Steam cleaners: characterization, application and selection

To keep the house shining with cleanliness, and cleaning not turn into a long and tedious fight against pollution, modern housewives use a special device called a steam cleaner. This device allows you to clean even the most persistent dirt from hard-to-reach places without the use of chemical detergents. In addition, the steam cleaner will sanitize the surface it treats and save you from bacteria, viruses, fungal spores.

With this household appliance, you can not only clean, but also look after clothes, upholstered furniture, carpets, a car interior, a bathroom, kitchen appliances. Steam cleaner It will help smooth out folds in the curtains, eliminate unpleasant odors, and refresh the brightness of fabrics.

A steam cleaner is a device that has a water tank, a heating element and an exhaust device. When heated, the water in this device under high pressure is supplied to the external environment in the form of a rarefied steam that does not contain large drops of water. At the same time, the temperature of the steam does not burn the human skin, but its flow is very powerful. A similar device was previously used only in medical facilities for disinfecting premises, but today a steam cleaner is widely used for household purposes.

Modern models of steam cleaners are equipped with various nozzles and options. So, there are options with a suction function, with dry steam, with a steamer function. There is even a wireless view of the steam cleaner that runs on battery power.

There are two types of steam cleaner - floor or manual. In addition, each such type is also subdivided according to the type of water heating in the device:

• direct-flow - steam is formed by heating in the process of water leaving the tank and moving it through the nozzle of the sprayer, which is used for manual models of steam cleaners;
• with steam heating in a water tank - such a device is typical for outdoor appliances, since they have a greater weight due to the increased volume of the tank.

Depending on the volume of the tank and the type of water heating, the models of steam cleaners are divided into 3 main groups.

This variety is also called outdoor steam stations and they can easily be confused in appearance with an ordinary household vacuum cleaner. Stationary models are quite powerful and can be used both in everyday life and for professional cleaning. The volume of the water tank they have is 1-1.5 liters, and the steam supply hose is the longest of all steam cleaners. The convenience of using the outdoor appliance is that it can be used for a long period, and do not hold the device in hand. The appliance is equipped with several nozzles that are used for cleaning and steaming.

The most common models of this group are: Karcher SC-2 (power 1500 W, volume 1 l), Kitfort KT-903 (power 1500 W and volume 1.5 l), Gorenje sc 1800R (power 1800 W and volume 1 l), Clatronic DR Z280 (power 1500 W and volume 1.5 l).

Such models have compact dimensions and light weight. During operation, they need to be held in hand in weight. The volume of the water tank they have is small, from 175 to 500 ml, so the working time of such a cleaner is much shorter than that of a stationary analogue, and it is about 20-25 minutes. The manual steam cleaner has several interchangeable nozzles, it is easy to operate and does not take up much space during storage.

Some popular models from buyers: Karcher SC 1 (volume 200 ml), Polaris PSC 1101C (volume 270 ml), MIE Forever Clean (volume 480 ml), Grand Master GM-VSC38 (volume 175 ml).

Such devices resemble the stationary version, they have a large volume of the water tank and a long operating time. The difference is that the range of options for the universal model is more expanded. For example, the device may have 2 water tanks, which makes it possible to replenish the volume of liquid without stopping the operation of the steam generator. The universal models are equipped with a large number of nozzles; some steam cleaners have the ability to connect a steam iron to them.

Famous models are: Ariete Multi Vapori MV 6.10 (equipped with a steam mop) Karcher SC 4 Premium + Iron Kit (iron model), Grand Master GM-Q7 Multi Elite (the appliance cleans, steams and irones).

The choice of design and model of a steam cleaner largely depends on the tasks that you have to solve with this device. With large volumes of cultivated area, it is advisable to purchase a stationary or universal cleaner, and to perform small volumes of work it is enough to use manual options.

