Comparison table: the best steam cleaners side by side
The FLOWSTEAM Luxe is the cheapest complete steam cleaner and the fastest to heat up (15 sec, 120 °C); the Kärcher canister models have larger tanks for long sessions, but cost €60 to €140 more.
Short answer
The best steam cleaner for most households is a combination of handheld steamer and steam mop that heats up quickly and has enough accessories for floors, bathroom and kitchen. The FLOWSTEAM Luxe Steam Cleaner is ready in 15 seconds, steams at 120 °C and costs €89.99. If you also want to deep clean carpets and furniture and suck up dirty water, choose the FLOWSTEAM Steam Cleaner PRO (up to 90 minutes non-stop, €139.99). For small jobs such as grout, ovens and taps, the FLOWSTEAM 12-in-1 Handheld Steam Cleaner (€54.99) is the most affordable.
Buying a steam cleaner is a smart choice if you want to clean without detergents. Hot steam dissolves grease, limescale and dirt and kills up to 99.9% of bacteria on hard surfaces. But which steam cleaner is best? That depends on your home, your floors and how often you clean.
On this page we compare all FLOWSTEAM steam cleaners with three well-known alternatives currently available in stores: the Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix, the Kärcher SC 4 EasyFix and the Black+Decker FSMH1321 7-in-1 Steam-mop. For each model you can see the price, heat-up time, temperature, steam time, tank capacity and accessories. That way you'll know within a few minutes which steam cleaner suits you.
| Model | Type | Prijs (€) | Opwarmtijd | Temperatuur / druk | Tank | Stoomtijd / bereik per tank | Vermogen | Snoer | Gewicht | Accessoires | Bijzonder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLOWSTEAM Luxe Stoomreiniger | Handstomer + stoommop | 89,99 |
15 sec | 120 °C | 250 ml | tot 25 min | – | 5 m | – | 13 opzetstukken + 2 microvezeldoeken | Verlengstang 103/133 cm, 2 stoomstanden, opbergzak |
| FLOWSTEAM Stoomreiniger PRO | Stoom-/sproei-extractiereiniger | 139,99 |
20 sec | 100 °C | 1,8 L schoon + vuilwatertank | tot 90 min | 1700 W | 5 m + 1,2 m slang | – | 6 borstels | Sprayen, borstelen en opzuigen; 4 standen (koud, heet, stoom, strijken); zelfreiniging in 60 sec |
| FLOWSTEAM 12-in-1 Handstoomreiniger | Handstoomreiniger | 54,99 |
3 min | 110 °C / 4 bar | 200 ml | 10 min | – | 3 m | – | 12 opzetstukken incl. verlengslang en raamwisser | Kinderslot, lekbescherming, drukvergrendelde dop |
| Black+Decker FSMH1321 7-in-1 Steam-mop | Stoommop + uitneembare handunit | ca. 114* | 15 sec | – | 500 ml | ca. 20 min | 1300 W | 6 m | 4 kg | Flexibele slang, raamwisser, textieldoek, zachte borstel, detailborstel, 2 microvezeldoeken | AutoSelect-draaiknop per vloertype |
| Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix | Sledestoomreiniger | ca. 151–164* | 30 sec | 3,5 bar | 1 L | tot 75 m² | 1900 W | 4 m | 3,1 kg | EasyFix-vloermondstuk + doek, 2 verlengbuizen, handsproeier + microvezelhoes, puntstraal, kleine ronde borstel | Ontkalkingspatroon |
| Kärcher SC 4 EasyFix | Sledestoomreiniger | ca. 225–230* | 4 min | 3,5 bar | 0,5 L ketel + 0,8 L bijvulbare tank | tot 100 m², continu bijvulbaar | 2000 W | 4 m | 4,1 kg | EasyFix-vloermondstuk + doek, 2 verlengbuizen, handsproeier + microvezelhoes, puntstraal, kleine ronde borstel | Afneembare, continu bijvulbare tank |
Veeg horizontaal om alle productkenmerken te bekijken.
