Best Steam Cleaners for Cars: Leave Your Car Spotless

Say goodbye to spills because these steam cleaners will keep your car’s interior sparkling clean.

byHank O'Hop|
The best steam cleaners
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If you clock in a lot of mileage in your car, spread out across all seasons, its interior can get dirty rather quickly. It's not uncommon for stains to appear on the seats over time, mud to soak into the upholstery, or pet fur to cling to all surfaces. Don't even get us started on spilled coffee drinks. It becomes quite tough to thoroughly clean your car on a regular basis.

The good news is that a steam cleaner makes the job rather easy and with minimal effort. It's designed to provide a deep cleaning in a very short amount of time. There are many steam cleaner options available out there and from many, many retailers. online and in stores, which is why we're here: Reading through this buying guide will help you find the best option available for any budget.

Best Overall

McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner

Summary
This ultra-sturdy and powerful steam cleaner for your car generates a great amount of steam in a short amount of time.
Pros
  • Tank holds up to 48 ounces
  • High-quality set of large wheels
  • Very mobile
Cons
  • Quite loud
  • May have to use more elbow grease to scrub some areas
Best Value

McCulloch Canister Steam Cleaner

Summary
This is a great steam cleaner for those who need extra mobility to get around their vehicle. Its small size saves you time and energy.
Pros
  • Compact 
  • Weighs five pounds
  • Comes with nine accessories
Cons
  • Takes a while to heat up
  • Doesn’t stay hot for long enough
Honorable Mention

Wagner Spraytech On-Demand Steam Cleaner

Summary
This steam cleaner comes with two modes to let you know when it’s ready to start the cleaning process.
Pros
  • 11-piece accessory set
  • Tank holds 48 ounces
  • 45 minutes of cleaning power
Cons
  • Small wheels 
  • Lacks mobility
  • Can take a while to heat up

Summary List

Our Methodology

To come up with this list of car steam cleaners, we took a close look at the many options available. We considered every kind of steam cleaner, from big and bulky with car-friendly attachments to compact and perfectly portable. Those that were the most effective at tackling dirt and stains, including long-ago formed stains, were prioritized. We also compared these steam cleaners to one another based on details such as ease of use, size and weight, power source, tank capacity, cleaning accessory options, and the ability to use within the confines of a car.

Best Steam Cleaners for Cars: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall: McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner

Pros

1,500-watt power

Up to 45 minutes of continuous cleaning

Heats up in eight minutes

Includes 18 accessories

Cons

Loud in enclosed spaces

Plastic body can come apart over time

This ultra-sturdy and powerful steam cleaner for your car generates a great amount of steam, making it one of the best at removing stains and giving your car that fresh new look. It comes equipped with 1,500 watts of steam-fighting power and is fully heated in about eight minutes. We also found it releases continuous steam, so you can focus on the spots that need the most attention.

The large tank holds up to 48 ounces of water, giving you around 45 minutes or so of steam-cleaning capability. That’s plenty of time to make sure you get a nice even clean throughout your entire vehicle. A feature we enjoyed most is how extremely mobile it is. It’s built with a high-quality set of large wheels, capable of rolling along without issue. It comes complete with a 15-foot long power cord, capable of reaching the outlet while giving you enough maneuverability. It’s also loaded with 18 accessories, including brushes and floor mops.

We do recommend wearing ear protection while operating the McCulloch, as it can be quite loud in enclosed spaces. Some consumers also say that the plastic is cheaply made and comes apart after several uses. You may also have to use more elbow grease to scrub areas the steamer cleaned.

Best Value: McCulloch Canister Steam Cleaner

Pros

Variable steam control

90 minutes of continuous cleaning

20 accessories

Versatile use options

Cons

Accessories aren’t securely fitted

Can squirt or spill water

This steam cleaner comes with 20 accessories, including an angled nozzle, scrub pad, scraper, squeegee, and nylon brushes. It has a 48-ounce water tank that heats up in approximately 12 minutes and supplies up to 90 minutes of steam. It has a 10-foot-long steam hose and 18-foot power cord. The steam pressure is 58 psi.

Features include variable steam control as well as a steam lock for continuous steam. The machine is lightweight, rolls easily, and is easy to use. It comes with two extenders for the wand for extra maneuverability, and overall the accessories are very useful. The gauge is a nice extra, and the steamer is great for cleaning everything from your car seats to the engine compartment. The company also provides a two-year satisfaction guarantee.

