Thinking of a spot of spring cleaning this weekend? Always dreamed of  a cleaning method that will kill 99 per cent of germs without the use of a single chemical?And one which will require minimal elbow grease, and be suitable for ­everything from floors and carpets to windows, sofas, taps, tiles — even defrosting your freezer?If so, steam cleaning is for you. All of a sudden it’s got the country hot and bothered, with John Lewis reporting sales of steam cleaning devices rocketing by 94 per cent over the last year. Sales of steam cleaners at John Lewis have increased by 94 per cent in the past year Whereas cloths and sprays often remove dirt only from surfaces, high-pressure steam can penetrate deeper into nooks and crannies, blasting away stubborn particles and killing everything from bacteria to mould, with nothing more than tap water. It doesn’t leave chemicals behind, binds with dust to stop it escaping into the air and, most importantly, decimates dust mites. Most even claim to clean Chesterfield sofas.

It all sounds too good to be true, so is there a catch? Critics complain it can take up to six minutes for the water to become steam and many steamers have a high ‘faff factor’, with complicated buttons, scant instructions and lots of bewildering attachments.best vacuum cleaner low noiseThen there’s the fact that you still need to wipe up afterwards to remove dislodged dirt and excess water.above ground pool vacuum pumpSo, is this the new golden age of steam, or just a load of hot air? pool sand filter tankJENNY WOOD put eight of the best-selling models to the test . . .cheap carpet cleaning east london

Jenny Wood tries out the latest models of steam cleaners to hit the market FUN, FAST AND FURIOUSHoover SteamJet Handheld Steam Cleaner, £59.99, hoover.co.ukThis ‘seriously powerful’ handheld steamer weighs just over 1lb. cheap carpet cleaning nashvilleIt claims to have one of the fastest heat-up times going and a tool for every conceivable job.cheap carpet cleaning nelsonJenny says: Wielding this in my bathroom like some kind of sci-fi stun gun was fun. carpet cleaning hire gold coastThe sensible curved design protected my hand from the steam, which is controlled by a slider switch on the handle. cheap carpet cleaning vancouver

It’s fairly idiot-proof — for most tasks just waft the steamer over the area you want to clean. It’s quick to fill, and took just under 20 seconds to start steaming. best rated vapor steam cleanersThe long cord also made moving around the room easy. best upright carpet steam cleanersPerfect for nooks and crannies, it made my loo shine, had a good bash at the limescale around the taps (no steamer removed it completely) and the brush attachment made my grouting look like new. best at home fabric steamerIt fared less well with a greasy oven top and, on the maximum setting, it produces a LOT of excess water.  carpet cleaning service lincoln

VERDICT: Great for tricky little jobs, particularly in the bathroom.4/5 Jenny tries out one of the cleaning models in the bathroomcarpet cleaning services chennai BEST ALL-ROUNDERThane H20 X5 Steam Cleaner, £79.99, Thane.tvNamed Product of the Year, this ‘stylish’ steam mop converts to a handheld model in seconds and comes in red, green or white.cleaning carpet stains coffeeJenny says: Don’t be alarmed by the number of pieces when you open the box — the clear instructions include advice on which attachment to use for different tasks, from cleaning grouting to steaming clothes. foam carpet cleaner ukIt’s lightweight and simple to use, heating up in 15 seconds. best steam mop that leaves floors dry

The tank is easy to fill, and there’s just one on/off switch and a dial to control the amount of steam produced. carpet cleaning machine for sale in brisbaneIt removed plenty of dirt from my kitchen floor, and the handle and mop head detached with one click to turn it into a handheld steamer. cost to rent a steam cleanerIt got rid of scum from grouting with minimum effort, and left my windows streak-free thanks to a handy cloth that attaches to the squeegee. steam cleaning carpets red deerMy favourite of those I tried.carpet cleaning business success rateVERDICT: Easy to use, quick to heat up and tackles a range of jobs. carpet cleaning chemicals ingredients

Whereas cloths and sprays often remove dirt only from surfaces, high-pressure steam can penetrate deeper into nooks and cranniescarpet cleaning chemicals pregnancy QUICK AND COMPACTPolti Vaporettino Lux Steam Gun, £34.95, John LewisReady in minutes, this compact handheld is designed for surfaces that need regular refreshing and claims to reach the trickiest spots.what is the best carpet cleaner for cat urineJenny says: Unlike some steamers, you don’t have to worry about where to put this down if the phone rings. carpet cleaning machine amazonA sensible kettle-like shape, it sits happily on your work surface. carpet cleaning product coupons

Just as well, really, as it took nearly three minutes to get up to steam. Once full of water, it’s fairly heavy and the cord is shorter than most. carpet cleaning services hamiltonThe lid to the tank was robust but difficult to unscrew; best carpet cleaning companies for pet stainsI had to wait over an hour — I assume until it had cooled — to be able to open it and empty the water afterwards. carpet cleaning companies in michiganThe steamer comes with lots of tools, but minimal instructions; carpet cleaning companies red deerstill, it’s useful for little jobs such as sterilising children’s toys, and the spatula attachment was the best I tested at removing grease from my hob. cheap carpet cleaners in east london

