subject: Carpet And Rug Care: Steam Cleaners In A Nutshell [print this page] Now why do you think you need a steam cleaner?
For starters, you would if you want to stamp out the mold, dust mites, germs and allergens lurking on to your blinds, rugs and sofa cushions. Or if you or family members are allergic to dust. In those instances a steam cleaner is a good choice for you.
They can also make short work of stubborn stains. You might think of it as melting stains away with hot, dry vapor.
Best of all when you steam clean your shower curtain, the shower stall and toilet area you are in fact sterilizing those surfaces! Flushing out the hidden bacteria and germs with just plain tap water - no chemical cleaners required. (Just be wary of cleaning your soft plastic stuff or any painted surfaces with hot steam. You may just melt and ruin them in the process.)
Now there's not much to a steam cleaner really. Most are not much more than a water reservoir with a heater to boil the water. This produces steam. And this steam is then released under pressure through a hose and unleashed on dirt and grime.
Typically you'll find full sized models, think canister vacuum size, work best. And even though hand held steam cleaners sound like an ideal solution most find them to be more trouble than they are worth. Their diminutive size limits them to smaller cleaning tasks that are frankly better dealt with by an ample application of elbow grease alone.
If you're thinking one of these is worthwhile then be sure to check for certain features.
Look for the on/off button. It's easier to operate if it's on the wand itself. That way you don't have to reach for the button on the unit itself.
How is the selection of tools? At the least you want a variety of brushes including a jet nozzle, hand held and floor brush.
How much of water can you fill at a time? More is better as that will let you avoid the cool down time involved in refilling the unit. Too much waiting can be frustrating when you want to clean, right?
How fast does it heat up? Somewhere between six to ten minutes is acceptable.
What's the boiler made of? Stainless steel is rust proof and hence preferable.
Does it have a long enough cord?
If you're already running out of storage space go for more compact models.
Still it would be untrue to say that steam cleaners are the ultimate cleaning tool. Because even though you can get rid of dirt and grime quickly from your floors and carpets, the water may leave more of a mess for you to deal with.
Again the biggest drawback is that the steam run short after a relatively few minutes of use. Then you'll have to take a break to give the machine as long a half an hour to cool down before you can refill the reservoir safely.
Still steam cleaners do have their place. So if you are convinced that you can't live without one go ahead and see how clean your home can be.
