Finding the right steam cleaner for your home or business can be daunting, and so many questions come to mind before the purchase. What type do I need? How can I use it throughout my home?
While the final decision is your ultimate decision, we're here to assist you in understanding how steam cleaners work and their cleaning benefits. Use the quick links below to jump to a section.
- What are Steam Cleaners?
- How do Steam Cleaners Work?
- Where Can I Use Steam Cleaners?
- Where Should I NOT Use Steam Cleaners?
- Do Steam Cleaners Use Soap or Chemicals?
- How Hot Do Steam Cleaners Get?
- How Much Pressure Do Steam Cleaners Produce?
- Why Should I Use a Steam Cleaner?
- Can Using a Steam Cleaner Help with Allergies and Chemical Sensitivities?
- How Can Steam Cleaners Help with Pet Stains and Odors?
- Are There Commercial Steam Cleaners?
What are Steam Cleaners?
Steam cleaners have in internal boiler that heats ordinary tap water to a minimum of 212 degrees Fahrenheit to create steam. This is dispersed under pressure through a nozzle and an attached tool to direct the steam onto surfaces. No chemicals or soaps are necessary since the pressurized steam dissolves grime and penetrates into surfaces pores to sanitize effectively.
There are different types of steam cleaners, including steam mops , handheld steam cleaners, multi-purpose steamers with an assortment of tools, and larger high-temperature vapor cleaners for tough, commercial jobs. There also steam vacuum systems which combine steam cleaning with vacuuming functionality.
How Do Steam Cleaners Work?
Using less than a gallon of tap water, these multi-purpose appliances create a low moisture vapor (only 5% - 6% water) that carries heat to the surface you wish to treat. The heat combined with light agitation does the work for you. Surfaces dry within seconds leaving no wet surfaces behind. Because so little water is consumed, approximately 1.5 quarts per hour, it's virtually "mess free". The vapor system is quiet and portable, allowing for use anytime and anywhere.
Canister models include a variety of accessories which create a system that can be used on an unlimited number of applications. The system can be used for carpets as well as oven cleaning. The process eliminates chemical residues while sanitizing the surface being treated.
What is a Good Steam Cleaner?
The age-old saying, “work smarter, not harder” is the perfect illustration as to why steam cleaners are a good appliance to add to your cleaning routine. Stop spending extra time and effort relying on pure elbow grease for cleaning your home; instead, a steam cleaner directs a steady stream of hot water vapor to loosen that stubborn dirt and grime from tough surfaces like tile, so you can just wipe it away.
It's important to consider what surfaces you will be cleaning when selecting a steam cleaner, whether it's floors, above-floor items, or a combination of the two. This will make a difference in having a good steam cleaning experience.
Where Can I Use Steam Cleaners?
Steam cleaners can be used for a wide variety of jobs. Everything from bathroom tile and fixtures to grimy bar-b-q grills, including children's toys, floors, stovetops, concrete, and more. These versatile machines have other uses besides cleaning and sanitation. Defrosting freezers, thawing frozen pipes, dusting and misting live plants, and polishing jewelry are but a few of the non-cleaning applications.
The use of the system, in general, contributes directly to better indoor air quality by reducing chemical residuals and removing airborne particles. For additional usage options, take a look at this blog post: What You Can Clean with a Steam Cleaner.
Where Should I NOT Use Steam Cleaners?
Unsealed flooring and surfaces should not be cleaned using hot steam. In addition, delicate surfaces such as silks, some very thin plastics, and some types of velour upholstery generally are not recommended for steam cleaning. For more information you can see What NOT to Clean with a Steam Cleaner.
Do Steam Cleaners Use Soap or Chemicals?
For most surfaces, distilled or tap water will do the job without needing anything extra added to the tank. However, some surfaces may require a cleaning solution–this is usually recommended in the owner's manual from the manufacturer.
The advantages of chemical-free cleaning include:
- Less exposure to toxins from absorption through the skin, as well as fewer vapors pervading indoor air. This creates healthier indoor air quality.
- Saves money since you no longer need to purchase expensive cleaners.
