Whilst curtain cleaning is not an everyday chore, it’s a task that can be tackled easily with the help of a steam cleaner.
Spring is an ideal time to freshen up all of your upholstery and the good news is, eliminating dirt and bacteria from curtains doesn’t mean hours of washing, folding and rehanging. Avoid hand washing, keep your curtains in place, and give them a quick once over by employing the help of a steam cleaner. This clever handheld device will remove invisible dust and dirt, with a quick burst of steam, restoring your curtains to their former glory.
Handheld steam cleaners remove dirt with a powerful burst of steam that melts away even the smallest stains and brings a fresh feeling to your home. Simply click-on the upholstery attachment to your steam cleaner, switch on and wait for the appliance to heat up, then gently move the cleaner down the fabric. All of these machines are adaptable depending on the task at hand, from cleaning curtains, to grout and tiles, kitchen worktops and car seats.
When shopping for a steam cleaner think about the size of the job at hand. Some cleaners have containers with a larger capacity, meaning the steam will last longer which helps if you’re tackling larger areas.
To ensure this gadget gets used regularly, keep your cleaner in a kitchen cupboard so it can be grabbed quickly, to consistently keep surfaces and fabrics clean. Of course, always remember to use handheld steam cleaners with care and in a controlled environment to prevent injuries.
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VonHaus Handheld Steam Cleaner 1050W
If your curtains are gathering dirt from the floor, or have picked up stains from handprints and spillages, they’ll benefit from a steam clean. This handheld cleaner is instantly ready to plug in and get to work, giving up to eight minutes of continuous steam when the container is full.
Much like other steam cleaners on our list this device is multi-purpose and can be used around the home, to clean cars, garages and even patio slabs. It comes with a precision nozzle, window and glass attachment, round brush, angled nozzle, mini mop attachment with cloths and a flexible extension hose.
Although the water tank is smaller than some other models (250ml) this is still a powerful device for its size and has a 3 metre cord for ease of use.
Buy now £34.99, VonHaus
Bissell SteamShot steam cleaner
With its long nozzle and chunky body, this handheld steam cleaner looks futuristic when unboxed. There’s something rather satisfying about steam cleaning your home and this little device gets straight to work, removing dirt from the trickiest corners.
Just as effective on hard and soft surfaces, we think this cleaner is ideal for curtains and other soft furnishings that often get overlooked during the spring clean. Curtains can stay in place and be cleaned with the soft brush attachment.
A quick burst of 1050W high-pressure steam power eliminates 99.9 per cent of germs and bacteria, meaning your curtains will stay clean and fresh for longer. Crucially steam cleaning offers chemical free results (using only tap water), meaning it’s the safest cleaning option for homes with children and pets.
This device gives 15 minutes of cleaning time in one use and comes with various accessories including a pouring jug, extension hose, three colour coded brushes, an angled tool, window squeegee, flat scraping tool and two microfibre cleaning cloths.
Buy now £44.99, Amazon
Beldray 10-in-1 BEL0701TQN Handheld Steam Cleaner
It’s easy to assume that curtain cleaning involves costly dry cleaning bills, or several washing machine cycles but a simple blast of steam will do all the hard work for you. Use this steam cleaner to easily freshen up your curtains with minimal effort.
The Beldray is a 10-in-1 multi-purpose device that can clean ovens, barbecues, upholstery, grout, tiles, bathrooms, cars and windows. With 1000W steaming power this device gives 10 minutes of continuous steam from one fill of the 250ml tank. Watch dust and dirt or grease and limescale melt away as you easily lift and manoeuvre the device. The 4 metre power cord makes it easy to clean the longest curtains from top to bottom, or to reach outside into the drive and give the car seats a clean without swapping plugs.
Accessories include a measuring jug, funnel, flexible extension hose, three plastic round brushes, mini mop head and an angled nozzle. This is chemical free cleaning at its best.
Buy now £35.00, Argos
Tower RHS10 Handheld Steam Cleaner
With its rose gold and black exterior, this steam cleaner feels like a fancy kettle, but it’s not just a pretty face. This device will keep your curtains and upholstery fresh throughout the year, with a powerful steam output that reaches temperatures of 105 degrees, killing up to 99.99 per cent of bacteria.
You won’t have long to wait to get cleaning either, with steam in 3 minutes, and up to 10 minutes continuous steam so you can complete simple cleaning tasks in one sitting. The 3 metre cable makes it easier to clean a full room without unplugging, and stretches outside to reach the car from an indoor plug. This cleaner includes a variety of brushes, nozzles and tools to complete every cleaning task with ease around the home.
With over 100 years in homeware product development, Tower is a well known brand for high quality appliances and this device comes with a 3 year guarantee for added piece of mind.
Buy now £25.00, Argos
Bush BS566 Handheld Steam Cleaner
With ten different accessories, this handheld steamer has all the gear you need to clean your home from top to bottom. It’s easy to freshen up your upholstery with a few shots of steam and no nasty chemicals. Simply fill up the 250ml tank and use either dry or wet steam mode to melt away fabric stains and bring old curtains, cushions and couches back to life.
This device will steam continuously for 7 minutes, which is a shorter time than some other devices, but still more than enough to give an area the once over. With steam, there’s no need to spend hours scrubbing stubborn stains, a spray of steam will clean and clean and sanitise ceramic tiles, ovens, showers, sealed surfaces and mattresses.
This steam cleaner has a 3 metre power cord, trigger activated steam power and a one year manufacturers guarantee for peace of mind. Accessories include an extension hose, curved nozzle, round brush, nylon round brush, multi-purpose nozzle, textile pad, plastic measuring cup and plastic funnel.
Buy now £40.00, Argos
Karcher Steam Cleaner SC 1 EasyFix
Surprisingly, plenty of hidden dirt gathers within curtain folds, from pet hairs to dust and debris. Thankfully this steam cleaner looks fit for the job. Like the baby sibling of the well-known Karcher pressure washer, this small and versatile handheld cleaner kills up to 99.99 per cent of common household bacteria.
It comes with a collection of different attachments, including an upholstery tool that can be used on curtains and other soft furnishings. When cleaning, hold the device in one hand and the bottom or edge of your curtain in the other then slowly move the device downwards, making sure you keep hands away from the steam.
We suggest keeping this device in a handy place where you can easily reach for it when stains and spills occur. This is one of the more expensive handheld steam cleaners on the market, but is a reliable and long lasting option.
Buy now £102.99, Karcher
Daewoo Spear & Jackson DF-958 Handheld Steam Cleaner
This handheld steam cleaner makes quick work of curtain cleaning in a safe, chemical free way. It removes dirt from upholstery without time consuming washing and dry cleaning. The device can eliminate grease, grime and dirt from lots of different areas of your home and includes everything you need for a cleaning spree. This extends to a straight nozzle, two plastic brushes, a metal round brush, mini mop head, microfibre cloth, an angled nozzle, window/mirror cleaner, measuring jug, funnel and an extension hose.
The generous 4 metre cord allows the cleaner to reach right up to the curtain rail without changing sockets. Hold the bottom of your curtain then steadily move downwards, taking care to give some distance between the nozzle and fabric. The multipurpose nature of this product means it can be used around the home, from bathrooms and kitchens to car seats and upholstery.
Buy now £37.82, Amazon
Verdict
An affordable choice with all the right accessories, we think the Von Haus cleaner combines powerful steam action with easy usability at a good price. The ideal cleaning companion for everyday use in multiple areas of the home.
