Is steam cleaner hype just a lot of hot air?
Everyone’s talking about steam cleaners right now, whether it’s about the way they make floors spotless or how they fight to kill off germs. But is the hype around steam cleaners justified by their performance?
In the last year, the steam cleaning market has boomed. But what’s getting everyone all steamed up? Are people tempted by the promise of cleaning without the elbow grease? Or is it the claims that steam cleaners can banish bacteria and make your home more hygienic?
From cleaning ovens to removing carpet stains, steam cleaners promise to take the effort out of cleaning a range of household grime. And by using steam, it means they can be effective without chemicals, saving you money on buying cleaning products.
All puff and no punch?
But having lab-tested 28 steam cleaners on sticky jam, soap scum, caked on mud and dried pasta sauce, only six became Best Buys. We found that some of the worst performing steam cleaners didn’t make cleaning any easier than if you’d done it by hand, with some models leaving water everywhere.
There are different types of steam cleaners and accessories, so it pays to make sure you choose the right one for the job you want to do.
So what of the claims that steam cleaners can effectively kill germs? Many manufacturers claim that their steam cleaners can remove 99% of harmful bacteria and, I must admit, the idea of killing all nasty bugs and making my home germ free is an enticing thought. Even more so as I live in a rented property where I’ve inherited most of the furniture; who knows how many dead skin cells remain from the previous owners? Yuck!
Banishing bacteria
But do steam cleaners really wipe out all bacteria? According to Allergy UK, there are a number of steam cleaners that efficiently reduce or remove allergens for the homes of those suffering from allergies and asthma.
And what happens if you miss spots, or don’t cover the area deeply enough? How much time do you need to spend on one spot? Is one minute, five minutes or ten minutes enough? Coupled with my inadequate cleaning abilities, I’m not sure I trust the power of steam enough to know for certain that all the germs are gone.
Having said that, after a quick online search for ‘bed bugs’, the gruesome facts and images I was faced with convinced me that anything’s worth a try! Have you been tempted to buy a steam cleaner? Or if you already own one, has it made the housework considerably easier?
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Em
I don’t have a steam cleaner, but I don’t see how squirting a few grams of steam at a cold surface is going to be effective at killing off much in the way of bacteria. Unless the surface itself is going to be heated to 60 degrees C or more, some of the bacteria are going to survive and will soon recolonize the area. Chlorine or “oxygen” bleach, or a detergent surface cleaner, where it is safe to use and leave some residue behind is going to be more effective.
In terms of steam cleaning your mattress, all you are doing is injecting water vapour deep into the fibres, which will condense and help to form ideal breeding conditions for all sorts of nasties, not only bugs, but moulds as well.
wavechange
Neither chlorine bleach (based on sodium hypochlorite) or oxygen bleach (based on hydrogen peroxide) will leave an active residue. The first is converted to chlorine and salt, whereas the second becomes water and oxygen.
Steam is rather unpredictable because it is just condensed water droplets and can be well below boiling point.
Neither bleach nor steam will kill bacterial spores, but provided we keep our kitchens reasonably clean, be careful with uncooked meat etc and wash hands after using the toilet, there is no real need to wage war on bacteria or other microorganisms.
I completely agree that steam cleaning mattresses should not be steam cleaned for the reason you indicate, Em. Vacuuming and a protective cover designed for those who suffer from dust allergies is a good idea, whether or not you suffer for allergies. If any manufacturer of steam cleaners recommends them for mattresses or upholstery then someone needs to educate them.
Don B
Have had a mop type steam cleaner for several years that we boought from Lakeland. We
have tiled floors and the steam cleaner does a brilliant job especially on the grouting between
the tiles. It is good around the bathroom as it hygenically cleans the floor around the toilet
etc., I usually pass the cleaner over the tiling slowly which heats up the tiles and is very
effective. I is also very effective on the rugs.
kerry
I used to clean homes and businesses and churches proffessionally. I know that those small steam cleaners cannot..get around the basin of the toilet clean…esp when it’s not sealed or doesn’t have sealing around the base of the toilet and the foor. I have found the commercials very misguided when they show a really clean toilet base..with no urine around it..no urine runs on the base of it either..so it either a brand new toilet..or someone has cleaned it before they use the steam cleaner…its been precleaned before the steam cleaner is used. so one is doing twice the cleaning in twice the amount of time..and the commercial shows different…and i find it totally misleading and false advertisement.
thelm
Have used a hand steam cleaner for doing grouting with some success, but it gets very messy if your not careful and the tank constantly needs topping up. When looking at bigger cleaners for floors etc. I found plenty of reviews saying that people were left with damp floors/carpets that took ages to dry (irrespective of the claims by manufacturers) and a general suggestion of dissatisfaction in the results – hence dissuading me from purchasing a larger one.
richard
I’ve have two steam ‘cleaners’ one I’ve had years and is primarily a wall paper stripper but does clean large flat areas well too but is awkward.to use The other is a lightweight multi purpose device that does everything from de-creasing clothing and drapes to cleaning windows and floors with special attachments -. this has some limitations.