VERDICT: Simple design but heavy and not particularly versatile. 2/5FOR NON-STOP STEAMKarcher SC 5.800C, £349.99, karcher.co.ukThe Rolls-Royce of steamers, this vacuum-style model has two tanks for non-stop floor cleaning, while the hose turns into a handheld gun.steam cleaning carpet rentalJenny says: Looking like a squat yellow ladybird, this fancy steamer needs a decent amount of cupboard space. what is the best shark steam cleanerThe manual looks like War And Peace, but that’s mainly because it has a section for almost every language on Earth. car engine steam cleaning liverpoolMore diagrams and tips would have helped, although one gem about pouring vinegar on limescale before steaming was ingenious. carpet cleaning equipment kansas city

The large, easy-to-fill tank took about three minutes to heat up, and while it wasn’t very quiet, it was incredibly powerful — even with the dial only turned up halfway. carpet cleaning equipment sydneyThe mop attachment made light work of my kitchen floor. carpet cleaning supplies melbourneOnce finished, I simply unclipped it and used the hose and gun to blitz areas like my sink and the inside of a pedal bin (where chemical cleaners had failed). carpet cleaning supplies sydneyI’d have liked some smaller brushes for things such as grouting, but otherwise it’s impressive. carpet cleaning supplies in houstonVERDICT: Large but powerful, for those serious about steaming. carpet cleaning websites templates

The models are said to kill 99 per cent of germs without the use of a single chemical FOR RETRO GOOD LOOKSHoover SteamJet Cylinder Steam Cleaner SCB1500, £79.99, ArgosThis retro-style cylinder steamer promises to be powerful yet compact, with accessories for more than 25 cleaning tasks stored on board.carpet steam cleaner moldJenny says: This clever gadget has all the tools you need — from brushes to a wire scrubber for barbecue grills — inside the base, meaning there’s no need to root around in the cupboard. carpet steam cleaning castle hillA funky red design, it’s made to sit on the floor, but it’s not too heavy and has just an A4-sized footprint. carpet steam cleaning colorado springsThere’s a long hose and while the steam gun looks basic, it delivers a powerful blast and has a handy lock to keep steam in when not in use. dry carpet cleaning london

It cleaned floors thoroughly, and was good at smaller jobs, too, such as polishing work surfaces and refreshing sofas. dry carpet cleaning marylandIt heated up in around three minutes (quicker than the five stated on the box), and my only gripes are the difficult-to-read steam control knob and the slightly faffy lid to the water tank. chem dry carpet cleaning processVERDICT: Good-looking, versatile, and great value for the price. handheld steam cleaner & wet/dry vacuumDesigned to refresh carpets and leave hard floors sparkling, the pulsating floor head claims to agitate ground-in dirt for a deeper clean.is steam cleaning the best way to clean grout

Jenny says: Of all the steamers I tried, this was the quickest to assemble and fill, thanks to the removable tank. carpet cleaners near reading paIt stands up on its own when not in use, has an anti-limescale cartridge for hard water, and a fold-down handle for easy storage. carpet cleaning in kentThe cord isn’t as long as some models, but the buttons were easy to understand, and it heated up in 30 seconds. carpet cleaning reading paIt’s not light and took a bit of effort to mop my kitchen — I was so vigorous the cloth came off the head — but the amount of dirt it picked up was really noticeable. carpet cleaners reading paHaving said that, I’m not sure the vibrate function made much difference — it seemed to lift one stubborn stain just as well without it. rent carpet cleaner sydney

VERDICT: Put the effort in and you’ll be left with pristine floors. Jenny found steam cleaners can even be used on furniture such as sofaswhich best buy steam mop uk A mop-style model with ‘pocket technology’ to leave floors dry and streak-free. automotive steam cleaner rentalIt also has a detachable handheld gun for smaller jobs.auto steam cleaning kansas cityJenny says: This steamer is so efficient at drying floors after cleaning, you wonder if it’s worked at all! carpet cleaning gold coast reviewsThankfully, the grubby mop cloth showed it must have done the job. carpet cleaning sacramento deals

A lot of thought has been put into the whole thing — from the decent-sized mop head, long cord and comprehensive instructions to the handy bag for attachments and the loops on the cloths to stop you from scalding yourself when you remove them. best vacuum cleaner for plush carpetsIt took about 30 seconds to reach steam, and the middle section lifts out to become a handheld steamer. commercial carpet cleaning supplies denverThe attachments are a little on the large side — the brush was too big to get behind my bath taps — and it’s not that easy to tell if the machine’s on or off, but overall, it tackles a wide range of tasks well. foaming carpet cleaner sprayVERDICT: A good all-rounder for most jobs in the home. steam cleaning carpet without soap

Jenny tries out one of the models on her shower SMALL AND SIMPLELight’n’Easy Steam Mop, £39.99, LakelandCreated to clean large, flat areas such as windows and tiles, or for sanitising bedding, this handheld flat steamer is one of the smallest and cheapest on the market.best cordless vacuum cleaner ukJenny says: On the plus side, getting started is a doddle. hoover steam cleaner replacement brushesSimply stick a washable cleaning pad to the base, fill the tank and plug it in. what is the best milk steamerHowever, rather than taking 30-60 seconds to heat up, as claimed on the box, I was still waiting three minutes later. natural cleaner for carpet steam