In the fight for cleanliness in the house, all means are good. However, the super-cleaning product leaves stains on the laminate, the stain remover is not able to remove the remains of cherries and acrylics from the children’s sofa, and there are legends about terrible folk disinfection methods. But, it is easy to solve this problem – it is enough to replace the “battery” of means and methods with one device. The advantages of the device and how to use the steam cleaner are discussed later in the article.
The principle of operation of the steam cleaner and its advantages
A steam cleaner is a device that converts water into steam and cleans various surfaces under pressure. The principle of operation of the device is simple. The system first heats up the water and converts it into steam. Afterwards, a stream of hot, humid air helps to break down dirt and accumulations of fat at the cellular level. At the same time, the duration of the entire cycle of cleaning the surface, be it carpet or tile, does not exceed half an hour. Manufacturers claim that this method of cleaning the premises is the safest. The fact is that the vapor density indicator is low, and therefore it is almost impossible to get burned by it.
Depending on the size and power, there are three main modifications of the device on the market: a manual steam cleaner, a compact (like a household vacuum cleaner) and a steam vacuum cleaner (a bulky device used by cleaning companies or enterprises). The question of how to use the device is practically not worth it, since they all have the same principle of operation and a similar design.
The key elements of a steam cleaner are:
- motor and heating element;
- water tank;
- hose (in large models it is a telescopic handle, and in hand-held devices an adapter nozzle);
- steam supply system;
- safety valve;
- various attachments.
Depending on the configuration and cost of the steam cleaner, the set of brushes may differ. The most popular are:
| Nozzle type | Description | Purpose |
| Nozzle | Long, narrow cone with fine bristles at the end | Mainly used for hard-to-reach areas or small items |
| Brushes | Mostly, the kit comes with 2-3 brushes of different widths with different hardness and pile length | Used to work with floor coverings, upholstered furniture and other coverings |
| Covers | Cloth pads with or without bristles, which are worn on brushes or nozzle | Used for cleaning glass, mirrors and household appliances. Provides delicate interaction with the coating |
Also, some models of steam cleaners are equipped with an “Iron” attachment, which converts the device into a steamer. It is used for curtains, curtains, working with fabrics and outerwear.
Among the advantages of using a steam cleaner are:
- minimization of costs for household chemicals and consumables in the form of rags, brushes and protective gloves;
- can be used indoors where there are allergy sufferers or small children;
- due to the presence of 3-4 attachments in the kit, the device can be used for cleaning in hard-to-reach places;
- steam treatment effectively copes with old stains, dirt;
- the device allows you to disinfect a room or specific objects, as well as get rid of fungal infections, pathogenic bacteria, mold, and other parasitic microorganisms, insect larvae or dust mites;
- effective removal of odors of tobacco, plumbing and can be used as a room aerator if you add a couple of drops of essential oil to the water tank;
- has a simple design, and therefore minor damage or deformation of the tubes are excluded;
- compact dimensions and the ability to store disassembled.
Preparation for work
Before starting cleaning, you should study the instructions for the device in order to understand how to use the steam cleaner correctly. Most of the models have a similar design.
To start cleaning the surface or room, you need to assemble the device, fill the tank with filtered water (this will minimize the risk of plaque build-up on the heating element) and leave to warm up. You should also clean the cleaning surface from coarse debris and unnecessary items.
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Floor cleaning
For cleaning the floor, it is better to use compact models of steam cleaners with a long cord. Select the appropriate accessory depending on the type of flooring. Experts recommend vacuuming before using the steam cleaner to get rid of large pieces of debris / wool.
After carrying out the preparatory measures, it is necessary to install the nozzle on the hose. If you intend to clean laminate / parquet / linoleum, attach a cloth and start dispensing steam by pressing the corresponding button.
It is better to remove stains with short, quick strokes.
How to clean carpet with a steam cleaner
To clean carpets effectively, there are a number of simple rules to follow. You need to prepare the surface and leave the device to warm up. If you use a cleaning agent during the cleaning process (in the case of heavy dirt), carefully observe the dosage, otherwise, after the carpet dries, stains may remain on the surface.
