Steam cleaner for home: the principle of operation and features of a household steam cleaner, selection criteria

Initially, steam cleaners were used for disinfection and cleaning of premises in medical institutions. Recently, however, such devices have begun to be actively used in domestic conditions. The home steam cleaner removes dirt from a wide variety of surfaces. What criteria should be followed when choosing these devices and what a good steamer should be, you need to figure it out.

Principle of operation and purpose

Before choosing a steam cleaner for your home, you need to know about the functionality of this type of household appliance. A steam generator is a device that is used to remove dirt using hot steam.

The principle of its functioning is as follows. Pure water, placed in a special container with a heated part, boils under the influence of an electric current and is converted into vapor. They, in turn, are sent to a flexible hose and taken out through a special nozzle. The presence of valves causes the accumulation of steam, creating a high pressure. After pressing the release button, the shutter opens, hot air quickly exits the nozzle.

The elimination of contaminants is carried out due to the treatment with microdrops of boiling water and the effect of steam, which, as if "knocks off" small particles of dirt. Additional attachments and brushes can significantly increase the effect.

So, the main functions of a household steam cleaner are as follows:

• cleaning of a wide variety of materials that have sufficient resistance to high temperatures and moisture - mirrors, glass, ceramics, sinks;
• removal of dirt in hard-to-reach places - cracks, joints between tiles, grooves;
• elimination of lice, nits, bedbugs and other parasites;
• care of curtains, carpets, interior items and some clothing.

The hot steam stream effectively removes impurities, which consist of sugar, paraffin, oils, fats and glycerin, without the additional use of chemicals. However, sometimes the surface must be pre-treated with a cleaning agent to remove urinary calculus, rust and limescale.

Design features and varieties

When thinking about choosing a home steam cleaner, you need to know that such devices may differ in a set of accessories and design features. Basic equipment includes:

• boiler (water tank);
• electric heater;
• valve and flexible hose;
• "Pistol" with a trigger;
• special attachments.

On sale there are models with the option of liquid suction, in which the dirt dissolves. Through a special nozzle, dirt particles penetrate into a separate container. In addition, professional equipment is equipped with a pump and an injector for supplying a cleaning agent to the surface of the nozzle. The functionality is directly dependent on the accessories supplied with the home steam cleaner. The rating of the best devices indicates that these devices are equipped with the following types of attachments:

• brushes for carpets, upholstered furniture, stone and tiles;
• metal scraper for scratch-resistant coatings;
• terry napkins;
• nozzle for cleaning window structures;
• narrow tip for crevice treatment;
• point nozzle for taps, drain holes and chrome elements;
• steaming iron;
• smoothing iron;
• handpiece for the care of textiles;
• spray.

There are several types of steam generators on sale today.

Manual steam generators

This is a compact device, the appearance of which resembles an ordinary electric kettle. It can be used to clean rooms with a small area. The handheld steam cleaner has the following features:

• affordable cost;
• small power indicators - in the range of 600-1600 watts;
• small container for water;
• weight is about one kilogram.

The functionality of the hand tool is in direct proportion to the pressure delivered. Some models can only cope with refreshing the state of upholstered furniture, while others allow you to clean plumbing fixtures and potatoes.

Floor standing models of steam cleaners

The best choice for home use is floor standing devices. Their design resembles that of a suction vacuum cleaner. The body of the devices is located on the floor and moves using small wheels. When working, you need to hold the hose in your hands, at the end of which there is a nozzle. This equipment has the following distinctive features:

• high power - in the range of 1500-2400 watts;
• capacious boiler;
• the presence of additional attachments;
• high cost.

Multifunctional devices

In fact, these models are modernized floor structures. To such steam generators You can attach different tips, smoothing irons and other devices. These devices are distinguished by a capacious water tank, high pressure of the steam flow and considerable power indicators. They are considered the most expensive steam generators.

Main advantages and disadvantages

Before deciding on a particular model, you should familiarize yourself with the general benefits of this equipment. There are quite a few of them, these are:

• quick and easy cleaning;
• elimination of parasites and harmful microorganisms;
• no need to use household chemicals;
• elimination of stench;
• cleaning hard-to-reach places and upholstered furniture;
• refreshment of rugs and carpets;
• removal of limescale and urolithiasis on plumbing equipment.

But, unfortunately, there were some drawbacks here.. These include the following:

• high cost of multifunctional devices;
• some materials leave noticeable streaks after steam treatment;
• in order to remove the stubborn dirt, you need to try very hard;
• do not handle delicate fabric materials and plastics;
• you can easily ruin the fibers of carpets or upholstered chairs;
• the device does not allow to deal with traces of dried dyes, cement, plaster and glue.

How to choose the right equipment

The main criteria for the right choice are considered durability, efficiency and ease of use. When choosing between several models, you need to take into account the following points:

• power indicators;
• steam temperature and intensity;
• volume and material from which the boiler is made;
• length of cord and hose;
• additional functionality.

The time of conversion of water into steam depends on the power. For manual models, the optimal power value is from 700 to 1600 watts, for floor-standing models - from 1300 to 2300 watts.

The level of processing quality depends on the pressure and intensity of the steam dispensed. The greater this characteristic, the faster hot air streams will be discharged from the nozzle. For regular cleaning, 2-4 bar is enough. Steam should have a temperature between 110 and 140 degrees Celsius.

The capacity of the boiler determines the duration of continuous operation and heating. For cleaning a city apartment, a capacity of one and a half to two liters is enough.

The boiler can be made of aluminum or steel alloys. The first option is much better, since it has a lower mass, is less prone to scale formation and provides prompt heating.

As for additional options, these include the following:

• steam temperature and pressure regulator;
• removable boiler;
• an overpressure valve for opening the tank;
• a child-proof button that stops the emission of steam.

A reliable and high-quality steam generator is an excellent household helper. Steam treatment allows you to quickly remove contamination without the use of chemicals. However, humidity and high temperatures can harm some materials. In order to prevent problems, you must carefully read the instruction manual that comes with the steam cleaner.