I swapped cleaning sprays for this 12-in-1 steam cleaner – I didn't think I'd use it in every room

I'm always on the lookout for ways to simplify my cleaning routine, so I was keen to put the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop to the test. With a detachable handheld steamer and a generous selection of tools, it promises to clean everything from kitchen floors to windows, tiles and awkward corners.

So, how does it compare to the best steam cleaners and mops? I put it to the test in my family home to see whether one steam cleaner is enough to tackle the whole house.

In a nutshell

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop RHMSM6001 is a lightweight, versatile steam cleaner that offers much more than your average steam mop. It heats up quickly, is easy to use on hard floors, and comes with a generous selection of tools to tackle everything from windows and grout to general bathroom grime. The range of additional attachments felt overwhelming at first, but once I'd familiarised myself with them, they were straightforward enough to use.

On hard floors, I was impressed with the results. My floors looked noticeably cleaner afterwards and were dry enough to walk on almost straight away. The mop also removed a large proportion of a tomato ketchup spill in a single pass, although it left some residue on the plastic edging, which was a little more of a hassle to clean. It doesn't include the bells and whistles you'd find on a premium mop, but the upside is that it's hard to beat for simplicity. It has only one control dial for steam output, and the water tank lasts through several cleaning sessions without needing a refill.

I also appreciated how little maintenance it demands. You can remove and wash the mop pads, and the various attachments only need a quick rinse or wipe after use. The handle detaches too, making it easy to tuck away, and it includes a wall mount if you'd prefer to store it upright.

Its biggest selling point is the versatility, but that doesn't come without a trade-off. While the mop itself is incredibly lightweight, it felt considerably heavier when converted to a handheld cleaner. I personally can't see it replacing my smaller handheld steam cleaner, particularly for jobs that require you to hold it for more than a few minutes. But for the price, it offers good value for money, especially if you want a harsh-chemical-free steam cleaner that works on floors and other surfaces.

Specifications

• Capacity: 350ml
• Power: 1500W
• Weight: 3kg
• Dimensions: 21D x 29W x 109H cm
• Heat time: 30 seconds
• Cord length: 6m
• In the box:  2 x Machine Washable Mop Pads, User Manual
• RRP: £72.99

How I tested

Rebecca Lawton

I'm Rebecca, and I write freelance content for Ideal Home, and I'm always on the lookout for home upgrades that make my home life smoother (especially with three children!).

I tested the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop in my three-bedroom home. I also used the handheld steamer on multiple surfaces, including windows and mirrors, bathroom tiles and grout, and my oven. I used it every day during the testing process.

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop turned up on my doorstep in a branded, rectangular-shaped cardboard box so there was no second-guessing what was inside. I was surprised at how lightweight it felt, and I had no trouble carrying it inside myself.

Inside, I found the user manual resting on a layer of moulded cardboard. Beneath that, all of the parts and accessories were neatly packed and wrapped individually in plastic.

The plastic was marked 'PE-LD 04', which can be recycled, although it can't be done with general household waste and needs to be taken to a specific drop-off point. While it was reassuring to know it was recyclable, it did feel slightly inconvenient and not the most eco-friendly solution overall.

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Once I removed everything from the box, I could see how many parts and accessories were included. It's a 12-in-1 mop, so I expected some additional tools - although I won't lie, there were a lot of extra parts, which did feel slightly overwhelming at first. My first concern was making sure I didn't lose them, but thankfully the plastic bag they came sealed in doubles as a handy storage bag.

The accessories included a flexible hose, window cleaning tool, straight nozzle, grout tool, large round brush, angled nozzle, small round brush, wire round brush, and scraper tool. It also includes a spare mop pad and window cleaning cloth.

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Assembling the mop was straightforward and took only a couple of minutes. The handle clicks onto the main body, and you can disassemble it just as easily by pressing the 'handle release button'. It's a small point, but it stood out to me because the handles on many similar models don't detach easily. This is particularly useful when storing the mop, and you need to make it more compact.

The mop pad was already attached to the floor head, but it sticks on with Velcro and loop-and-hook fasteners that align to hold it securely in place.