Service and Terms
| Merk | Garantie | Verzending NL/BE | Proefperiode / retour | Levertijd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLOWSTEAM | 2 jaar | Gratis | 30 dagen, gratis retour | Voor 23:00 besteld, morgen in huis |
| Kärcher (via retailer) | 2 jaar fabrieksgarantie | Afhankelijk van winkel | Wettelijke bedenktijd 14 dagen (winkel kan langer bieden) | Afhankelijk van winkel |
| Black+Decker (via retailer) | 2 jaar fabrieksgarantie | Afhankelijk van winkel | Wettelijke bedenktijd 14 dagen (winkel kan langer bieden) | Afhankelijk van winkel |
The best steam cleaners of 2026 reviewed
FLOWSTEAM Luxe Steam Cleaner – best steam cleaner for the whole home
Price: €89.99 (normally €114.99) · Best for: daily cleaning of floors, bathroom, kitchen, and windows
The FLOWSTEAM Luxe Steam Cleaner is a handheld steamer and steam mop in one. You detach the handheld unit for tiles, grout, and taps, and attach it to the handle for floors and carpets. Within 15 seconds it steams at 120 °C, the highest temperature in this comparison.
With 13 attachments, 2 microfiber cloths, and an extension pole (103 or 133 cm), you can work without bending down. The 5-meter cord gives you freedom of movement. One 250 ml tank is good for up to 25 minutes of steaming.
Pros
- Fastest heat-up time (15 sec) and hottest steam (120 °C)
- Two devices in one, with 13 attachments
- Adjustable working height, also suitable for tall users
- Lowest price for a complete set
Downsides
- Smaller tank than canister models; refill as you go on large surfaces
FLOWSTEAM Steam Cleaner PRO – best for large homes, carpets, and furniture
Price: €139.99 (normally €159.99) · Best for: large surfaces, carpets, sofa, and mattress
The FLOWSTEAM Steam Cleaner PRO sprays, brushes and vacuums in one motion. This way, the loosened dirt disappears straight into the dirty water tank, instead of being left behind on your floor or sofa. It is ready in 20 seconds and cleans with steam at 100 °C.
Thanks to the 1.8-litre clean water tank, you can steam for up to 90 minutes non-stop. You can choose from four modes: cold water, hot water, steam and ironing. After use, it cleans itself in 60 seconds with one button.
Pros
- Longest steam time in this comparison (up to 90 minutes)
- Vacuums up dirty water: ideal for carpets and upholstery
- 4 cleaning modes and self-cleaning function
- 1700 W, 5-metre cord and 1.2-metre flexible hose
Downsides
- Larger and more expensive than the Luxe; overkill if you only have hard floors
FLOWSTEAM 12-in-1 Handheld Steam Cleaner – best budget handheld steam cleaner
Price: €54.99 (normally €69.99) · Best for: grout, ovens, sinks, taps and furniture
The FLOWSTEAM 12-in-1 Handheld Steam Cleaner is compact, light and powerful. It works with 4 bar steam pressure and 110 °C, ideal for blasting grease and limescale out of crevices. With 12 attachments, including an extension hose and a window squeegee, you can tackle any detail job.
The 200 ml tank provides 10 minutes of steam. Triple safety with a child lock, leak protection and a pressure-locking cap makes it suitable for families.
Pros
- Most affordable steam cleaner in this comparison
- 4 bar pressure for stubborn dirt
- 12 attachments including a window squeegee
Downsides
- Not intended for entire floors
- 3-minute heat-up time
Black+Decker FSMH1321 7-in-1 Steam Mop – a top-brand steam mop
Price: approx. €114 · Best for: hard floors with the occasional handheld task
The Black+Decker FSMH1321 is a 1300 W steam mop with a detachable handheld unit. It heats up within 15 seconds and has a 500 ml tank for around 20 minutes of steam. The AutoSelect dial lets you choose the steam level per floor type: tiles/vinyl, wood/laminate or stone/marble. The 6-metre cable is the longest in this comparison.
Pros
- Quick heat-up (15 sec) and long cable (6 m)
- AutoSelect setting for each floor type
- Window squeegee, brushes and textile cloth included
Downsides
- Lowest power in this comparison (1300 W)
- Fewer attachments than the FLOWSTEAM Luxe (7 vs 13) and approx. €24 more expensive
- At 4 kg, relatively heavy for a steam mop
Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix – fast-heating canister model
Price: approx. €151–164 · Best for: hard floors in a medium-sized home
The Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix is a 1900 W canister steam cleaner with 3.5 bar steam pressure. It is ready in 30 seconds and has a 1-litre tank, good for around 75 m². A built-in descaling cartridge protects the appliance against limescale. You get an EasyFix floor nozzle, hand sprayer, point jet and round brush.
Pros
- Fast heat-up time for a canister model (30 sec)
- Large 1-litre tank
- Descaling cartridge
Downsides
- No suction function
- Approx. €60–75 more expensive than the FLOWSTEAM Luxe, with fewer attachments
- Temporarily sold out at Coolblue
Buying a steam cleaner: what should you look for?