An electric steam cleaner works when there is water in its tank. INThe ode should be poured into a cold appliance until it is turned on. If desired, disinfectants or preparations are added to it that protect the heating device from the formation of calcareous deposits. After water is poured into the tank, it is necessary to tightly close its container with a lid and turn on the device in the mains. At this moment, the heating element TENA, the tubular heating element, is heated.

When the water in the tank reaches the boiling threshold, you can press the trigger button - and the steam under pressure will exit. Steam cleaning occurs through special nozzles that are fixed to the nozzle of the device. A powerful jet of steam can soften any dirt, as well as perform the function of steaming fabrics.

The manual model of the steam cleaner differs from the stationary one in that it has only one key with which steam is supplied. A steam cleaner-mop is also arranged - steam is supplied to a special wide nozzle with a long handle, which allows steaming hard to remove stains and persistent dirt on the floor.

Surface cleaning by steam cleaner almost no noise, and the steam that comes out of the nozzle of the steam cleaner, in some models can be supplied chilled and even used to clean leaves of indoor plants from dust. Such steam is also used as a steamer of tissues of any density, which after the procedure does not get wet, but remains dry.

The steam cleaner package contains a measuring cup for water, a funnel, various types of nozzles.

Steam cleaners are most often purchased for cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and floor disinfection. Although the range of applications of this device can be significantly more diverse.

• The steam generator can be used for clothes. The device is able to smooth out creases, straighten caked fur, and perform processing of the inner and outer surfaces of shoes. Here you can use the brush head, which allows you to clean any corrugated sole from heavy contaminants and use disinfectants for dry cleaning.
• A cleaner is needed to clean the floor or wall carpet, to disinfect the mattress, and can also be designed for curtains when they need to be cleaned and steamed without removing from the cornice.
• With a steam appliance, you can wash the laminate, linoleum, stretch ceiling, they should also clean and wash vinyl wallpaper, clean the carpet, wash the parquet and use it for mirrors.
• An acrylic bathtub can be washed with a steam generator, used for joints between the bathtub and the wall, used for tiles. Using a device for the bathroom, it is advisable to add a disinfectant to the water tank, which allows you to disinfect surfaces and prevent mold growth. A steam appliance is used when cleaning the shower cabin from soap and lime deposits.
• For the kitchen, the appliance is used if it is necessary to wash the refrigerator, sink, gas stove. Use for glass kitchen cabinets, if they are very dirty, for microwave, for tiles, as well as in order to clean the oven.
• Using a steam generator has proven itself to clean the inside of a car, rubber mats and glass rims.

A multi-function steam cleaner has great features that are used not only for the home, but also for other household needs. But you should know that this device can not be used in a number of cases:

• for cleaning plastic cladding panels - under the influence of steam dents and deformations may form on them;
• for processing cold surfaces made of glass or plastic, since due to the temperature difference destruction of products from these materials is possible;
• for surfaces coated with varnish or wax, - they become whitish, and the varnish coating begins to crack, and the wax spreads;
• for fabrics of fine silk or velor - The operating temperature of the steam is too high for these delicate types of fabrics.

To decide which steam cleaner is worth buying, and make the right choice, We recommend that you take into account a number of points.

