The steam generation mechanism is the key technology of the domestic steam cleaner. Not only the weight and price of a steam cleaner but also the performance of a steam generation mechanism must be considered to improve the competitive power of the products. In this study, a new steam generator which using a cartridge heater was recommended for compensating the drawback of the spray boiling steam generator. The experimental and numerical results show that the warm-up time, the volume and weight of the cartridge steam generator were much smaller than the spray boiling steam generator. The experimental and numerical method in this study can be used to develop a high performance, low cost steam generator for the domestic steam cleaner.