From today booster jabs and third doses show up in the digital pass for people in England, and from 29 November in Wales.

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Have you ever wanted a personal assistant? Well with a smart speaker, you can! Affordable and packing a huge amount of power, the best smart speakers allow you to listen to music, call your family without lifting a finger, or simply set a timer for the risotto you’ve got bubbling away. It’s an all-in-one system designed to make your life easier.

The main voice assistants are Google Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, and which one you choose will depend on personal taste. Each speaker comes with one integrated and, once it arrives, it’s a doddle to set up with an app and your Wi-Fi password.

Once you’re acquainted with your new smart speaker, though, don’t be surprised when you’re tempted to set up a whole network of smart devices. There’s no obvious end to what you can do, and the competition between Google, Apple, Amazon and other market leaders such as Sonos means, whichever you choose, they’re constantly being updated with new features.

While you can hook up everything from smart fridges to robot hoovers to your smart speaker, they don’t require additional gadgets to work. As seamless as the best wireless speakers, you can listen to music by requesting a song, programming your favourite playlist to start with your morning alarm or – if you’ve got your hands full with dinner – pause or stop music from playing completely hands-free.

We’ve looked at some of the best smart speakers on the market right now, rating them on sound quality, style and more. Scroll down to see what we thought.

Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) | was £49, now £18 (save 63%)
You can save an incredible 63% on the Google Nest Mini at Currys right now, meaning you can get this excellent Google smart speaker for less than £20! As the device is perfect for placing in multiple locations around the home, this could be the perfect opportunity to buy!

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The best smart speakers in 2021

1. Amazon Echo Studio

Best smart speaker overall

Credit: Amazon

Platform: Alexa
Release: 2020
Dimensions: 20.6 x 17.5cm
Weight: 3.5kg

Reasons to buy

• Supreme sound quality
• Innovative design

Reasons to avoid

• No LED clock display

The Echo Studio is the most sophisticated of all Amazon’s connected smart sound systems. It’s designed for living room listening, and is the only smart speaker available that’s compatible with Dolby Atmos music and high-res audio, as well as common or garden stereo.

A version of the sound system used for movies, Dolby Atmos Music sounds larger and more immersive than regular stereo and is a lot of fun to listen to. Given that most smart speakers are actually quite monophonic, its performance is dramatic. Dolby Atmos music can be found on Amazon Music HD and Tidal Hi-Fi music streaming services.

The Studio speaker is bigger than the previous Echoes. Hardly surprising given that it accommodates a trio of mid-range drivers, a big downward-firing bass woofer and a high-frequency tweeter. That’s a lot of Hi-fi crammed into a relatively compact box.

Ideal Home rating: 5 out of 5 stars

2. Ultimate Ears Megablast

Best smart speaker for outdoors

Credit: Ultimate Ears

Platform: Alexa
Release: 2017
Dimensions: 23.6 x 8.8 x 8.8cm
Weight: 1.9kg

Reasons to buy

• Lightweight and portable
• Rugged design means it can be used outside

Reasons to avoid

• May look out of place in some spaces

A smart speaker that’s designed to be used outside as much as in the home, the Ultimate Ears Megablast gets our vote for the best option for those who want to take their Alexa smarts to the garden, on camping trips, and beyond. The IP67 waterproof rating makes this possible, so the Megablast can withstand even the worst of the British weather.

The 16-hour battery life also helps here, as you’ll be able to get a whole lot of use out of your speaker before it needs recharging. Outside of this, the Megablast operates much like any Alexa-enabled speaker, but the Ultimate Ears brand has a good reputation for audio quality. Recommended for those who want to enjoy some tunes at their next barbeque.

3. Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen)

Best smart speaker with display

Credit: Amazon

Platform: Alexa
Release: 2021 (2nd Gen)
Dimensions: 14.8 x 8.6 x 7.3cm
Weight: 4.1kg

Reasons to buy

• Brilliant camera perfect for video chats
• Easily linked to other Alexa speakers
• More affordable than older smart displays (with larger screens)

Reasons to avoid

• Image quality not quite as good as competitors
• A little bulky

The Amazon Echo Show 5 has had an upgrade for 2021, adding even more to love about the brand’s smaller smart display. The 8-inch screen is ideal for video chats (which we’re all very used to now!) or even following a recipe in the kitchen and, while you’re chatting to friends and family, the camera will pan to follow where you go.

