularly-scheduled whole-house carpet cleaning, but also for dealing with bigger spills, such as larger amounts of spilled liquids, refreshing heavy traffic areas, and dealing with widely-scattered stains or spots. Some include a hose and attachments for cleaning upholstery or stairs. Depending upon the model and price, features may include forced air heating systems to help dry the carpet more quickly, or heated water systems to keep the water hot.

Portable carpet cleaners are smaller and use a hose with attachments, rather than being pushed back and forth. They are great for stairs, upholstery, mattresses, automobiles and RV's, or just for spot cleaning of spills or pet accidents. Portable carpet cleaners often include just a brush-type attachment, so you may have to do a bit of scrubbing with it, but some have optional power or turbo brushes that will do that work for you for a relatively small additional investment. Some also have heated water technology. Spot carpet cleaners offer "set and forget" convenience. They are self-contained units with built-in rotating brushes and a timer. You just fill it with water and solution, set it on the stain, push a button, and it will squirt, spin and then suck the water out automatically. These units are particularly popular with pet owners and often have the word "pet" in their name. Rental carpet cleaners are professional-grade carpet shampooers that you can rent, usually from supermarkets or hardware stores, for about $25 per day, plus the cost of the cleaning solution.

These units work very well, as would be expected, and have wider cleaning paths to make the job go more quickly. Some also include a hose and tool attachment for cleaning stairs. The downside is that they're large and heavy, although some have handles on the body of the unit to make transport easier. If you rent a carpet cleaner frequently, buying one might make sense; they're actually pretty affordable and may pay for themselves quickly with regular use. In this report we recommend carpet cleaners, but before you can deep clean, you need to vacuum thoroughly to remove loose debris for the best results. If you're not happy with your vacuum cleaner, see our recommendations for the best upright vacuum cleaners and canister vacuum cleaners, both of which we cover in separate reports. Alternatively, if you're looking for a way to deep clean your hard floors, check out our separate report on steam mops. There are very few expert reviews or professional tests of carpet cleaners; those we found are either rather dated or testing is not well-detailed.