Shark Floor & Handheld Steam Cleaner, Steam Mop for Hard Floors with Klik n' Flip, Clean Tiles, Surfaces, Taps & Glass with Lift-Away, Garment Steamer & 5 Accessories, 2 Settings, Grey/White S6005UK

Product Information

A padded tool features a spatula-shaped plastic frame, which is covered with a removable and washable pad that’s microfibre on one side and metallic fibres on the other. This tool is only to be used with the pad attached, and is meant for “small, uneven surfaces, corners, and edges”. However, it also works for smoother surfaces, such as mirrors and shower screens. It’s a steam cleaner that looks good, too, with a high-gloss, grey-and-white chassis, an ultra-slim handle and flexible mop heads with a chevron design which wouldn’t look out of place on a racing car (the jury’s out on whether or not this will speed up your cleaning sessions). It feels incredibly tactile, with an ultra-smooth finish and extra cushioning in all the right places, such as the top of the handle. The smaller the water tank, the more often you’ll have to top it up. The larger the tank, the longer it’ll take to heat up before it’s ready to use, but it will last longer. Cylinder models tend to have large capacities, with some holding up to two litres, while steam mops tend to hold up to 450ml. Note whether the tank is detachable and easy to fill at the tap, or if you need to fill it with a jug (these are sometimes included).

The Good Housekeeping Institute tests every steam cleaner on ceramic tiles, vinyl floors, inside an oven, on gas hobs and on windows, using them in the same way you would at home. We test steam mops on hard flooring, noting how long it takes to remove food stains and muddy deposits. We also look at how easy it is to move the mop around awkward areas and judge whether the floor looks shiny and streak-free after cleaning.

The majority of steam cleaners come equipped with attachable accessories suited to an array of household chores. Standard steam mops that don’t have a detachable handheld unit usually only come with additional cleaning pads. Cylinders and two-in-one mops, meanwhile, tend to feature extra tools such as scrubbing brushes, scrapers and grout cleaners for a super-thorough finish. Other attachments for specific surfaces may include upholstery tools, ironing attachments for curtains and squeegees for windows and glass. Some models come with detergent, but this merely provides a fresh scent, rather than extra cleaning power. How we test steam cleaners The ultimate test was the oven, for which we used the copper brush. Our oven’s seen better days so we had no concerns about doing so, but we’d recommend the concentration nozzle if you’re worried about scratching your shiny new kitchen appliance.

I started by mopping up muddy prints from a textured wooden floor. On the Lo setting, some pressure was required. But switching to the Hi setting, the floor head slid along with ease. Most of the water residue was confined to the grooves in the wood, and there were no noticeable marks once this had dried. I had more mixed results using the cleaner as a handheld appliance due to only one available steam setting.With cylinders and two-in-one models, we also test their attachments. We use the scrubbing brushes to remove dried food from the hob and clean tiles and grouting, and we put the squeegee to work brightening windows and glass shower doors. How long a steam cleaner takes to heat up before it starts pumping out steam is largely determined by the size of the tank. This may be as little as 20 seconds for a steam mop and two minutes for a cylinder, but exact timings can vary greatly between models.