Unfortunately, the design of the Show 5 remains slightly bulky, with the screen attached to a speaker that also serves as the stand. On the one hand, the size makes for better audio, but you’ll need to dedicate a space on a side table or counter. Once you have, you’ll get to enjoy all of the features of Alexa with the benefits of a tablet.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4. Sonos One (Gen 2)

Best smart speaker for multiroom listening

Credit: Sonos

Platform: Alexa, Google Assistant
Release: 2017 (2nd Gen)
Dimensions: H16.15 x W11.97 x D11.97cm
Weight: 1.85 kg

Reasons to buy

• Intuitive
• Powerful apps
• Link speakers together

Reasons to avoid

• Inferior mic quality compared to newer speakers

When it comes to whole-home audio, Sonos sets the pace. Its multiroom speakers always look classy, are supremely easy to use and now come with smart functionality. This Sonos One incorporates both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and has Apple AirPlay 2 support too.

Using Alexa integrated into a Sonos One is no different from chatting to an Amazon Echo. The benefit is that you no longer have to tell a connected Alexa device to ‘play Abba on Sonos’, you can just cut to the chase. It makes smart speaker use much more intuitive.

It also means you can direct your voice assistant to play Dancing Queen in specific Sonos zones, or throughout the whole house. Audio quality is excellent, with beautiful mid-range delivery and sweet, well-balanced nature.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

5. Google Nest Mini

Best smart speaker from Google

Credit: Google

Platform: Google Assistant
Release: 2019 (2nd Gen)
Dimensions: 4.2 x 9.8 x 9.8cm
Weight: 1.8kg

Reasons to buy

• Small enough to fit into any style
• Different colour options
• Easy set-up

Reasons to avoid

• Still not the best sound quality

Replacing Google’s Home Mini speaker, the Nest Mini looks almost identical but sports some improvements to audio quality. For the initiated, Google’s smallest speaker is a little life-saver, fitting into any décor style and space with its white bottom and mesh top (in a variety of bright colours) disappearing into its surroundings until it’s needed.

It’s still not for music fanatics, even though the audio quality has been improved, but it’s recommended for smart home beginners who need an easy place to start. It’s incredible value for money and, in our opinion, remains Google’s best smart speaker for the broadest range of people. All of Google’s smarts in a tiny pebble-shaped package!

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

6. Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)

Best smart speaker on a budget

Credit: Amazon

Platform: Alexa
Release: 2020 (4th Gen)
Dimensions: 10 x 10 8.9cm
Weight: 3.2kg

Reasons to buy

• Alexa response better than previous generation model
• Improved sound quality
• Compact, with cute design and colours

Reasons to avoid

• Upgrade to another speaker for better audio capability

Bigger isn’t always better. The Amazon Echo Dot, now in its fourth generation, is an incredibly useful smart speaker that won’t break the bank. It’s also as cute as a button.

With a lovely redesign to bring the Dot more in line with Amazon’s flagship speaker, it still won’t take up too much room on your desktop. It can function as a diddy voice assistant, playing tunes in the background while you work, offering news updates or assisting with currency conversions on the fly. Alternatively, you can hardwire a Dot into an existing Hi-Fi system, using a single stereo 3.5mm lead, and effectively make your old school Hi-Fi system voice assistant capable.

Audio quality won’t blow you away but is relatively fine. In addition to Wi-Fi, it supports Bluetooth streaming, which is helpful if you’re watching some catch-up telly on your smartphone but want to boost the volume.

Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars

7. Apple HomePod Mini

Best smart speaker for iPhone

Credit: Apple

Platform: Siri
Release: 2018
Dimensions: 8.4 x 9.7 x 9.7cm
Weight: 3.4kg

Reasons to buy

• Stupendous sound
• Perfect for iPhone owners
• Good for music streaming, and supports lossless audio

Reasons to avoid

• No Bluetooth enabled
• Only good for Apple fans

For dedicated Apple users, Apple’s HomePod is the best smart speaker you can buy. Android fans are advised to move on because this isn’t the droid they’re looking for. It can’t even be set up without an iOS device.

