The 4 best steamers for deep cleaning: Consumer Reports

A handheld steam cleaner that can't hold enough water or steam power barely dents baked-on grease, and constant pauses to reheat turn a quick cleaning job into a long one. Included accessories matter just as much as raw steam output, since a steamer without the right attachment often can't tackle grout, blinds or fabric effectively.

Consumer Reports tested handheld steam cleaners on grease, grime, fabric and glass, so shoppers can find one that keeps up with real messes.

Credit: Amazon

The McCulloch MC1230 Handheld Steam Cleaner costs $59.99 and earned Consumer Reports' top overall pick in this lineup. Testers found the steam concentrated and powerful enough to melt grease off oven racks and clear crusted grime from a sink basin that other steamers couldn't touch, and praised the 11 included accessories, especially the round scrub brush and detail brushes, as higher quality than typical for the price and easy to attach. CR noted the water fill hole pools liquid instead of funneling it in cleanly, and found the steamer paused to reheat more frequently than competitors, slowing down longer cleaning sessions, while also lacking a clothes steaming attachment. Testers got about 20 minutes of use per tank, though like many steamers tested, this one has no water-level marker to track when a refill is needed.

Credit: Dupray

The Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner costs $179 and earned Consumer Reports' runner-up spot, held back only by its bulkier floor-standing boiler that made it heavier, pricier and harder to store than the other steamers tested. Testers found the steam output emerged with more force and speed than competitors, running a full 50 minutes on a single 54-ounce tank without pausing to reheat, and praised the 17 included accessories for handling everything from oven racks to mattresses to car interiors, though it lacks a fabric steaming attachment. CR found it took longer to heat up initially than any other steamer, around 8 to 10 minutes, but wheels on the boiler and a long cord allowed testers to move freely between rooms without unplugging. Testers called it one of only two steamers, alongside the McCulloch, that fully cleared years of grime from a stubborn sink basin.

Credit: Bissell

The Bissell Steam Shot OmniReach Handheld Steam Cleaner and Sanitizer costs $54.99 and earned Consumer Reports' pick for steaming fabric in this lineup. Testers found its 10 included accessories easy to attach and its water application mess-free, though the steam output felt noticeably less concentrated than the McCulloch's or Dupray's, and grout cleaning proved less effective since steam dispersed onto surrounding tile. CR credited the fabric steamer attachment with sustaining steam output longer than the Dirt Devil's comparable tool, making quick work of wrinkles on a silk blouse, and noted the squeegee attachment fell short of a traditional glass cleaner on windows. Testers also pointed out this model uses a thumb-pressed button instead of a trigger, though they found no meaningful difference in hand comfort between the two designs.

Credit: Amazon

The Worx SteamStorm Cordless Handheld Steam Cleaner costs $79.99, not counting an additional battery and charger that together add roughly $140 to the total cost, and earned Consumer Reports' pick as the cordless option in this lineup. Testers valued the freedom to clean areas far from an outlet, like patio furniture, a grill or a car interior, and found the accessories attached securely with a twist-lock design, but noted the steam leaked water during use and felt less powerful than the McCulloch or Dupray on tough grime. CR found the water tank smaller than any other steamer tested here, meaning more frequent refills, and pointed out the fabric steaming attachment took longer to smooth a wrinkled blouse than the Bissell or Dirt Devil equivalents. Testers appreciated the button-free design that avoids the trigger some other steamers require holding down, calling it easier on the hands during longer cleaning sessions.