PurSteam 10-in-1 Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product PurSteam 10-in-1 | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Steam Mop | ||||
Price | $80 List $79.99 at Amazon | $93 List $92.00 at Amazon | $103 List $102.99 at Amazon | $110 List $98.99 at Amazon | $70 List $59.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | A budget-friendly option that gets the job done at the cost of time and effort | A well-designed, simple, effective, and competitively priced steam-cleaning device | The best choice for when the floor is the priority and you don't need a bunch of extra attachments or fuss | Helpful accessories and average cleaning performance make this a decent budget option but not our top recommendation | A straightforward and budget-friendly option that unfortunately lacks the steam for the heavy duty jobs |
Rating Categories | PurSteam 10-in-1 | Bissell PowerFresh | Bissell PowerFresh... | Hoover Steam Comple... | Shark S1000 |
Cleaning Performance (40%) | |||||
Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
Maneuverability (20%) | |||||
Features (15%) | |||||
Specs | PurSteam 10-in-1 | Bissell PowerFresh | Bissell PowerFresh... | Hoover Steam Comple... | Shark S1000 |
Steam Adjustability | Dial (manufacturer claims 3 settings) | Low, med, high | Low, high | Dial | No |
Water Tank Capacity | 380 ml (manual) 340 ml (website) |
455 ml | 474 ml | 379 ml | 375 ml |
Water Fill Opening Diameter | 1" | 1" | 1" | .5" and 1" | 1" |
Pad Attachment | Velcro | Elastic | Elastic | Velcro | Hands-free |
Additional Mop Head? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Included Pads | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Cleaning Brush? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Hose Attachment? | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Cord Length | 15.6' | 23' | 25' | 26' | 18' |
Additional Accessories Included | Steamer jet, window squeeqee, small brush, scraper, angled nozzle, big brush, double brush, small plastic cup and funnel for filling water tank | Microfiber soft pad, microfiber scrubby pad, spring breeze fragrance discs and a carpet glider | Built-in scrubber | Steam connector and hose, XS & XL plastic brush, steel wire brush, grout brush, hard surface squeegee, upholstery cloth, angled, crevice tool, steam and scraper tool, carpet glider, 2 mop pads, tool storage bag | 2 dirt grip pads, removeable water tank |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The PurSteam 10-in-1 has a lot to offer users at a reasonable price. This device has attachments for every surface in the house, making it more of a steam cleaner than simply a mop.
Performance Comparison
Cleaning Performance
Cleaning performance is the most important metric in our steam mop evaluation. Steam mops are supposed to simplify surface cleaning, but more importantly, they are supposed to tackle the toughest messes where vacuums and traditional mops fall short. With this expectation in mind, we designed a series of evaluations to test these products' capability to meet this standard and thus earn a place in the broom closet. While the PurSteam 10-in-1 does well with laminate and vinyl flooring, as well as removing stubborn stains, the unit struggles to clean tile and stone.
Three sub-metrics comprise the cleaning performance evaluation. These sub-metrics are synthetic floor cleaning, tile and stone cleaning, and stubborn stain cleaning. After completing the synthetic flooring tests, one tester exclaimed that “the PurSteam loves linoleum.” Indeed, it performed well above average on linoleum and vinyl. The main issue preventing a higher overall evaluation in this metric is that the mop tends to catch and skip over these surfaces, requiring additional passes.
In the more demanding tile and stone tests, we observed that the PurSteam has a reasonably smooth glide but struggled with these surfaces. There is a tendency for the mop pad to catch on rough areas such as undissolved mud. In one test, the mop occasionally lost contact with the ground, so little pieces of dried debris and pebbles would get passed over. We observed similar difficulties when cleaning ketchup. Eventually, we cleaned the floor of both substances, but it took a few extra passes.
Finally, we set the PurSteam on stubborn stains such as those heat-hardened messes found on stovetops and long-neglected floors. Performance here was consistent with other cleaning tests — the PurSteam will get the job done; it just requires a bit more work in the form of multiple passes. The mop did much better on synthetic flooring than on other floor types.
Although we did not judge the mops on the following, it's worth noting that, with prolonged use, some of the components of the mop body get hot enough to be painful when touched.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is an important metric. As with any purchase we make — particularly those that perform a cleaning function — we want the product to make our life less complicated. As such, we look closely at the water tank design, how long the unit takes to heat up, the control layout and functionality, and the overall design. The PurSteam received an average score in this evaluation. However, it heats up with the best models, and the water tank has a good design.
The water tank has a transparent window, so the water level is clearly visible. The tank is also removable making it easy to fill. Additionally, the heating element is quite effective, bringing the water to temperature in less than a minute.
While the mop is easy to push around, testers noted that this is both good and bad as the handling can feel a bit squirrely — the mop head pivots as soon as you start advancing it. Such looseness can make it tough to push the PurSteam in a straight line, especially when the flooring is textured. On the bright side, the unit can stand upright thanks to a locking handle — a feature that, to our surprise, some models lack. Finally, the mop is lightweight and easy to carry around.
Odds and ends features include washable Velcro replacement pads (three pads come with purchase). The Velcro is secure, but as a result, it is hard to get on and off. The unit's power cord is simple to manage, too, with built-in storage on the side of the handle. And the handle is foldable, making it all the easier to store.
Maneuverability
We drill down on how each steam mop moves through dusty, dirty domestic spaces in detail in this metric. Specifically, we look at mop glide, edge cleaning, and cord length (as it pertains to the movement of the device). Unfortunately, the PurSteam didn't fare particularly well in this evaluation despite its agile head.
The issue we encountered with the PurSteam is not that it doesn't glide. Rather, it does not maintain good contact with the ground. The mop head often feels like it skips over sections, particularly when encountering heavy debris like mud. This inconsistency requires the user to press down harder or make repeated passes. This shortfall raises another issue we encountered during our testing: exposed plastic can contact the floor when manipulating the mop, and this plastic could cause light abrasion on soft surfaces.
Edge cleaning is critical for any surface cleaning device. As discussed previously, the mop head on the PurSteam is very agile — it pivots and moves freely, which is great for reaching nooks and crannies. However, its flexibility proves to be a bit of a detriment. As it turns out, it is hard to steer the mop in a straight line along the edge of a room. Additionally, the cord length is short at just 15 feet, 6 inches. This could be a big limitation if you don't have a modern house with tightly spaced outlets.
Features
This metric is a bright spot in the assessment of the PurSteam mop. This device has a ton of attachments, and they mostly prove useful. But it's not just the cornucopia of attachments that got us jazzed: the PurSteam offers detachment as well. The head and steam tank break away from the handle for use in tight spaces.
Many of the attachments that come standard on the PurSteam aim to get the mop off the floor and onto other household surfaces. These areas include windows, countertops, and a brush that helps to deep clean grout throughout the bathroom. This steamer can even be used to remove wrinkles in clothes.
Should You Buy the PurSteam 10-in-1?
The PurSteam is a pretty good steam mop for the price, and it's often available for below its MSRP. It is true that it struggles with tough clean-ups and isn't the easiest to maneuver. But, it gets the job done with just a bit of extra effort. That said, if you are going to use a steam mop regularly, it may be worth the extra money to get a more robust model. Or, consider a pre-cleaning device such as one of the many vacuums we've tested.
What Other Steam Mops Should You Consider?
Without a doubt, you should have a look at the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe if for nothing else but a point of comparison. This unit is at the top of the steam mop heap for an excellent price, though it doesn't come with as many attachments. If you love attachments and versatility and are willing to spend a little bit more, we also highly recommend the Bissell PowerFresh Lift-Off Pet.