As you’d expect from Apple, the HomePod Mini is beautifully designed. The spherical shape and mesh fabric cover are definitely interiors friendly. Unlike rival smart speakers, there’s no Bluetooth onboard, but iOS users won’t notice. Pairing an iPhone to the speaker is a doddle.

Siri makes for a surprisingly helpful musical assistant, as she not only plays your requests but calls upon Apple’s excellent curation and recommendation engine to help you discover new music. This is quite a trick, as music discovery when you only use voice to navigate can be rather difficult – you tend to end up asking for the same old tunes.

Ask Siri to play something you like, and you’ll more likely than not get a surprising (in a good way) new offering. Neither Google or Amazon Alexa are quite as switched on when it comes to fresh tunes.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

8. Amazon Echo Spot

Best smart speaker for the bedroom

Credit: Amazon

Platform: Alexa
Release: 2017
Dimensions: 10.4 x 9.7 x 9.1cm
Weight: 4.2kg

Reasons to buy

• Great front-facing camera
• Can link your calendar

Reasons to avoid

• Small speaker doesn’t pack much punch
• All images will be cropped due to circular screen

The Amazon Echo Spot is a bedside clock with delusions of grandeur. Small enough to sit on even the most crowded of cabinets, it’s a dinky egg-shaped smart speaker with a flat base and circular screen. And yes, remarkably, it can show videos, although as it’s super tiny it’s not particularly practical as a mini TV.

More importantly, this display dims automatically, becoming almost unreadable in the dead of night. Having a smart speaker in your bedroom brings multiple benefits, not least because you can ask Alexa to set wake up calls, or read you an audiobook until you nod off. There’s a camera on board, but you can disable it if you don’t need the Spot’s video calling feature.

Ideal Home’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

How to choose the best smart speaker

Credit: Amazon

How much do smart speakers cost?

Smart speakers are available from £45, for a Google Nest Mini or Amazon Echo Dot up to around £200. The important point to remember is that price isn’t reflective of smartness. A cheap Amazon Dot is just as clever as its more expensive stablemate, and the same applies to Google.

What you’re paying more for is the quality of the speaker itself.

Generally, it’s worth investing in a high-performance smart speaker when it’s primarily being used for music listening. For bedside table duties or as a kitchen companion, size and practicality become more important.

What can smart speakers do?

A smart speaker has multiple functions. For most of us, it’s the ability to play music on command from streaming services like Spotify or Tidal, or selected radio stations, that is their biggest attraction.

But they can do far more. If you have a lot of smart devices on your home network, an ecosystem as it were, perhaps involving a smart thermostat and lighting, then you can also interact with them, again by voice command.

A digital assistant can also be used to relate news, read an audiobook, play games, make size or currency conversions, or – most importantly of all – offer weather reports.

You can also even your smart speaker to make voice calls, or as an in-house intercom.

If you’re feeling blue, they’ll tell you a joke too – just don’t expect it to be a rib-tickler. They’re smart, not funny.

Who makes smart speakers?

The biggest single maker of smart speakers is Amazon. Its own-brand Echo devices, which use the Alexa platform, come in various sizes and sell in their millions. Google also makes its own smart speakers. Increasingly though, more familiar Hi-Fi brands are releasing smart speakers all their own – names like Sonos, Technics, JBL, LG and Harman Kardon.

Remember, if you simply want to stream Spotify from your smartphone to a wireless speaker, you don’t need to go smart at all. A regular Bluetooth wireless speaker will do the same job fine.

Is Alexa smarter than Siri?

OK, now you’re getting personal. In truth, there’s not a huge difference between any of the digital voice assistants when it comes to smarts. They have a slightly different manner, and can be tripped up by even simple questions, but share basic voice control functionality.

We think Siri has an edge over Alexa, but only when it comes to music discovery. Ask Alexa to ‘play something you’d like’ typically prompts the speaker to play the same old songs. Music discovery isn’t her strong point.