First I have never been obsessed by “germs”. For the average healthy person – the present obsession is completely unnecessary. As my many years of tent camping testifies – as several reports support..
Now I have three large dogs who have free access the garden in all weathers and are not too particular whether they wipe their feet or not on the way in – But they do lick the floor – not to mention eat bones and treats off the floor – so I will not use bleach or other chemical cleaners – as I know of dogs being ‘poisoned’ by such additives – so much for safe.
For the steam cleaner to be effective it is best to clean the least dirty items first. My floors are tiled – plastic or ceramic – the bathroom and kitchen tiled. So I steam clean windows first – they dry smear free – Then kitchen units (the cleaner breaks up into three units – handle – steamer – head) These are easy to clean – though a longer time is needed for dried deposits but because the steam is hot and and damp even the most stubborn deposit melts.fast (as fast as any other cleaner I’ve used). Unless it is a BIG dollop (but that’s the same for traditional cleaning). Then last the floors – if slightly dirty they clean fast – dry while watching – and the removable mop head does the trick using only one head – if badly dirty (say wet outside) then two mop heads are required for just the kitchen.
As an entomologist may I point out hot steam is around 100 degrees (otherwise it wouldn’t be steam it would be water) – so “bug” eggs are boiled to death – Though to be honest I vacuum mattresses. May I also point out chemical cleaners do not destroy ALL the germs and bacteria and the survivors free to multiply – but worse many of them survive resistant to the cleaning agent used and so are even harder to eradicate.
The steamer does an excellent job cleaning the toilet bowl inside and out – plus in the corners around the sink. due to the special attachments..
Finally it is really excellent to steam the creases out of shirts or curtains – a hell of a lot easier than ironing – simply hang the item on a hanger and move the steamer and attachment up and down and the creases vanish, The shirt is dry ‘instantly’.
All in all an excellent product – as otherwise I would have to vacuum as well wash the floors with an increasingly dirty cloth- The steam cleaner with attachments does the job of both.
richard
Thought I’d add that I bought two extra floor mop cloths for my steam cleaner – making it four in all – This allows me to steam clean all three floors in one day – The Ground floor contains the Kitchen with back garden dog door and the main living room plus the hall and front door. So this has the main traffic and is the dirtiest – So the mop picks up vast amount of dirt – two mops is only just enough to clean the floor (after doing the walls and windows) without leaving a deposit – as used to happen using the traditional squeegee mop and bucket.
The extra mops allow the other “cleaner” floors to be done in one go – one mop per floor. – So washing the dirty mops in one go. The larger mops are not used for the toilet or sink or bath – but the brush attachments do clean the ceramic items well – I usually finish off with the smaller mop head. The overall effect is good.
Liz Ransome
Thank you for all your useful comments and advice.
I hadn’t even thought about the concern of a mattress getting dam if steamed.If you are keen to do it, it’s certainly a job that would need to be done first thing in the morning and left in a well ventilated room to air all day. If vacuuming instead to remove allergens, just be aware that this will increase the number for allergens in the air around 20 minutes.
When it comes to your kitchen, it’s important to keep on top of cleaning, wiping surfaces down each day after meals, and taking simple steps to avoid bacteria spreading, such as washing hands.
We’ve heard from a variety of reports that some steam cleaners work well on tiles and hard floors in particular. There certainly is a benefit to not having to use chemicals, whether this is to be environmentally friendly, cut costs or avoid using harsh substances where animals and children are concerned.
What type of steam cleaner have people found is more useful. And what jobs have they been better suited to? It appears that they really can multitask?
wavechange
You make a very good point about vacuuming increasing allergen problems temporarily. We have very effective vacuum cleaners and some have very effective filtration, but the powerful exhaust will blow around dust on floors and walls even in rooms that are quite clean.
Asthmatics should vacuum their bedrooms in the morning and certainly not last thing at night.
Jennifer Davis
Hi Liz, I was wondering – is it okay to use steam cleaners on laminate flooring? So far, my parents have avoided steam cleaners because my Dad is convinced it will damage his floors. Do you know if that’s true?
Liz Ransome
Hi Jennifer
We’ve tested steam cleaners on wood laminate floors, which has been fine. However, it does depend on which model you go for as to what it is designed for and how well it actually works.
Take a look at our full advice guide for more tips and to see which ones did well in our tests: http://www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/laundry-and-cleaning/guides/how-we-test-steam-cleaners/
christine weatherley
My cleaner just makes lots of steam……so walls etc get damp can’t see that this cleans anything…the oven is hot and wet…the shelves still have burnt of grease….the bathroom just filled up with steam as it is quite small when steam cleared wasn’t any cleaner but was damp….isn’t damp bad for things…..I had to have the extractor fans on…certainly grease wasn’t melting off anything………….