The choice of a vacuum cleaner with a steam cleaner. Which is better - a steam cleaner or a washing vacuum cleaner?

The functions of modern vacuum cleaners have long gone beyond dry dust cleaning. With the help of devices equipped with an aquasystem or a steam generator, you can wash the floors, clean carpets and textiles, collect spilled liquid. Vacuum cleaner models can vary significantly in price, depending on the set of functions.

Steam cleaner

The main distinguishing feature of vacuum cleaners with a steam cleaner is the availability of a tank for cooking steam. It can be made of steel or a special aluminum alloy. Devices with steel boilers are cheaper. But the steel heats up rather slowly and quickly overgrows with scale inside. More expensive vacuum cleaners with aluminum boilers they heat up much faster. And most importantly, their advantage is that scale does not stick to smooth aluminum walls.

One of the main criteria for choosing a vacuum cleaner with a steam cleaner is the volume of the water tank. Household models, as a rule, can hold from 0.4 to 2 liters. Vacuum cleaners with a small boiler volume are light and maneuverable, quickly warm up. But the filled water is enough for 15-20 minutes of uninterrupted operation. Devices with a tank volume of 2 liters can work without interruption for up to 50 minutes and are optimally suited for general cleaning.

Effective cleaning of various surfaces and materials is ensured by interchangeable nozzles. Usually, three varieties are included in the standard package: main brush, nozzle for upholstered furniture and crevice. The remaining cleaning elements can be purchased, depending on the needs.

Varieties of nozzles and their use

A vacuum cleaner steam cleaner can be used for the care of indoor plants. For this, a special spray gun is used. Steaming moisturizes the leaves and air around the plants, which benefits all indoor flowers. Spray steam at a distance of at least 20 cm from the plants. With hot steam, you can disinfect the soil for indoor flowers or seedlings.

Preparing the vacuum cleaner for work

In order for the steam generator to become operational, you will have to wait a few minutes before boiling water. Heating is done by means of a spiral that is mounted in the walls of a metal container. The heating time depends not only on the volume of the tank, but also on the power of the device.The heater power in domestic vacuum cleaners is from 1100 to 2300 W, and the heating time is from 3 to 10 minutes. The exact parameters for each model are indicated in the technical specifications of the device.

You can reduce the time required to heat the water by pouring already heated liquid into the tank. This will be relevant for large volumes of work (for example, during general cleaning), when you have to add water to the steam generator several times. It is not recommended to pour more than the maximum volume specified in the technical specifications of the vacuum cleaner into the liquid tank. If you fill the container to the edges, the steam at the outlet will turn out to be too wet, which will lead to excessive wetting of furniture upholstery, carpets or other objects of cleaning.

What objects can be cleaned with steam

A steam cleaner with the function of a vacuum cleaner can be used for most materials and surfaces in the apartment. But there are certain limitations.

• Parquet and wooden products treated with an oil wax. Such surfaces cannot be cleaned with a steam cleaner. Hot steam will dissolve the wax; spots uneven in color will appear on the surface of the product.
• Genuine leather, velor, silk fabrics. Use steam to clean these materials with great care. Exposure to moisture and high temperature can lead to deformation of the skin and textiles, discoloration. To avoid such troubles, it is worthwhile to check with the seller when buying such products - can they be cleaned with steam.
• Varnished surfaces. Varnished wood products and surfaces are well cleaned with steam, gaining a pristine sheen. But the cleaning must be done very carefully, without holding the nozzle of the steam generator in one place for a long time.
• Ceramic and stone tiles, sanitary ware. Hot steam is ideal for cleaning various ceramic and natural stone surfaces. It dissolves fat, removes mud deposits, penetrating into hard-to-reach places such as joints between tiles.
• Glass and mirrors. If you equip a vacuum cleaner with a special nozzle for washing windows, cleaning glass surfaces will not be work, but pleasure. The extension pipes that come with the vacuum cleaner allow you to extend the sleeve to the desired length and wash the windows without standing on a stepladder or stool. Steam flowing through the nozzle nozzle easily removes fingerprints and other dirt from the glass. A soft polymer pad wipes the surface dry, leaving virtually no stains and stains.
• Carpets & Rugs. The steam generator will remove dust and dirt at the very base of the pile, which cannot be cleaned with a conventional vacuum cleaner. Steam dissolves complex stains, restoring the original color of the carpet. Such cleaning does not require the use of detergents, stain removers and other household chemicals.
• Jalousie. The vacuum cleaner with the function of generating steam is ideal for cleaning any blinds - horizontal and vertical - made of metal, fabric or plastic lamellas. To bring the blinds in order they do not have to be removed from the window.

