So, you just found out you’ve got a bed bug infestation in your home. Now what? Your first inclination might be to reach out to a pest management service to help get rid of these pesky bugs. If you’re not limited financially, it’s actually a good option. But if you can’t afford to splurge like the rest of us, going the DIY route with a steamer is also a solid choice! Step one of winning the war against these pests is to get the best steamer for bed bugs you can afford.
Runner Up
Vapamore MR 100 Primo Steam Cleaner
Winner
Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner
Runner Up
Steamfast Multi Purpose Steam Cleaner
To put together this guide, we researched 20+ widely available products to bring you the best steamer for bed bugs. We narrowed it down to the 4 top options based on efficacy and affordability. Keep reading this guide to find the best unit that works for you.
Best Steamer for Bed Bugs Reviewed
- Overall Best Steamer for Bed Bugs – Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner »
- Best Continuous Steam Time – Vapamore MR 100 Primo Steam Cleaner »
- Portable Steam Cleaner for Bed Bugs – Steamfast Multi Purpose Steam Cleaner »
- Most Affordable Steam Cleaner – PureClean™ XL »
How to Choose the Best Steamer for Bed Bugs
To help you select the best bed bug steamer, there are 4 buying criteria to consider. At a minimum, make sure the unit you’re purchasing comes with these important features. They could spell the success or failure of your war against bed bugs!
Top 4 Steamers for Bed Bugs Compared
Now that we know what to look for in a steamer, let’s run an ‘apples-to-apples’ comparison of each feature. This will help us narrow down the winning bed bug steamer further.
| Brand | Steam Pressure | Steam Temperature | Tank Capacity | Continuous Steam Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner | 50 psi / 3.5 bar | Heats up to 275°F | 0.4 gallon water tank | 50 mins steam time | |
 Vapamore MR 100 Primo Steam Cleaner | 50 psi / 3.5 bar | Averages 210 – 220°F | 0.4 gallon water tank | 50 – 60 mins steam time | |
 Steamfast Multi Purpose Steam Cleaner | 40 psi steam pressure | Heats up to 200°F | 0.38 gallons capacity | 45 mins steam time | |
 PureClean™ XL Rolling Steam Cleaner | 40 psi steam pressure | Max temperature 240°F | 0.4 gallons capacity | 45 mins steam time |
Best Steamer for Bed Bugs Reviewed
1. Overall Best Steamer for Bed Bugs – Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner
Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner
Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner is a compact, portable, multi-purpose steamer with a large capacity and fast heat-up time. It comes with an 18-piece kit, 50 oz capacity, 6”6’ hose, and a 50 PSI, easy to use on any furniture, floors, and clothes.
Highlights:
- Low moisture output
- 18-piece kit includes 5 types of brushes
- Tank heats up in 7 minutes
- Weighs 9 lbs
A versatile heavy-duty steamer fit for wooden floors, tiles, carpets, furniture, bathrooms, and anyplace where bed bugs have nested. It’s the best steamer for bed bugs with 7 minutes heat-up time and up to 50 minutes continuous work. There’s a lock steam feature, suitable for steaming larger areas so you can keep the constant pressure and temperature without holding down the button.
Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner is superheated, reaching 275°F, which effectively kills any bed bugs and eggs. Additionally, it works great in removing dirt, grease, and stains. The high temperature and PSI guarantee dryer steam, so it won’t soak your mattress or other furniture.
Pros and Cons of the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner:
Pros
- Reaches a superheated temperature of up to 275°F which is more than enough to kill bed bugs and eggs.
- A low moisture output means that steam vaporizes upon contact with the surface. Minimal dripping and pooling on your mattress.
- Comes with a long power cord, hose, and wheels so you can reach places with ease.
- Durable, high-quality components.
Cons
- Missing ergonomic features. For example, the unit needs a better way to store the cord or to rest the hose while cleaning.
Treat yourself to a heavy-duty steamer that cleans, deodorizes, straightens wrinkles on clothes, and kills bed bugs! You get a 2-year warranty and a lifetime guarantee on the boiler.
2. Best Continuous Steam Time – Vapamore MR 100 Primo Steam Cleaner
Vapamore MR 100 Primo Steam Cleaner
Vapamore MR 100 Primo steam cleaner is a powerful and versatile steamer for your household. Featuring a wide array of accessories, a stainless steel boiler with 54 oz capacity that heats-up in 11 minutes and emits steam with a pressure of 50 PSI.
Highlights:
- 60 minutes of continuous use
- Adjustable steam output
- Comes with all the attachments you’d expect including different brushes and cleaning heads.
- Weighs 10.5 lbs.
Steam every surface in your house with only one appliance – the redesigned Vapamore MR 100 Primo steam cleaner. The manufacturer has listened to the customer feedback and delivered a better steamer that’s great value for money.
It comes with an array of accessories that can be stored onboard. With an hour of work on one fill, you’re able to kill off bed bugs and other pests that might be living in your furniture without stopping for a refill. It emits powerful steam up to 220°F but it’s a wet steam so allow time for cleaned surfaces to air out.
Pros and Cons of the Vapamore MR 100 Primo Steam Cleaner:
Pros
- Runs for a long time. We didn’t need to refill the reservoir between cleans.
- Reaches a max temperature of 220°F. Good enough to get rid of pesky bed bugs.
- Swap between the steam gun and fabric attachment to reach crevices or mattress surface.
- Comes with a generous lifetime warranty.
