Cleaning with Steam

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

30 Sep 2009 11:31 PM

We have had two rarely used steam cleaner machines in our closet for some time now. The fist one called a Steam Buggy, and I purchased it some years ago when I was moving to get the house uber-clean. I have a second one called a Dirt Devil Force as it came with a Dirt Devil Vacuum I purchased some years ago. Both machines promise to sterilize your home without using harsh chemicals. They also claim to steam your clothing, but they tend to just leave clothes splattered with hot water. They do, however work well for cleaning.

We fired up the old Steam Buggy today and cleaned the kids bathroom and I must say the thing does a bang-up job. The steam cleaners that I own are predecessors to the steam mops like the Steam Buddy that are so popular for floor cleaning these days. The one's I have require you to use a steam then wipe technique to get your surfaces clean. The new ones combine the two features allowing you to steam and then wipe at the same time.

Speaking of the new steam clean machines, I have noticed many infomercial hawking the steam cleaners to clean floors. The problem I have with them is they show the machines being used to clean hardwood floors. While you can clean hardwood floors with steam, it is a very brave endeavor as steam can ruin your hardwood floors. If your hardwood floors have any flaw in the protective sealant coat, then the floor will warp. If the sealant is worn away in any areas, the floor will be seriously damaged.

You would think that laminate floors would be safe for steam mops since they are not made of real wood, but the steam mops can wear away the waxy finish from the laminate. Once the steam mop has stripped the wax from the laminate floor the steam can further warp the floor. Warped laminate floors do not return to normal as some wood floors can. In addition, using a steam mop on a laminate wood floor and some hardwood floors will void the manufacturers warranty.

With that said, you can enjoy your steam mop or cleaner on your hard surfaces, but keep them away from hard wood or you will end up with some very expensive repairs.

If you liked this you should also read my blogs at the homeschool blog, the parents blog, and the frugal blog. You can read my recent posts here.

Also Read:

Where Germs Thrive in the Home (and How to Handle Them)

Your Eco-Arsenal: Vinegar

Sanitizing Your Home for Swine Flu

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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