Steam cleaners are specially designed to gather dirt and eliminate bacteria. Let’s learn more about the vapor steam cleaner.
Where can a Dry Steam Cleaner be Used?
Steam cleaners can be used to clean multiple household surfaces such as; hardwood and tiled floors, sinks, grout, countertops, mattresses, ovens, upholstery, grills, and stovetops. There are various steam cleaners available in the market. Some of them come with a specialized attachment which helps you complete specific tasks.
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Is steam cleaning effective?
The good thing about steam cleaning is that it utilizes steam as opposed to chemicals. You don’t have to struggle with the cleaning process either. A vapor steam cleaner can effectively kill up to 99.99% of bacteria and germs when used appropriately. This makes the unit an eco-friendly, healthy, safe, and natural method of cleaning your home.
How do Steam Cleaners Operate?
Steam cleaners produce vapor molecules that pass through a surface’s pores to remove grease, dirt, and other stain-causing components. Extreme heat from the steam cleaner also kills germs, bacteria, dust mites, and mold.
Is there anything that shouldn’t be Steam Cleaned?
Steam can melt plastic, deform unsealed floors, and cause swelling in laminate floors. Avoid steam cleaning these surfaces. Other surfaces you shouldn’t steam clean include; unglazed tiles, cold windows, delicate surfaces, and surfaces covered in water paint.
Factors to Consider when Purchasing a Steam Cleaner
There are various things you should look out for when buying a steam cleaner as seen below.
Functions. Ensure the vapor cleaner has every attachment you need to execute your preferred tasks.
Warm-up time. Some steam cleaners heat up in less than a minute. All you need is to turn on the steam cleaner and proceed with the task
Size of the Tank. The bigger the tank, the more water it can hold, and the longer you will be able to clean before interrupting the task to refill the tank and reheat. You can choose a continuous fill unit that comes complete with a backup tank. This helps you continue cleaning for longer.
Heat. For effective surface cleaning and sanitizing, your steam cleaner should heat the water to a minimum of 200 degrees. If it gets hotter, the steam will be dry and this protects some surfaces from damage which can occur due to the use of excess water.
Price. Remember, you will always get what you pay for. Many times, higher-priced steam cleaners are durable, come with a robust warranty, and offer satisfactory customer service.
Can you clean a mattress with a steam cleaner?
Yes. You can clean your mattress with a steam cleaner. The unit will help you eliminate stains from dirt, urine, and sweat. Further, deep cleaning your mattress using a steam cleaner helps remove allergens and disinfect it. While you can hire a professional to do the cleaning, doing it yourself is cheaper. You can use the hot water extraction method to remove deep-lying stains.
How do you Steam Clean a Mattress?
To clean your mattress with a steam cleaner, you need to sprinkle it with baking soda and leave it to stand for approximately one hour. This will help eliminate any odors. Proceed to vacuum using the upholstery attachment before running the steam cleaner across the surface.
Leave the mattress for between 2 to 4 hours to dry. Steam will eliminate different types of stains from the mattress. If for instance, you want to clean your children’s old mattress, chances are that it will have deep stains that a steam cleaner may not remove.
This is where the dry cleaning or hot water extraction method comes in. This method, however, uses powder or foam complete with chemical stain removers. Routine mattress cleaning can be easily executed with a steam cleaner.
How Often Should You Steam Clean Your Mattress?
Did you know that your mattress accumulates lots of sweat when you sleep? That can attract fungi which eventually make you sick. Do you have a bedwetting alarm for your younger children?
If you haven’t, chances are that your children have been wetting their beds without your knowledge. If left unattended, the mattress could accumulate lots of urine. To be on the safe side, clean your children’s mattress at least twice every month. This will come in handy to prevent the accumulation of dirt, saliva, urine, and sweat.
When Should You Deep Clean a Mattress?
There are various signs which should alert you into steam cleaning your mattress. These include;
- Visible dirt, sweat, and urine marks or stains
- The strange odor emanating from the mattress
- Worsening of allergy symptoms
- If you haven’t cleaned the mattress since you purchased it, and
- Signs of bedbugs
What Precautions Should You Adopt?
Steam is quite effective when it comes to cleaning tough stains, deodorizing and disinfecting surfaces. However, you need to be extra cautious before using it on some of your upholstery. These include;
Read through the mattress care manual to establish the best way to clean it. Often, using steam to clean your mattress can nullify the mattress’s warranty
Steam can damage the elastic parts of bedding or mattress. Always select the medium setting to prevent such damages.
Best Steam Cleaners
Steam cleaners are not only easy to set up, but they are also compact and lightweight. Here are some of the best steam cleaners in the industry.
Kärcher SC5 EasyFix Premium Steam Cleaner
The Kärcher SC5 EasyFix Premium Steam Cleaner comes with a collection of accessories which include; a small and large round brush, power nozzle, carpet glider, hand nozzle, detail nozzle, and a window wiper.
It also comes with decalcifying powder sachets which you can use to descale the steam cleaner. This unit is effective and you can use it to clean ceramic tiles and vinyl flooring with ease. This cleaner also comes in handy to clean and dry windows fast. This cleaner can be costly but it comes with robust features that outweigh the price.