Once the steam mop was fully assembled, before putting it to the test, I did what I always do and took a moment to take in the design and overall look and feel of the model.

The first thing that struck me was how lightweight and slim it felt. The white and blue colourway gives it a clean, simple look, and the steam control dial on the front of the unit makes it feel more like a traditional mop than newer models with digital displays.

The steam mop is also corded, but its six-metre power cord is one of the longest I've come across, which was reassuring, as I knew I would be able to clean larger areas without stopping to switch plug sockets mid-clean.

So overall, while it didn't feel as premium and modern as some steam mops, I appreciated the simple, no-fuss design.

The water tank sits on top of the main unit and can be removed by pulling it upwards and away from the unit. It holds up to 350ml, which is about average in size. As someone who mops their floors at least once a day, I was keen to see just how many jobs I could tackle with one full water tank.

I filled the tank with water - the fact that it's chemical-free is also a bonus for me with kids in the house - then popped it back onto the main unit and was ready to go.

Using the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop

As a steam mop

The first place I wanted to test the Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop was on my laminated kitchen floors. With three children, my floors are no stranger to wet spills and muddy footprints, and I normally rely on my Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic to keep them clean.

To get started, I plugged the power cord into the nearest plug socket in my kitchen, and the control dial lit up red to indicate that it was heating up. After 30 seconds, the light turned green, and the mop was ready to use.

Activating the mop is fairly typical. I stepped on the floorhead before pulling the handle back toward me. There's a steam release trigger on the bottom of the handle, which the manual instructs to 'long press' to release steam.

The manual isn't particularly clear on this, so I had to work out for myself that I needed to keep hold of the button to continuously release the steam. I could hear the mop producing steam, although I couldn't actually see it, so it was difficult to tell at first whether it was working.

In use, the mop felt incredibly lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. Reassuringly, I could see a layer of moisture on my floors, and they looked noticeably cleaner afterwards. Within a couple of minutes, they were dry enough to walk on, too.

A major bonus was that the mop was flexible enough to reach into awkward corners and close to my skirting boards. And while I've used steam mops that feel almost self-propelling before, I did have to apply some pressure to particularly stubborn areas, such as the area by my conservatory door, which is a magnet for muddy footprints.

Still, after a few passes, I noticed a visible difference in my floors, and I was pleased with the results.

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As part of how we test steam cleaners and mops at Ideal Home, I wanted to see how the Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop handled a deliberate, noticeable mess. So I squirted some tomato ketchup on my kitchen floor and left it to sit for 30 minutes.

I turned the control dial up to 'Max' before activating the steam trigger. On the first pass, it removed a large proportion of the ketchup, but it smeared some further along the floor, too. After a couple more passes, my floors were clean.

One thing I noticed was that some of the ketchup stuck to the plastic edging rather than just the mop pad, so I had to wipe it off by hand. That said, I was impressed with its cleaning power, particularly given the size and nature of the mess I was tackling.

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There's also a carpet glider attachment designed to give carpets a light refresh. To be honest, when I've used a carpet glider attachment before, the results haven't been as transformative as I'd expected, but it did help me keep my expectations realistic this time.

The carpet glider consists of a plastic mop cover which clicked onto the base of the floor head easily. I used the carpet glider the same way I did on my hard floors, except I kept the dial turned down to 'Low' because I didn't want to saturate my carpets.

Pushing it back and forth over my carpets, the first thing that struck me was how smooth and lightweight it felt, even on carpet. As before, I couldn't see any steam coming from the base, which made it hard to tell how effective it was. The carpet did feel damp to the touch, though, so I knew it was working.

While I didn't think the results were particularly noticeable, the glider works well enough for a light refresh. And I hoped that it was working hard to eliminate invisible bacteria, grime and any potential dust mites.

As a handheld steam cleaner

Switching the mop to handheld mode is simple - the handle can be easily removed using the release button at the top of the unit, and there is an accessory adaptor to attach the relevant accessory to the base. I liked that a separate handle sits on top of the unit, and it has another steam release button at the front, making it feel more convenient to use.

