How to choose a steam generator for the home?

Not every Russian family has a steam generator in the household. This device is necessary in order to maintain cleanliness and order in the house without the use of chemicals. Such devices are not cheap, so before deciding to buy them, you need to get acquainted with the technical and operational features of steam generators and the rating of the most popular models.

We will talk about all this in our article.

Household appliances, emitting hot steam under high pressure, perform several important functions at once:

• they look;
• disinfect horizontal and vertical surfaces;
• effectively remove stains and dirt;
• clean plumbing fixtures;
• destroy fungi, mold and other pathogenic microorganisms.

This device has many advantages. So, the main advantages of the steam generator when ironing clothes include:

• the ability to minimize direct contact of the ironing surface with the fabric - this completely eliminates the risk of damage to the fabric;
• with the help of a steam cleaner it is possible to process hard-to-reach places that cannot be processed with a simple iron as efficiently as possible - places near the beads, as well as buttons and other accessories;
• the treatment of steam cleaners completely eliminates the formation of creases and unaesthetic marks;
• under the action of steam, the material is restored very quickly.

The main advantages of the product when cleaning home premises include:

• the ability to effectively treat surfaces for which exposure to chemical cleaning agents is unacceptable;
• quick destruction of mold, fungi, as well as dust mites, earthen fleas and bugs - heated steam can even kill microorganisms;
• performance of work in inaccessible areas.

Regardless of the features of the work performed, the steam generator has another important advantage - saving time. The device is suitable for those who love cleanliness in their home, but do not have enough free time to maintain it.

In household appliance stores you can find a wide variety of devices equipped with the option to generate steam.

This is a whole complex used to care for textiles. The set includes an ironing board with a special coating, as well as an iron equipped with a tank in which vaporization occurs.

A similar technique is indispensable for general cleaning. The device resembles a mop with a long handle, includes directly the working surface, as well as a steam generator. Thanks to this technique, it is possible to effectively clean any surface (textile, plastic, stone or wood). But, it is not suitable for ironing clothes - it will not be possible to get rid of wrinkles on clothes with its help.

According to its functional characteristics, a steam cleaner with a steaming function differs significantly from steam stations.

In addition, it allows you to clean vertical surfaces, while it is compact, often available in mini format.

When buying any household appliances, first of all, people pay attention to the manufacturer. Most consumers prefer products of well-known brands that have established themselves as manufacturers of high-quality and durable products, despite the fact that their prices are too high. The most popular brands producing steam generators include Bosch, Tefal, Philips, Rowenta, as well as Braun and Vitek.

However, if you do not have the opportunity to spend large sums on the purchase of a steam generator, but at the same time you are not ready to iron a mountain of linen daily, you can opt for products from lesser-known companies. For example, Russian-made MIE steam generators, as well as Polti and Lelit equipment, are much cheaper, but their products are in no way inferior to their more famous counterparts in their technical and operational parameters.

The most bought models of steam generators for home use are considered Tefal GV 6733 and Philips GC 8651. These products belong to the middle price category, however, they have a rather impressive set of functions and user characteristics.

The steam generator of the French brand has the following characteristics:

• ultimate power - 2.2 kW;
• steam pressure - 5.2 bar;
• steam supply intensity - 100 g / m;
• steam boost for use on vertical surfaces - 270 g / m;
• boiler volume - 1.5 liters.

There are automatic descaling and automatic shutdown.

The main characteristics of this steam system are no less impressive:

• maximum power - 2.4 kW;
• steam pressure - 6.2 bar;
• steam supply intensity - 120 g / m;
• steam boost - 330 g / m;
• tank volume - 2.5l.

The characteristics of this steam cleaner are slightly higher than the previous one, and the difference in cost is almost imperceptible.

Before choosing one or another model of a steam generator for a home, It is necessary to determine the important parameters of the product.

• Power. This is one of the most important characteristics of the device, on which its effectiveness and cost directly depend. If you need a steam generator exclusively for steaming summer dresses, then you can limit yourself to the minimum power parameters in the range of 800-1000 watts. If your task is to maximize the use of all the useful functions of the device, including cleaning the house, then you should choose models with a power of 2.5-3.1 kW, in this case you will not have to worry that the device will not cope with the load in intensive use .
• Steam supply. Another important point: the pressure in any steam generator varies in the range of 2-6 bar, while the higher it is, the better the supply of hot steam. Almost all devices have an intensity indicator, it shows the production of steam per unit time. For high-quality models, this indicator varies from 90 to 140 g / m in the standard mode of use, and with the maximum steam supply - from 95 to 260 g / m. In addition, the possibility of not only horizontal, but also vertical flow will not be superfluous.
• Heating time. On average, heating the steam generator requires 2-10 minutes, models in which heating takes place in 3 minutes will be the best option.
• Tank volume. Any steam cleaner synthesizes steam from water, so it is obvious that the larger the tank, the longer the steam generator will work, without interrupting topping up liquid and waiting for re-heating. A volume of 0.4 liters is enough for rare use in a small apartment. If you intend to turn on the equipment in the multifunction device mode, smooth many things and clean the surfaces, then it is better to choose a product with a 2200 ml tank.