However, the accessories have a tendency to pop off the wand, and there is no way to securely store the hose when you're not using the machine. Also, the steamer may exhibit slight problems with the pressure that causes it to occasionally squirt out water.

Honorable Mention: Wagner Spraytech On-Demand Steam Cleaner

Pros

Up to 40 minutes of continuous cleaning

Includes multiple extension wands

Includes 11 accessories

Sits on wheels

Cons

Not very mobile

Takes a while to heat up

One of the best features we found about this steam cleaner is its ability to switch between its two modes for a continuous release of steam. It’s also easy to tell when you can start the steaming process; a green light informs you it’s good to go, while a red light means the water temperature is above 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

This multi-purpose steam cleaner also comes with an 11-piece accessory set included with a jet nozzle, two extension wands, and a handy measuring cup to help you reach deep crevices or behind small spaces to remove stains. The tank is able to hold up to 40 ounces of distilled water, giving you a lengthy running time of 45 continuous minutes.

While this is one of the best steam cleaners we found, it lacks mobility. The wheels are smaller than other heavy-duty steam cleaners, meaning they get caught up more easily on cords and holes. It also can take a while to heat up, while it may say it takes five minutes, you may be waiting a lot longer to reach steam levels.

Honorable Mention: Pure Enrichment PureClean Steam Cleaner

Pros

Lengthy hose and wands

Up to 45 minutes of continuous cleaning

Backed by a five-year warranty

Includes 18 accessories

Cons

No on-machine storage for accessories

Handle can get hot while in use

The 18-piece Pure Enrichment steamer comes with a 1.5-liter water boiler that provides up to 45 minutes of steam. The power cord is 16 feet long and can be wrapped up for storage. It's safe to use this machine on a variety of surfaces, and the company includes a five-year warranty.

This steamer is sturdy, well-built, and simple to use. It's ideal for hard-to-clean areas and is very lightweight and easy to maneuver. The steam is hot enough and the spray is powerful enough so you don't need to use a cleaning solution. The accessories are good quality, and replacement pieces such as pads for the mop are available online.

One downside is the steamer does not have any storage for the attachments. Also, the brushes tend to wear out after a short period of use, and there have been some complaints that the steam is inconsistent and the handle gets very hot.

Honorable Mention: Steamfast Canister Cleaner

Pros

Locking on button

Up to 45 minutes of cleaning

Consistent temperature and pressure

15 accessories

Cons

Attachments somewhat weak

Extension wands bend easily

This steamer has a 48-ounce water tank that heats up in less than 10 minutes and produces steam for up to 45 minutes. It comes with a 15-foot power cord with an integrated wrap, a carrying handle, a 6.5-foot hose, and 15 accessories, such as scrub tools, utility brushes, and a jet nozzle.

This machine has a very large water reservoir and is easy to move around. You can lock it into the on position so you do not have to hold the button down for continuous steam. It removes dirt and grime without the need for a cleaning solution, and it's very hot and powerful with consistent pressure.

The biggest complaint about this steamer is that most of the attachments are not very good and fall apart easily, particularly the scrub pads and brushes. Also, the extension wands are a little flimsy and bend with little pressure. The hose may also fray after a short period of time.

Honorable Mention: Costway Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner

Pros

High-powered, high-pressured

Up to 40 minutes of cleaning

Easy to move

Includes 18 accessories

Cons

No temperature or steam control

Handle gets hot while in use

This steam cleaner has a 51-ounce water tank that heats up in nine minutes to reach 226 degrees Fahrenheit. It produces up to 40 minutes of high-pressure steam. It has a trigger for continuous steam cleaning, is ETL certified, and will automatically shut off when it runs out of water or the boiler temperature gets too high. The machine comes with a 16-foot power cord, two extenders, and 18 accessories.

The Costway steamer is one powerful, sturdy, effective, and easy-to-use unit. It gets hot really fast, is easy to move around, and works well with both the extended mop and handheld steamer gun. It can access hard-to-reach corners and the instructions are easy to follow, so setup and operation are trouble-free.

One downside is that you can't control the temperature or the amount of steam that it emits. It also gets so hot that it can be hard to hold the handle without wearing a glove.

Honorable Mention: Comforday Multi-Purpose Handheld Pressurized Steam Cleaner

Pros

Compact and handheld

Fits easily into tight spaces

Safety lock and cap

Includes nine accessories

Cons

Steam produced for short time

Small water tank

The Comforday steam cleaner comes with nine accessories to clean everything from your car's interior to its rims. It works on a variety of surface areas and is chemical-free. It produces pressurized steam for 15 to 20 minutes and gets as hot as 270 degrees Fahrenheit. The machine also has a safety lock and safety cap.