I used the window cleaning tool first, attaching the nozzle, before fitting the window cleaning tool and cloth to the end of the mop. It was comfortable to hold, and I found the steam release button easy to use since it was positioned on the front, but my arm started to ache before I'd covered the whole window.

I could definitely see a difference on the glass, and my windows felt clean, but while it's a convenient addition, it didn't feel like the easiest way to clean my windows.

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The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop also includes a flexible hose to increase the reach of the cleaning accessories. I used this with the straight nozzle to clean the rim of the toilet, but once again I found it quite fiddly to hold.

The hose wasn't as firm as it needed to be, so I had to hold it with one hand and the unit in the other. That said, I could hear the steam releasing more clearly, and it worked effectively, clearing the general build-up of grime around the toilet.

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I also used the grout tool to give my shower tiles a once-over. As with the windows, I found the unit quite cumbersome after a minute or so. I also found I had to angle it on its side to reach the corners and edges, although I did find the handle helpful.

While I wouldn't describe the results as transformative, the tiles looked and felt noticeably cleaner and fresher afterwards.

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A few additional tools are included to cover smaller cleaning jobs around the home. The small and large round brushes are for tough stains, while the angled nozzle directs steam into awkward corners, like under taps.

I'm not sure how useful I'd personally find some of these, particularly the round brushes, as I rely on my Bissell HydroSteam Spot Cleaner for smaller jobs. They are useful to have on hand when you need them, though, and I like how simple it is to switch between the different tools.

Cleaning and maintenance

Thankfully, maintenance is minimal, and cleaning the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop is straightforward. The mop pad is machine washable, and the box includes a spare pad, which is useful. The manual states that only Russell Hobbs mop pads can be used with the appliance, although I couldn't find any online for this particular model when I searched.

I also rinsed and wiped down the additional tools after use to keep them clean. The filter, which sits under the water tank, needs to be replaced every six months. I haven't reached this stage yet but the manual advises that replacement filters can be purchased direct from Russell Hobbs and selected retailers, for between £10 - £15.

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How does it rate online?

Online reviews are quite sparse for the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop. On Amazon, it currently has a 4.7 star rating and a total of 27 reviews. Customers praise its ease of use, how lightweight it feels and how effective it is at cleaning floors.

Beyond that, while it is available from B&Q and Tesco, I couldn't see any further customer feedback or reviews.

How does it compare to predecessors and similar models?

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop builds on the brand's earlier steam mop models, most notably the Steam & Clean RHSM1001BP. While both clean hard floors and carpets, as the name suggests, the Multifunctional 12-in-1 is far more versatile, with a detachable handheld steamer and a wide selection of additional tools. The Steam & Clean is primarily more basic, but it also comes at a much lower price point.

During testing, the Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop reminded me of the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop - another 2-in-1 model that includes a range of additional tools. The Lakeland is slightly heavier and not quite as lightweight, although it compensates with a larger water tank and three dedicated steam settings. I'd say the cleaning performance is broadly on a par, although the Lakeland has the edge as it feels slightly more modern.

As I've mentioned, the steam mop I use day-to-day is the Shark & Scrub Automatic, which sits at the more premium end of the scale. It's hard to beat when it comes to blasting stubborn stains, and its rotating mop pads do much of the work for you, but it does have a much higher price tag. It also doesn't offer the same versatility as the Russell Hobbs 12-in-1 and can only be used on hard floors.

Verdict: Should you buy the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop

If you're looking for an affordable steam cleaner that can tackle more than just your floors, the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop is worth considering. At £72.99, it offers plenty of versatility for the price, and it's incredibly lightweight and easy to use on hard floors.

It's a cleaner that doesn't rely on chemicals, which could be particularly useful for households with children or pets. There are certainly more modern, high-tech models on the market, and this feels very much like a traditional steam mop, but it's also very simple to use.

The handheld mode feels heavier to use, but it includes a good selection of additional tools to help you tackle almost every surface. The performance also isn't as standout in handheld mode, but I think that's a fair compromise, given what the 12-in-1 can do.