April 14th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
Traditional mops used throughout the house to clean hard services consisted of a material mop and a bucket with a wringing device which was filled with water and cleaning solution. This traditional mop and bucket way of cleaning hard surfaces in the house is now being challenged by the ever growing steam mop market which provides an easier and environmentally friendly way to clean and sanitise the family home.
Steam cleaners, unlike traditional mops, have a built in water reservoir, an element to heat the water to produce steam and a mop like head which is usually covered in a microfiber cover which can be swivelled around in different directions. It is important to note that steam mops clean the floor by using steam which may leave them damp after you have cleaned the surface. The other important thing to note is that they are not vacuum cleaners so are unsuitable for heavily soiled floors and are suited more to being used frequently on slightly dirty floors.
There are many cleaners available on the market with some such as the Shark Steam mop, being great value for money and designed specifically for use around the home. When deciding on which one is suitable for your home it is necessary to consider what features a they have and are they suitable for cleaning the types of surfaces found in your house.
The first thing that needs to be decided when purchasing a new piece of cleaning equipment is the amount of money that you wish to spend. Steam mops vary in price from $100 up to $400 for the top of the range models. There are many available around $100 so you do not need to spend large amounts of money.
The next thing to consider is how heavy is the equipment to use and are the handles, buttons and the mop itself easy to use, light weight and ergonomic. This is important when using them for long periods of time. If it gets heavy or is difficult to use after a while then it will not get used very much and sit in the cupboard.
Also, when deciding to purchase a steam cleaner, consider how much the accessories and replacement pads cost. It’s not good value if the machine is cheap but the replacement pads are very expensive or are unavailable.
Lastly, it is important to note that they are not suitable for all households. They are not a vacuum cleaner so things such as pet hair are not collected. In situations where the floors are heavily soiled or covered in pet hair, a suitable vacuum cleaner is recommended rather than a steam mop.
April 13th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
There are many types of hand held steam cleaners on the market so finding the right one for your situation requires a little research. The smaller, hand held cleaners work much the same way as carpet and upholstery steam cleaners which use high temperature steam to penetrate materials to sanitize and loosen grease and dirt. Using steam to clean surfaces and materials offers a great alternative for households that prefer not to use chemicals as they have children, pets or household members that have allergies. Many manufacturers have hand held steam cleaners available with differing features and attachments. Some of the more recognised brands include Shark, Bissell and Hoover.
They are light and portable and can be used quite effectively in the kitchen and the bathroom. Steam makes a great cleaner for grease, mould and stains as it effectively loosens the grim which can then be easily wiped away. The use of steam also eliminates odours especially in the kitchen as the steam provides a thorough cleaning and sanitising of the surface. Hand held steam cleaners can also be used to remove wrinkles from clothing and upholstery as well as removing carpet indentations caused by furniture.
When considering which cleaner is right for your situation it is necessary to note the differences in steam pressure and watts, the types of steam cleaners and their size as well as the features that each model has. Before purchasing a steam cleaner you should consider the following.
Hand held steam cleaners use high pressure steam to blast away dirt and grime. To do this effectively the steam cleaner needs to have the ability to create high pressure. Many of the hand held units generally have pressure ratings from 30 psi up to 65 psi with the higher the pressure rating the more effective the cleaner will be. The watts rating of the steam cleaner is not as important as the pressure rating but it is good to choose a unit that has a higher wattage.
There are many different types of these steam cleaners available on the market. When deciding on which model is right for the job that you are going to be using it for it is a good idea to consider things such as how much water the machine takes, how long does it take to heat up and is a hand held steam cleaner to best choice of cleaning unit for the job you are doing. It is also important to look at the features or other attachments that come with it as different features allow for easier cleaning and application of steam on clothing, carpets, rugs, mattresses and upholstery.
April 12th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
Over the last couple of years steam and electric mops have gained popularity with consumers who are looking for an efficient and easy to use cleaning tool. One of the most popular models of steam mops is the steam shark which has some unique features that make it slightly ahead of the rest in terms of design, ease of use and cleaning ability.
It is an electric steam mop that uses the combination of a microfiber pad and high temperature water vapour or steam to lift dirt and grit leaving a clean and sanitized surface. Some of the advantages of the steam shark include several different shaped pads, light weight design, chemical free, easy to use, safe for all hard floors, large water reservoir and carpet glider.
The steam shark comes equipped with several sizes of microfiber pads which includes 2 rectangle pads, 2 triangle pads and 1 steam duster. The different pads are great for cleaning in those hard to reach places while the steam duster gives curtains and blinds a more effective clean without having to take them down off the windows.