A steam-generating vacuum cleaner not only successfully fights dirt, but also disinfects the apartment. Hot steam jets destroy pathogenic bacteria, dust mites and other microorganisms. In addition, steam moisturizes the air well, creating a favorable microclimate in the apartment.

Which steam cleaner is better? An article with a rating of models on our website.

Management and Security

The control system located on the handle of the vacuum cleaner allows you to adjust the steam supply intensity and suction power without stopping operation. The steam cleaner is equipped with safety systems that completely eliminate accidents during operation.The boiler cover is equipped with a special fuse that blocks accidental opening. It will not open until there is steam under pressure in the boiler.

To avoid overpressure, the tanks are equipped with a safety valve, which periodically releases excess steam. Another safety system is fuses. In case of emergency overheating, the fuses will melt and water will spill onto the floor, but the boiler will not explode. Some models are equipped with an audible alarm for the lack of water in the tank.

When using a vacuum cleaner with the ability to clean steam, it is necessary to comply with safety regulations. In no case should you direct a stream of hot steam at people or animals, as well as try to clean the stains on clothing that is dressed on a person. Do not overfill the tank with water or turn on the vacuum cleaner with an empty boiler. Nozzles can be changed only when the device is turned off after they have completely cooled down. Detergents and other foreign substances must not be added to the water tank. No need to try to open the vacuum cleaner while it is plugged in.

Vacuum cleaner or steam cleaner?

The advantages of a washing vacuum cleaner are obvious. With it, you can wet clean stone and tile floors, PVC coatings, linoleum and carpet, remove dirt and stains from the upholstery of upholstered furniture. A washing vacuum cleaner will quickly collect wet debris and spilled liquids. Some models are equipped with interchangeable nozzles that allow you to wash windows, plumbing and even clean the clogged drain in the sink. But these devices have their drawbacks.

• Big dimensions. Washing vacuum cleaners are cumbersome, because in their case there are two volumetric tanks - for clean water and for spent liquid.
• Restrictions on objects for cleaning. Since a washing vacuum cleaner cleans surfaces with a large amount of water, it is undesirable to use it for cleaning floor coverings from solid wood and for cleaning wooden furniture. This device is not suitable for the care of wool carpets with high pile. Such a coating intensively absorbs moisture and then dries for a long time.
• Detergent costs.To clean carpets, carpet and upholstery, special detergents with reduced foaming are used, which are quite expensive

Steam cleaners do not have these drawbacks. Among the models presented by manufacturers there are various options for choosing a vacuum cleaner with a suitable size steam generator. For example, for daily and local cleaning, a compact device with a tank volume of about 0.7 liters is suitable. There are other advantages of steam cleaners compared to washing vacuums.

• Versatility. Steam cleaning is suitable for all types of surfaces and coatings, except for waxed wood products. Steam cleaners not only qualitatively remove dirt, but also disinfect surfaces, destroying pathogens.
• Variety of nozzles. In addition to standard nozzles for floors, washing windows, cleaning debris in crevices, soft brushes, steam cleaners can be equipped with napkins, sprayers for humidification, and a steam iron.
• Multifunctionality. Expensive models of steam cleaners combine the functions of a “dry” vacuum cleaner, wet cleaning and steam cleaning.

Compared to a washing vacuum cleaner, the steam cleaner is a more modern and functional unit, which not only provides high quality cleaning, but also meets environmental requirements. Indeed, in most cases, steam copes with pollution without the additional use of chemical detergents.

Recommended reading overview article on steam cleaners.