Low Flow Steam Cleaners

How They Work

• There are different versions of low-flow steam cleaners, depending on whether they are for home or commercial use, or if they are specialized for just one kind of surface. The basic plan remains the same. There is an insulated boiler that contains the water and heats it to the high temperature that generates steam, usually 245 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Steam is delivered through a hose with a nozzle or a wand equipped with nozzles or tools. General-purpose cleaners have a variety of accessories, so that many kinds of surfaces can be treated.

Uses for Cleaners

• Household steam cleaners are used on floorings of all types, carpets, counters, upholstery, bedding, showers, tubs and ovens. They are used for detailing vehicles’ interiors and exteriors, and cleaning tools, yard equipment and patio furniture. Some other uses include polishing jewelry, unclogging drains, defrosting freezers, killing algae on decks and other outdoor wood surfaces, and killing weeds. Commercial vapor steam cleaners are used by hospitals, restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, automotive detailers, schools, dental and medical offices, the military and cleaning companies where there is a need for combined sanitization, cleaning, and disinfecting in one operation.

Advantages

• Low-flow steam cleaners use very little water, since the vapor contains only 5 to 6 percent moisture. Rajiv Kohli and Kashmiri Mittal in "Developments in Surface Contamination and Cleaning," state that one-quarter cup of water produces about 1,200 quarts of steam. For an eight-hour period, a steam cleaner would use about 3.99 quarts. Since only a small amount of moisture is used, it takes a short time for cleaned surfaces to dry, eliminating a chance for bacteria and mold to grow in wet carpeting or upholstery left by cleaning methods that use more water. The steam kills fleas, flea eggs, dust mites and bedbugs. It also kills bacteria and mold, sanitizing treated surfaces and lessening allergens. Since detergents and cleaners aren't normally used, there are no chemicals to dispose of and no residues left on cleaned surfaces.

Disadvantages

• Low-pressure steam cleaners are expensive with good quality cleaners costing between $500 and $2,000 as of 2008. They use considerable electricity, drawing about as much energy as a vacuum cleaner. When a single-tank machine runs out of water, the cleaner has to be cooled before refilling. Double tank machines have been developed that can be refilled while the cleaner is in use.