- Environmentally friendly steam preserves fresh water resources, keeping them free from contamination.
How Hot Do Steam Cleaners Get?
Depending on the type of steam cleaner, steam mop, multi-purpose canister model, or heavier-duty commercial cleaner, maximum temperatures can vary. To create steam water must be heated to a minimum of 212 degrees Fahrenheit, so all steam cleaners achieve this temperature.
Others produce steam at higher temperatures depending on the type of internal boiler they have. Stainless-steel can produce hotter steam, and brass boilers, even higher temperatures. Always check the specifications of the models you are considering to discover the maximum temperature for each one.
How Much Pressure Do Steam Cleaners Produce?
Most steam cleaners use low pressures, usually in the range of 50 to 60 PSI. This creates a very safe, and easy-to-use system, concentrating steam on the surface. Low pressure is essential for getting the job done without making a huge mess. 
Heat dissipates quickly once the vapor expands into the room air, so that focusing hot, pressurized vapor onto surfaces for several seconds is essential for effective cleaning and sanitizing.
Is Steam-Cleaning Better than Mopping?
Mopping is a suitable surface-level cleaner for quick messes, but it can't deliver a deep clean and can leave a chemical residue behind. Steam cleaners are best for deep cleaning, as they sanitize and disinfect without any cleaning chemicals or detergents, providing a healthy, chemical-free environment compared to a traditional mop and bucket or a power mop.
Why Should I Use a Steam Cleaner?
A cleaning regimen which consists of applying a chemical or abrasive cleaner and then wiping or scrubbing the surface until the contaminant appears to be removed, is superficial at best. Not only does it require a good deal of physical effort, exposing skin and lungs to harsh toxins & fumes, it often degrades the surface, and leaves behind chemical residues. Steam cleaning removes surface contaminants without degrading the surface or using any chemicals at all.
The heat combined with very fine water particles penetrates even the pores - whatever the surface. This proven process thoroughly removes contaminants leaving the surface free of dirt and chemical residue, with visually superior results with less effort. This article outlines more info about disinfecting surfaces.
Steam cleaning also allows you to sanitize and deodorize surfaces like mattresses, which can contain bed bugs, and upholstered furniture which can't be cleaned using traditional methods. High-temperature steamers can even disinfect, destroying bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microbes.
Can Using a Steam Cleaner Help with Allergies and Chemical Sensitivities?
Because these systems use only water, nothing is introduced into your environment that has new chemicals or odors which may affect your well-being. Steam cleaning will actually remove chemical residuals left behind from previous cleaning products as well as eliminate odors, such as perfumes and tobacco, from garments and other fabrics. Allergens like pollen, fine dust, and pet dander are conquered using dry vapor steam.
Sanitize many critical surfaces which are important to your health without using disinfectants. However, if you suffer from chronic and severe chemical sensitivity, you should have someone else actually do the work, particularly during the initial cleanup.
How Can Steam Cleaners Help with Pet Stains and Odors?
For pet-parents, daily life can mean more messes and frequent cleaning. Steam mops are powerful and efficient at removing muddy paw tracks, messes, and accidents from floors without harsh chemicals that can cause problems for furry loved ones.
Steam cleaners can be effective at spot-cleaning carpets and rugs, as well as deodorizing pet beds and furniture.
Are There Commercial Steam Cleaners?
Yes, many of these systems are being used in hospitals, retirement care facilities, the food service and hospitality industries, as well as schools and universities.
Their use improves indoor air quality, reduces the physical effort involved and provides a more thorough approach to cleaning. Because the use of chemicals is reduced and because using only water does not involve the regulatory requirements that many cleaning chemicals require, this cleaning method requires less management time and reduces paperwork.
In Summary
Whether a steam mop, multi-purpose canister, or high-temperature commercial machine, steam cleaners use pressurized steam for cleaning and sanitizing a variety of surfaces without the use of harsh chemicals. For additional information and help in selecting the right model for you, take a look at our steam cleaner buying guide.
For additional help in determining which model is the right one for you, call our knowledgeable Sylvane sales team at 1-800-934-9194.
