Manual steam cleaners: how to choose and use?

Steam cleaner - a device that allows you to clean various surfaces with steam. When choosing a steam purifier, it is worth understanding the features of the equipment and the desired scope of work. A handheld steam cleaner is perfect for cleaning small spaces or a car; for working on a large area or for removing difficult dirt, you should choose the floor option.

Before starting to disassemble the features of manual and floor-standing steam cleaners, it is worth noting that you should not confuse a steam cleaner with a steam generator. Not every steam cleaner has the ability to steam clothes. Having made a small digression, let's move on to the main part. Let's start with manual steam cleaners, because they are most often purchased due to their low price. These devices have the following advantages:

• the low weight of the device allows you to steam the most uncomfortable places and does not hinder your movements;
• easy to store;
• due to the small volume, the water heats up faster to the state of steam;
• low energy consumption.

The disadvantage will be the same small volume of the reservoir. It lasts for 30-40 minutes, after which you will need to re-fill the water.

The original purpose of steam cleaners was to disinfect premises. The steam destroys most of the known germs and allergy pathogens. Steam treatment also gets rid of mites and other parasites. For this, cleaners are highly valued by people with allergies. Modern household steam cleaners are used for a variety of daily needs.They can be used to clean any room: kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom or toilet. Hot steam will be effective in the following cases:

• removal of frozen stains from tiled surfaces, hob, microwave oven;
• removing limescale from faucets and other chrome-plated items;
• cleaning carpets and furniture;
• getting rid of parasites;
• washing windows, blinds and mirrors;
• if the steam cleaner has the appropriate function, it can be used as a garment steamer.

When choosing a steam cleaner, it's a good idea to have a list of reliable and trusted manufacturers on hand. Such a list for popular brands will be given below.

Karcher is a well-known German brand. The line of steam cleaners includes both compact models and very powerful functional devices. The products are characterized by: high-quality assembly, a rich set of accessories included, a guarantee.

The Clatronic manufacturer is also from Germany. Models of this company are considered budget. But the kit with the cleaners comes with the necessary attachments, and the design itself is highly adaptable. There are both hand-held and floor-standing models.

The Italian brand Ariete offers a choice of hand held steam cleaners, canister steam cleaners and steam mops. The goods are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. The set for the floor-standing models comes with a set with attachments for various purposes.

Another Italian brand. In the line of models, in addition to manual and floor options, there are steam vacuum cleaners, able to cope with a variety of tasks... As an additional attachment is offered steam disinfector, for professional use.

Philips products have long been known in the domestic consumer market. Steam generators from this manufacturer are especially fond of. There are manual and vertical models to choose from. The manufacturer's warranty can be up to 5 years.

When choosing a steam cleaner for your home, you should pay attention to the technical characteristics and equipment. The standard modern set with the purchase of a steam cleaner includes at least three nozzles. It should be understood that with an increase in the class of the unit, the number of nozzles increases. For budget models, it is possible to purchase the necessary components separately.

The following set can be considered optimal:

• measuring cup and funnel;
• extended nozzle on the nozzle;
• rounded brush;
• a brush for cleaning flat surfaces and a cloth for fragile items.

Compared to hand-held steam cleaners, floor-standing steam cleaners include more attachments and functions, but they are redundant for general household cleaning. The next important point when choosing is the technical characteristics. There are several parameters that you need to build on when buying.

• Power - the main component of productivity. For manual steam cleaners, whose power ranges from 0.7 to 1.6 kW, the best choice is models with a power of 1 kW.
• The pressure inside the tank. This indicator determines how multi-tasking your device will be. It is recommended to choose models with a pressure of 3 bar or more.
• Heating time. For manual models, this value is in the region of 10-30 seconds. Heating is indicated by an indicator. Floor models are heated for at least 5 minutes.
• Steam generation. There are two options for vaporization: in the tank itself or at the outlet of the nozzle. The first option is typical for manual steam cleaners, so the steam does not have time to cool down.
• Body and tank material... The body must be made of heat-resistant material, while the boiler is made of steel or aluminum.Aluminum is a winning option as it reduces the overall weight of the product.
• Tank capacity. This parameter determines how long you can use the steam cleaner without adding water, and how quickly it will be heated. In manual models, the volume of the tank ranges from 200 ml to 2 liters. It is worth choosing based on your needs and physical capabilities.
• Cord length... In order not to limit the scope of application of the steam cleaner, it is recommended to choose models with a cord length of 4 to 6 meters.

Don't think that a steam cleaner will make cleaning quick and easy. Proper use of the cleaner attachments is essential for best performance. Steam should be supplied at a distance of 2-5 centimeters from the place of contamination. When steaming plants, the cleaner should be at a distance of 30-40 centimeters. If your model of a steam cleaner does not have a steaming function, then you should not risk treating curtains and clothes. Large amounts of steam generated can damage your belongings. You should also observe the following safety measures:

• when working, try not to touch the tank and hold on to the handle;
• do not open the tank until the water cools down so as not to get caught in the release of steam;
• avoid hitting the jet of steam on unprotected surfaces of the body.

In the next video, you will find a brief overview of the Karcher SC 1 manual steam cleaner.