How to choose household steam cleaners for home

A steam cleaner is a versatile tool that is an amazing combination of almost all home cleaning tools. With its help, you can easily reach any, even hard-to-reach places, and hot steam guarantees reliable protection against bacteria and viruses. The environmental friendliness of the process is also at its disposal - various dubious chemicals are absent, since dirt is removed by hot steam. Despite the fact that steam cleaners appeared relatively recently, in the shops you can find many models, most of which can not be called high-quality.How to choose household steam cleaners for the home, which is the best and what to look for in the first place?

Purpose and principle of operation

The purpose of the products is to eliminate pollution from any surface by treating it with hot steam. The main functions of the steam cleaner:

• cleaning all kinds of surfaces that are resistant to moisture and high temperature - household appliances, mirrors, tiles, plumbing, etc .;
• processing of inaccessible places - seams between tiles, crevices, small holes, etc .;
• getting rid of bugs, ticks, lice;
• simple care for clothes, furniture, curtains and carpets.

Almost all types of pollution are subject to hot steam, even without the help of detergents, however, rust, limescale may require preliminary treatment with a cleaning fluid.Despite the continuous improvement of steam cleaners, their design remains unchanged: a heating element, a water tank, all kinds of nozzles, a hose and a trigger.The beginning of work is preceded by pouring water into the tank and the further inclusion of the product in the power grid. After a short time, the water boils and begins to turn into steam, after which you can start cleaning. The structure of the steam flow is loose, which eliminates the likelihood of a burn when in contact with it. In addition, some models have a suction function and a capacity for accumulating collected water. The most expensive steam cleaners are equipped with an injector and a pump that supplies cleaning agent, which significantly improves the quality of cleaning.

Varieties of technology

Different types of devices make it possible to choose the best option that is most suitable for certain tasks:

• Tame. They have the appearance of an electric kettle and small size, which makes them the best choice for placing a small volume. The power of such devices varies in the range of 600 - 1600, the volume of filled water is 0.5 l, and the operating time is up to 20 minutes. The number of functions depends on the pressure created - the higher its value, the greater the number of surfaces to be cleaned. The cost of manual steam cleaners is the most affordable.
• Floor standing. Outwardly similar to vacuum cleaners, which also facilitates their use - only a hose with a nozzle will have to be kept on weight. Their power is much higher - 1500-2300 W, which also applies to the reservoir, which holds from 1.5 to 3.2 liters of water and guarantees uninterrupted operation for an hour. However, the price of such products is higher.
• Multifunctional. The most versatile floor version, which is equipped with numerous nozzles. They are equipped with a large water tank, have increased power and, consequently, cost.

The key factor, most often, is the cost, which can differ significantly, depending on the type of steam cleaner. But, on the other hand, buying a more expensive model will provide you with a reliable assistant for several years.

Features of the choice of technology

Choosing a technique will become much easier if you pre-define the areas of its application, the surfaces to be treated and their types. When buying, you must take into account:

• Power. The higher this indicator, the better the cleaning, the higher the speed of the supplied steam. It is recommended not to buy a product whose power is below 1000 watts.
• The weight of the device, which affects the usability, because a heavy steam cleaner will not work for a long time.
• Nozzles. The more of them, the better, as the versatility of the device increases. In any case, there should be at least 3 nozzles.
• Steam pressure. The performance of most models range from 2 to 6 Bar.
• Power cord. If there are not very many sockets in your home, then it is worth looking at the steam cleaners, the cord length of which is at least 4 m.
• Hose length. It should be medium, since condensation may collect on the inner walls of the long hose due to the cooling of the steam and thereby damage some surfaces.
• Product Dimensions.
• The volume of the water tank. Everything is also simple here - the larger the volume, the longer the work. For example, 1 liter of water is enough for 40 minutes of continuous cleaning.
• Maximum temperature and heating time. Depending on the power and amount of water, the indicator ranges from 10 seconds to 10 minutes. Pouring hot water into the tank will help to reduce them. The maximum steam temperature is 140 degrees.
• Type of heating. It happens flowing or with the generation of hot steam in the tank. The latter option is more popular, since the temperature of the steam and its power are higher.
• The material of manufacture. Directly affects the durability of the steam cleaner, so products made of heat-resistant plastic deserve attention. The best solution is to buy a device with an aluminum tank - in this case, the water will heat up faster.

In addition, some models provide the ability to control the temperature of the steam, its power supply, as well as blocking the work, which is important if there are small children in the house.

Rating of the best steam cleaners of 2018

The rating of steam cleaners consists of models recognized by the best by many customers. They have many advantages, although there are also disadvantages, albeit minor ones. So the best are:

1. Karcher SC 2. Plastic floor option, which makes it lightweight. The big tank for water of 1 liter, as well as the protection against scale, are of great joy, which significantly increases the durability of the device. The comfort of cleaning is enhanced by a long 4 m power cord and hose. As for the cost, it is democratic and affordable for most consumers. The disadvantages include the fact that the power cord does not reel inward, and when pouring water each time you have to unplug it from the outlet.
2. MIE Bello. A powerful steam cleaner with an iron and a steamer included, with the help of which it is easy to clean curtains and clothes. High quality work is ensured by a vapor pressure of 5.5 Bar, as well as many different nozzles. There are no significant drawbacks, however, some owners are not satisfied with the large dimensions of the iron and the inability to put it in an upright position.
3. Polaris PSC 1101C. A low-cost and compact steam cleaner with three nozzles, a 3 m power cord and a modest 0.27 liter water tank. High performance is achieved by a pressure of 3.5 bar and a power of 1100 watts. Convenient is an indicator that signals readiness for work. The disadvantage of the device is obvious - a small amount of water.
4. Kitfort KT-903. An attractive model with an interesting design, which is characterized by an outstanding power of 2000 W and a pressure of up to 4 Bar. In the kit you will find many nozzles and useful accessories. It is possible to clean almost any surface, including large volumes due to continuous operation. The disadvantages include the significant weight of the product.

The choice of the best steam cleaner is an individual process, because for each its specific parameters are important. For the product to serve faithfully for many years, you must carefully handle it, comply with the operating rules and keep it clean.