Polti Vaporetto Pro_95 Turbo Flexi
The Polti Vaporetto Pro_95 Turbo Flexi is a multipurpose machine that comes with different steam settings. These include a turbo steam function that produces robust steam with an output of 120g/min.
This cleaner incorporates a 1.3L water tank and a display unit which allows users to know when the tank is heated and ready for the cleaning task. The full tank heats up in less than 5 minutes. While the water tank isn’t transparent, it comes with a water refill indicator which lets users know when refilling is necessary.
This unit comes with various attachments such as; a brass bristle brush, three colored bristle brushes to differentiate surfaces, a steam concentrator, and a window cleaning brush. The 2 anti-limescale vials included in the package come in handy to prolong your unit’s life span. The Polti Vaporetto Pro_95 Turbo Flexi also features a carpet accessory to refresh and sanitize your soft furnishings and carpets.
One good thing about this gadget is that it features a convenient accessory storage compartment that you can utilize to store the attachments. This steam cleaner can be effectively used to clean sealed floors, ceramic tiles, and carpets.
Vytronix 10-in-1 Multifunction Steam Mop STM01
The Vytronix 10-in-1 Multifunction Steam Mop STM01 performs quite well in cleaning tiles and vinyl flooring. It’s also effective in cleaning gas hobs and ovens. When it comes to cleaning tiles, this unit executes the task effectively and efficiently, leaving them sparkling and shiny within a short time.
If you’re looking for the perfect gadget to clean out dried up stains on a vinyl flooring with ease, the Vytronix 10-in-1 Multifunction Steam Mop STM01 is your go-to unit. While it cleans out the oven as effectively, scrubbing tough stains takes longer than is the case with the tiles and vinyl flooring.
You can utilize this cleaner to clean out your windows. However, users who have tried the same on windows say that it leaves unsightly streaks behind. Overall, the unit is lightweight and easy to hold and comes offers excellent performance.
Dupray Neat Multi-Use Steam Cleaner DUP020WUK
The Dupray Neat Multi-Use Steam Cleaner DUP020WUK is a multi-purpose steam cleaner that comes complete with a simple albeit modern design. Even with simplicity, this unit is a powerful cleaner when it comes to removing tough stains.
You can use it to effectively clean your windows and removes ingrained stains with ease. Your glass windows will not only dry faster, but it also leaves them smear-free. The unit is also effective when it comes to cleaning vinyl flooring fast.
What’s more, it comes with a swivel floor head which makes it easy to penetrate through hard to reach areas. You can easily use the trigger switch for prolonged periods and while the unit is too heavy to clean underneath equipment, you can use it to clean your oven with minimal struggle.
It’s worth mentioning however that some users discovered that using this unit to clean the oven would result in the splattering of food deposits in the oven surroundings. Still, you can use it as an oven cleaner albeit on a lower steam output setting.
If you are looking for the best steam cleaner that can execute a big percentage of cleaning tasks at home, this is the go-to unit. It features a futuristic design which will many of your visitors will marvel at.
Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B
The Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B is an excellent performer in nearly all cleaning tasks. It features a trigger button and a rubber grip handle both of which are comfortable to use. Further, this unit has an array of steam which eases the task of cleaning different surfaces.
If you are searching for a good steam cleaner capable of cleaning hard flooring effortlessly and fast, Polti Vaporetto Smart 100_B will come in handy. What’s more, it will leave your floor looking streak-free and shiny. This unit’s cleaning head is specially designed to move with ease while its adaptable joint feature helps users to reach hard to access areas with ease.
The unit can also be used to clean windows, gas hobs, and ovens effectively. Many users reported that over time, the bristles chipped limiting them to one cleaning task. The hose of this gadget is also quite heavy and this can hinder your cleaning.
Even though the manufacturers recommend it for carpet cleaning, this unit doesn’t clean as effectively as other steam cleaners mentioned here. Still, it does remove light dirt on all surfaces effectively.
Vax S86-SF-C
The Vax S86-SF-C steam cleaner is a great performer when it comes to cleaning hard floors and the hob. It also comes in handy in cleaning persistent grease in the oven. It heats up very fast and accelerates the cleaning process. However, people who have used it before noted that it can leave floors overly wet.
This unit comes with various accessories that make it easier to use. It also features varying steam both on the handheld and mop which allows users to regulate the steam rate according to the task being executed. You will get a detergent tank that allows users to utilize detergent together with the steam. With this gadget, you can easily remove the dirt accumulated in tiles. However, this unit is not designed for deep cleaning purposes. One good thing about the tank is that you can remove and fill it with water from a different source.
Bissell Vac & Steam 1977E
The Bissell Vac & Steam 1977E is specially designed to vacuum and clean simultaneously making it an excellent time-saver. This latest model is updated to incorporate a blue color. It’s a standalone vacuum cleaner and steam cleaner that will give you great cleaning results.
It features a 1100W steam heater and a 400W bagless vacuum cleaner. The unit works by sucking up small particles before the microfibre pad steams the floor and eliminates stains. The Bissell Vac & Steam 1977E works effectively in removing tough stains on hard floors. It’s also fast and capable of reducing your cleaning time by up to a half.
According to the manufacturer, you should go through extremely dirty areas at least three times for effective cleaning.
Finally
If you are looking for a good quality steam cleaner, you can choose one of the gadgets mentioned here. They are tried and tested to guarantee quality.