Better to start cleaning from the far wall towards the door. This will avoid moving over an already clean surface. If cleaning was carried out with the addition of a cleaning agent, then you should rewind with clean water, otherwise dust particles will stick too much to the coating in the future. To dry the carpet as quickly as possible, you can use an air conditioner / fan or open windows.
You should also take into account the rules for cleaning the carpet with a steam cleaner, drawn up by specialists of cleaning companies:
- it is better to refuse to use cleaning agents containing chlorine or other aggressive components. This can lead to discoloration of the pile or carpet in general;
- for prompt cleaning, it is better to use a wide, stiff brush;
- to prevent the surface from getting too wet, it is better to use the steam regulator. If it is absent, supply steam in metered doses.
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Bathroom and plumbing wash
Bathroom cleaning involves a lot of small tasks that should be spent a lot of time on. This is the fight against limescale on plumbing, and cleaning of tiles, and of course, washing tile joints and fighting mold in the most humid areas. To cope with all this, we use heavy artillery in the form of aggressive chemicals, hard brushes and much more.
First, you should use a soft cloth to clean the surfaces (tiles, mirrors, shower cubicle and all shelves) from the remains of soap and plaque. The same steps should be done with the bathtub and sink.
Then, having installed a narrow brush at an angle of 45 degrees on the hose, you should turn on the steam cleaner and begin to process the contaminated surface. A point jet nozzle is best to combat limescale deposits.
To get rid of large-scale contamination, you must first moisten the areas with vinegar solution (water and table vinegar in a 1: 1 ratio) and leave for 5-10 minutes. After the specified time has elapsed, wipe the surface with a cloth and repeat the steam treatment.
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Furniture cleaning: how to clean a sofa with a steam cleaner
For cleaning to be effective, you should clearly follow the rules on how to clean the sofa with a steam cleaner. The pieces of furniture should be thoroughly vacuumed and, if necessary, “wash off” the stains with soapy water, stain remover or other means. After carrying out the preparatory measures, you must wait until the upholstery is dry.
Then you can start using the steam generator:
- Turn on the device and leave it to warm up, after putting a triangular brush on the hose.
- Each piece of furniture should be removed and cleaned separately.
- The sofa sections are best handled sequentially.
- After cleaning, let the furniture dry.
You can also use the steamer mode to remove stains.
Kitchen cleaning
The steam cleaner is also suitable for cleaning the kitchen. Moreover, in half an hour you can process furniture and household appliances, as well as get rid of fatty deposits on tiles and stoves.
Different attachments should be used depending on the surface chosen. For example, a microfiber napkin is suitable for hoods, work panels and cabinets, but for working with a sink and tiles, it is better to use a brush with a hard bristle. The procedure for working with the device is the same: turn it on, heat it up and get rid of grease and dirt with short bursts of steam.
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How to clean the oven with a steam cleaner
Cleaning the oven will now take less than half an hour. The main thing is to clearly follow the recommendations of specialists. First, you need to pour water into the tank and wait until steam begins to form in the device. Then you need to select the attachment. In this case, it is better to use brushes of different sizes. After exposure to steam on the fat, the plaque will begin to soften and must be removed with a napkin. In particularly dirty areas, use an intense steam boost and scrub the surface with a brush.
How to clean windows with a steam cleaner
Before you start washing the windows with a steam cleaner, you need to clean the windows, and remove the remaining moisture with a cloth. After that, you should wait for the formation of steam and proceed to surface treatment. You need to start from top to bottom and first wash the outside of the window, and then from the side of the room. To avoid streaks and streaks, it is recommended to use a silicone squeegee.
What cannot be washed with a steam cleaner
The question of what should not be cleaned with a steam cleaner is relevant. However, the answer is simple: it is not recommended to process surfaces that, in contact with high temperatures, can deteriorate or deform. Also, do not use the device to work with products made from natural fabrics (linen, wool and others), surfaces covered with wax or those that absolutely cannot be wetted.
In general, a steam cleaner is an effective cleaning solution for a wide variety of surfaces. The main thing is to strictly follow the rules of operation, choose the right attachments (for textiles – an iron, for tiles – a nozzle or a brush, etc.) and observe safety precautions.
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