Household steam cleaners: how they work, which ones to choose and how best to use them

mites and bacteria are actually still there, among the couch cushions, in Fido's kennel, among your children's toys and ... where you would least expect it!

To get rid of the invisible dirt that settles on surfaces altogether, the ideal solution is to rely on a steam cleaner. By taking advantage of high temperatures, this product provides an excellent level of sanitization, giving you the hygiene you seek, without stress and effort. In this article we are going to look at all the benefits of the household steam cleaner and how to make the most of it to achieve sanitized environments, with just one spray.

What is a steam cleaner

The steam cleaner is an environmentally-friendly cleaning solution that takes advantage of the high temperature of the steam jet to get rid of germs, bacteria, mites and scale, keeping every surface (including textiles) sanitized, without the use of detergents and/or other chemicals.

These cleaning products are available in 3 main models:

• The trailing steam cleaners, aesthetically similar to an ordinary vacuum cleaner. This solution generates powerful and continuous steam, ideal for deep cleaning of large surfaces, such as floors, tiles, carpets, kitchens and bathrooms. An excellent steam cleaner for home use is GV KONE, which is practical, effective, and equipped with many accessories for multi-level performance use.
• Steam brooms, lightweight and handy. They are excellent tools for daily cleaning and sanitizing of floors, removing even dirt and germs that settle between tile joints in a matter of moments;
• Steam guns (or portable steam cleaner), compact and easy to use. These solutions are very suitable for cleaning hard-to-reach surfaces, such as corners, taps, glass, ovens and kitchens, sanitizing even the tightest of spaces.

In addition to model, steam cleaners also differ in functionality:

• Without suction. Dirt is dissolved but must be manually removed with a cloth;
• With suction. In this case, the steam is sucked up along with germs and bacteria. This tool is especially suitable for sanitizing and removing stains from sofas or kennels.

How the household steam cleaner works

Whichever model of household steam cleaner you prefer, using this tool is really simple and preparing the appliance takes very little time. All you will need are: the cleaner, water and an electrical outlet.

Here is how to use your steam cleaner:

• Insert water inside the tank, complying with the guidelines given in the manual. Each surface cleaner has its own specific capacity that must be met to give you the highest level of performance. Do not fill the vessel to the brim since then the water will not evaporate;
• Once the indicator light goes off/on (depending on the model), use the product by pointing the nozzle, gun or brush in the direction of the surface you want to clean. In this way you can dissolve grease and encrusted dirt or eliminate dust mites, germs and bacteria by taking advantage of the high temperatures of steam, which can reach up to 200°;
• If you have used the steam cleaner to sanitize and disinfect, you only need to remove any residual water to complete your cleaning action. When using on stains and scale, remove the dissolved dirt using a dry cloth.

And … that’s it! With no stress, no effort and no sweat, you will thoroughly clean your home, reaching even the most invisible dirt and providing you, your family and your four-legged friends with a safe environment in which to relax and enjoy domestic quiet.

What are the advantages of a steam cleaner

Using a steam cleaner has many benefits for you, your home and the environment:

• It is simple to use. As we have seen, you will only need a little water and a few minutes of use to bring your home to a level of cleanliness you have never seen before;
• It is fast and effortless. You will stop spending hours and hours cleaning every nook and cranny of your home and never really being satisfied. With this product you will be able to achieve clean environments, even cleaning every day, without breaking a sweat, without getting tired and turning cleaning jobs into a simple activity.... like drinking a glass of water!
• It eliminates up to 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria. One of the strengths of the steam surface cleaner is definitely its effectiveness in removing all kinds of invisible dirt with a single spray;
• You can use it on any surface. This is undoubtedly one of the main advantages of this product. Unlike ordinary cleaning tools, the steam cleaner works thoroughly on all kinds of surfaces, removing dirt from plastic, PVC, glass, tile, marble, ceramics, stoneware, porcelain, as well as curtains, cushions, carpets, upholstery, sofas, and mattresses;
• It removes deep-seated dirt. This product not only removes germs, dust mites and bed bugs only on the surface of the fabrics: the steam penetrates inside the mattress or pillow, also removing everything lodged inside, offering total sanitization;
• It is an environmentally-friendly solution. By choosing this product you can significantly limit water consumption compared to traditional solutions and avoid using detergents or chemicals, keeping every surface even safer and more pristine;
• One product, many applications! Thanks to your steam cleaner, you can stop buying a different detergent for every room in your home, resulting in significant cost savings.

By relying on this simple but highly effective solution, you can revolutionize the way you clean your home and take care of your beloved ones, experiencing a safe environment without hassle or sacrificing your time!