1. Primarily you need to choose which model will be most convenient for you to work with - manual or stationary.
2. The efficiency of a steam appliance is largely dependent on its power and steam pressure. For the manual model, the power range is 700-1600 W, with a pressure level of up to 4 bar. Floor models have a power of 1300-2300 W, with a pressure level of up to 5.5 bar.
3. It is considered that Steam cleaner models with a steam generator are more efficient in comparison with direct-flow analogs.
4. Choose appliances who have a light sensor indicator - It indicates that the device is ready for use. This is a very convenient part to understand when the process of heating water in the device is completed. For example, in manual models, water heats up in 20-30 seconds, and in floor models you have to wait up to 5 minutes.
5. The length of the working cycle of the steam cleaner depends on the volume of its water tank - the larger it is, the longer this cycle. In manual models, this figure is 0.2-0.5 liters, and in floor models - 1-5 liters. When choosing a hand-held device, it is important to understand that a device with the largest tank volume will be difficult to hold in one hand, therefore it is more advisable to buy a model with a small tank volume, adding water to it if necessary. The flow rate of 1 liter of water averages 30 minutes of continuous operation of the device.
6. It’s convenient when your device is equipped with the option to adjust the power of the supplied steam, which significantly expands the scope of its application.
7. Outdoor steam generators are quite heavy, and for the convenience of their movement, it is important that they are equipped with portable castors that are firmly fixed to the device body.
8. When choosing a manual model, pay attention to how it will fit in your hand - is it convenient for you to reach the trigger with your finger, is the construction too heavy for you in terms of dimensions and weight.
9. Pay attention to the complete set of the device nozzles - the larger their range, the wider the range of application of the device. Budget models are equipped with a minimum of nozzles, among which there is a brush for the floor, a narrow nozzle, a small brush for cleaning seams, a frame for attaching fabric when washing glasses. In more expensive models, additional nozzles are provided: a gun for supplying cold steam, designed to care for the leaves of plants, rubber squeegee for glasses, a steam iron, a nozzle-vacuum cleaner and others.
10. An important point is the nozzle diameter of the device. It is convenient when it is wide, and in the set of nozzles there is an option to put on a narrow elongated nozzle to perform work in hard-to-reach places.

The use of the device greatly facilitates household work, but do not forget that the steam cleaner itself Needs regular cleaning and maintenance. After working with the device, the water remaining in it must be drained each time, wipe all wet parts and only then put it away for storage. Brushes and nozzles must also be kept clean. Besides, It is important to ensure that the power cord and the steam supply hose (if any) are stored without creases and sharp bends, which will significantly extend their service life.

The water from the water tap, poured into the tank, contains in its composition impurities of mineral salts, which, when in contact with the heating element, form a scale layer, which can lead to breakdown of the heater. It is quite difficult to replace this device with your own hands, this manipulation is performed in a service center. It is possible to determine the failure of the heater by the fact that the device stopped heating water, or check the contracts of the heating device with a multimeter.

To prevent damage to the heater, the instruction manual for any such device contains a mention that it is advisable to use distilled water instead of tap water. If this is not possible, then the device must be cleaned regularly, pouring into the tank special preparations that clean the heater from scale. After the agent is poured into the water tank, it is turned on, the water is allowed to warm up, and then the device must be turned off, allowed to cool completely, open the cover of the container and drain the cleaning solution from it. Next, water is again poured into the container and it is poured, washing out from the remains of the solution. If the lid does not open, it means that the appliance has not cooled sufficiently and needs to be given extra time.

See the next video on how to descale a steam cleaner.

Studying real customer reviews, marketers came to the conclusion that household steam cleaners are currently in high demand. Both budget models and expensive options designed for professional cleaning are used. When considering the entire group of steam cleaners as a whole, buyers of these electrical appliances highlight the pros and cons of this household appliance.

Positive aspects of the steam cleaner:

• the device allows you to quickly and efficiently perform cleaning on highly contaminated surfaces;
• the ability to perform work without the use of any additional household chemicals;
• the device is safe during operation, since the vapor has a rarefied structure and does not cause skin burns;
• due to the influence of steam, it is possible to easily eliminate unpleasant odors and disinfect treated surfaces;
• the device can easily move around the apartment, does not take up much storage space.

Negative properties of the steam cleaner:

• during operation, the device emits a large amount of moisture in the form of steam, which is not always desirable;
• additional nozzles cannot be purchased in free sale;
• in any model it is impossible to completely fill the tank for heating water;
• the brushes are made of unsatisfactory quality plastic and are too stiff;
• when exposed to steam spray sprays the steamed dirt in all directions.

Taking into account customer reviews, we can conclude that, despite the shortcomings, steam cleaners have their undeniable advantages and can greatly facilitate not only the cleaning process, but also the care of many everyday things without resorting to the expensive services of dry cleaning or the use of household chemicals.

See how to choose a steam cleaner in the next video.