For disinfection and removal of even the most persistent contaminants from the floor, tiles and glass surfaces need a good steam cleaner. He will not have to use dubious chemicals or spend time scrubbing frozen fat - just fill up the water and the equipment will produce a jet of hot steam that removes any dirt. Of course, the device is very convenient, but you need to be able to choose it. Moreover, the prices of good cleaners bite, and it would be insulting to make a mistake with the purchase.
Content:
The best manufacturers of steam cleaners - which company to choose
The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a vehicle is the name of the manufacturer.
Good steam cleaners produce the following brands:
1. Karcher
2. Philips
3. Thomas
4. Smile
5. Kitfort
With the best models of their production you can find in ranking of the best steam cleaners. This article is for those who want to understand the features of steam cleaners and choose a decent technique on their own.
The principle of operation and the device steam cleaners
In the design of any steam cleaner must be 3 main nodes:
1. Steam boiler or water tank;
2. A heating element;
3. Spout nozzle or flexible steam hose.
It is they who perform the main work: they heat and turn the liquid into steam, and then bring it out. In the case of a domestic steam generator, the supply process must also be controlled, although this function often comes down to simply opening the valve that holds the steam. And the pressure accumulating inside itself provides a fairly powerful jet that even cope with persistent pollution.
Depending on the steam cleaner model, the water can be heated in a straight-through way - in this case, the liquid from the reservoir goes to the heating element, and turning into steam, it immediately goes to the exit nozzle. Steam generators work a little differently. They differ in that the transition of water to the gaseous state takes place directly in the boiler, where pressure accumulates. When using this design, you can get at the output of a more powerful jet with a very high temperature.
Types of steam cleaners for home
Despite the differences in vaporization, cleaners are usually classified according to the form of release. It is she who largely determines the characteristics of the device, convenience and the scope of its use.
Hand held
Differ in the small sizes and, as a result, not too capacious tanks for water. However, this should not be considered a minus, since it is also inconvenient to hold the device with an additional 2 kg of liquid inside. Such steam cleaners show themselves well if you need to get to a corner or treat a small surface.
Pros:
- Compact, do not take up much space on the shelf;
- Heat up quickly (from 15 to 60 seconds);
- Convenient to use in tight spaces (auto salon, oven);
- Affordable price.
Minuses:
- Voluminous models from 1 l are difficult to hold in the hand for a long time;
- Short cycle of work - about 20 minutes.
Manual steam cleaner should be perceived only as an assistant for the guidance of cleanliness in different parts of the house - everything does not wash, but it will cope with the most problematic areas.
Outdoor
Outwardly, these models look like small vacuum cleaners - the same body on wheels and a hose with a nozzle through which steam is supplied. The water tank is located in the main floor compartment, which greatly facilitates the work. At the same time, it is possible to implement a lot of additional functions of the cleaning equipment.
Pros:
- Good steam jet power;
- They work continuously for at least an hour and a half;
- Rich functionality;
- Do not tire even when cleaning large areas.
Minuses:
- High price;
- Take a lot of storage space.
Outdoor steam cleaners make it easy to clean up the whole apartment.
Steam Cleaner Options
Having decided on the release form of the steam cleaner, the next step is to evaluate its characteristics and functionality. For each type of technology has its own requirements, which will help to understand how it will be effective and easy to use.
Tank volume
The higher this figure, the longer it will be possible to use the device on one refueling. But it all depends on the type of steam cleaner. For example, manual models can have a working volume from 85 ml to 1.5 l, however, it is not too convenient to hold a heavy unit weighing 1–2 kg, and even with water.
In the floor models, the tank is located in the case, which practically does not have to be lifted, so here a large volume of the tank will be only a plus. In modern household steam cleaners, it can have a capacity of from 1 to 5 liters - choose a model depending on the area of your apartment and the time of cleaning. An average indicator can be taken as a guideline: 1 liter of water is usually enough for 30-40 minutes of the steam cleaner.
Power
In this matter, you will also have to take into account the form of the steam device and remember about the selected volume of the tank or boiler.
Manual models are available with a capacity of 0.7–1.6 kW. It would seem that the higher the power consumption of the device, the faster it will heat the water. However, in portable devices, the tank volume is small and the time gain will be negligible (a matter of a few seconds). So it makes no sense to overload the wiring and take a steam cleaner more powerful than 1 kW, when its capacity does not exceed 1 l. But if you choose a more capacious model, of course, you will need a more serious heater from 1000 watts.
Outdoor steam cleaners have an energy consumption of 1.35–2.35 kW. Here it is desirable to pay attention to the models approaching the upper boundary. And in no case do not buy low-power devices, if they have a very long hose - this is the most unsuccessful combination, which reduces the efficiency of the steam cleaner and leaves wet traces on the treated surface.
