STEAM CLEANERS

COVER

Move over mops and cloths. With a steam cleaner in your corner, you can take on tough cleaning jobs and win, in a fraction of the time! The latest models use less water than ever before, and you won’t need to fork out for household cleaners, so you’ll save a few pounds, too. We tested 36, from sticks and cylinders to handhelds, and these two were our champions…

WINNER

Karcher SC5 Easyfix Premium £399.99 93/100

Quiet Mark rating: Loud This sophisticated cylinder steam cleaner impressed us with its range of attachments and multiple settings, which make it easy to keep surfaces in your home spick and span. It made short work of tough cleaning tasks and, with a 1.5 litre water tank, plus a second 0.5 litre steam boiler water reservoir, it won’t run out of steam (literally) part-way through a job.

BUDGET BUY

Bush Multifunction Steam Mop SM-518 £39.99

86/100 Quiet Mark rating: Average We love a good multitasker, and this Bush steam mop is just that. In addition to the mop, there’s a detachable handheld unit and enough tools to take care of most cleaning chores, all at a very affordable price. We found it was particularly effective on tiles and ovens. If you’re after great results at a price that won’t break the bank, look no further.

✶ HOW WE TEST STEAM CLEANERS

We test each on a variety of surfaces, including sealed flooring and, where applicable, ovens, gas hobs, windows, ceramic tiles and carpet. We also take into account each cleaner’s design, how easy it is to set up and use, and how effective any additional tools and attachments are. For full results, go to goodhousekeeping.com/uk/product-reviews.