Steam Mops

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.

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.

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.

The use of steam cleaners as an alternative to conventional mop and bucket cleaning has increased over the years as manufacturers have provided many options for the domestic market.  When deciding if one is suitable for a situation it is necessary to first explore how a steam cleaner works and then discuss the pros and cons in relation to purchasing and using this type of cleaner in a domestic situation.

They usually consist of a water reservoir, a heating element, cleaning pad, handle and a power source.  The cleaner converts the water to a high temperature to create the steam which is applied to the surface either through or in front of the cleaning pad.  Many cleaners which use steam are designed for nearly all floor surfaces with many models featuring an attachment for use on carpets and rugs.

There are a few pros and cons that need to be considered before purchasing or using a steam mop.  They include the following.

One of the main advantages of using this type of cleaner is that only hot water is used in the cleaning process instead of chemicals.  This is great for households who have children, pets or for people who wish to do their bit for the environment.  They also sanitises the surface as well as cleaning it unlike chemical cleaners which you need different types for cleaning and sanitizing a surface.

Using a steam cleaner is one of the most effective ways of cleaning a hard surface.  Many hard surfaces have pore like imperfections which can trap small particles of dirt which are not picked up when cleaning with conventional cleaners.  When a steam mop is used on these surfaces the steam can penetrate these pores and lift the dirt which can then be removed easily by scrubbing or wiping away.

Steam cleaning can be used on many surfaces in the home making a steam cleaner the most versatile cleaner available.  Apart from use on hard floor surfaces it can be used for great effect when cleaning bathroom tiles, in and around the kitchen area and for tackling dirt and smells in houses that have indoor pets.

As with most things steam cleaning does have some considerations that should be noted before purchasing or before use.  There are some limitations which include things such as steam cleaning does not remove pet hair as it is not a vacuum which uses suction to lift and remove the hair, surfaces that are really dirty may result in the cleaner just pushing the mess around rather than cleaning it and in regards to the steam cleaner itself the water has to be heated to a relatively high temperature which means the cleaner needs to operate at a high temperature and precautions need to be taken to avoid steam burns.

Portable steam cleaners, also referred to hand held steam cleaners come in many different types and are designed for a large range of cleaning applications.  Many of these cleaners are much smaller than the commercial steam cleaners and are marketed as house hold or domestic use in areas of cleaning such as in the kitchen, bathroom and outside for use in the garage, car or boat.  There are several different types and brands of portable cleaners available each with their own features, advantages and disadvantages.

One of the most popular types of portable steam cleaner is the jug type cleaner as they are a comparatively small unit which has multiple attachments and can access small places that need to be cleaned.  These cleaners are an all in one unit where the user holds the whole cleaner in their hand as they would a jug of water.  The main advantages of these jug shaped portable cleaners is they are the cheapest on the market costing between $40 to $70 an the unit is small, light weight and easy to use.  These steam cleaners also feature attachments such as different cleaning heads and extension hoses to increase the versatility of the steam cleaner.  The jug type steam cleaners do however have some disadvantages such as low steam pressure and a small reservoir for the water.  The low steam pressure means that the cleaning effectiveness is not as good as other household and commercial steam cleaners so tougher grit and dirt may not be moved very easily.  The other disadvantage of the jug portable steam cleaners is that the reservoir that contains the water is quite small and only provides 5 to 10 minutes of steam before it needs to be filled up with more water.

Another model of steam cleaner that is also portable is the canister style steam cleaner which is similar in appearance to a vacuum cleaner.  These portable steam cleaners are larger than the jug shaped cleaners but have attachments to allow them to clean in tight spaces.  These cleaners also have advantages and disadvantages.  They usually have a higher steam pressure and larger reservoir for the water which means that the steam can give a much better clean and the unit can keep producing steam for longer cleaning times of between 40 and 60 minutes.  These styles of steam cleaners are also very versatile as they include attachments for the cleaning of things such as BBQs, cars, boats and hard to reach spaces of the kitchen and bathroom.  Some of the disadvantages of the canister portable steam cleaner is the initial cost of the unit which can be up to $400 and these units can be a hassle to use with the main part of the steam cleaner needing to be pulled around like a canister vacuum cleaner.