Black & Decker vs POLTI Steam Cleaners

Black & Decker and POLTI take different routes to steam cleaning. Black & Decker's BHSM1610DSM-GB is a single portable steam cleaner at £131.99 with a 0.5-litre tank and a 1600W heater. POLTI offers a wider choice, from the Vaporetto SV440 double steam mop with a handheld cleaner at £119 to the Vaporetto Eco Pro boiler at £329, with the SV450 at £139 and the Smart 100_B Plus at £199 in between.

The Black & Decker unit is ready to use in 20 seconds, and its 180° swivel steering helps it get around furniture and tight spaces. It uses tap water with no chemicals. POLTI's technology depends on the model. The SV440 and SV450 heat up in about 15 seconds and have an anti-limescale filter, the Smart 100_B Plus has a pressurised boiler, a Vaporforce brush and a two-minute heat-up, and the Eco Pro has a pressurised boiler with an 11-minute heat-up and a child safety lock. The Smart 100_B Plus is designed for allergy sufferers.

Black & Decker suits someone who wants one compact handheld for small surfaces and tight spaces and does not need a mop. POLTI suits people who clean a lot of hard floors and want a mop and handheld in one kit, especially families with young children or pets who want to avoid chemicals. The boiler models make sense for deeper jobs such as grout, though they take longer to heat up. The SV440 and SV450 are the lowest-cost route into POLTI, with 13 accessories on the SV450.

Bottom line: choose Black & Decker if you want a single portable steam cleaner at £131.99 that is ready in 20 seconds. Choose POLTI if you want a steam mop with a handheld option, from £119 to £329, or a pressurised boiler for deeper cleaning.