If possible, choose models with a transparent tank - then you can control the flow of water.

Pay special attention to the sole - the higher the quality of the material from which it is made, the lower the risk of spoiling the surface during processing. The sole can be of several types.

• Aluminum Such steam generators are inexpensive and quickly heat up, however, glossy scuffs may remain on the surface after processing, which does not improve the appearance of the product.
• Titanium. Such soles are present in the most expensive steam generators. They heat up quite quickly, do not spoil the surface during steaming and at the same time serve for many years. Their only drawback is the heavy weight and bulky design.
• Combined. In this case, the sole has an aluminum base with a Teflon or ceramic coating. These steam generators do not spoil the fabric, protect it from the appearance of shine, but the generator itself remains compact and lightweight.
• Lever. With prolonged use with an uncomfortable handle, you will certainly feel tired and even irritated. That is why when choosing the best home appliance you need to hold it in your hands yourself and listen to your feelings. The handle should lie in the palm of your hand like a glove, when slipping and the slightest discomfort appear, refuse to buy.

The quality of the steam generator depends not only on the power characteristics and mass of the device. It is very important that you can comfortably and quickly steam things hanging on your shoulders, as well as vertically placed textiles. That is why you need to measure the length of communications in advance. Too short a hose creates significant inconvenience during use.

Pay attention to the toe of the sole - it should be quite narrow, otherwise you simply will not be able to process hard-to-reach areas on clothing. Steam holes must be present in the bow, without them smoothing will not give any result. Keep in mind that the more holes there are for steam, the more it will stand out, and accordingly, the steaming process will happen faster and more efficiently.

As you know, steam generators are by no means cheap, so I want to buy a truly multifunctional device. When buying a home model, pay special attention to the presence of some additional options:

• the possibility of splashing water - it will be needed to process those materials that deteriorate from hot steam;
• anti-drip system - protects things from getting wet;
• automatic shutdown system is an important function that turns off the unit if it is not used for more than 30 seconds in horizontal position and more than 15 minutes in vertical position.

Auto power off increases the safety of equipment use, and in addition, prevents excessive power consumption.

If the steam generator will have all these functions, then it will be quite convenient and comfortable to work with it.

In case of heavy contamination, the steam boost function must be used, thus quick disinfection and cleaning of horizontal and vertical surfaces can be achieved.

Carpet cleaning should be done with the combined use of a steam generator and a vacuum cleaner. In this case, water is added to the steam cleaner tank with the addition of a cleaning agent and the nozzle passes along a fleecy surface. Such processing is carried out several times - this will achieve maximum efficiency.

After steam cleaning, the surface is vacuumed to remove any remaining cleaning agent. Similarly, you can clean upholstered furniture - this will quickly remove stains, get rid of dust mites, bugs, fleas and other pathogenic microorganisms, as well as disinfect surfaces.

To clean the tiles using special nozzles, and after surface treatment, the remnants of the product are removed with a dry cloth. In order to wash the windows, you will also need a nozzle - in this case, use a special device in the form of a nozzle.

Exposure to hotter steam may damage the surface.

To clean the split system, you will need a rather powerful steam generator with high steam supply parameters. Steam treatment under pressure effectively removes dust and germs from the inside of the air conditioner.

Customer reviews on the use of steam generators at home are generally positive. These devices are universal devices, thanks to which ironing and cleaning of premises can be done more efficiently, while it takes much more time to work.

The steam cleaner is indispensable in the homes of people predisposed to allergies and pathologies of the respiratory system. The use of household chemicals for them is fraught with very dangerous health consequences, and steaming allows you to get rid of dirt and pathogenic microorganisms without caustic cleaners.

On sale you can find many different models - voluminous and portable, mono and multifunctional, expensive and budget. This allows each customer to purchase the optimal model of a steam generator based on the characteristics of operation, personal preferences and budget options.

All about steam cleaners can be found in the video below.