What to clean with steam

As we have seen, the steam cleaner is a very versatile tool which allows thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing all kinds of surfaces, even the most unthinkable ones. In fact, this product is not only for:

• cleaning the mattress, eliminating bed bugs and mites;
• Sanitizing floors and joints, even after every time your four-legged friend goes out;
• Removing encrusted dirt from any surface, such as floors, bathrooms or outdoor patios;
• disinfecting sofas and cushions for safe relaxation for you and your family.

There are, in fact, several other uses for steam that will make it easier for you to clean your home, even where you might not expect. Here are some of the most interesting applications of a steam surface cleaner:

• Vertical ironing of fabrics and shirts;
• Sanitizing toothbrushes, even after each use;
• Sanitizing cleaning sponges, removing dirt and bacteria;
• Cleaning mosquito nets without disassembling them;
• Cleaning your oven, stove and hood, without using chemicals;
• Cleaning your dog kennel or litter box, making it as good as new;
• Eliminating odors from your shoe racks;
• Cleaning drains and siphons;
• Cleaning shutters and blinds, without disassembling them;
• Polishing stainless steel surfaces;
• Cleaning your car in every corner;
• Removing any stains from mirrors and glass;
• Cleaning your barbecue from encrusted grease and ash.

Accessories for the household steam cleaner

To make your steam cleaner even more efficient and versatile, Lavor surface cleaners come with a wide range of easily equipped accessories that will make your product a highly specialized one, cleaning after cleaning.

Some of the best accessories for steam cleaners are:

• Steam lance, to direct the jet precisely to corners and joints.
• Extension cord, to reach high or distant surfaces effortlessly.
• Rectangular brush, ideal for floors and large surfaces, even in case of irregular shapes;
• Triangular brush, perfect for upholstered furniture such as sofas, armchairs and mattresses;
• Textile cloth, to be applied to brushes to collect dirt and moisture.
• Round brushes, for more intensive cleaning on tough surfaces such as joints and grates.
• Glass accessory with built-in squeegee for cleaning windows, mirrors and tiles.
• Slanted spray gun for reaching difficult spots such as under bathroom fixtures or between radiators.

How to choose a steam cleaner

If you are thinking of buying a steam cleaner for your home, here are some of the features to consider in order to choose a product that is truly suited to your cleaning needs, optimizing your investment and achieving the desired result:

• Type of use. To purchase the best model for you, consider what is the most frequent use you would make of your cleaner. This will enable you to choose from the various types of steam cleaners the one that best suits your home and needs;
• Steam power and pressure. In this case, what also changes is the price. A less powerful tool will be cheaper, but less effective. If you need frequent use on very encrusted dirt, if you have animals in the house or a lot of upholstered textiles, better to opt for a higher-performance solution: the cost will optimize over time;
• Tank capacity. In the case of large rooms, many windows or a lot of upholstered textiles, it is recommended to opt for models with an above-average capacity tank, thus avoiding the need to refill the water inside the cleaner often;
• Accessories included. If you think you want to get the most out of this product by using it in different environments and for cleaning different surfaces, objects and materials from each other, better to opt for a well-equipped product;
• Steam type. Again, take into account the use according to your home. If you have a lot of sofas and mattresses, a product with suction is recommended; if used on floors, windows, hoods and steel, a model without suction is also fine.

Steam cleaner maintenance

To always get the best results in terms of sanitization, it is important to do some minor maintenance on your steam cleaner. This will help prevent any accidental damage or wear and tear.

To ensure the proper operation of your steam cleaner make sure to:

• Turn off the switch and pull the plug out, before any maintenance work;
• Do not empty the product until the water is completely cooled down;
• Use a limescale remover so as to prevent limescale buildup. Limescale is, in fact, one of the few elements on which steam is not effective. For this reason, it is essential to properly clean the surface cleaner periodically or after each use, in case of frequent applications;
• Clean accessories with water only;
• Allow clean brushes to dry with the bristles facing upward to avoid malformation;
• Clean the boiler max every 10 fillings;
• Always contact authorized service centers in case of failure or damage;
• Avoid use of the product by children, especially if the product is turned on. Hot water could cause major burns on the skin of young children.

Solutions for common steam cleaner problems

Here’s what to do in case some of the most common issues for steam cleaners occur:

• The steam cleaner is ready for use but no steam comes out. In such cases, the intensity controller is probably set to 0 or the accessory is plugged. We recommend that you check the accessories and turn the controller to a value between 1 and 5;
• The steam flow does not come out regularly and is accompanied by water spray. This happens because the boiler has been filled with too much water. Check the water level for your model and let the water drain out with the lever provided. Remember to work in complete safety as boiling water may cause burns;
• During use, the accessories come off. In this case the accessory has not been correctly connected. We recommend that you read the manual and thoroughly check the interlocking mechanism of the two parts.

By implementing these little tricks you will always get the most out of your steam cleaner, providing you and your family with a healthy, safe and secure environment in which to play, relax and have fun.