Best Handheld Steamer for Cleaning Grout: Guide & Review for Homeowners

Best Handheld Steamer for Cleaning Grout - The Complete Guide

Best Handheld Steamer for Cleaning Grout - The Complete Guide

Nov 04, 2023
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The best handheld steamer for cleaning grout will not only going to help you clean up your floor tiles and the dirty grout. But it’ll provide so much versatility whenever you need to brush off your dirty upholsteries, carpets, couch, and others.

The powerful and hot steam from the nozzles can easily break down and loosen tough stains, so it’ll only take a few simple brush actions for you to clean up the rest of the surfaces.

Discover the best handheld steam cleaner for grout in our following list of comprehensive reviews as we dive deep into each product’s functionality and features to find out if they’re right for you.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall – Wagner Spraytech On-demand Steam Cleaner

Why is it better?

≫ Versatile and easy to use

≫ Large water capacity

≫ Heats up quickly and effectively

≫ 18 accessories for multi-purpose steam cleaning

≫ Solid and reliable

95/100
our score
150
Researched Sources
215
Reviews Considered
43
Hours Researching
31
Products Evaluated
Picture Products Rating/Shop
Image
Products

Best Overall – Wagner Spraytech On-demand Steam Cleaner

Rating
90
Easy to use
93%
Maneuverability
97%
Durability
96%
Lightweight
97%
Image
Products

Runner Up - BISSELL Power Steamer

Rating
89
Easy to use
91%
Maneuverability
89%
Durability
90%
Lightweight
86%
Image
Products

Best Budget - Bissell SteamShot Hard Surface Steam Cleaner

Rating
91
Easy to use
91%
Maneuverability
89%
Durability
90%
Lightweight
92%
Image
Products

Best Multi-Purpose – Karcher SC 3 EasyFix Steam Cleaner

Rating
90
Easy to use
91%
Maneuverability
89%
Durability
91%
Lightweight
90%
Image
Products

Best Heavy-Duty - McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam Cleaner

Rating
92
Easy to use
93%
Maneuverability
93%
Durability
89%
Lightweight
91%
Image
Products

Best For Carpet – Hoover Power Scrub

Rating
91
Easy to use
93%
Maneuverability
92%
Durability
90%
Lightweight
90%
Image
Products

Best For Detailing And Upholsteries - Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner

Rating
95
Easy to use
96%
Maneuverability
96%
Durability
95%
Lightweight
94%
Image
Products

Best For Vinyl Floors And Tiles – BLACK + DECKER Steam Mop

Rating
91
Easy to use
90%
Maneuverability
92%
Durability
91%
Lightweight
90%

Best Overall – Wagner Spraytech On-demand Steam Cleaner

95 %
Easy to use
93%
Maneuverability
97%
Durability
96%
Lightweight
97%

Pros:

≫ Versatile and easy to use

≫ Large water capacity

≫ Heats up quickly and effectively

≫ 18 accessories for multi-purpose steam cleaning

≫ Solid and reliable

Cons:

≫ None that I know of

For the most skeptical consumers, the Wagner Spraytech On-demand Steam Cleaner is definitely my most confident recommendation. Of all the different products I’ve tested, this one stands out in many areas while still having reasonable pricing.

With powerful steam that can reach up to 212°F (100°C), it’s possible for you to perform quick and easy chemical-free cleaning operations with impressive results. The high heat and moisture can easily break down tough stains and solidified pieces of dirt, so cleaning up should be painless.

In addition, with a large water tank that can easily hold 40 oz of water and a powerful engine that will heat up your steam in less than 9 minutes, homeowners will have no trouble working with the cleaner when handling tougher tasks.

Here, the best handheld steam cleaner comes with 18 different accessories and nozzles, providing better versatility and usability in many cases. Simply choose the right attachments, then enable them on different surfaces for the best cleaning results.

And if you’re struggling with wallpaper removal and grouts, then the 8ft steam hose will make it super easy for you to reach awkward areas freely. Simply add water, then turn on the heat until the steamer orange light is enabled, and you can start using it with the right attachments.

And for homeowners looking for the best handheld steam cleaner for grout, this model comes with a range of attachments and nozzles that make it easy to tackle tough grout-cleaning jobs easily.

