Steam cleaners for home: purpose, types, rules of operation

For many people, the general cleaning of an apartment or house becomes a real torment. After all, there is so much to do: clean the surfaces of the kitchen from grease, wash the bathroom, vacuum the upholstered furniture, and wash the floor. All this takes a lot of effort, in addition, in most cases plain water is not enough, you have to use chemicals that tend to not finish on time. To simplify your life and significantly reduce the time required for cleaning, you can buy a universal and effective device - a steam cleaner.

A steam cleaner is a thing that will come in handy in absolutely every home. It is a device with which you can remake a lot of household chores:

• clean dishes and kitchen appliances;
• give the original appearance to glass surfaces in the kitchen or in the living room;
• wash windows without using special sprays;
• carry out cleaning and disinfection of upholstered furniture, bedding;
• remove wrinkled folds on clothes;
• smooth the curtains and curtains, even if they are made of capricious fabric;
• tidy linoleum or carpet;
• to clean inaccessible places where it is impossible to get with a broom or a vacuum cleaner.

Any household steam cleaner has three critical details:

• capacity in which water is located;
• TEN;
• hose through which hot steam will pass.

That, of course, is not all. Home steam generators also contain fuses, a steam supply system, and various accessories for more comfortable use.

The principle of construction is as follows:

1. water is poured into the container;
2. the appliance begins to heat the water, and it boils;
3. red-hot liquid turns into steam;
4. steam is fed into the hose and exits outward in a powerful stream.

Thanks to such work, debris is effectively removed from the surfaces, and microbes also die.

Like any home appliance, steam generators have strengths and weaknesses. They are recommended to be studied before you decide to choose a device.

Benefits:

• quick cleaning, the ability to get into hard to reach places;
• there is no need to use cleaning agents with a chemical composition;
• complete safety, since the steam leaving this device does not burn;
• design ability not only to clean, but also to disinfect surfaces and furniture;
• a variety of types and options, which will allow you to choose a model for any wallet.

As for the cons, they are as follows:

• increased humidity in the house, which is not always good;
• not all can be steamed: for example, it is impossible to clean varnished surfaces, plastic products;
• after exposure to steam, stains will appear, which must be wiped manually;
• if the dirt is too strong, and the surface is moody (for example, it is upholstered furniture made of delicate fabrics), it is better not to use a steam cleaner, but to give preference to dry cleaning.

Steam cleaners for home use can be divided into several main categories.

Such a steam cleaner resembles an electric kettle with a flexible hose connected to it. This device is very compact, and it heats up pretty quickly, literally a quarter of a minute is enough for this. Manual models have little power, but it is enough to surface clean the apartment.

The models here are different: some are convenient to clean furniture, others can remove simple pollution on technical devices. An additional plus of mini-steam cleaners is an affordable price.

Floor products are fundamentally different from manual ones. They are devices similar to vacuum cleaners. Such constructions move on the floor on wheels, and the function of a person is only to hold the hose. Steam is supplied under high pressure, because the devices have good power.

With their help, you can quickly clean a spacious room, while spending a minimum of energy. The tank holds a lot of liquid, therefore it is able to work for at least an hour. In addition, the floor models are equipped with different nozzles, which will allow you to clean different types of surfaces, as well as tidy up hard-to-reach places.

As for the minuses, there are only two of them: a high price and large dimensions.

Similar devices have another name - multifunctional. They are also floor-standing, but differ from the previous version with advanced functionality. Such a steam generator can be equipped with a large number of nozzles, the most popular of which is the iron. This appliance can smooth things with dry and wet steam.

Multifunctional designs are expensive.

Choosing a good steam cleaner is not easy, because today many companies offer products with completely different functions and working methods. To navigate a little in the choice, it is better to look ahead of time which models other customers choose.

We begin our review with manual designs.

• "Grand Master GM VSC38". The power of this device is small, but this does not affect the quality of cleaning, in addition, there is the opportunity to save electricity. There are different nozzles: for spraying steam, for clothes, for cleaning glass. Also included is a glass for collecting water and a funnel.

