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.what is the best thing to clean dog urine from carpet 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. carpet cleaning van auctionIt 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. floor steam cleaner for laminateA 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. The Steamfast includes several accessories, including a jet nozzle and several different-sized brushes. Users say it works very well for such a small, inexpensive steamer. Although 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.

Steamfast responds to durability complaints from customers, offering to make it right for them. Home Carpet Cleaning: Grubby to GreatThere's certainly no lack of cleaning options, including buying a carpet-cleaning machine, renting one, or hiring a pro. We tried them all. While nothing beat the ease and performance of a pro, some of the machines we tested came pretty close for less money. Before we put the machines to work, we had to prep our lab. By the time we were finished, it looked like a gang of kids wearing muddy sneakers had run amok. Panels of off-white nylon plush carpet treated with stain repellent were embedded with topsoil. After vacuuming, we tested each carpet cleaner with its manufacturer-recommended solution and passed over a soiled area 20 times. More Power, Deeper Clean Machines that were better at lifting embedded dirt have larger, more powerful motors. Almost all of the full-sized models did a better job at removing dirt. Bissell and Hoover, the two largest manufacturers of carpet cleaners, say you must use their cleaning solutions in their machines or you could void the warranty or cause electrical shock or fire by damaging the machine.

The good news is that most of the manufacturers' solutions we tested performed similarly and were very good. Rental Pros and Cons Rug Doctor's Mighty Pro, which can be rented at stores nationwide for $20 to $30 per 24 hours, seems like a bargain. It cleaned as well as some of our top-rated machines, and you can clean a large area before emptying the dirty water. But it was heavy and bulky and left the carpet pretty wet. So you'll have to wait longer to put furniture back in the room and walk on the carpet. Use a dehumidifier to speed up drying. Pros are easy but expensive Stanley Steemer, a nationwide chain, outperformed all of the carpet-cleaning machines we tested, removing all visible dirt. Even the best machine we tested left behind some dirt. Stanley also removed tough stains from a staffer's carpets. Even the best machines in our tests only lightened the stains. Embedded dirt requires deep cleaning. Check your carpet's warranty or manufacturer's website for suggestions on how often you should clean.

Otherwise you could damage the carpet or void its warranty. Some companies, for example, don't allow a pro to reapply stain treatments. Then consider these tips: Separate tanks for hot water and cleaning solution make refilling quicker because you usually need to refill water more often. Smaller tanks mean more frequent refills. Carry and push the machine before buying, especially if you'll be carrying it up and down stairs. Look for models with attachments if you'd like to clean upholstery or stairs. Working with water and electricity requires extra care, so if possible plug the machine into an outlet with a ground-fault circuit interrupter. Wear hearing protection when using any machine for an extended period of time. Don't walk or place furniture on carpet until it's completely dry. Select a company approved by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, a nonprofit organization, to ensure the company carries liability insurance and employs certified technicians.

Make sure they vacuum before deep cleaning, and ask about spot removal. Get a detailed written estimate, check references, and obtain an invoice. Some stain removers and cleaning solutions for machines emit fumes, so be sure to open windows and run fans when cleaning. That is especially important if someone in your home has respiratory problems such as asthma. Classes of Cleaners – Things to Consider Homeowners who only occasionally clean their carpets may choose to hire a reputable professional or rent a carpet cleaner. But if you have a lot of carpeting and a house full of kids and pets, you might want to consider buying a machine. Here are the types of carpet cleaners to consider. Often available at a nearby supermarket, hardware store, or home center for about $20 to $30 a day, these upright machines combine a tank for dispensing cleaning solution, a second tank for holding dirty solution, a vacuum, and a fixed or moving brush into a single, heavy unit. As a result, they're cumbersome to push around.

Performance and convenience varied from one machine to the next in our tests. In general, look for the cleanest, least-worn brushes on any machine that you're thinking of renting. They're lighter and less bulky than typical rental machines. Most work by scrubbing in a solution of water and detergent, then vacuuming up the water and dirt. They can be expensive and take up a fair amount of closet space. In our last tests, they produced mixed results. All those that we tested also required you to use the manufacturer's special detergent. For small jobs or tackling stains, a compact cleaner is easier to maneuver than the bigger and bulkier full-sized model, and it takes up less closet space and can be stored on a shelf. One compact, the Bisell SpotBot, lets you push a button and walk away while it goes to work on stains. In our tests it removed the toughest stain from carpet treated with stain protector, but it didn't do as well on untreated carpet. Bissell's compact cleaner didn't clean as well as most of the full-sized models we tested and did little on tough stains.

A Pile of Features Carpet cleaners can be a bit unwieldy, so look for features that will make it easier to maneuver, especially if you have carpeted stairs. Here are the carpet-cleaner features to consider. On upright models, they let you clean upholstery, stairs, bare floors, and tight spots between furniture. As with vacuum cleaners, many carpet cleaners have a belt that, over time, needs replacing--a do-it-yourself task for some owners. Belt-free units dispense with this part. A moving brush tends to give a more aggressive scrub than no brush or a fixed one that moves only as you push the machine, though having one or more does not guarantee good cleaning. The larger the cleaning-solution tank, the less often you'll need to refill it if you clean a lot of carpet at a time--though the more liquid, the tougher the machine can be to maneuver. The heavier the cleaner, the harder it is to maneuver. A long vacuum hose can reach, for example, up a flight of stairs.