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Runner Up - BISSELL Power Steamer

89 %
Easy to use
91%
Maneuverability
89%
Durability
90%
Lightweight
86%

Pros:

≫ All-in-one steam cleaner

≫ Offer useful transformations

≫ High heat with adjustable levels

≫ Many accessories to work with

≫ Enjoy the convenient wall mount

Cons:

≫ Pricing is a little high

One thing that you’ll clearly notice from the BISSELL Power Steamer is the extreme heat and powerful blasts that it provides. This makes the product all more effective when targeting stubborn stains, greases, grimes, molds, and other dirt on any surface.

In addition, you’ll have access to the 29 different accessories, which would turn the machine into an all-in-one steam cleaner for each of you. Feel free to use the all-purpose cleaner to handle your cars, windows, patio furniture, floorings, and many other surfaces.

And you can always carry your attachments inside the accessory storage for easy access, which makes the best handheld steamer for cleaning grout a lot more convenient.

And with the flexible design, you can easily transform the steam cleaner into different forms to improve your operations. Enjoy the traditional upright steam cleaner mode that’ll make floor and carpet cleaning extremely easy.

Have the extended reach cleaner handle walls and narrow areas. And I personally find the handheld mode of the Bissell steam cleaner quite useful when targeting awkward surfaces and objects.

And, of course, you can enjoy the chemical-free cleaning experiences with the BISSELL Power Steam, as the impressive heat generated will be able to eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria.

The various steam modes allow you to adjust the steam intensity and amounts. Thus, improving your experiences with the machine. Have more power when dealing with tough stains and eliminating bacteria. And you’ll enjoy longer running time when doing a casual steam cleaning.

The only downside it has when compared with the Wagner Spraytech On-demand is the higher pricing, which I think is quite considerable if you want to make the most of your money. But on the other hand, if you want the best of the best, then the BISSELL Power Steamer won’t disappoint you.

Related: Looking For The Best Bissell Vacuum? Here’s A Complete Review Of 20 Bissell’s

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Best Budget - Bissell SteamShot Hard Surface Steam Cleaner

91 %
Easy to use
91%
Maneuverability
89%
Durability
90%
Lightweight
92%

Pros:

≫ Great price for the values

 Support the BISSELL Pet Foundation

 Enjoy multiple cleaning tools and attachments

 Refined steam trigger with different settings

Cons:

≫ Limited capacity for extensive uses

Regarding the budget price range, I find the options quite interesting, with the manufacturers trying their best to fit as many features into the limited prices. And among the best budget products, the Bissell SteamShot Steam Cleaner tops over its competitors, thanks to the added power and flexibility.

For the sub $40 price range, the BISSELL SteamShot definitely has some power packed into it. Here, the 100 watts of steam power can easily help you clean up hard surfaces and tough stains by breaking down the substances. You only need to wipe off the residue upon finishing scrubbing.

Also, the machine is designed with a precise steam trigger, allowing you to adjust the levels and temperature outputs as you work on different targets.

With different cleaning tools included in the packages, Bissell SteamShot Steam Cleaner will let you enjoy multi-surface usage. Have no trouble connecting the jet nozzles, bristle brushes, grout tool, flat scrapper, and other attachments to make your machine more versatile.

Just keep in mind that the limited size and budget will result in a small water tank, which will hinder its performance when handling multiple cleaning tasks.

And last but not least, by purchasing this best handheld steamer for cleaning grout, you can also support the BISSELL Pet Foundation, which helps to save homeless pets and provide these poor animals with better services.

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Best Multi-Purpose – Karcher SC 3 EasyFix Steam Cleaner

90 %
Easy to use
91%
Maneuverability
89%
Durability
91%
Lightweight
90%

Pros:

 Great for multi-purpose uses

 Many attachments to work with

 Flexible and easy to use

 Heats up quickly

 Provide stable steam for extended uses

Cons:

≫ Pricing is a little high

Having a multi-functional steam cleaner available at home will make your life much easier. You can comfortably clean up stones, grouts, luxury vinyl tiles, laminate floors, and other surfaces with a good setup.

These are the exact features you will get with Karcher SC 3 EasyFix Steam Cleaner, the best handheld steamer for cleaning grout. Feel free to use the machine to handle stains, dirt, fingerprints, greases, and grimes on all areas of your house.

And the best part is that you won’t have to result in using harsh chemicals, as the high-temperature steam output of over 200°F from the machine can break down all substances and most of the common household bacteria. Thus, improving your health and living conditions without compromises.

