| Cleaning with vapor steam has been around for a | | | | it to a canister type of vacuum cleaner vs an upright, |
| while, but it has been growing in popularity in recent | | | | (the upright being the steam mop). A hose attaches |
| years. Due to environmental concerns, as well | | | | to the steamer component via the steam port. |
| economic factors, consumers are looking for ways to | | | | Various attachments can be connected to the hose, |
| save money as well as the environment. A steam | | | | like a floor cleaning attachment, and an assortment |
| cleaner is one solution for both problems. A good | | | | of other tools that can be used for a variety of |
| vapor steam cleaning system can handle all your | | | | cleaning tasks, such as a number of brushes for |
| house cleaning with out having to purchase chemical | | | | grout, sinks, drains, areas around faucets toilets car |
| cleaning products. | | | | engines, steam clothes to remove wrinkles, a hard |
| There are a few different types of products labeled | | | | surface squeegee, and jet attachments for finer, and |
| as steam cleaners. The one that most people are | | | | broader steam distribution. The steam cleaning |
| familiar with due to the commercials and infomercials, | | | | system are comparatively higher in price, as they |
| is the steam mop which is strictly made to hard | | | | provide more parts and functionality. Not to mention |
| floors, like wood, ceramic, stone etc that are | | | | the recent bed bug epidemic, steam is known to be |
| reasonably priced and are good at what they do. | | | | an effective treatment for the eradication of bed |
| Then there is the hand held type that are smaller in | | | | bug infestations. |
| size and are used to provide steam blasts for various | | | | There are a few things to look for if you are ready |
| smaller cleaning tasks, these may also include a hose | | | | to purchase a steam cleaner. First being the tank |
| and some attachments like brushes to extend the | | | | material. The less expensive models have boiler tanks |
| usability. The hand held steamers are typically | | | | made with aluminum, which will corrode over time and |
| inexpensive and come in handy. The third type is a | | | | render the steam cleaner useless. The better steam |
| complete steam cleaning system which has the same | | | | cleaners boilers are made of stainless steel, which is |
| capabilities as the previously mentioned but with | | | | corrosion resistant. Also look if the steam cleaner is |
| more extended features. These steam cleaners have | | | | ETL or UL listed. This means the product has been |
| a higher temperature steam ranging from 200-240 | | | | lab tested and meet the standards of quality and |
| degrees and steam pressure from 40-65 psi with a | | | | safety. These are indicated by a logo which is usually |
| larger capacity water tank. Price range varies from | | | | located somewhere on the packaging. Look at the |
| about $100 all the way up to $1500. A steam cleaning | | | | variety of the attachment are included as well. |
| system has two main components; the steam | | | | I hope this helps in providing some basic information |
| component that houses the water reservoir/ boiler | | | | about vapor steam cleaners. |
| with pressure controls and wheels. You can compare | | | | -Happy Cleaning! |