How to Use a Steam Cleaner to Clean Your Whole Home and Save Time on Chores

A steam cleaner is a versatile tool you can use to clean and sanitize a wide variety of items. You can use it for hard surfaces like bathroom floors and countertops, upholstered furniture, mattresses, and even the clothes hanging in your closet. A steam cleaner uses hot water and high pressure to lift dirt, kill bacteria and allergens, remove odors, and sanitize surfaces.

Steam cleaners are available at various price points and in different styles, including heavy-duty upright steam cleaners and smaller hand-held versions. They typically come with several interchangeable attachments to clean different materials and surfaces effectively.

Keep reading to learn how a steam cleaner works, what you can and should not use it for, and tips for how to use it for best results.

How a Steam Cleaner Works

A steam cleaner uses hot water and high pressure to clean, deodorize, and sanitize hard and soft surfaces. A burst of hot steam is released through an attachment of your choice—whether that's a nozzle or a brush—and it penetrates the surface to lift dirt, kill mold, allergens, and bacteria, remove foul odors, and sanitize the item. The four-step process below explains how a steam cleaner works:

• Water Heating: A steam cleaner has a container that holds and heats water. The temperature usually reaches between 150 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit, but the water temperature inside heavy-duty industrial steam cleaners can reach up to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Steam Vapor: Once the steam cleaner reaches a high temperature, it creates steam vapor which is released through your chosen attachment. A steam cleaner typically comes with a variety of attachments, including nozzles, brushes, and squeegees.
• Cleaning Action: The high heat and pressure of the steam vapor loosen dirt and grime on surfaces as soon as it comes into contact with them. And since there are no chemicals involved in the cleaning process, you don't need to worry about what you may be breathing in or what's covering your surfaces.
• Sanitization: In addition to deep cleaning, the steam vapor's high temperature sanitizes surfaces by immediately killing bacteria, dust mites, mold, and other allergens.
  

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What Can You Clean With a Steam Cleaner?

You can use a steam cleaner for a variety of hard and soft surfaces throughout your home, some of which may surprise you.

• Bathroom surfaces: Use a steam cleaner to spruce up grimy grout, deep clean wall and floor tile, release soap scum in the shower, and sanitize countertops and toilets.
• Carpet: Deep clean wall-to-wall carpet and area rugs with a steam cleaner. It's an excellent way to lift stains, remove odors and dirt buildup, and refresh the carpet fibers.
• Upholstery: Use the fabric attachment on your steam cleaner to refresh upholstered furniture. Use the steam cleaner on all sides of the upholstered piece to lift dirt and dust buildup, remove stains, kill bacteria, and revive the piece's colors.
• Clothes: To remove wrinkles without an iron, use a handheld steam cleaner. In addition to smoothing out the fabric,
• Mattresses: While you should vacuum your mattresses regularly, steam cleaning them every couple of months is an excellent way to give them a deep clean. The steam vapor kills dust mites, allergens, and bacteria, releases grease and other stains, and removes dust and dirt buildup.
• Bedding: Refresh large bedding components such as comforters every season by steam cleaning them.
• Toys: Stuffed toys can get incredibly dirty and a steam cleaner provides an effective way for cleaning and sanitizing the toys so they are safe for your kids to play with.
• Ceiling fans: A lot of dirt collects on ceiling fans, which often become sticky and covered with a layer of dust. Use a steam cleaner to carefully clean the gunk which can help dramatically improve the air quality in your home.
• Appliances: Use a steam cleaner to sanitize kitchen appliances. Unplug the appliances then give them a good deep clean with the steamer, which will also remove lingering odors from a microwave, stove, or oven.
  

What Items Should You Avoid Using a Steam Cleaner

Delicate Fabrics

Avoid using a steam cleaner on delicate fabrics such as silk and velvet. The steam vapor's high heat can cause the fabrics to shrink and shrivel up, causing permanent damage.

Antique Rugs

Antique rugs should not be cleaned with a steam cleaner as the age of the fibers and the types of materials used can make them too delicate to withstand high heat.

Suede and Leather

Do not use a steam cleaner on suede and leather items, whether it's clothing or upholstery. The high heat and moisture can cause water stains and permanent damage to both.

Hardwood Floors

The porous nature of hardwood floors means moisture can seep in and cause the wood flooring to warp. For that reason, avoid using a steam cleaner on hardwood as well as other porous floor coverings such as laminate, vinyl, brick, and marble.

How to Use a Steam Cleaner

1. Prepare the space or item. If you are steam cleaning the bathroom floor, remove objects such as trash cans and bath mats, and sweep or vacuum the floor to remove solid dirt. If you are steam cleaning an upholstered sofa, remove all throw pillows and blankets.
2. Get the steam cleaner ready. Fill the water container according to the manufacturer's directions and choose the appropriate attachment based on what you will be cleaning. Then turn on the steamer and let the water heat up.
3. Test the steam cleaner. Before you begin, test the steam cleaner on a hidden spot on the floor or furniture to ensure it is safe to use and doesn't cause any damage.
4. Clean one section at a time. Start steam cleaning, working at a slow and steady pace, one small section at a time. Keep a clean microfiber towel on hand to wipe off excess moisture and dirt as you go along. Depending on what you are cleaning and the type of steam cleaner you have, you may choose to add a step and disinfect the surface using the sanitizing setting on the cleaning tool.
5. Let the space air dry. Whether it's flooring or a large piece of furniture, allow it to fully air dry before use. Speed up the process by opening windows or bringing in a fan to help circulate air.
6. Store the steam cleaner properly. Once done, turn the steamer off, let it cool down, empty and rinse out the water container, and remove any dirt that has collected. Only put it away to store once it has cooled down and has been properly emptied.

Tips for Using a Steam Cleaner

• Maintain the steam cleaner. After every use, make sure to empty the water container, rinse it out, clean the attachment, and wipe down the steam cleaner from the outside. This will ensure there are no blockages and that all dirt has been removed to allow the steam cleaner to function as intended.
• Be careful. When using a steam cleaner, be mindful of the fact that the high heat can easily cause burns. Always point the attachment away from yourself and never place your hands in close proximity to the attachment as steam is being released.
• Follow the manufacturer's directions. Every steam cleaner model and brand is slightly different, so for best results, follow the manufacturer's directions for use and storage.
• Use distilled water. To avoid mineral buildup, use distilled water in the steam cleaner. There is no need to add any cleaning products to the water unless directed by the manufacturer of the model.
• Treat stains first. If you are cleaning a heavily stained area, treat the stains first, then use the steam cleaner.
• Remove solid dirt first. Similarly, sweep, vacuum, or wipe down surfaces before steam cleaning in order to remove solid dirt first.