How to choose a steam cleaner

Along with aqua, washing vacuum cleaners, steam mops and other household appliances, steamers that contribute to relief, as well as improving the quality of cleaning in the premises of residential or other purposes, are becoming increasingly important today. However, a wide range of steam cleaners, characterized by appearance, functionality, cost and other characteristics, causes most of the buyers perplexity: how to choose a steam clearance from a mass of proposed options?

General idea of \u200b\u200bsteam cleansers

Relatively recently, steamers were used only for gender disinfection in medical institutions and represented rather bulky devices. Over time, the most diverse models of steam cleaners have appeared in the stores, which immediately caused the interest of a large number of consumers.

Along with previous models, the principle of action of modern devices is to process the surface with the effect of a powerful stream of hot steam without the use of any chemistry. The source of the formation of the steam is distilled, filtered or ordinary boiled water, which is poured into a special tank of the steam cleaner. When the device is included in the network, the water temperature begins to gradually increase, and having reached the boiling point - it is converted into a gaseous state. When you press the start button located on the device’s case or on the starting gun, the steam stream breaks out of the tank nozzle under high pressure and acts on a small area of \u200b\u200bthe surface, the size of which is determined by the area of \u200b\u200bthe nozzle used.

The treatment of surfaces with high -temperature steam contributes not only to the removal of old and difficult to remove stains of fat, dirt, but also to the rid of housing from harmful microorganisms, preventing diseases such as asthma, allergies. The issue of acquiring a steam cleaner for the home, where young children, pets and people prone to diseases of the upper respiratory tract lives, is especially relevant.

The environmental purity of consumables, the compact dimensions of the device and simplicity of operating are opened unlimited possibilities for using steamers in everyday life, offices, medical centers. However, before buying, it is worth considering both positive and negative points related to the use of steam cleaners, most of which are revealed only during the operation of the device.

Advantages/disadvantages of steam cleaners

Like any household appliances, steamers are not devoid of certain advantages and disadvantages that the buyer will learn about only after the acquisition and direct use of the device.

Among the most significant advantages of steamers include:

• destruction of various types of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms;
• removal of old spots from clothes, upholstery of furniture, carpets and other surfaces;
• delivering objects of clothing from the smell of mold, damp, old age;
• visual renewal of carpet coatings under the influence of steam by raising the pile;
• purification of polluted areas in hard -to -reach places through various nozzles;
• duration of operation.

Despite the fact that with the help of a steam cleaner you can wash the car, bathroom, kitchen and cope with cleaning carpets, furniture, clothes and other interior details, the main disadvantages of the operation of a unique device are the following:

• small stains remain on glass and other transparent surfaces, which are easily removed with a microfiber rag;
• when processing old spots, it is necessary to make efforts, since dirt under the influence of steam will not disappear independently;
• high cost.

Against the background of all advantages, the disadvantages of steamers are not of particular significance. However, the list of pros and cons is largely dependent on the type, model and other indicators of the selected steam cleaner.

Types of steam cleaners

The entire assortment of household ferries offered today by various manufacturers is conditionally divided into 2 types:

• manual. In most cases, manual steamers are available in the form of teapons and are the best option for performing a small volume. They differ in compactness, a minimum set of additional functions, low power (600-1600W) and cost. However, the weight of the device, without taking into account water, reaches 1 kg or more, which causes difficulties when cleaning the surface of a large area, since with one hand you have to constantly hold the steam cleaner and wipe the processed surface with the other. In addition, the duration of the continuous operation of manual devices does not exceed 20 minutes due to a small volume of the tank (0.2-0.5 l). After refueling the steam cleaner with water, you will have to wait until the water will turn into steam, as a result of which the treatment of large areas can stretch for a rather long time;

• floor steamers are produced in the form of vacuum cleaners and are suitable for both household and professional use. Unlike manual, stationary steamers are powerful (1500-2300 W), multifunctional devices, the intensive work time of which is 1 hour or more, since the capacity of the tank varies within 1.5-3.2 liters. However, the cost of floor steamers equipped with various additional capabilities does not always correspond to the budget of the middle layer of the population.

Thus, floor steamers are deprived of many disadvantages inherent in manual devices, but their cost is still at a fairly high level.

The criteria for choosing steamers

Steamers, which outwardly have a similar design, but differ in cost, have either various design features that affect the productivity of the device, or are equipped with a number of additional functions that may not be required during operation. And if there are several, at first glance, there are little varying steamers, which one to choose and what characteristics should you pay special attention to?

When choosing a steam cleaner, it is advisable to analyze the following points:

• manufacturer. The durability of the equipment largely depends on the quality of the materials used in the production of goods, so the household appliances of famous manufacturers cost a lot, but also serves decently. However, from models of well -known brands, which include Philips steamers and no less popular Karcher steamers, you can always choose a budget option that satisfies the conditions of future use. Odyssey steamers have proven themselves, the cost of which varies between the brands of Philips and Karcher manufacturers;
• power - affects the speed and quality of cleaning. The best option for home use is a steam cleaner with a power of at least 1000 watts;
• the volume of the tank - determines the time of continuous use of equipment. The heating of the fluid in a small volume tank can occur in 15-60 seconds, while heating the spacious tank takes 10-20 minutes. For example, a steam cleaner with a tank capacity of about 1 liter is able to work non-stop from 15-30 minutes;
• iron. A steam boiler is made of aluminum or steel. In this case, the aluminum boiler is less susceptible to the effects of scale and heats up faster;
• the pressure of the steam (1.5-4 bar), along with the power of the device, affects the quality of processing. For general cleaning the house, it is better to purchase equipment with a pressure of at least 3 bar;
• the maximum pair temperature should be about 130 ° C. This value is enough to remove various kinds of domestic pollution. In this case, the surface processing of a ferry, the temperature of which is below 110 ° C, is unlikely to delight the owner of the miracle of the technique in the fight against mold and old spots;
• the length of the hose (1.5-3 m) is the necessary criterion when buying a floor steam cleaner, since getting to interior items located near the ceiling or on a closet is quite problematic with a 1.5 m hose length, and completely raise the device in 5- 6 kg and hold it at a height for some time - not everyone can do it;
• nozzles. The functionality of the steam cleaner depends on the quantity and type of nozzles. Most often, nozzles for cleaning the floor, textiles, windows, point nozzle, spray, round brush and others are used.

Some additional functions will not be superfluous, for example:

• the steam supply regulator - provides the ability to process clothes with dry steam, and remove persistent contaminants on solid surfaces - wet;
• safety valve - protects the user from the burn, preventing the opening of the tank if there is pressure in it;
• the presence of a removable tank - simplifies the process of filling and freeing the tank from the liquid after operation;
• protection from children is performed in the form of a button blocking launch, thereby preventing a steam jet output without preliminary unlocking a protective button;
• control on the handle - it matters for floor steamers, since during operation the need to bend to tilt each time to switch the modes will disappear;
• the function of continuous supply of steam is convenient when cleaning carpets, tiles in the bath and other extensive areas, since there will be no need to hold the finger on the start button.

Before buying a steam cleaner, it is worth remembering that powerful devices are better cleaned and disinfected by the most complex surfaces in hard -to -reach places. However, devices with a high power and pressure indicator with low spaciousness of the tank do not differ in prolonged work in conditions of intensive use.

The reviews of relatives, acquaintances who have been using the device for a long time will help to better understand certain models of steam cleaners for the home. However, which vapor refractor to buy only the future user decide, since only the buyer himself knows for what purpose this universal device is purchased.