A steam cleaner is a great device that will make floors, carpets and upholstered furniture look like they did on the first day of purchase. They work under high pressure to produce dry steam that is able to clean any dirt and stains. It does not use any chemical cleaners. The principle of operation of the steam cleaner is simple: the water in a special tank of the device is heated to a certain temperature, which guarantees the supply of steam, which is released through the nozzle of the device.
Thus, thanks to a powerful jet, steam penetrates into the pores of a contaminated surface and removes dirt, stains and bacteria. This method of cleaning surfaces is environmentally friendly, so it is great for allergy sufferers. For more info, you can read our article about Dry Steam vs Wet Steam, where we compare it between themselves.
Steam cleaners used for cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and other rooms of the house. It is well suited for textile, mirror, ceramic surfaces, as well as for carpets, upholstered furniture and clothing.
There are three types of steam cleaners: handheld steam cleaners, vacuum cleaners, and mops.
Handheld steam cleaners are handy and portable. They are compact and light in weight, so they are suitable for small areas. They are good to use when cleaning windows, faucets or tiles. They give a powerful dry column of steam through the nozzle, and the dirt ends up in a small tank of water.
Advantages:
- the most affordable;
- Great for small cleaning jobs.
- ideal for cleaning hard to reach places;
- easy to store, does not take up much space;
- lightweight and easy to use.
But keep in mind that it is not very well suited for large areas and does not provide the same level of cleaning as a vacuum cleaner.
A steam mop is most often used for quick cleaning of floors as a replacement for a huge vacuum cleaner. Instead of sucking the dirt inside, they clean it with the help of a rug. The rotating mop head is easy to operate, making it suitable for corners and other hard-to-reach places. They are also lightweight and easy to use and store. Typically, steam mops are equipped with a water tank, but smaller in volume than steam cleaners . Their steam does a great job of killing the various bacteria, parasites and germs that may be lurking on the floor. It does not use harmful chemicals, but cleans the surface much faster and more thoroughly.
Advantages:
- affordable and environmentally friendly;
- easy to use;
- takes up little space due to the vertical body;
- effective in killing bacteria and microbes;
- Great for disinfecting and cleaning floors.
But it is not very good when working in hard-to-reach places and corners. In this case, you may need a special nozzle for cleaning carpets. For large cleaning areas, you should also change the water tank more often.
Steam cleaners – vacuum cleaners are the heaviest and most complete. They contain a cylinder with enough water so it doesn’t need to be refilled as often. And using the various nozzles that are often included, they are well suited for cleaning different surfaces: floors, tiles, carpets and upholstered furniture. They are very bulky, so it can be difficult to store them in a small apartment. Their large size is provided by a special large water tank. It allows you to complete the work around the house without constantly changing the water to clean. Usually, its kit includes several nozzles for cleaning different surfaces: floors, carpets and even clothes. The price also depends on this versatility.
Advantages:
- able to clean different surfaces;
- large water tank;
- no need to use all kinds of chemicals;
- many accessories and supplies.
But it is worth considering that it is quite large in size, so it takes up a lot of space and is difficult to store. It is also more expensive than other steam cleaners.
There is also a cylindrical steam cleaner , which has similar functions to a steam cleaner-vacuum cleaner . Usually this type of steam cleaner is equipped with various attachments and attachments to make it easier to cope with different types of surfaces and objects. It is great for cleaning floors, because it does not leave streaks and excess moisture. Therefore, it can be used on parquet or laminate. But the large size prevents the use of a cylindrical steam cleaner in small apartments, and its price is much higher than manual steam cleaners .
Advantages:
- clean all types of surfaces;
- will provide completely dry cleaning, so you do not need to worry about an excess of moisture after cleaning;
- has various add-ons and accessories;
- copes well with pathogenic bacteria.
Before purchasing a steam cleaner , decide on the type that is right for your needs. You should look at the size and weight of the device, as well as consider how much space you are willing to free up for its storage.