• Polaris PSC 1101C. One of the best low-cost steam cleaners that can handle many household chores: cleaning the kitchen, ironing clothes and curtains, cleaning mirrors. In addition to cleaning, it disinfects surfaces well. There are three nozzles in the kit, and the cleaner itself is light in weight and small in size. The tank capacity is 270 ml, which, as in the previous model, is its drawback.

• MIE Forever Clean. Italian, very high quality steam generator, suitable for those who value their time. It looks pretty interesting, and the power of such a device is much higher than that of the above models. There are four nozzles in the kit, which allows you to clean a variety of types of surfaces. The volume of the tank is 480 ml, and thanks to this, the device lasts longer than most other models.

Among the floor steam generators, we note the following models.

• Bort BDR-2500-RR. This is a rather interesting steam generator with high power (2200 W) and a container volume of 1.5 liters. It can work continuously for half an hour, while stopping it to top up water is not necessary. There are rubber pads on the wheels, which will help not to scratch the floor when moving the unit. There are 7 overlays, and there is also a cord reeling system, and this allows him not to stretch throughout the apartment. The disadvantage of this steam cleaner is its large dimensions.

• Kitfort KT-933. This device has an average power, and the tank capacity here is 1.8 liters. The kit comes with a huge number of nozzles, and there is also a grid for storing them. The cords are long, automatically wound, steam can be supplied continuously. The device is able to work, even in different positions, and it is convenient to carry it thanks to reliable handles.

• Euroflex Monster SC 60S. This device is made by Italian manufacturers. It is very reliable, has good wear resistance. It releases both wet and dry steam, there is also a compartment where you can pour detergent, if necessary. The tank capacity is 1.2 liters, which is enough for an hour of continuous operation. It copes with washing and disinfection of various surfaces. Minus - loose fixation of nozzles.

And finally, consider the best universal models.

• MIE Bello. One of the best steam generators, because it can perform three functions at once. If the “steam cleaner” mode is applied, the unit will assist in cleaning. For this mode, nozzles are provided in the form of a mop, as well as brushes for windows. In the “steaming” mode, an iron will be used, which will cope with the alignment of tissues. And the third mode, “professional”, also uses an iron, but here it is used not only for steaming, but also for professional ironing. The capacity of the tank is 1.7 liters, so the device will work for a long time.

• Bissell 1897-n. A steam generator from an American manufacturer that can clean many contaminated surfaces and fabrics thanks to a large number of different nozzles. It has a touch control panel, and steam can be supplied in two modes: one is for delicate fabrics, and the second is for mopping. Heats up very quickly, has discs with flavorings. The disadvantages will be a small tank, as well as fluid leakage if low power is configured.

• Karcher SC 4 Premium + Iron Kit. One of the best steam cleaners with iron. Heats up in four minutes, has a very high power. There are two tanks, there are also many nozzles. This model is made of first-class materials, it will last for many years, in addition, it is equipped with protection from children. The downside will be that Karcher SC 4 Premium + Iron Kit will not always be able to cope with old spots, in addition, this model is quite expensive.

Going to the store for a home steam generator, it is important to take into account many nuances. Let us dwell on them in more detail.

This parameter is one of the main ones. He is responsible for the speed of steam formation, as well as for the ability to work on very dirty surfaces.

Many manual steam generators have less power. With such models, energy can be saved, but they are slow to operate. As for floor devices, they are more powerful - up to 2300 watts. It is best to choose a power of 1700 watts.

Pressure directly affects the rate at which steam is supplied and with what force it exits. Indicators can vary from 1.5 to 5 bar.

If more difficult work is ahead, the pressure should be higher.

As for the temperature, it ranges from 100 to 140 degrees. The smallest indicators will allow you to cope only with the lightest spots, can help in smoothing clothes. However, they are not able to remove fungus, mold and old spots.