This steamer is designed for small cleaning jobs, and it's very portable and compact. It heats up quickly, is very easy to use, and the attachments are practical. It's great for removing stains from car upholstery, and it's an excellent value.

But since this is a smaller unit, it doesn't produce steam for a very long time. Also, the cord isn't particularly long, and you have to wait for the steamer to cool down once the steam stops in order to refill the water tank. There have also been some complaints that it doesn't have high enough pressure.

Features You Should Know

Here's what you should know.

Types of steam cleaners for cars

Handheld: These are built and designed to reach those difficult-to-clean areas like tight spaces and underneath pedals. They are lightweight and convenient to use, making them ideal to bring on long car trips. However, they don’t come with a lot of power, so you’ll have to charge them after each use. Their smaller form makes them quicker to heat up, so you can use them quickly when absolutely necessary.
 
Heavy duty: These are thicker and heavier modules built to fight the toughest of stains. Their water tanks are larger as well, giving you more power and extending the amount of time you devote to deep cleaning the car interior. This saves you time and energy by not having to constantly refill the water. However, while they are larger, they do tend to be quite heavy, especially when loaded fully with water. To help alleviate the stress of moving something so cumbersome, many come with wheels for mobility.

Features

Water tank size: The size of the water tank is a major component of what makes up a car steam cleaner. Having a smaller one means you don’t get as long of a clean and will have to refill the tank many times before you’re finished. Getting a larger one means you get an extended cleaning time. If you have multiple cars to clean or a larger vehicle, opting for a bigger tank is the way to go.

Portability: Some steam cleaners are more portable than others. Smaller options tend to be lighter weight, so they’re easier to maneuver around your vehicle. Larger options may be more heavy-duty and provide a more thorough cleaning depending on their wattage. Also, the size affects how easier they are to store when not in use.

Accessories: Finding a car steam cleaner with multiple accessories will help you reach those difficult-to-clean places. The more extender hoses, nozzles, and cleaning heads you have, the better prepared you are to tackle any stains.

Chemical free: One of the best parts about steam cleaners is they don’t come with any harsh chemicals. That means it is good for the environment and has no lingering smell or taste. However, you can get accessories that add chemicals like bleach and cleaners.

Our Verdict on the Best Steam Cleaners for Cars

Sturdy and powerful in the face of even super-stubborn stains, the McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner is my pick for the best overall steam cleaner for cars. However, if you’re looking for something that offers a combination of great value and easy mobility, McCulloch's Canister Steam Cleaner is another option we highly recommend.
Pricing 

You’ll find a wide variety of car steam cleaners priced between $35 and $100. They are lighter and more compact with smaller water tanks. For $100 or more, you’ll find heavy-duty steam cleaners that also may come with various sizes of extension hoses and head sizes. 

FAQs 

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

Q: How do you steam clean the inside of your car?

A. You can use a steam cleaner on the carpets, fabric, leather, plastic, and vinyl. If the machine has a crevice tool or a steam-jet nozzle, you can also use it to clean hard-to-reach places, such as the vents, center console, deep door pockets, and cup holders. You can use the machine to clean the headliner if it gets dusty or dirty. Finally, a steam cleaner is excellent for removing sap, bugs, and tar from the windows.

Q: Is it safe to steam clean an engine?

A. Yes. However, it's a lot quicker to use a pressure washer and some degreaser to clean an engine. A steam cleaner may be good at reaching tight areas, but it's not very efficient for cleaning an entire engine.

Q: How much does it cost to steam clean a car?

A. Getting your vehicle professionally detailed can be costly. Depending on the size of your vehicle, steam cleaning the interior or shampooing the carpet could cost around $75 or more. Leather upholstery cleaning can cost around $50.

Q: Do I need a special kind of water to run a steam cleaner?

A. No, you can use normal tap water or water directly from the sink. Read the guidebook before using it to determine if the steam cleaner requires vinegar mixed with the water.

Q: Why is there still some dirt left over after having used the steam cleaner?

A. While steam cleaners do a great job at cleaning stains and dirt from upholstery and carpet, they might leave some behind. This is normal and might require you to use a rag, cloth, or additional attachments to easily clean up.

Q: Can I use a high-pressure steam cleaner to do more than just auto detailing?

A. Of course, you can. Steam cleaners are great for cleaning kitchen tiles, grout, carpet, and those tough-to-reach places in your home.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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