Recently, steam cleaners have gained popularity as an eco-friendly and healthy alternative to traditional cleaning methods that use harsh chemicals and detergents. Using a steam cleaner, deep cleaning and sterilizing your entire home has never been easier. And all you need is water.
To understand more abtout how hot does a steam clenaer get and what temperature is best for what surface, continue reading this post.
Quick answer
A domestic steam clean can reach a 149°C (300°F) temperature.
“A good-quality steam cleaner can reach up to 212°F(100°C), the boiling point of water, and some industrial models can even surpass this. It’s crucial to remember; however, actual surface temperatures achieved can vary depending on distance and cleaning head design.”
Dr. Calvin Vasquez, Thermodynamic Engineer
What Is The Highest Temperature A Steam Cleaner Can Reach?
When it comes to steam cleaners, we’re seeing an increase in sales as they become more and more popular. Many sellers claim they work like magic. Truth be told, it is a very convenient tool to have. But how hot does a steam cleaner get in order to clean those stubborn stains? Let’s investigate.
Home steam cleaners can reach temperatures of 66 to 149 degrees Celsius, depending on the model (150 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit). In less than 5 minutes, a regular steam cleaner can bring tap water up to 245°F.
With vapor this hot, you can even clean your duvet and mattresses and eliminate 99.9 percent of the viruses and bacteria that live in them, as well as remove stains and spots from carpets, sofas, and vehicle interiors. All in a matter of seconds.
What Component Of A Steam Cleaner Is The Hottest?
In order for the steam vapor cleaners to perform well, they must have an extremely hot nozzle. The steam generated can go up to 290 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures this high may be dangerous if you don’t learn how to properly use your steam cleaner and follow instructions. So be careful with this extremely handy tool.
Types of Steam Cleaners
Some steam cleaners work better on hardwood floors than on carpet, and vice versa. You’re probably already familiar with canister style steam cleaners, so the focus will be on the more modern versions of these reliable steam cleaners. You should also notice that there are other hardwood floor machine options.
Steam cleaners come in three basic varieties currently on the market. All of them produce different amounts of steam and at different temperatures. Afterward, we’ll discuss how hot each one can get and which one is best for a given situation.
1. Vapor Steam Cleaners
Vapor steam cleaners win the game, because they sell out the most. This is due to their adaptability.
Dry vapor that these steam cleaners emit can be used on any surface. From concrete to carpets or silk covers on your couches. Thus, they are the most convenient cleaning tool to have.
In order to avoid damaging delicate fabrics and textures of your couch, you can use an attachment nozzle that comes with the cleaner. It has an anti-scald valve which will protect your beloved couch.
These steam cleaners are usually around $500 dollars.
2. Steam Mops
Steam mops are portable steam cleaners that probably work the quickest as well. If you need something for cleaning smooth surfaces like sealed hardwood and laminate flooring, linoleum, tile, and other similar materials, steam mops are the best cleaning tool for you. This is a cleaning device that has a built-in water tank that creates hot steam which then penetrates the mop and deep cleans your hardflloors.
If you have children, they can play on the floor without fear of contaminating their hands, lips, or eyes with chemicals. As far as low-cost cleaning solutions go, steam mop is one of the best.
A steam mop will make your life a whole lot easier. You can stop lugging around a heavy bucket of water. With a steam mop, you’ll be able to clean your kitchen and bathroom floors in no time. However, they can’t be used on carpets.
There are some affordable models that you can purchase for a $40 price tag.
3. Handheld Steam Cleanes
Handheld steam cleaners are the best options if you live in a small studio apartment or a smaller space. They’re portable and can be stored anywhere. It’s by far the easiest steam cleaning tool to manuever.
They also come with different attachments so the steam vapor can get into every crack and nook and clean up literally everything. These little tools are also powerful. They are can remove everything from dust to grit to bed bugs. They are extremely useful for sanitizing the whole household. With this type of steamer, we’re sure you’ll be able to clean your house in record timing.
Handheld steam cleaners are very cheap, these can be bought for only $15 dollars.