This is another important selection criterion on which the cleaning rate depends. If you do not want to constantly add water, choose floor models with a tank of 1.2 liters or more. There are devices on the market with a tank of 5 liters, but such units heat the water for a very long time.

If the steam cleaner is manual, you should not take a tank with a volume of more than half a liter, because you will have to carry the device in your hands all the time during cleaning.

The question of which nozzles to buy, sometimes becomes the most difficult. After all, I want to try absolutely all models, although not every one is useful to you. When choosing, it is better to observe the measure and think in advance what is most needed.

Consider the most common nozzles.

• Brushes. Such nozzles are definitely needed, so they can be bought without a twinge of conscience. Brushes clean surfaces and furniture, giving them a pristine look. There are brush nozzles with a scraper, they must be used carefully so as not to damage the materials.

• Covers. Terry covers are a real find for those who need to clean delicate fabrics, as well as windows. After use, they can be removed and washed manually or in a typewriter.

• Nozzle. This is a narrow nose, thanks to which you will have the opportunity to penetrate into the most hidden corners of the apartment, removing dust and mold from there. Also, using a nozzle, you can clean, for example, a tap or drain.

• Iron. This thing needs to be applied along with steaming. Wet steam will help to remove creases on the curtain, clean out a dirty coat, straighten a shirt.

In addition to the parameters already indicated, it is important to pay attention to other criteria:

• length of flexible hose: if it is too small, the device will have to be lifted;
• heating rate;
• the presence of a steam power regulator, which will allow you to adjust the pressure and flow;
• wheel quality: they should not scratch the floor when moving;
• case material: it is better if it is aluminum, scale is less formed in it;
• prices: you should not buy the cheapest models, as they are not designed for continuous cleaning and removal of complex contaminants.

Before you start working with a household steam cleaner, you need to carefully study the instructions, especially if you have not dealt with such devices before. This will help to study the features of using a particular unit and not spoil when processing things and surfaces.

Let's see how to use steam cleaners correctly:

1. remove the tank cap and fill in the required amount of water;
2. close the lid tightly;
3. select a nozzle and put it on;
4. connect the device to electricity and wait until it heats up (the indicator light goes out when the indicator is off);
5. start work with the surface.

However, turning on the device and starting to use it is not all. It is important to consider the type of surface to be treated:

• when processing fabric, the device should be parallel to the surface;
• if it is a floor, a 30-centimeter distance is maintained;
• fur, silk and other delicate fabrics can only be cleaned “absent-mindedly”, that is, steam should not be applied closely, but only lightly touch the fabric;
• When cleaning kitchen surfaces, keep a distance of 10 centimeters.

Using a steam cleaner in your home, you need to remember a few more useful recommendations.

• It is undesirable to use tap water. It is too stiff, and provokes the rapid appearance of scale. It is best to take filtered or distilled. In extreme cases, such water can be half diluted with tap water.
• Do not add antiseptics, flavors or detergents to the water tankthey may render the appliance unusable. There is a specific cell for all of these fluids.
• When the steam has ceased to be supplied, this means only one thing - the water has run out. Before pouring it again, unplug the appliance and wait for it to cool.
• After cleaning has come to an end, all remaining water must be drained and the tank wiped well.. Nozzles must be washed and dried under natural conditions.

Those who have already tried a household steam generator can not imagine their life without this device. They all talk about its necessity, mentioning that the appliance made house cleaning much easier: windows became cleaner, kitchen surfaces and appliances flashed, upholstered furniture and carpets took on their original appearance, children's toys were always sanitized.

Steam does not cause allergies, does not harm health. Most owners choose manual steam generators, considering them more comfortable in operation and compact. Companies such as Polaris, Kitfort, Karcher are especially recommended.

Deficiencies in the reviews are also mentioned. This is the insufficient length of the flexible hose, the lack of an automatic wire winding system in some models, small tanks in manual ones and large dimensions in floor standing devices. In addition, not all steam cleaners were able to cope with difficult spots.

In the next video, you will learn how to choose the right steam cleaner.