subject: Steam Cleaning - It's Better For Your Home [print this page] Steam cleaning is a relatively new concept in home cleaning appliances. You've probably seen infomercials about steam cleaners. It looks like one of those things that look neat on TV but can't be done in reality; this is not the case at all! What exactly is steam cleaning, you ask? It describes cleaning with vaporized water, and this water is extremely hot - usually around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is just below the boiling point of water. The heat weakens the bonds that dirt has with the surface. The steam is very dry when it comes out, so the surface can be dry with just a washcloth.
Believe it or not, even hard surfaces are porous. These pores are so small that the human eye can't even detect them, but dirt can find them very easily. Steam vapor from a steam cleaner can penetrate these porous surfaces and get to those hard to reach surfaces. Vacuum cleaners can penetrate the pores, but they can't get deep down into them like steam can. Cleaning with steam vapor also means that you won't have to use chemicals to clean your surfaces, which means that a steam cleaner is a big money saver right from the very beginning.
There's an even bigger advantage to steam cleaning over the traditional method. Steam cleaning destroys mold, germs, bacteria, viruses, and dust mites. So, not only does the steam cleaner clean the surfaces, but it sanitizes them too! It's a boon for people with allergies, people with small children, or people who just care about being healthy and don't want to be sick all the time. You won't need bleach or Lysol anymore when you own a steam cleaner, because it does the work of both of them. Steam cleaning also disinfects bathroom surfaces as well.
Steam cleaning is a safe, allergy-friendly, non-toxic way of getting your whole home clean. You won't have to push the dirt around with a broom, or mop your floors with dirty water. The steam is very dry, disinfects, and sanitizes, which allows you to wipe away both dirt and germs with just a washcloth or damp towel. The cleaned surfaces also dry quickly due to the low moisture in the vapor. A steam cleaner does have an initial investment attached to it, but it pays for itself rather quickly because of the money you save in not having to buy a mop, cleaning supplies, or disinfectants.
