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How does a Steam Cleaner work?

How does a steam cleaner work?

A steam cleaner is an electrical device that releases pressurized steam for the purpose of cleaning an object or a surface. The pressure in a steam cleaner can be generated in two ways: 1) with a boiler, where the entire water content is boiled or 2) with a pump system, which releases water through a heating element that heats the water and pumps out the steam. Only steam cleaners with a boiler build up high pressure which is expressed in bar.

The benefits of a steam cleaner

With a steam cleaner you are able to remove different types of dirt fast and hygienic. In particular when cleaning areas which are greasy from soap residue, cleaning detergent, or baking and frying remains in the kitchen. The heat of the steam will soften the dirt so it can be lifted easier. Usually no additional cleaning is required and you can wipe the steam cleaned area with a soft cloth.

Some steam cleaners feature a built-in dispenser for cleaning detergent. This dispenser is mainly for the use of mild detergents which leave a fresh smell while steam cleaning to ensure the house also ‘smells clean’.The main advantage of steam cleaner however is the fact you will have very clean and hygienic cleaning results without the use of cleaning detergents. The heat of the steam kills germs and dust mites on floors, in bathrooms, kitchens or other objects.

Which cleaning jobs are most suitable for a steam cleaner?

A steam cleaner can be used for multiple cleaning jobs in and around the house. As mentioned, it is a great device for removing stubborn dirt.

Kitchen: You can remove grease from your cooker, oven or microwave or the dirt which accumulates along the rubber edge of your refrigerator door. You can clean your kitchen floor and the sink as well as your chopping board, cooker hood or the fruit and vegetables compartments of your refrigerator. 
Bathroom & Toilet: Clean difficult to remove traces of scaling, soap or cleaning detergents in your shower, toilet, bath and sink, especially the grouting.  Clean the mirror, shower cabin and floors with a steam cleaner.
In your home: With a steam cleaner it is easy to remove wallpaper from your walls, but you can also quickly clean and disinfect your child's favourite toy or teddy bear or your dogs or cats basket. It is also a great disinfectant of carpets and upholstery and you can use it to steam clean you curtains. Because the steam is pure heated water without chemicals, the use of steam is safe as long as the treated product can be exposed to the heat.

Does a steam cleaner have any downsides?

In fact there are no real disadvantages to the use of steam. Do not expect a steam cleaner to have the power of a pressure washer. A steam cleaner is suitable for hygienic cleaning in your home while a pressure washer is mainly made for outdoor and heavy duty use. 
Some steam cleaners may leave more wet steam than others and the cleaned surface remains wet for some time after it has been cleaned. When you use a cleaning cloth on your steam cleaner, avoid using the same cloth for a long period and replace it with a dry one. It is also important you do not steam continuously when using a steam cloth but rather pump new bursts of steam to maintain the  correct temperature and humidity.

Ofcourse it is essential you always check the suitability to high temperature steam of each surface you plan to clean. Although glass can be cleaned very well with steam, a certain distance needs to be kept between the surface and the steam output to avoid the glass to overheat and break. 
The Montiss steam cleaners have been developed to ensure the steam output is consistent and always the of the right temperature and density.

What type of steam cleaner is the most suitable for me?

Steam cleaners come in many different models and size ranging from a compact, handheld unit to a heavy duty steam cleaner for professional use.

The Montiss range currently features around 15 different models ranging from 3 to 5 bar and therefore perfect for household use. But how do you choose the right model?

First of all it is important to determine what kind of cleaning jobs you will do with the steam cleaner. 
If you plan to use your steam cleaner mainly for cleaning your floors in the bathroom, kitchen or your living room than one of the Montiss steam mops will do the job for you. Our steam mops mainly operate on pump pressure as the steam comes through the cleaning cloth and no high pressure is required. If you are planning the use the steam cleaner for small cleaning jobs, such as cleaning the stove in the kitchen, bathroom or toilet then you can choose the Montiss handheld steam cleaner. This steam cleaner has sufficient pressurised power for these kinds of jobs, is compact and comes with a full set of accessories.

If you plan to use the steam cleaner for a wider variety of cleaning jobs in the house and would like to use the unit also for cleaning the floor, one of our heavy duty units may be more suitable. Our heavy duty models are pressurised and if you have large areas to clean you may opt for a unit with a larger water tank capacity and a longer running time. Also remember that heavier cleaning requires slightly more steam pressure.

Most Montiss steam cleaners are equipped with a complete set of accessories to allow you to use the unit for a variety of different cleaning jobs.

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