Outlet steam pressure
This figure is even more important than power, because it depends on him how effective your steam cleaner will be in operation. Standard values for household appliances are between 2–8 bar. However, here it is necessary to bear in mind the possible pressure drop when steam passes through the hose and the nozzle - it sometimes reaches 50%. Always take a model with a margin.
Ideally, a home steam cleaner should produce a jet with a pressure of 3 bar and above. But carefully read the specifications specified by the manufacturer in the documents. If he “forgot” to write the pressure in the boiler, most likely it is so low that your cleaner cannot do any serious work.
It also does not hurt to clarify the rate of steam supply, especially if you plan to use a cleaner to remove complex contaminants. In this case, you will need a model that produces from 80 to 150 g / min, that is, providing a high-temperature wet wash. But for those who regularly maintain cleanliness in the house, low-voltage appliances with an intensity of 30–40 g / min are enough.
Temperature conditions
The most efficient is steam, whose temperature reaches +135 .. + 140 ° С. He has not only the property of cleansing surfaces, but also disinfects them. If the unit produces about +100 ° С (± 3 ° С), it is suitable only for steaming clothes and restoring carpets - it cannot cope with serious sanitation and mold.
Hose length
In the case of outdoor steam generators, one has to talk about rather long hoses, but one should not go beyond reasonable limits. Three-meter flexible pipe will provide free access to almost any surface from floor to ceiling.If it is shorter, you risk ignoring the far corners, upper baseboards and mezzanines. However, it is also not necessary to take a too long hose — until the steam reaches the nozzle through it, it will cool considerably.
Steam boiler material
Internal boilers of steam generators are made of two types of metal. Earlier models use steel more often, but we recommend choosing more modern appliances with an aluminum tank. They warm up faster and less overgrown with scum. For those who buy direct-flow units, there is no such choice - here the water tank, as a rule, is made of plastic.
Equipment
The types and number of nozzles that come with a steam cleaner, determine how wide the scope of its use. But here you need to take into account your own needs in matters of cleaning, so that, on the one hand, you don’t buy too much, and on the other, you don’t limit your new assistant.
We list the most popular attachments that will be useful in any home:
1. Brushes
They will help to remove any relief surfaces, floor coverings, ceramics and even upholstered furniture from dirt. They allow the combination of steam treatment and mechanical cleaning, which gives the most noticeable effect. The presence of scrapers is also allowed, but such combined brushes are best used on scratch-resistant surfaces.
2. Terry covers
Used for delicate washing of kitchen appliances, floors and windows. They are easily removed from the holder and erased, after which they can again be put into action.
3. Spout (nozzle)
Narrow and long conical nozzle that will allow you to get to every corner in the house. Some of them are equipped with small brushes for thorough cleaning of small items like a mixer in the kitchen.
4. Iron
It is used only together with combined cleaners that have the function of steaming clothes and the ability to adjust humidity.
In any case, the number of complete nozzles should not be less than 3 - only then it will be possible to talk about the functionality of the acquired equipment.
Which steam cleaner for the home is better to choose
1. If you do not do general cleaning too often and take a steam cleaner 2-3 times a month to wash problem areas in the bathroom and in the kitchen; calmly take the manual model with a tank of about 1 l. There is no need for high power - standard 900–1000 W is enough. The main thing is that the device creates sufficient pressure (3–3.5 bar), and in the set there were good nozzles for it: brushes and a terry case.
2. Those who use a steam cleaner occasionally to remove a few stains from clothes, furniture or windows, are quite a compact manual model with a small 85–100 ml tank. With a power of 700-800 W, it will be ready in a few seconds and it will deal with work quite decently. Here, special attention should be paid to the outlet temperature - after all, most of these models are not able to heat up steam above +98 .. + 103 ° C. These are already steamers for clothes, which unscrupulous manufacturers give out for steam cleaners. Be careful.
3. If an allergic person lives in the house or you are for sterile cleanliness, take a floor-mounted steam generator that delivers a powerful jet of 4 bar. Be sure to check the ability to set the temperature to about +140 ° C, to destroy all microorganisms and mold. At the same time, make sure that the hose has an average length of 3 m. As for the tank capacity, be guided by the area of the apartment: the larger it is, the larger the tank will be needed. But for compact housing it is better to choose steam cleaners that hold at least 2 liters of water, otherwise you will often have to fill in a new batch and wait until it gets warm.
Steam cleaner cost
1. For a manual steam cleaner model in the form of a kettle you will have to pay from 500 to 6500 rubles, depending on the characteristics and popularity of the manufacturer.
2. Compact "road" devices with a reservoir of up to 100 ml will cost 600-1400 rubles.
3. Floor standing steam generators with a good output pressure of 3-5 bar cost from 3 to 30 thousand.
4. Professional cleaners, issuing a stream of steam with a pressure above 5 bar, can be purchased at a price of 5,000 rubles or more.
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