That said, all smart speaker platforms improve over time, getting sharper and more intuitive in the cloud. The Alexa we listen to today is a good deal smarter than the one we listened to back when the platform first launched. Between you and us, she was a dope…

Which is better, Alexa or Google?

The best smarter speaker platform is the one that works best for you. Both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant have the ability to front complicated ecosystems of connected products. If your media streamer of choice is an Amazon Fire TV stick, then it makes sense to add an Alexa smart speaker to your network.

Like many of the best TVs, they are Android-based, so a Google smart speaker would seem the natural fit. What we don’t recommend is mixing the two platforms. Having to wrestle with different wake words (“Hey Google…” versus “Alexa…”) gets tiresome pretty quick…

What about features like multi-room and Bluetooth?

Both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant smart speakers offer Bluetooth connectivity alongside Wi-Fi as standard. In the home, it’s often easy to forget just how devices are communicating, as interactions become quite seamless.

Streaming from your mobile to a smart speaker is as simple as saying ‘Alexa connect my phone” although you’ll need to remember to have Bluetooth switched on.

Similarly, both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant smart speakers can be used for whole-house audio. Simply need to create a ‘Group’ of connected smart speakers and then ask your smart assistant to play music to said named group.

Is my smart speaker always listening?

Yes, your smart speaker is always listening, because it’s waiting to react to its ‘wake word.’ This has led to concerns regarding privacy and security. If you are concerned about Google or Amazon eavesdropping, then the microphone on your smart speaker can be turned off manually.

It will then becomes oblivious to your conversations, but you’ll need to manually turn the microphone back on for the smart speaker to function.

If this aspect of smart speakers gives you cause for concern, then a regular ‘non-smart Bluetooth wireless speaker may be a better buy.

Additional words by Caroline Preece

The post Best smart speaker – get a little help from Google, Alexa and more appeared first on Ideal Home.

Buy the best steam cleaner for your home with our reviews of steam mops from Bissell, Polti, Black and Decker, Kärcher, Vax, and Shark. Steam cleaners are popular for those who like to make sure their homes are not only clean, but spotless. Steam cleaners are a lot more versatile than the best vacuum cleaners. Because they use high-powered steam, these nifty mops are perfect for sanitising your floors, kitchen fixtures, showers, and even your garden furniture. Although some of the best steam cleaners are designed to deal predominantly with floors, you can also buy convertible models with attachments to reach into even the tightest of spots, like the corner of your shower or behind the fridge, which is perfect for those who want to make sure their home is spotless all year long.

Another big perk of buying the best steam cleaner is that they keep your home free of nasty chemicals. Although we all need classic cleaning solutions, it’s not always a good idea to use them in the kitchen, where you prepare your food. If you have kids this can also be a big concern, but steam mops and steam cleaners kill up to 99.9% of bacteria with just (very) hot water!

Black Friday steam cleaner deals

Last year we saw some amazing Black Friday steam cleaner deals on brands like Bissell, Hoover, Vax, Black and Decker, Polti, and Kärcher. Our Black Friday cordless vacuum deals page has more great savings. While many steam cleaners are available for under £100, some of the most expensive models on the market received some of the biggest discounts. The Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B received a £50 discount, and we’re expecting more of the same great deals on some, if not all, of the best steam cleaners in our guide.

The best places to look for Black Friday steam cleaner deals would be Amazon, Argos, Curry’s, and (if you want their steam cleaner) Shark.

BISSELL PowerFresh SlimSteam 2234E: was £159.99, now £99.99 at Currys (save £60) 
The PowerFresh SlimSteam 2234E really impressed us with its thoughtfully designed tool carrier and nifty design, which works in a similar way to a vacuum cleaner.

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Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B: was £199, now £151 at Amazon (save £48) 
The Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B is one of our five-star rated products thanks to its large water tank and excellent reach under furniture. It’s got a great capacity for large homes. Dirt, be gone!

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What is the best steam cleaner in 2021?

All of our best steam cleaners have been reviewed by home tech expert Caramel Quin. You can click through to our steam cleaner reviews to see how she got on with them in her own home, complete with pictures and comparisons. Caramel has voted the Vax Steam Fresh Combi S86-SF-C as the best steam cleaner in 2021. Alternatively, if you want something a little more versatile, then the Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B also comes (very) highly recommended. Read on to check out the full reviews.

