The principle of operation of the steam cleaner is simple. Water is poured into the device, heated for a while, and then converted into steam, which exits under high pressure.
The flow of moist hot air effectively destroys even complex and long-standing impurities, helps to clean hard-to-reach places and is suitable for many surfaces and materials. Cleaning with a steam cleaner saves time and effort. When working with it, you do not need to additionally use household chemicals. Moreover, sometimes the device copes in no time even with those impurities that could not be removed with aggressive detergents.
Steam cleaners can be manual and floor-mounted. The first ones are lighter and more compact, but have less power, water tank volume and limited operating time. Such models are suitable for cleaning household appliances, joints between tiles, washing windows and other small occasional work, as well as removing dirt in the car interior.
If you want to cover most of the tasks of cleaning your home or office, including cleaning and mopping floors, walls, window openings, carpets and furniture, it is better to choose a floor device. It is much more powerful, holds more water and lasts longer. And, as a rule, the equipment of such devices is more diverse and among the additional attachments there may even be an iron for steaming clothes.
Most often, a nozzle for cleaning cracks and other hard-to-reach places, several brushes of different sizes, as well as fabric covers and linings for washing windows and delicate surfaces are included with the steam cleaner.
Manufacturers of most devices allow the use of ordinary tap water. Please note that it may contain many minerals and various impurities, which is why the device will have to be descaled more often.
Therefore, it is better to fill the steam cleaner with filtered or bottled drinking water — this will simplify the care of the gadget.
Despite the fact that most devices have the same principle of operation, there may be nuances in their use, so first carefully read the instructions. But, as a rule, you should continue to act like this.
Pour water into the tank, plug the steam cleaner into the mains and wait for the liquid to heat up — this will take several minutes.
Then place the nozzle over the sink, press the steam button and drain the condensate. Then return the switch to the inactive position.
Choose a nozzle depending on which surface you plan to clean. For example, a nozzle with a narrow spout is suitable for cracks and hard—to—reach places, a small brush is suitable for cleaning tile joints, household appliances, plumbing and small parts, a brush with a cloth pad is suitable for washing windows and glasses, a wide mop brush is suitable for washing floors and walls. Put the nozzle on the device.
By the way, if your device does not include special fabric covers, you can make them yourself. Just put a microfiber cloth over the brush and secure it with an elastic band.
Now you can start cleaning. Activate the steam supply and adjust the power if necessary, if this function is provided in the device. Move the nozzle slowly over the selected surface. When dealing with complex contaminants, mold and plaque, you can attach the device to them for a few seconds.
If you are using a non-woven pad, wipe the surface with a clean cloth after exposure to steam to remove the soaked dirt.
Before washing the floor covering, collect dust and debris with a vacuum cleaner or a broom, and then operate the steam cleaner like a regular mop.
When washing windows, first clean the dirt from the openings using a nozzle nozzle and a small brush, then proceed to cleaning the frames. Take care of the glasses last. Wash them with a cloth pad, moving from top to bottom, and then wipe them dry with a clean cloth so that there are no streaks left.
If you have not finished cleaning yet, and there is no water in the tank, disconnect the appliance from the mains, fill in a new portion, plug it back into the outlet and wait for the liquid to heat up.
After cleaning, turn off the steam cleaner from the mains, let it cool down and drain the remaining water. Rinse the hard nozzles under clean running water, and wash the fabric linings by hand with liquid or ordinary soap and let them dry completely.
