I used to think that strong-smelling sprays and endless scrubbing were the only way to have truly clean floors. Then I discovered the one tool that changed everything: A steam cleaner.
These multi-faceted tools, such as the Shark Steam & Scrub from Amazon, lift grime, tackle stuck-on mess, and kill bacteria using nothing but water. No soaps, no fumes, no plastic, and the difference is immediate.
It is so essential to my routine that I'm gifting one to my mom before they sell during Amazon Prime Day out to help her create a non-toxic home, too.
Steam cleaners are the smartest upgrade you'll make all year
This powerful steam cleaner with rotating pads provides up to two times better stuck-on stain removal vs. traditional steam mops and is designed for all sealed hard floors, including hardwood, marble, tile, and stone.
I use a steam cleaner all over my home, but it is a saving grace when it comes to cleaning floors.
Although I typically use a standard steam mop in my home, this Shark scrubber is fast becoming one of the best tools to clean floors efficiently with a steam mop, offering 150 scrubs per minute using two cleaning pads that do all the work for you.
It is perfect for my mom, who struggles with a painful hip, helping her to maintain her floors even when living with a DIY-mad dad (who never takes his boots off) and an uncharacteristically messy cat.
You don't need harsh chemicals to clean well, and the best steam cleaners and steam mops reinforce that.
As one of the best non-toxic cleaning products, steamers use plain tap water, or distilled water from Walmart if you live in a particularly hard water area, turning it into boiling steam that kills microbes on contact, disinfecting surfaces without sticky, toxic sprays or dwell time.
Steam mops are not limited to just hard floors, either. While the Shark Scrubber is designed for hard floors, other steam mops, such as the Black + Decker steam mop, also available at Amazon, can be fitted with a carpet glide attachment to steam clean carpets, too.
Matthew Baratta, VP of operations at Daimer Industries, explains, 'Using a steam mop on a carpet can help kill bacteria and get rid of odors and the high heat can eliminate a lot of bacteria, dust mites, and even some viruses on the surface, while also breaking down odors trapped in the fibers.
'This makes vacuuming way more effective afterward. The steam also softens up any stubborn dirt, so it’s easier to lift. But since steam mops don’t actually suck up the dirt, you’ll still need to use the best vacuum cleaners for carpet to get everything out.'
What to shop
This steamer includes 10 multi-surface tools for hard-to-reach areas: window tracks, grout, tile, de-wrinkling fabric, kids' and pets' toys, sinks, stoves, BBQ grills, toilets, showers, highchairs, car seats, tire rims, wallpaper, and more.
Carpet rakes are often more efficient at pulling embedded hair out of carpet fibres for cleaner floors.
Treat stains on carpets quickly with this hand cleaning solution with a built-in brush applicator, making stain removal easier and more efficient.
Meet the expert
Steam cleaners are just one of the many cleaning tools to buy well and buy once. There are several other investments, such as vacuums and washing machines, that will serve you for decades if looked after properly.
