Dupray Steam Cleaner vs Cheap Handheld Steam Cleaner
The price difference between one steam cleaner to another can be dramatic. A handheld steam cleaner can set you back about $40 while a heavy duty steam cleaner could cost you upwards of $100.
This review will discuss the Dupray Tosca Steam Cleaner and a cheaper handheld steam cleaner. It will help you understand what kind of steam cleaner is best for you – or like us – decide you need both!
Backstory: The inexpensive handheld steamer was a gift from Diana’s mom, but this handheld steamer is similar, while the Tosca on the video was purchased. Neither was provided and this review is not sponsored.
If you want to buy a Dupray steam cleaner on Amazon, check out this link.
We like this bestselling handheld steam cleaner with a long, flexible hose and a small window tool or the more compact Bissell Steamshot. The Bissell is more like the handheld steam cleaner in the video with the button to release steam at the end. It has excellent but different attachments and doesn’t have a flexible hose to reach places. I’ve used and like both.
Dupray Tosca Steam Cleaner vs Cheap Handheld Steam Cleaner
Steam cleaning is a natural and effective way to remove stubborn dirt and stains. They work best on solid, non-porous surfaces. Take note that you only need water for steam cleaning, and there’s no need to use any chemicals. So if you’re concerned about how chemicals smell and affect children, pets, or your own health, a steam cleaner is an excellent choice.
However, you can spray a surface with liquid cleaner first, clean it, and then use a steam cleaner. Just wipe it off first because the steam will intensify and spread the cleaner. It can help remove hard-to-clean stains.
Basically, a steam cleaner heats water to a high temperature until it becomes steam. After a few minutes, steam comes out of the hose. And then it blasts hot steam into the surface. Thus, the cleaning process begins.
Is a steam cleaner like a carpet cleaner?
A lot of people get these mixed up. A steam cleaner is not like a carpet cleaner that uses water (not steam). Carpet cleaners put down water along with a cleaning solution, then it sucks up the dirty water. The water is usually room temperature. It shoots a lot of water at a surface (but not with pressure) and it gets the surface quite wet.
A steam cleaner heats water until it becomes steam, so there is minimal water on the surface. It doesn’t suck up the water that’s left on the surface, you need to wipe it off with a cloth. It also uses pressure to help dislodge stuck on grime and grease.
Read on and learn more of the basic differences of a cheap steam cleaner and the Dupray Tosca Steam Cleaner:
Cheap Steam Cleaner
We’re going to compare a Bissell Steamshot here since we can’t find the handheld steam cleaner in the video. The Bissell has an incredible attachment for grout. However, it’s small and could be tedious if you have a large area to clean. You can buy a Bissell steamshot here.
- For home use only
- Best for shorter, smaller detail cleaning jobs and smaller details like the seam along the shower or bathtub or the base of a toilet
- Made of plastic which can only sustain a certain pressure and heat
- The water reservoir is so small so it easily runs out of water – you’ll need to refill it almost every 10 minutes
- The hose or nozzle is super short. You need both hands to operate the device and it requires more effort to reach places
- Fewer attachments/devices which limits its functions (can’t mop a floor with it, for example)
- Lower cost
Here’s a video showing different things to clean with a handheld steam cleaner.
Dupray Tosca Steam Cleaner
- More costly than an ordinary cleaner
- For industrial use or larger cleaning jobs
- Entire body and boiler is made of stainless steel
- Big water reservoir can hold 2 gallons of water that will give you 90 minutes of cleaning time
- The detachable long hose which makes your task more easier to accomplish
- A full suite of detailing brushes to provide you with the right tool for every job. It’s a universal cleaner which gives better performance
- Heavy duty attachments including a floor attachments which allows you to steam clean tile and hard floors (check to be sure it’s safe for your floor, don’t use on sealed laminate or unsealed wood).
A Dupray Tosca is a heavy-duty steam cleaner that costs almost $1,000. The machine is made of solid steel, has more pressure, and heats to a higher temperature than a handheld. It can clean much longer without refilling. That means you won’t need to fill it as often. Refilling means letting the steam cleaner cool down, adding more water (use hot to make it heat up faster), and then waiting for it to get hot enough to use again. The process can take 20 minutes or so.
Warning: You will be addicted to cleaning!
But definitely, steam cleaning is satisfying, and it’s hard to stop when you see how clean everything gets! You’ll start cleaning something and see more areas or items that need sanitation. It will be hard to stop because you will realize that you can do so many things that you never could before. It was hard to stop! I ended up deep cleaning the house for 5 to 6 straight hours, and now, I do that every week.
Watch me steam clean a dirty oven with the Tosca steam cleaner here.
For a lower priced steamer option from Dupray, you may also want to check the Dupray Neat. Here’s our Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner Review.
Warranty
The Dupray Tosca comes with a 3-year parts warranty plus a lifetime warranty on its broiler.
We tested out the warranty. For some reason, we noticed that the broiler showed some problems. There was a leak whenever we used the cleaner. We sent out our complaint to Dupray and, as a response, they sent us a replacement lid which didn’t solve the issue. It took a while to get in touch with the company again because the communication wasn’t great, like many other cleaning companies. But after a month of waiting, they finally sent us a brand new unit, which was a good thing.
Compare Handheld to Large Steam Cleaner
Use this handy table to compare features and specifications of a Bissell SteamShot to a Dupray Tosca Steam Cleaner:
| Specifications | Bisell SteamShot Deluxe Steam Cleaner | Dupray Tosca Steam Cleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $35 | $1,000 |
| # of Attachments | 10 multi-surface tools | 25 accessories including a mop |
| Heating Time | 30 seconds (becomes powerful at 60 seconds) | 7 minutes |
| Steam Pressure | 4.5 bars | 5 bars |
| Steam Temperature | 212℉ / 100℃ | 316°F / 160°C |
| Usage Time | 15 minutes | 90 minutes |
Which Steam Cleaner Should you Get?
The answer to this depends on how dirty what you need to clean is, how much space you have, and your budget. A handheld is quick and easy to grab for small jobs. It’s fast to refill, but it also runs out of steam quicker. You have to hold down a button to keep the steam coming, so it’s best for smaller jobs or more detailed cleaning (like the window sill).
An industrial cleaner like the Tosca is for deep cleaning. Like cleaning your car or spending an hour or more. It’s likely to last a lifetime and can be repaired. You can use it longer; it gets hotter and has more steam pressure. However, it could be overkill for your needs, and it’s a lot more pricey. As mentioned, we each have both a handheld and a larger steamer.
Dupray has proven that they stand by their products which means a lot to us. More importantly, we have confirmed that the Tosca can clean just about anything. Thanks to its long list of attachments and flexible design.
Save 5% on a Dupray Tosca Steam Cleaner, when you use this link.
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