Best steam cleaners

1. Vax Steam Fresh Combi S86-SF-C

Best steam cleaner overall

Capacity: 460ml
Dimensions: H: 116cm W: 31cm D: 30cm
Weight: 3.7kg
Power: 1600 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Onboard tools
• handy triangular brush

Reasons to avoid:

• Small fill hole

This upright steam mop has a triangular floorhead as well as the floorhead, two cloths and carpet glider. You can pop the head off to reveal a medium-sized triangular brush perfect for scrubbing.

This is a traditional upright steam cleaner with a pop-out handheld in the middle for use with detail tools: squeegee with cloth cover for upholstery, concentrator, scraper and four different brushes. Unusually, there’s onboard storage for six tools on the back of the upright. There’s also a mesh bag for the others and lugs for storing the 8m cord.

The 460ml tank pops off for easy filling. There’s also a 200ml detergent tank and a bottle of detergent included. We used this with the floorhead and carpet glider to clean the tide marks on an old, colourful rug. It worked to great effect and we only needed to switch to the brush a few times.

It’s ready to use in less than 30 seconds and when you take your finger off the steam trigger it stops 2 seconds later. Steam is variable and powerful on the top setting. We also liked the fact that it can stand up independently when you need to pause cleaning.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Read our full Vax Steam Fresh Combi S86-SF-C review

2. Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B

Best powerful steam cleaner

Capacity: 2 litres
Dimensions: H 52.4 x W32.4 x D32.4 cm
Weight: 5 kg
Power: 1500 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Large water tank
• Can clean under low-lying furniture

Reasons to avoid:

• Pricey

The Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B has a large 2 litre water tank that feeds the boiler, but you can pop out the tank at any time for a refill without waiting for it to cool down or even disrupting cleaning.

The body boasts variable steam control and an anti-calc collector. You can stow the cleaning head and two-part tube when not in use, or to pause, and there’s onboard storage for tools. It comes with a squeegee with cloth cover for cleaning upholstery, plus concentrator, scraper and two sizes of nylon brush.

The floorhead is an unusual shape: neither triangular nor a rectangle. It comes with a floor glider and one cleaning pad. The floorhead is slim to fit under furniture and has a small brush on the back so you can reverse slightly to scrub stains. It also features a small tank for optional detergent.

Steam took over one minute to heat up and then can stop and start instantly with a press of the trigger. It’s powerful: the lowest setting is similar to the steam offered by most steam mops, the highest setting is much stronger.

We loved using the Polti. The controls are excellent, the design is practical and it feels weightless in the hand, so much so that you can lift it to clean tiled walls, windows, curtains and more.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Read our full Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B

3. Black & Decker 10-in-1 Steam Mop FSMH13E10

Best lightweight steam cleaner

Capacity: 350 ml
Dimensions: H: 115cm W: 30cm D: 15cm
Weight: 1.9kg
Power: 1300 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight
• Easy to store

Reasons to avoid: 

• Short cord

The design of the Black & Decker 10-in-1 Steam Mop FSMH13E10 is immensely lightweight. It has a great selection of tools and manoeuvrability is easy. It’s also one of the best options in terms of storage, so if you’re short on space, look no further.

The Black & Decker 10-in-1 Steam Mop FSMH13E10 took just 12 seconds to heat up and start cleaning. You can’t choose different steam levels, so controls are a simple on and off. While it’s great on floors, we did find that tile and wood took a while to dry after use.

The middle pops out and converts to a handheld. It made quick work of lifting grime from upholstery, tiled walls and more. At this price, it’s a great buy and does more than most steam cleaners.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Read our full Black & Decker 10-in-1 Steam Mop FSMH13E10

4. Bissell PowerFresh SlimSteam 2234E

Best steam cleaner for speedy cleaning

Capacity: 300 ml
Dimensions: H: 110cm W: 35cm D: 26cm
Weight: 4.74 kg
Power: 1500 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Wall mount for convenient storage
• Thoughtful attachment carrier

Reasons to avoid: 

• Handheld function is awkward to use

Pretty much all convertible steam mops have a handheld that pops out of the middle of the upright cleaner. This, however, is designed more like the best cordless vacuum cleaners. You hold the handheld and then add tubes below to clean floors. As a result, it’s nippy but top-heavy. It won’t stand up by itself then and there’s no carpet glider.

