A handheld steam cleaner can’t perform magic, but it should be able to loosen deeply embedded dirt, sanitize surfaces, and get in between grout and around metal grates. Many models come with accessories to remove wrinkles from clothing. I was thrilled to discover that a steam cleaner can even help clean vinyl, plastic, or metal window blinds (which is my least favorite cleaning task—you’ll still need to keep paper towels or microfiber cloths on hand to wipe or scrub surfaces after steaming them).
Steam cleaning is deeply satisfying, but there’s a catch: There are a number of under-$100 handheld steam cleaners out there, including three of the four we tested, but their accessories, design features, and even the amount of time it takes for the cleaner to pause, cool down, and reheat during your cleaning sessions all affect your experience. I tested the Dirt Devil Handheld Steamer, McCulloch MC1230 Handheld Steamer, Worx SteamStorm Cordless Handheld Steam Cleaner, and the redesign of the Bissell Steam Shot OmniReach. My “queen of clean” co-worker Jodhaira tested the original Bissell Steam Shot before its 2024 recall because of a burn hazard, so I kept my eye out to make sure mine didn’t leak hot water or show other signs of malfunction that many customers had reported.
Many steam cleaners on the market can also steam floors, but because CR rigorously tests steam mops, we focused only on smaller handheld steamers. Here are the handheld steamers that did the best job cleaning my oven, stovetop, outdoor grill, blinds, and more.
