It’s a crowded field in the world of bed bug steamers these days. We’ve cut through the marketing to figure out which steamers do the best job at the best price.
Why Use A Steamer
- Steam kills bed bugs and their eggs instantly.
- Steam allows you to avoid exposure to chemical sprays and powders.
- You can use steam on most surfaces. Sprays and powders can’t be applied to areas that will touch your skin.
- Steamers leave no residue.
- Refilling your steamer is essentially free.
- Steam is safe to use around people and pets.
- Steam is the perfect tool to save your bed and large furniture.
- Steaming your bed before installing encasements is the perfect way to sanitize it before sealing it.
- Steamers are inexpensive compared to other tools that treat large furniture like heaters.
A steamer should still be a single part of a bigger plan to get rid of bed bugs.
Can I Use My Clothing Steamer?
The steamer you have at home probably won’t work on bed bugs. Bed bugs are tough and call for specialized steamers that produce higher pressures and hotter steam.
Use a weak steamer and you’ll end up blowing them across the room or scattering them deeper into furniture.
Check that your steamer meets these important steamer specifications and test it first.
Important Steamer Features
Pressure
“Dry” is, of course, relative. All steamers will leave some wet residue after use. There is a big difference between how wet your bed will be after a session with the Amico versus the Vapor Clean.
Fabric steamers are great at steaming fabric but produce wet steam. Dry steamers are great at steaming everything else.
Dry steam transfers heat more efficiently. By that virtue, dryer steam means more bed bug stopping power.
Temperature
Heat is what steamers use to kill.
When choosing a steamer, it’s best to find one that overperforms. Manufacturers measure temperatures at the tip of the steamer where it is hottest.
The tip commonly refers to the nozzle or head of the steamer.
Steam has to travel through the air and other materials before hitting bed bugs. All these barriers reduce the temperature.
Nozzles
Wide nozzles let you treat more in fewer passes and spread steam out so that bugs aren’t blown away in the process.
Water Reservoir Volume
This is especially true if you have a lot of ground to cover.
Bed bugs will have time to notice and pack up for deeper hiding places.
Best Bed Bug Steamers Reviewed
 |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amico | Steamfast | Primo | Vapor Clean II | |
| Tip Temperature | 200˚F | 210˚F | 220˚F | 240˚F |
| Pressure | 43.5 PSI | 44 PSI | 58 PSI | 65 PSI |
| Adjustable PSI? | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Water Capacity | 0.8 Cups | 1.4 Liters | 1.6 Liters | 1.7 Liters |
| Steam Time | 5 to 10 min. | 40 min. | 60 min. | Over 60 min. |
| Attachments | 17 | 17 | 17 | 13 |
| Rating | 84 / 100 | 80 / 100 | 100 / 100 | 96 / 100 |
| Relative Cost | $ | $$ | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Current Price | View | View | View | View |
Vapamore MR-75 Amico Review
| Available at | Best offers today |
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| Price | |
| Rating | 84 |
- Maximum tip temperature: 200˚F
- 43.5 PSI (Non-adjustable)
- 0.8-Cup aluminum tank
- 5-10 minutes of continuous steam
- 12 foot (12′) electrical cord, 6.5 foot (6.5′) hose
- Includes 17 attachments
Editor’s Review:
Vapamore’s smallest steamer heats up in 5 minutes and features straightforward 1-button operation.
It includes 17 attachments that help with tight spots, large surfaces, and everything between.
The 43.5 PSI that it puts out is great when considering its price – the MR-75 packs a lot of punch for a hand-held machine.
Interested in taking a chemical-free approach to your bed bugs on a budget? The Amico could be a key tool in your bag.
Applying a residual spray or powder like CimeXa is still important. Residuals kill bed bugs 24/7 without you having to be there.
Be sure to wipe down your treated surface after steaming to avoid water damage.
Steamfast SF-275 Review
| Available at | Best offers today |
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| Rating | 80 |
- Maximum tip temperature: 210˚F
- 44 PSI (Non-adjustable)
- 1.4-Liter aluminum tank
- 40 minutes of continuous steam
- 12 foot (12′) electrical cord, 6.5 foot (6.5′) hose
- Includes 17 attachments
Editor’s Review:
The Steamfast SF-275 simply overdelivers in value for its price.
While not as hot or high-pressured as the Primo below, the SF-275 gets well-above the required temperature of 160˚F.
44 PSI is enough to reach most bed bugs, but it will have difficulty penetrating deep into some upholstery.
The Steamfast is perfect for those who want to steam entire rooms on a budget.