We liked the design and how easy it was to convert back and forth. We loved the plastic tray that clips to the underside and holds all four supplied tools (concentrator, scraper and two shapes of brush). If your steam cleaning is a mix of floors and fiddly smaller things then the Bissell is hard to beat because your tools are always on board and converting is a doddle.

There are a great many other thoughtful design touches. The fill hole for the 300ml tank is a good size and it comes with a jug. There’s a Velcro strap for stowing the 7.6m cord. There’s also a mesh bag for if you buy additional tools or don’t want to store them on board.

Cleaning is versatile and the two steam levels are good enough for all uses. It’s not the most powerful steam on test and yet it’s the cleaner we’d pick up and use again and again.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Read our full Bissell PowerFresh SlimSteam 2234E

5. Shark Klik n’Flip Automatic Steam Pocket Mop

Best powerful steam mop

Capacity: 380ml
Dimensions: 61 x 46 x 42 cm
Weight: 2.8kg
Power: 1200 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Two-year warranty
• Quick heating time
• Lots of accessories

Reasons to avoid: 

• Big floor pad isn’t great on tough corners

Uniquely, the Shark’s floorhead and cleaning pad are double-sided, giving you twice the surface area for more cleaning. It comes with a second cleaning pad, too. It’s only designed for cleaning floors, so there are no accessories except a filling jug. We like the way this clips to the pole, so you always have it to hand. There’s space to coil the 8m power cable too.

There are two steam levels: a button on the front of the body of the cleaner cycles between these and off. It heats up in under 30 seconds.

On the main side of the pad, you steam clean as normal. The pad is big and rectangular, ideal for cleaning large areas fast. Flip the floorhead back on itself to use the other side, then push the whole machine down to get a powerful steam blast that sprays directly forwards onto the floor.

After use, squeeze two tabs together on the body of the cleaner and the floorhead comes open, so the cleaning pad falls off into the laundry basket with no need to touch it.

If you only want a steam cleaner to clean floors, this is powerful and the double-sided floorhead and two cleaning pads mean it can tackle large homes with ease. Check out the best shark vacuums for more options.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

6. Hoover Steam Capsule 2 in 1 CA2IN1D

Best value steam cleaner

Capacity: 350ml
Dimensions: H: 117cm W: 31cm D: 18cm
Weight: 3.5kg
Power: 1700 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Ergonomic
• Self-standing

Reasons to avoid: 

• Heavy to steer

The Hoover Steam Capsule 2 in 1 CA2IN1D is an all-rounder. It’s got a design that many in search of the best steam mop will gravitate towards. Our first impression was that it’s an annoyance to assemble it, as you’ll need a screwdriver. It does look great though, and the handle is very ergonomic.

It comes with a steam hose and a number of accessories, such as brushes and cloths. There isn’t any on-board storage, but the power cord is long, at 7 metres.

You can pop out the handheld from the back of the Hoover Steam Capsule, and there are three levels of steam controls to choose from. It’s possible to pop off the steam head, leaving a scrubby triangular brush which is amazing at picking up stubborn areas of dirt and grime.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Read our full Hoover Steam Capsule 2 in 1 CA2IN1D review

7. Kärcher SC 2 Upright EasyFix

Best steam mop for hard floors

Capacity: 400ml
Dimensions:H: 119cm W: 17cm D: 31cm
Weight: 2.5kg
Power: 1600 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Great on hard floors
• Slim and nifty design

Reasons to avoid:

• No carpet glider

The Kärcher SC 2 Upright EasyFix is powerful and easy to control. It doesn’t come with carpet attachments, but its ‘stick’-style design is reminiscent of a cordless vacuum cleaner, which is very pleasing for those who love the convenience. You can even clip away the cord so it doesn’t get stuck underfoot.

