Our mothers and grandmothers called them ” Spring cleanings. ” And one of the Sundays in the second half of March was the right moment to turn the house upside down and put in place all those thorough cleanings to make the house bright and prepare it for the summer.
Now that habits have changed, the need to keep away dirt and dust remains equally valid, indeed. They are for the whole year! Fortunately, technology has progressed and continues to do so, helping us to limit our efforts.
Steam Cleaner: How Do You Clean?
Using steam as a cleaning element has two essential advantages. The first is economical and ecological savings: the inefficiency of detergents leads to reduced spending and greater respect for the environment.
The second is the greater cleaning: the temperature of the steam melts the dirt, which can then be easily removed. Thanks to its pressure, you can even access the narrowest places, making them unattainable with manual cleaning.
Here is precisely the plus that steam can offer to all those who purchase a product: it removes dirt, grease, and mites without using detergents or other chemical agents, instead utilizing the cleaning and sanitizing power of steam.
Why does steam have an excellent cleaning force? The secret lies in the fact that the 120°C temperature the latter reaches has a degreasing force far superior to that of everyday chemical products. Additionally, the “dry” steam produced by these machines not only eliminates bacteria, germs, mites, fungi, and pollen but also leaves the house clean and quickly dry.
Water transformed into steam is also the best solution when there is a child in the house. The little ones can be susceptible to chemicals, while steam cleaning has no contraindications for them.
Steam Cleaner: the models
However, let’s examine the various types of machines. The steam cleaner models are divided into four categories:
- Handheld Steam Cleaner
- Steam Mops
- Cylinder Steam Cleaner
- Vapor Steam Cleaner
Handheld Steam Cleaner
They are the entry-level product and, in some ways, even the most practical and logical one. These are small, portable steam generators with reduced power but excellent maneuverability, allowing them to be used in small, inaccessible areas. Amazing, for example: to clean the joints and the most hidden corners of the shower, oven, or hob.
Steam Mops
They try to combine the advantages of the classic steam cleaner with the modern requirements for reduced dimensions and maneuverability. The operation was partially successful and today represents a successful product, ideal for cleaning and sanitizing floors, although with less power than the classic machine.
Cylinder Steam Cleaner – Classic steamer
Here is the ” true ” steam, unique and original, as well as the first machine for steam cleaning. It consists of a boiler with wheels and a lance; the appearance and use are very similar to that of a trolley-mounted vacuum cleaner (aspira-all bin). The range is quite broad and comprises over a dozen models, all similar but with significant differences that are worth knowing before making a purchase.
Vapor Steam Cleaner
The vapor steam cleaner combines the action of steam with that of a powerful vacuum cleaner, thus offering an integrated solution for cleaning floors and sofas. How does it work? In practice, the use of a vacuum cleaner with a water filter is combined with that of a Vaporetto, allowing one to clean any surface with a single pass. The perplexities about this appliance are many. The machine is indeed heavy, especially in use.
The preparation phase is not immediate (especially the emptying of dirty water), and it is unthinkable to use it for a quick suction to the floor. The operation then requires a certain level of familiarity, thanks to the numerous combinations of programs and functions, which are not entirely intuitive. The high cost, moreover, makes it a household appliance not for everyone.
Steam Cleaner: Should You Buy It?
How many people do you know who own a steam cleaner? Surely, many, like we are, keep it closed in the closet and rarely use it.
It is the classic appliance that suffers from what we call “ice cream maker syndrome,” where it is used once or twice after purchase and then forgotten in a corner of the house, despite its potential usefulness. If you plan to buy a steam cleaner, consider first how you want to clean your home and whether you’re ready to change some habits. Steam cleaning is indeed a good thing, but we must make it a habit.
Ultimately, is it better to buy a steam cleaner? For the reasons explained above, we still advise trying, but focusing on the smaller and more manageable models without the integrated suction function, to be used periodically for thorough floor cleaning.