If you have a lot to steam, consider the Vapamore MR100. It is more powerful, much hotter, and holds more water.
Vapamore MR100 Primo Review
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| Rating | 100 |
- Maximum tip temperature: 220˚F
- 58 PSI – (Adjustable output)
- 1.6-Liter aluminum tank
- 60 minutes of continuous steam
- 18-foot (18′) Electrical Cord, 6-foot (6′) hose
- Includes 17 attachments
- Integrated accessory storage
- Consumer Digest Best Buy
- ETL certified – premier American safety standard
- Lifetime warranty
Read Our Full Vapamore Primo Review
Editor’s Review:
This is the steamer to beat.
- Produces the driest steam
- Produces 220˚F steam
- Includes a lifetime warranty
- Has received ETC safety certification
- Has adjustable pressure output
Adjustable pressure is a big deal. It is a feature normally only available on steamers several times more expensive.
Adjustable pressure gives you options. Turn it down and you can hit bed bugs on hardwood and in curtains without blowing them away. Turn it up and the Vapamore will make quick work of thick upholstery and deep crevices.
A quality steamer will go a long way if treating bed bugs the natural way. Your money goes the furthest with the MR100.
Vapor Clean II Review
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| Rating | 96 |
- Maximum tip temperature: 240˚F
- 65 PSI (Adjustable output)
- 1.7-Liter stainless steel tank
- 60 minutes of continuous steam
- 13 foot (13′) electrical cord, 8 foot (8′) hose
- Includes 13 attachments
- Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certified
- ETL certified – premier American safety standard
- Lifetime warranty
Editor’s Review:
This is the highest quality steamer we recommend for personal use.
You won’t need any sort of contact killing spray if you have this steamer.
Even with a Vapor Clean, a residual powder or spray is still necessary. Residuals work 24/7 and deal with bed bugs that you don’t happen to hit with steam.
The Vapor Clean II is made in Italy, includes ETL safety certification, and comes with a lifetime warranty.
It makes quick work of any furniture or cushions you might have. The results you get from a single pass will impress you. Bugs, eggs, nymphs deep inside mattresses; nothing is safe from the Vapor Clean II.
How To Use Your Steamer
Steaming Techniques and Tips
Before Starting Steam Treatment
- Wear a respirator if you’ve applied sprays or powders. High pressure steam will throw your sprays and powders into the air.
- Vacuum first to avoid blasting bed bugs and powders everywhere
Steaming Technique And Tips
- Read your steamer’s included instructions.
- Keep attachments half an inch above the surface.
- Some surfaces call for a quicker pass than others. Fabrics need a slower pass than wood.
- Use distilled water to prevent minerals from building up and clogging your nozzle.
- Attach a dishrag or cloth over your nozzle to dampen gusts and increase tip temperature.
- Steamers are contact killers. Steam must touch bed bugs to kill.
- Wipe down steamed areas with a cloth after passing over them.
- Don’t go too slowly. Doing so will damage paint and upholstery.
- Treat all sides of upholstery.
- Turn couch cushions and steam all 6 sides. Take your time.
- Let water completely evaporate before installing encasements to prevent mildew and mold.
- Air out the areas you’ve steamed using fans and free-flowing circulation.
- Do not steam electrical sockets or faceplates.
- Do not steam your home without consulting your pest control operator if you have hired one
Testing Your Steamer
Checking the actual temperature that it produces is important. This is especially true if you’ll be using a steam cleaner that was not designed for bed bugs.
Steam a test area and use an infrared thermometer to check the temperature.
Run your steamer over the area, passing over it at a rate of 1 inch per second. The peak temperature is what you’re looking for.
Lay your thermometer on your test surface and hit it with steam for 30 seconds for an accurate read. Holding the thermometer in front of the nozzle and letting it run will not give you an accurate reading.
Where to Use Your Steamer
Areas To Target With Steam
- Box springs, bed frames, mattresses
- Upholstering
- Areas where the carpet meets the wall
- Drapes and curtains
- Sofas, couches, chairs
- Cushions
- Nightstands
- Cracks and crevices in the room
For more on bed bug hot spots, check out the bed bug symptoms page.
We will update this post with products and reviews as new steamers come out!
Hear about something new? Let us know in the comments.
References
https://debedbug.com/references/
Mary
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Matthew
Hi Mary,
Thanks for the comment! I’m glad it’s been useful for you.
Best wishes,
Matthew