Cons
- Costs more than other units but still cheaper than hiring exterminators.
- Also, it’s a bit heavier than other units but overall still manageable.
Clean your entire house of bed bugs and pests with one appliance. The Vapamore MR 100 is built to endure years of use and the lifetime warranty is proof!
3. Portable Steam Cleaner for Bed Bugs – Steamfast Multi Purpose Steam Cleaner
Steamfast Multi Purpose Steam Cleaner
Steamfast multi-purpose steam cleaner is a compact heavy-duty steamer with a 48 oz capacity that heats-up in 8 minutes. With versatile accessories, wheels, an insulated hose, and steam pressure of 40 PSI, it’s a great portable steam cleaner for bed bugs.
Highlights:
- 45 minutes of continuous steam
- Heats water tank in 8 minutes
- Comes with 15 components including jet nozzle, extension wands, and mop head
- Weight: 8.42 lbs
A lightweight, portable but powerful steam cleaner for bed bugs is hard to find. The Steamfast multi-purpose steam cleaner is an impressive appliance that helps you sanitize every surface in your house. Steamfast uses tap water, heats it up to 200°F, and emits steam with a pressure of 40 PSI, guaranteed to kill bed bugs.
This steamer comes with a 15 feet power cord, so you don’t have to carry the unit around, a jet nozzle, and a mop head making it suitable for every surface. The easy-to-fill water tank ensures up to 45 minutes of uninterrupted steaming.
Pros and Cons of the Steamfast Multi Purpose Steam Cleaner:
Pros
- Designed for portability. At 8.5 lbs, the Steamfast Steam Cleaner is the lightest of the pack.
- Pointed tip of the jet nozzle is great for reaching areas where bed bugs like to hide.
- The SF 370 comes with a 15-foot power cord so you don’t need to lug the entire unit around.
- Does a good job at cleaning hard surfaces.
Cons
- We’d like it more if it sent out higher temperature steam. 200°F is great but it’s hard to maintain that temperature consistently.
Steamfast is not only lightweight and practical but budget-friendly too! This high power steam cleaner comes with a 2-year warranty.
4. Most Affordable Steam Cleaner – PureClean™ XL
PureClean™ XL
PureClean XL Rolling steam cleaner is a compact premium appliance built for use on hard surfaces. It comes with a 50 oz tank capacity, 18-piece accessories kit, and it emits steam with a pressure of 43 PSI. It’s sturdy but easy to maneuver around the house.
Highlights:
- 18-piece kit includes all essentials
- 45 minutes of continuous steam
- 3-foot extension wand
- Weight: 9.3 lbs
PureClean XL Rolling Steam cleaner is an affordable and powerful steamer that effectively kills bed bugs with a steam temperature of 240°F and 43 PSI steam pressure. It comes with a 0.4-gallon water tank that uses distilled water and heats up in 8 minutes. The wide choice of accessories allows you to clean different surfaces like car interior, bathrooms, and windows with ease.
While it’s useful in killing bed bugs, it might not be suitable for some carpets and mattresses due to a lot of water dripping. Washable furniture and wallpapers are safe to clean.
Pros and Cons of the PureClean™ XL:
Pros
- Very effective at killing bed bugs. Steam temperature can reach up to 240°F.
- Does a great job of cleaning, disinfecting, and getting rid of bed bugs all within a reasonable price point.
- Cleans hard surfaces well.
- Comes with a decent 5 year warranty
Cons
- Some complaints from customers about the quality of brushes and attachments.
PureClean XL steamer is a great purchase at this price point, and it even comes with a 5-year warranty and excellent customer service!
Choosing the Best Steamer for Bed Bugs
Safe for Mattress
If your mattress can’t dry fast enough, the remaining moisture creates the perfect mold development environment. A wet mattress will deteriorate more quickly, causing damage to your budget. You don’t want to be solving one problem by causing another, so pay great attention to this guideline!
Max Temperature
This is not an effective long-term method; it’s better to look for steamers that can reach a surface temperature of 160 – 180°F. With this level of heat, the procedure lasts only 30 seconds. Dealing with bed bugs is a tough job, but there are ways to make it faster and more efficient.
Steam Pressure
Steam pressure is in direct proportion to the steam temperature. A higher PSI in a steamer means the steam reaches a higher temperature and it’s dryer. Steamers with higher PSI will get the job done faster and won’t leave your surfaces soaked. The best steamers for bed bugs are those with a PSI higher than 40.
Tank Capacity
Starting to steam a place and stopping halfway gives the bed bugs a place to run and hide while you refill the steamer. This makes the whole procedure of steaming for bed bugs useless at the end.
FAQ
Should you rent a steam cleaner for bed bugs?
Looking at steamers’ prices, you might think of renting instead of buying. Consider that it takes several steam procedures to eliminate bed bugs, and frequent renting will cost you as much as a new unit. Steam cleaners are multi-purpose, excellent for cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, and yards. They’re great at removing grease, dirt, sanitizing, deodorizing, and even straightening your clothes without an iron! Purchasing a steam cleaner is an investment in your home’s cleanliness and safety.
What draws bed bugs out of hiding?
Bed bugs feed on your blood, so once you hit the bed, they come out. Your body heat invites them out of hiding for feeding time. Any other source that mimics body heat can draw them out. That’s precisely why steam cleaners are such an effective method of killing bed bugs. The direct heat of the steam forces them out of hiding, and the more prolonged exposure to the vapor kills them.