The entire set includes dozens of tools and attachments you’ll need for casual cleaning tasks. Have the hand nozzle with a microfiber cover to help you detail and steam clean narrow areas. Use the EasyFix floor nozzle with a 20-inch extension tube to reach out and up easily.

Enjoy the nylon brush to clean up dedicated surfaces like laminated floors and windows without damaging them. Make the most of the edge-to-edge floor cleaner for better efficiency and wider cleaning paths. The list goes on.

All of these will make the Karcher SC 3 the best multi purpose steam cleaner 2024.

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Best Heavy-Duty - McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam Cleaner

92 %
Easy to use
93%
Maneuverability
93%
Durability
89%
Lightweight
91%

Pros:

≫ Powerful and consistent

 Great for heavy-duty and lightweight steam cleaning

 Many accessories and attachments available

 Large water tank capacity of 48 ounces

Cons:

≫ Pricing can be better

If you're looking for the Best Handheld Steam Cleaner for Grout, the McCulloch MC1375 is a heavy-duty machine that will impress you with its features.

To start with, it’s undoubtedly one of the strongest and most capable steam cleaners that I’ve tested for a while now. The large 48-ounce water tank can easily hold enough water for up to 90 minutes of steam operations.

In addition, you can have it quickly heated up in less than 12 minutes. And the continuous steam can easily maintain a good pressure of 58 PSI, which should be more than enough to handle all the toughest stains.

Here, the heavy-duty machine lets you adjust the steam level using its simple controller options. And I do find the steam lock feature extremely useful since you don’t need to fiddle with the controls constantly.

And with constant pressure and high-heat steam, you can easily clean up all kinds of surfaces without using chemicals, which can be potentially harmful to objects and your health.

The applications of the McCulloch MC1375 are almost limitless since you can use the high heat to clean up everything, and not just limited to floors.

In addition, by featuring the 20 versatile accessories, the machine will make it super easy for you to switch between attachments for better uses of the steam cleaner. It’s definitely a great steam cleaner for couches, grout, and everything else.

A small detail from McCulloch that I really appreciate is the extra-long power cord and steam hose, which measure 18 and 10 feet, respectively. Since I’ll be doing extensive cleaning work with the steam cleaner, the greater reaches make it much easier for me to handle multiple tasks.

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Best For Carpet – Hoover Power Scrub

91 %
Easy to use
93%
Maneuverability
92%
Durability
90%
Lightweight
90%

Pros:

≫ An upright cleaner with lightweight designs

≫ Powerful suction and heated water for easy carpet cleaning

≫ Quickly clean up carpets and effective drying

Cons:

≫ Not available for other steam cleaning implementations

This might seem like I’ve cheated a little bit with this product from Hoover since it doesn’t come with built-in steam features. But I have to put it on the list since the product is so good at cleaning carpets. In addition, Hoover Power Scrub also has the HeatForce for better cleaning and faster drying, so I guess it still counts as one.

The process of deep cleaning your carpet would take hours to complete, with many steps and tools involved. But the Hoover Power Scrub can perform the same operation with much less effort and time being invested.

All you need is to run the best steam cleaner for carpet on the selected surfaces and allow it to do the rest. Here, the SpinScrub allows you to brush off embedded dirt and chunks of debris from your carpet. With the combination of powerful suction, you won’t have to brush hard to get the dirty stuff out.

At the same time, the machine will constantly be applying heated water, with or without the cleaning solutions, to easily break down hard substances, making cleaning up your dirty carpets a lot easier.

Here, the hot water and powerful suction will leave little moisture left on the carpet, thus allowing it to dry faster.

You can easily operate and maneuver your carpet cleaner with a relatively light weight of only 19 pounds and an 8-foot hose. And don’t forget to enjoy the different attachments that are included in the package, which will improve your detailed cleaning jobs.

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Best For Detailing And Upholsteries - Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner

95 %
Easy to use
96%
Maneuverability
96%
Durability
95%
Lightweight
94%

Pros:

≫ Powerful steam and engine

≫ Offer a high-capacity tank

 Enjoy 17 different accessories

 Compact and neat design

Cons:

≫ Can be quite heavy

If you ever need to detail your vehicles, couches, mattresses, curtains, and upholsteries, then the powerful Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner is a great option.

The multi-purpose home steam cleaner offers powerful steam that can reach up to 275°F (135°C), which will help you degrease and clean up any tough stains that normal cleaners can’t. This makes the machine extremely capable if you’re interested in home and car detailing jobs.

