Steam cleaner as the best cleaning assistant

A steam cleaner is a device for efficiently cleaning surfaces with steam. Initially, the device was developed for use in medical institutions, today it is a popular device in the arsenal of most lovers of comfort and cleanliness in the home. A modern household steam cleaner has the following functions:

• surface treatment - removing dirt from walls and floors with ceramic coatings, cleaning windows, plumbing, kitchen equipment from materials resistant to temperature and moisture;
• care for furniture with textile cover, carpets, curtains, wardrobe items. A modern steam cleaner for furniture has a set of special nozzles with brushes;
• effective cleaning of hard-to-reach areas: seams and joints of walls and floors, narrow cracks or deep holes in household structures and furniture;
• the destruction of dust and stains, the fight against the emergence and spread of bacteria and microorganisms.

The disinfecting properties of the device are relevant for eliminating mold and other unstable species of microorganisms that die when exposed to hot steam.

The following types of equipment are available:

• manual steam cleaner;
• floor universal analog of the device;
• multifunctional steam cleaner.

When thinking about how to choose a steam cleaner, you should consider the features of the equipment and the estimated scope of work. For example, using the manual model it is convenient to perform easy cleaning of a small room, and cleaning upholstered furniture with a steam cleaner or eliminating complex formations on plumbing requires a powerful device with maximum functionality.

Features of the device: how the steam cleaner works

The home steam cleaner includes the following basic equipment:

• a water tank with a heating element;
• a flexible hose that is equipped with valves;
• trigger pistol;
• nozzles and accessories.

To understand how to use a steam cleaner, you should know that the mechanism of operation of the equipment is extremely simple: the water in the tank boils under the influence of a heating element and enters a flexible hose in the state of steam. Then a hot steam stream exits through the nozzle under pressure and is used for surface treatment. In this case, contaminants on the coatings are washed off under the influence of microscopic drops of hot water and are removed under the pressure of a steam jet. Using various brushes and nozzles, you can significantly increase the efficiency of the unit for cleaning the apartment.

Some modifications of the device are equipped with a function of moisture absorption with particles of dirt and debris. If we compare the steam cleaners by their functional capabilities, we can see that some professional use models have an injector and a pump for supplying detergent to the nozzle.

Pollution in the form of grease stains, drops of paraffin or glue, traces of street dirt on the carpet is not difficult to remove with hot steam, which produces a home steam cleaner for cleaning the house.If there is a struggle with limescale or other complex formations in the form of rust and urinary stone on plumbing, then a detergent is first applied to the dirt, then it is treated with a powerful stream of steam.

As the reviews of real users show, the best steam cleaner for the home has an expanded set of devices, since the functionality of the device is associated with the presence of various nozzles and accessories:

• brushes of various shapes and sizes for processing upholstered furniture, tiles, stone, carpets;
• plastic and metal scrapers;
• nozzle for washing windows;
• turbo brush with a rotating mechanism;
• terry cloth napkins;
• nozzle with a narrowed tip for processing cracks;
• point nozzle for cleaning chrome plumbing components;
• iron for steaming garments;
• nozzle for delicate care of textiles;
• spray.

Each of these devices of a household steam cleaner is relevant in the effective cleaning of surfaces from stains and traces of a different nature, it helps to clean rooms without much physical effort and material costs.

Manual steam cleaners: features of functionality

The equipment is an electric kettle with a flexible hose for moving steam to the nozzle. What can be cleaned with a steam cleaner in this category:

• the device is of interest as a convenient device for cleaning small areas, relevant in the care of interior items, used in window cleaning;
• Often, compact models are also acquired to maintain cleanliness in the car.

Using a handheld device, it is easy to care for clothing and shoes made from certain materials.

Benefits:

• compactness of the device;
• ease of use;
• transportability;
• affordable cost.

Disadvantages:

• low power - 600-1600 W;
• the duration of continuous operation is only 15-20 minutes;
• hands get tired quickly, since it is necessary to hold in one hand a device weighing about 1 kg, and the other to control the hose, treating the surface with steam flow.

Depending on the pressure, the best manual steam cleaners are able to clean tiles even from complex contaminants. Basically, compact types of equipment are bought to care for upholstered furniture, curtains and items of clothing.

Universal floor cleaners

The equipment of this category is reminiscent of a household vacuum cleaner in design: the case is equipped with wheels for moving around the floor and a flexible hose with a nozzle. The device is especially popular as a powerful device, with which it is easy to eliminate complex spots and stubborn dirt, to process various surfaces, including calcareous compounds on plumbing and tiles.

Benefits:

• impressive power - 1600-2300 W;
• continuous operation time of 30-60 minutes is determined by the capacity of the water tank. In some models, a tank with a volume of up to 3.2 liters is installed;
• the complete set includes a set of nozzles for effective operation.

The disadvantages of the floor unit include the high cost of the product, but the high cost of the product is offset by the excellent characteristics of the functional.

Multifunctional steam cleaners

The device is characterized by high power and pressure parameters, has an impressive tank. The device is equipped with a mass of useful accessories, nozzles and devices, among which there is even an iron for smoothing textiles with steam. It is sold in an expensive segment.

Steam cleaner for home: how to choose the best model

The main selection criteria for a household steam cleaner are considered:

• power of the heating element - determines the speed of boiling water and the formation of steam;
• pressure, steam supply intensity - an indicator of at least 3 bar is required for house cleaning;
• the volume of the water tank - at least 2 liters of water is required for cleaning the apartment within 30 minutes;
• hose length - with a short hose it is difficult to process hard-to-reach areas.

When choosing, pay attention to the presence of additional functions, including a protective blocking the release of steam and the option of continuous supply of a hot stream.

A brief overview of popular models

To successfully choose the best version of the device, it is worth studying the rating of steam cleaners for the home:

• Karcher SC 2 - a universal model of the floor type has a capacity of 1.5 kW, a capacity of 1 l, a pressure of 3.2 bar, weight 3 kg. Well-known manufacturers of steam cleaners from Germany provided the device with powerful functionality and an ergonomic design. Additional functions are noteworthy: steam supply adjustment, child protection system and device power - 6 minutes after connecting to the network, the unit is ready for operation. The average cost is 8500 p.;
• GM-Q7 Multi Elite - a multi-function steam cleaner can easily cope with plaque in the bathroom and dirt on the stone floor, it is not difficult to smooth dense matter with it. The power of the apparatus is 1.95 kW, the pressure is 3.5 bar, the volume of the tank is 2.3 liters. It is sold in the expensive segment at a price of 15,600 r .;
• Endever Odyssey Q-901 - an effective steam cleaner for the floor, heating time 8 minutes, power - 1.8 kW, tank - 1.5 l, weight - 4 kg;
• Smile ESC 922 - cleaning windows with a steam cleaner of this brand is not difficult, as the device is equipped with convenient functionality, a cord of 5 meters, two nozzles. Power - 1 kW, a tank of 220 ml, the cost of about 2 000 r.

With the help of a steam cleaner it is easy to maintain comfort in the apartment, to clean furniture and carpets, to wash windows, to fight dust, bacteria and pathogens. Choose a device for the home, taking into account the requirements for operational characteristics, since manufacturers offer a wide range of multi-function steam cleaners and narrow-purpose models.