The light weight design is one of its great features. Some steam mops and electric mops can be quite cumbersome and heavy especially when they are filled with water. The shark steam cleaner is small and light even when the reservoir is full, which makes it suitable for almost everyone including the elderly and even the kids.
One of the most important advantages of using the shark steam mop for cleaning is that you no longer need to use chemical cleaners. It produces steam at a hot enough temperature to make cleaning even the dirtiest floors easy with just tap water. Using no chemicals is great especially for households that have children and pets.
The steam shark is also easy to use with one touch operation and an easy to fill reservoir. It has easy to attach microfiber pads and the steam mop will indicate when the water is hot enough to start cleaning.
The shark mop is a great unit for cleaning almost all types of hard surface flooring and it also has an attachment which makes the steam shark suitable for carpets and rugs. The light weight design and user friendly design make this steam mop a great alternative to the traditional mop and bucket cleaning.
April 11th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
Steam cleaning carpets and upholstery is an important part of the cleaning process that extends both the life of the carpets and the upholstery. It also has the added benefit of keeping the house relatively germ and bacteria free. Many households vacuum the carpets and upholstery frequently but even with regular vacuuming there is still dirt and grit that is down in the fibres of the carpet and upholstery that are not picked up by vacuuming alone. To remove this deep down grit and dirt steam cleaning of both upholstery and carpets is one of the most effective methods to tackle this problem.
Using steam is very effective for cleaning carpets and upholstery as this method is able to penetrate deep within the fibres of the carpet and the upholstery to provide a thorough clean. It works by using very hot steam to penetrate the fibres of the material and loosen the dirt and grit particles which can then be removed by vacuum. This method is very effective as the particles of dirt and grit throughout the material are loosened by the steam process and removed without introducing loads of chemicals into the carpets or upholstery. This cleaning method for your carpets can be done one of two ways, the do it yourself approach by hiring the required equipment or booking one of the many steam cleaning companies to come and complete the job for you.
Steam cleaning equipment is usually available for hire at many supermarkets. This equipment is available with the cleaning solutions needed to clean carpets and upholstery. Cleaning with hire equipment can be hit and miss so it is important to check that when you pick up the equipment you have all the pieces of the machine such as the hoses, the cleaning chemicals and the carpet and upholstery attachments. If this is the first time using this equipment it is also good to have someone at the hire place show you how to assemble and work the cleaning machinery.
Regular steam cleaning of your carpets and upholstery keeps them clean and healthy which can also increase the life of your carpets and furniture. Some other tips for keeping your carpets and furniture in top condition includes things such as cleaning spills as soon as they happen, having door mats at all doors to reduce the amount of dirt being walked into the house and when cleaning spills on the carpet make sure that you blot the spill and not rub as this can damage the fibres of the carpet and leave a noticeable patch.
April 10th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
Vacuum cleaners have been around since the late 1800s when Bissell invented a cleaner that used a partial vacuum to pick up dirt when cleaning the shop. From the humble beginnings in the Bissell family shop the vacuum cleaner has continued to develop as new technology and designs have become available. The development of vacuum cleaners that have multiple uses has been pushed by consumers who want more value for money as well as compact machines that complete multiple tasks reducing the need to by several different cleaners. One of the most popular of these vacuums that have multiple cleaning uses is the steam vacuum cleaner that can both vacuum the carpets and also introduce steam for a more efficient clean.
Using a steam vacuum as opposed to just a normal vacuum cleaner has many advantages that can make cleaning the house more efficient. These advantages include more effective dirt removal, a number of attachments which allow them to be used on a wide range of surfaces, easy to use, suitable on most surfaces, saves money and is more convenient than hiring a professional steam cleaning company.
Using a steam vacuum gives you the best of both worlds by providing you with the suction of the vacuum and the steam to release dirt and grit that is deep within the carpet fibres. They basically work by forcing hot water vapour into the carpet or upholstery in the cleaning path which loosens the grit and dirt which is then taken up by the vacuum. The water that is used to make the steam is also sucked up by the vacuum leaving the carpet relatively dry and able to be walked on straight away.
Many steam vacuums have various attachments included which allow the vacuum to be used for cleaning things other than carpet. Many models include attachments for upholstery, blinds and mattresses making it easy to use the deep cleaning ability of steam on these things.
Using a vacuum with steam is quite easy as many have one touch settings and simple controls making the vacuum and the steam parts very user friendly. Many are also quite easy to clean after use.
Owning and using a steam vacuum can give you a similar clean to that which a professional carpet cleaning company can provide without the cost and the hassle of booking a time, waiting around for the person to do the carpets and paying a premium for the service. The purchase price may be more than a regular vacuum but with use it can work out cheaper than hiring a professional each time and your carpets are kept looking great for longer.