In terms of attachments, it’s a little minimal. It just comes with one microfiber pad for the floorhead and a descaling cartridge. There is no spare for when the pad is in the wash, and nothing for carpets either.

On hard floors it was very effective, with strong steam that lifts dirt with ease. There’s also a descaling cartridge to tackle limescale in tap water: the machine alerts you when it’s time to replace it.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Read our full Kärcher SC 2 Upright EasyFix review

8. Thane H2O HD

Best folding steam cleaner

Capacity: 450 ml
Dimensions: 125cm (H) x 32cm (W) x 28cm (D)
Weight: 3.4 kg
Power: 1500 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Can fold away nicely
• Long power cord

Reasons to avoid:

• No funnel for the fill hole

This upright steam cleaner boasts a “why didn’t I think of that” design which folds in half for easy storage in smaller cupboards. Simply squeeze the circles on both sides to fold it. And you can wrap the 6m cord around lugs for storage, even when it’s folded. The curvy green and black design, with colourful lights, is attractive too.

Assembling it for first use requires a screwdriver to attach the triangular floorhead, which comes with one cloth and a carpet glider. After that, it stays on and you pop out the middle bit if you want to convert to handheld cleaning. The fill hole on the 450ml tank is very small but there’s no funnel.

The Thane boasts three steam levels but all switches are on the front of the handheld, so you have to reach down to turn it on or off, or change setting. As an upright, you must use the floorhead. The concentrator nozzle and two brushes attach directly to the handheld.

There’s also a 30-inch extension hose to which you can connect the window squeegee (with cloths to adapt it for garments and upholstery) or duster attachment. The latter was our favourite tool thanks to its “coral” cover with fat, absorbent cloth fingers that pick up dust brilliantly.

Startup takes around 30 seconds but after that it’s quick and responsive. Aside from a few niggles, we liked the design and it cleaned floors and more well.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

9. Kärcher SC5 Easyfix

Best canister steam cleaner

Capacity: 2 litres
Dimensions: 43.90 x 30.10 x 30.50 cm
Weight: 6 kg
Power: 2200 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Removes extremely stubborn dirt
• Works on carpet
• 6m cord

Reasons to avoid:

• You have to wait for it to heat up

This premium, cylinder-style steam cleaner is a completely different animal from a steam mop. It does an outstanding job of cleaning so much more than floors and it can keep cleaning for hours. It has a 6m cord and a large 1.5 litre water tank and the water is then pumped into a pressurised steam tank. This means you can refill the machine at any time, even when it’s in use, without pausing your cleaning.

The only downside of its constant, powerful steam is that you must wait 3 minutes for it to come up to temperature initially. Tools and onboard storage are superb. The 2m hose can be extended with one or both sections of lance, for cleaning floors and high-up or hard-to-reach places.

Then you can attach various tools. There’s a large, rectangular floor head which comes with two Velcro cloths and a clip-on carpet glider. This steam cleaner also has a large square brush with cloth and large round brush – with space on the Kärcher to stow.

But there’s more! Lift a flap on the cleaner’s body and you’ll also find a small, round brush for detailed cleaning and a concentrator nozzle. Outstanding selection of steam cleaning tools and storage. The only thing it’s missing that we care about is a window squeegee. However, Kärcher offers a wide selection of accessories if you care about this or other tools.

Cleaning was outstanding – the floor head is much more than a floor head. It’s on a lightweight lance, so we found ourselves instinctively lifting it up and cleaning the bathroom’s tiled walls, right up to the ceiling. This took two minutes and the room has never been so clean. You could do the same with a mattress. This is steam cleaning in 3D.

Steam is highly controllable, with a trigger under your finger and a dial on the body. The top setting didn’t seem OTT but dialling it back to its lowest setting was very impressive. Wooden floors were treated gently and were left nearly dry. The Karcher steam cleaner’s tools are equally impressive. We had to dial it back to avoid the bathroom becoming a steam room.

Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

10. Bissell Vac & Steam

Best vacuum and steam cleaner combi

Capacity: 380 ml
Dimensions: 28 x 23 x 118cm
Weight: 4.8kg
Power: 1600 watts
Reasons to buy:

• Easy to fill water tank
• 3-year-guarantee

Reasons to avoid:

• No handheld cleaning tools

The first rule of mopping or steam cleaning is that you vacuum first. You lift as much dust and hair as possible dry, then use water to lift the remaining grime. It therefore makes sense to have a machine that does both.

This Bissell does double duty, with a cyclonic vacuum cleaner followed by a steam mop. There are no handheld cleaning tools, it’s just for floors. It’s heavy (4.4kg) but does the job of two appliances.

Vacuuming is straightforward: stiff brushes help lift dirt but there’s no rotating brush bar. For steam cleaning you just need to fill the 380ml tank and add the fabric pad (it comes with two, one plain and one with lines to scrub dirt, each with a pocket for adding an optional fragrance disc). There’s no carpet glider because it’s really designed for hard floors.

The cyclonic vacuum is bagless, with a 950ml dust container. There are two steam levels and it takes just under 30 seconds to heat up. There’s an anti calc filter and lugs to store the 7.6m cable when not in use.

You can use each feature independently but the Bissell Vac & Steam is at its best when you use both at once to save time. You can whizz round the house at double speed if dirt isn’t too ingrained.

The Bissell is a jack of all trades, master of none. But it comes quite close to mastering both jobs. If you want to vacuum and mop every time it’s well worth your consideration.

Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

How we test our steam cleaners

Image credit: Black & Decker

Our tester Caramel has decades of experience of reviewing technology products, writing for, among others, The Evening Standard, The Express, The Guardian, The Independent, The Mail on Sunday, The Sunday Mirror, The Telegraph and The Sunday Times. She’s long been part of the Ideal Home family, and knows exactly what you’re looking for in a good steam cleaner. And when it comes to steamers, she’s an expert, having tried out the best clothing steamers for this year too.

With two teenage children and a pet dog to clean up after, Caramel has been able to give each steam cleaner a rigorous test at home over several weeks. She’s looked at every aspect of each cleaner, taking into account its ability to clean, to manoeuvre (taking into account its weight and the reach of its cable), the tools that come with it and therefore its versatility, and how easy it is to control.

How much should I spend on a steam cleaner?

The most straightforward steam mops start at £50, but up to £150 is average for a convertible upright. These are steam mops that double as smaller, handheld cleaners. Budget upwards of £300 for a cylinder model with much more steam power.

What are the different types of steam cleaner?

Image credit: Dupray

Steam mop

If you only want to steam clean floors, consider a simple machine that doesn’t convert to a handheld. It will be light, easy to manoeuvre and you won’t have to store fiddly tools that you’ve no intention of using.

Convertible steam cleaner

A.k.a. 2-in-1 cleaners, these are upright steam mops where the steam generator can pop out from the middle to be used as a smaller, handheld cleaner. They come with various tools for steam cleaning smaller stuff.

Cylinder steam cleaner

For the ultimate in powerful, long-lasting steam, get a cylinder cleaner. They generate a constant flow of strong steam that make light work of anything. But they take up more cupboard space.

What else should I look for in a steam cleaner?

Image credit: Vax

1. Variable steam

If you have wooden floors, avoid models that don’t let you adjust the level of steam. You’ll want to dial back steam to its lowest setting to avoid damaging them. A good steam cleaner can use a small amount of steam, then pick up the moisture with the floorcloth, so the floor is left nearly dry. If in doubt, check with your flooring supplier in case they advise against steam cleaning.

2. Powerful steam

At top whack, powerful steam is great for loosening stubborn grime. For example, you can bring old oven grills back to life or finally get bathroom taps squeaky clean.

3. Steam cleaner tools

Convertibles and cylinders come with smaller tools as well as a floorhead. Expect brushes for scrubbing and a concentrator nozzle for a precise, powerful jet of steam. A mid-sized cleaning head with cloth is great for furniture and a squeegee is handy if you want to clean windows. If a steam cleaner comes with lots of tools, bonus points if it also comes with a way to store them.

4. Steam cleaner cord length

This may matter, depending on where your power sockets are. We found a 4m cord was too short to reach our bathroom.

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