Not to mention that the extreme heat will help to eliminate more than 99.99% of bacteria on the surfaces to improve your health and environment.

Here the included attachments will allow you to enjoy comfy cleaning in any area of the house, from the kitchen to the living room and bathroom. You can even use the steam cleaner for mattress to handle stains and eliminate dust mites.

Enjoy using the tool to steam clean your different upholsteries with only high-temperature water, instead of using chemicals that can potentially damage the surfaces.

With a large tank of 54 oz in capacity and a powerful engine that can easily heat up in 7 minutes, you can have up to 50 minutes of working time with Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner.

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Best For Vinyl Floors And Tiles – BLACK + DECKER Steam Mop

91 %
Easy to use
90%
Maneuverability
92%
Durability
91%
Lightweight
90%

Pros:

Cons:

When handling vinyl floors and tiles, it’s best to take a more temperate measure. So instead of prying and scrubbing on the stains, using steam would make a lot more sense. And with the BLACK + DECKER Steam Mop, you will have all the tools necessary to handle the process.

Here, the product offers a fast heat-up feature, which will only take 20 seconds for steam to come out from your machines. And you and use the intuitive controller to adjust the steam level when working on different tasks and surfaces.

Enable the continuous flow to lock the settings and have your steam flowing without having to manage the trigger.

With the microfiber pads, you can easily handle tough stains and smudges using steam without damaging the surface, making this the best mop for cleaning vinyl floors. You can also use the steam glove to handle detailing tasks with better maneuverability, especially on vertical objects and awkward surfaces.

The lightweight and convertible design, together with flexible uses of attachments, make the steam mop the best handheld steamer for cleaning grout

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All About House Cleaning With A Steamer

Why Do You Need A Steamer For Grout Cleaning And Everything Else?

I find switching from regular brushes and chemicals to using a steamer to be extremely impressive. You only need high heat and gentle scrubbing to eliminate tough stains, but the entire process can be much less troublesome.

In addition, a steam cleaner will be extremely useful when you don't want to get your hands dirty. And most importantly, with a decent steamer and adequate accessories, you can perform any cleaning tasks around the house, from your kitchen to the bedroom.

How To Choose The Best Steamer?

Here is how you choose the right steam cleaner

Here is how you choose the right steam cleaner

As consumers, you'll need to decide on your certain preferences, budgets, and priorities to select the right products. Luckily, I've done the difficult job of finding the best steam cleaners in the market. The rest should be quite easy for you to decide.

Simply follow this guideline to select the best grout steam cleaner for your personal needs:

Size And Weight

First, your steam cleaner should come with adequate size and weight, which help cover their functionalities without affecting your ability to work with them.

For simple home cleaning, you can have small handheld units that provide flexibility and decent steam powers. The sizes should be compact enough for you to hold and operate without trouble. And, of course, you'll need to agree on less water capacity to reduce the weight.

And if you're looking for tools to help you easily clean up floors, tiles, and other large surfaces, then having a steam mop with the upright or stick design is absolutely crucial. Also, these products will need to have little weight on them so your mopping actions can be more effective. But they shouldn't be too heavy to carry around the house.

Attachments & Accessories

Having many accessories is always a plus

Having many accessories is always a plus Via: Amazon

If you want a multi-purpose handheld steamer, it's always important to have available attachments and accessories. Make sure to take a look at the provided tools and decide if they match your certain preferences.

The best handheld steamer for cleaning grout will even offer unique convertible designs, allowing you to optimize the machine for different uses.

Water Capacity

The water capacity on your steam cleaner will decide how long you can operate the machine before it runs out of juice. Depending on the types of steam cleaning you'll be doing with the cleaner, their capacities should vary.

I would recommend a least 40 ounces of water on your regular canister units. These can be a little inconvenient to maneuver due to their setups, but they should be able to hold the most water.

And for the upright and stick designs, the water capacity will need to be reduced to maintain ease of use. Do decide to go with large-capacity ones if you prioritize better run time.

For the handheld models, you shouldn't use ones that favor the water capacity too much since you'll have difficulty working with it when fully filled. Not to mention that you'll only be doing casual cleaning with handheld cleaners, so flexibility and maneuverability should always come first.

Heating Performance

The temperature of the generated heat, along with the total heating time of the unit, should be what concern you.

