How to Clean With Steam

Cleaning with steam has a lot of advantages: no chemical cleaning solutions are needed, the dry steam kills dust mites and viruses, and the steam penetrates and deodorizes. But while the unit may resemble a vacuum, there is no sucking mechanism and it does not store the dirt. Also, the steam produced from a vapor steam cleaner is extremely hot---between 240 and 260 degrees---so you should know how to operate it to avoid burns, puddling and headaches.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Steam cleaner
• Instruction manual
• Attachments
• Microfiber pads or cloths
• Tap water or distilled water

Basic Machine Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with your unit. Review all attachments and how they fasten, and read the instructions carefully. Observe all safety recommendations.

2. Load the unit with the recommended amount of water. In most residential vapor steam cleaners, that will be less than a quart of water. Make sure your unit can use tap water--some may suggest distilled bottled water. Certain machines contain a water litmus testing strip to determine the hardness of your water supply.

3. Check to see that all micropads are put on correctly. Have extra wipes or towels on hand.
   Plug it in. Set switch to boiler mode.
   Wait until the unit is adequately heated, which will depend on a light going on or off, generally. In less-expensive systems you cannot add water continuously and may have to wait until the water cools down.

4. 
    

   Decide what area you will clean, such as a hard countertop, and remove all items within the work area. Make sure the surface is waterproof or will not loose color or fade---upholstery, for example.

5. Press the steam key on the unit. Rely on the heat of the vapor, plus a slow going-over and a light buffing to do the work. Use a rapid back-and-forth method for upholstery so as not to flood the fabric.
   Towel up any soggy areas.

6. Turn the main unit off when finished. Water may be left in the machine if used frequently. Otherwise, empty it.

7. 
    

   Cleaning the machine is recommended (bi-annual or yearly) to eliminate water-scale buildup.

Tips & Warnings

• This item is suggested for allergy sufferers. • Recommended for bedding, bathroom and kitchen surfaces, tile and grout, pet cages, litter boxes and surrounding areas, car interiors and wheel wells, bottom of pots and pans, barbecue grill racks, wood decks, children's stuffed toys, windows, metal venetian blinds and more. • Factor in adequate power-cord length when purchasing, and the weight of the machine when filled with water. • Have extra towels handy. • Lubricate attachments and o-rings with Vaseline after extensive use. • Prices run from $99 to $2,000. Commercial units cost more.
• Make sure you know the difference between a steamer and a vapor steam cleaner. The steamer uses an extraction process---it involves emptying the unit of dirty water, while the vapor steamer uses a type of "dry heat" with no collection of water. • Vapor steam cleaning is toilsome for large carpet areas; a better solution is a water-extraction steamer. Pretreatment for carpet stains is generally advised. • Avoid walking on a freshly cleaned carpet as it may need more than 15 minutes to be sufficiently dry to walk upon. Run a regular vacuum after the carpet is completely dry to pick up any dislodged materials. • Double-check the fabric or materials you want cleaned; for example, this should not be used on silk---water spots silk---or other delicate textiles that do not have color-fast properties. Color check on hidden areas first. • Match the correct brush with the surface. For example, the nylon brush will be less abrasive than a brass or stainless brush. • Not for use on certain painted surfaces, automobiles or floors with vinyl shine enhancement. • Steam vapor cleaning can be used on most walls, provided it is not overheated and thick towels are applied. Check an inconspicuous area first. • Look for machines with connecting locking buttons on attachments. Avoid touching hoses when in use.

References

• Page with a downloadable manual for a typical medium-priced machine
• Allergy consumer review site
• The Online Maid: house-cleaning advice

[michiganbarbara]

on 11/1/2009 Great story! I recently got a steam cleaner, or should I say a vapor steam cleaner, and I just love it. The only thing missing in this story is an explanation of the differences between steam and vapor. Here’s a cute cleaning quiz that helped me understand why I wanted vapor steam rather than plain old steam: http://www.vapor-systems.com/media/flash/vapor_quiz.html I ended up buying the Ladybug Tekno 2350 Steam Vapor Cleaner. And it’s not a stretch to say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in years. Not only does my Ladybug clean without chemicals, it cleans faster and does a superior job!