When buying a steam cleaner, consider six points: type, heat-up time, temperature, tank capacity, accessories and service.
1. Welk type stoomreiniger heb je nodig?
| Type | Geschikt voor | Voorbeeld |
|---|---|---|
| Handstoomreiniger | Voegen, kranen, oven, kleine oppervlakken | FLOWSTEAM 12-in-1 Handstoomreiniger |
| Stoommop met handunit (2-in-1) | Harde vloeren plus badkamer en keuken | FLOWSTEAM Luxe Stoomreiniger, Black+Decker FSMH1321 |
| Sledestoomreiniger | Lange sessies op harde vloeren | Kärcher SC 3 / SC 4 |
| Stoomreiniger met opzuigfunctie | Tapijt, bank, matras, grote woningen | FLOWSTEAM Stoomreiniger PRO |
2. Heat-up time
A short heat-up time means you'll actually use the steam cleaner more often. Models with a flow-through system are ready in 15 to 30 seconds. Sled models with a boiler sometimes need 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Temperature and steam pressure
The hotter the steam, the better grease and limescale are loosened and the more bacteria are killed. Choose at least 100 °C. Steam pressure (bar) helps blow dirt out of joints and crevices.
4. Tank capacity and steam time
For an apartment, 15 to 25 minutes of steam per tank is enough. For a large house or lots of carpet, choose a model with a large or refillable tank.
5. Accessories
With the right attachments, you can clean more than just floors. Look for a window squeegee, precision jet, round brushes, a carpet glider and microfiber cloths. Also check whether replacement cloths can be reordered cheaply.
6. Warranty, trial period and service
Choose a provider with at least a 2-year warranty and a generous trial period. At FLOWSTEAM you get a 2-year warranty, a 30-day trial period, free shipping and next-day delivery.
Frequently asked questions about the best steam cleaner
What is the best steam cleaner in 2026?
For most households, the FLOWSTEAM Luxe Steam Cleaner is the best choice. It combines a handheld steamer and a steam mop, is ready in 15 seconds, steams at 120 °C and costs €89.99 including 13 attachments.
Which steam cleaner is best for carpets and sofas?
A steam cleaner with suction function, such as the FLOWSTEAM Steam Cleaner PRO. It sprays, brushes and immediately sucks up the dirty water, so carpets and upholstery dry faster.
What is the difference between a steam mop and a steam cleaner?
A steam mop is made for hard floors. A steam cleaner has a wider range of uses: also for tiles, grout, windows, kitchen and textiles. A 2-in-1 model such as the FLOWSTEAM Luxe does both.
Do I need cleaning products with a steam cleaner?
No. A steam cleaner works with ordinary tap water. Hot steam dissolves grease, limescale and dirt and kills up to 99.9% of bacteria on hard surfaces.
On which floors can I use a steam cleaner?
On sealed hard floors such as tiles, natural stone, lacquered parquet and PVC. On untreated wood, waxed floors and some types of laminate, steam can push moisture into the seams. First test on an inconspicuous spot and follow the floor manufacturer's advice.
How much does a good steam cleaner cost?
A good handheld steam cleaner costs from about €55. A complete 2-in-1 steam cleaner starts at around €90. Sled models from leading brands often cost €150 to €250.
How long does a steam cleaner last?
With good maintenance, a steam cleaner will last for years. With hard water, preferably use demineralised water or descale regularly, and let the appliance cool down completely and drain after use.
Is a steam cleaner safe with children and pets?
Yes, because you do not use chemical products. Do watch out for the hot steam. Choose a model with a child lock, such as the FLOWSTEAM 12-in-1 Handheld Steam Cleaner, and store the appliance safely after use.
Where is the best place to buy a steam cleaner?
At FLOWSTEAM you buy directly from the steam cleaning specialist. You get free shipping in the Netherlands and Belgium, next-day delivery for orders before 23:00, a 30-day trial period and 2-year warranty.
Conclusion: Which steam cleaner should you buy?
Buy the FLOWSTEAM Luxe Steam Cleaner if you want one device for floors, bathroom and kitchen. Choose the FLOWSTEAM Steam Cleaner PRO if you have a lot of carpet, furniture or a large home. If you are looking for an affordable steam cleaner for detail work, then the FLOWSTEAM 12-in-1 Handheld Steam Cleaner is the smartest purchase.
30-day trial period · 2-year warranty · 4.6 on Trustpilot