Small units will not take long to heat up but will not provide consistent steam due to their limited tanks. And on the other hand, a large steam cleaner might take up to 10 minutes to heat up its tank, but you can then enjoy up to an hour of steam cleaning or more.

So do decide on the heating performances according to your personal preferences and what you would like to do with the machine.

Noise

While I don't find the noise of the cleaner to be too much of a nuisance, I do understand the reasons and kept that in mind during my reviews. So, if you're in the market for a product with decent noise, then the given list will already provide good recommendations.

And always remember that the more powerful and larger their sizes, the more likely that your steam cleaners will be a little louder than the others with less power packed into them.

Cost

The prices of your steamer come in various options, which should satisfy your different requirements. If you want a quick option, simply go for the budget choice in our given list, as it offers both usability and a great price.

On the other hand, if you're in search of other products, make sure to follow these simple steps to find the right one. First, you'll need to have your own desirable budget and select certain products with good reviews and recommendations in the price range.

Proceed to decide on their features and functionality using the guidelines that are given above. And you can always pick the right product for your needs.

How To Clean Grout With A Steam Cleaner?

Here is how you should clean your grouts

Here is how you should clean your grouts

If your dirty grouts are making the tiles a lot less attractive and there isn't anything that you can do, then maybe try to work with a steam cleaner. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the great results that the cleaning method can deliver. So, follow our instructions to get rid of those dirty grouts.

Clean The Tile

Before you work on steam cleaning the grouts using the traditional method, it's important to have your floor completely clean. These include the use of your vacuum to get rid of any debris or dust on the floor, and you can also mop the floor for extra cleanliness. Once it's done, you can proceed to set up the steam cleaner.

Getting Your Cleaner Ready

Start by adding enough water into the tank, plug in the unit, and start heating it up. Depending on your model, it would take only a few minutes, or you'll need to wait a while. Once the steamer is ready, you'll need to put on your model's dedicated grout cleaning attachment. If it doesn't come with one, you must prepare your soft-bristle brush.

Begin Steaming And Scrubbing

The process should be quite simple, as you only need to begin steaming and scrubbing the grouts. Remember to apply enough heat to the surface, then proceed to scrub gently to remove the dirt. Make sure to have a dry towel nearby so you can wipe off the dirty liquid. Feel free to repeat the process if you aren't satisfied with the results.

Rinse And Repeat

The rest of the cleaning process should be quite transparent as you continue using steam to work on the rest of the grouts. Using chemicals is optional, but I do think that high heat from your best handheld steamer for cleaning grout is all you need. Unless you're dealing with an extreme case of grease and grime.

Conclusion

Despite all the great features that each one possesses, the Wagner Spraytech On-demand Steam Cleaner is still the best option overall, considering its wonderful price and adequate features.

But if you have other priorities, then our niched picks will always be the best in their respective categories. So don't hesitate to pick the handheld steamer for cleaning grout for your better steam cleaning experience.

And feel free to take a look at our buying and cleaning guide if you want to make the most of your purchases.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • 01. Do steam cleaners work on grout?
  • Steam cleaners will do great on grouts, as it offers a more effective and less risky method than regular brushes. In addition, just high heat alone would be enough for you to clean up the grouts. And you’ll never have to use chemicals that can be harmful to your family and pets.

  • 02. Will a regular steam mop clean the grout?
  • Generally speaking, a regular steam mop will only help you clean up the tile, and a little bit of the grout that high-temperature steams were applied. But because it’s positioned down and between the tiles, your grout can only be cleaned when applying direct steam and scrubbing.

    Still, there are steam mop models in the list above that offer convertible designs or attachments that can help you turn it into a fully-capable grout cleaner.

  • 03. Do you have to reseal the grout after steam cleaning?
  • No, since you’ll only be applying heat and performing gentle scrubbing, your tile will not likely be damaged. The reseal operation is only necessary when you first install the tiles and after you’ve done some damage to them.

  • 04. How do you deep clean grout?
  • For the best deep cleaning experiences, you’ll need to have the best handheld steamer available for cleaning grout. Their powerful heated steam and capable scrubbing tools will help you brighten any grouts. Feel free to follow the informative guide above to perform your deep cleaning operations.

  • 05. Does vinegar ruin grout?
  • Actually, using vinegar is a good method for cleaning grouts if you want to stay away from chemicals. You would also want to use it with your handheld steam for better results.