Steam Cleaner Models That Reach The Highest Temperature
All steam cleaning devices are able to produce steam at exactly 220 degrees Fahrenheit. However, vapor steam cleaners and steam mops produce much much higher temperatures than that. Some models can get up to 290 degrees Fahrenheit.
The PureClean Plus, for example, generates steam at 290 degrees Fahrenheit. This model is suitable for all kinds of surfaces as well.
When it comes to steam mops, the winner is the Monster Steam Mop which produces steam temperature of 266 degrees Fahrenheit. With a maximum temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit, the Bissell Steam Cleaner is also a good contender. This is one of the most desirable steam mop models on the market. However, the Bissell Steam Cleaner isn’t as easy to maneuver as the Monster Steam Mop.
Handheld steam cleaners are a bit weaker. But they’re very handy and they make steam cleaning so effortless. They produce steam of about 230 degrees Fahrenheit. Which is still surprisingly powerful for their size.
Why You Should Consider Switching to a Steam Cleaner
Using steam cleaners will not only make your home cleaner, your life will also save a bunch of time. If you have any allergies or kids and pets running around all day, a steam cleaner will be your time saviour.
1. You’ll Save Hundreds Of Dollars Worth In Cleaning Supplies
Spend less money on cleaning supplies and more money on the things you need. Be honest: how many cleaning supplies do you keep stashed away in your cabinets? I used to have all kinds…for carpets, for windows, for the kitchen counters, for this and that. Life’s a lot easier now that I’ve switched to a steam cleaner.
Instead of half-empty sprays they poison us with, get yourself a good steam cleaner that will last you a long time. Think about the amount of space this will free up in your cabinets. Say goodbye to all of those expensive harsh chemicals.
2. Chemical-free Cleaning Methods Help Ease Allergy & Asthma Symptoms
Even if you don’t have asthma or bronchitis and you’re not allergic to dust mites, you’ll see many health benefits after replacing harsh cleaning supplies from the store with a powerful steam cleaner. Steam can clean up to 70% more than other cleaning agents and reach areas that are impossible to reach for other appliances.
When was the last time that you thoroughly cleaned your duvet? With a store-bought cleaning solution you can only clean the surface level. But a steam cleaner can get rid of all of your bed bugs and dust mites in a few minutes. You can also use it to clean your children’s plush toys. Buying a water filter vacuum cleaner will also help your allergies.
3. You get a glaring shine with a lot less effort
With steam cleaning tools, you don’t have to be on your knees for hours polishing your floors to perfection. Oftentimes, a rough edge of a regular mop can even scratch your hardfloor surface. Which you’ll then have to repair. You don’t want that to happen especially if you’re living in a rented apartment.
With a steam cleaner, you’ll be able to clean your entire house a lot quicker. And your floors will be so clean and shiny, you’ll be able to see your reflection in them.
4. Your floors will dry way quicker
How many times have you taken your mop and cleaned the floors for half an hour and then just as you sat down to rest, your kids come running through the door on wet floors with their shoes on? Or your pet…
A steam cleaner solves this problem as well. You can clean your living in half the time it took you to clean it with a regular mop and vacuum. And your floors will be completely dry in less than five minutes.
How Can Steam Cleaners Outperform Detergents and Chemicals?
As you already know, no chemicals go into the steam cleaner. Only water. This is because detergents and bleach have a number of undesirable side effects, including the emition of toxic odors and chemicals. They also cause burns and irritation. We understand why using solely hot steam is much better for your health and the environment. But are you wondering if it’s as efficient as cleaning detergent? The answer is quite simple.
When it comes to homekeeping, steam cleaners can’t be beaten precisely because of their chemical-free nature. All those harsh detergents can only clean surface level dirt. But superheated steam will sanitizes all carpet and couch fabrics to their fullest extent.
So yeah, water and heat can replace toxic bleach, ammonia and other harsh substances. Being exposed to chemical irritants so often is not good for anyone. But especially people with allergies. You should avoid these harsh chemicals at all times.
Why spend money on toxic chemicals when there are steam cleaners? Vapor is the best in removing dust and mold. It is a miraculous weapon against unwanted germs. In the long run, steam can be five times more cost efficient.
If you have a really really stubborn dirty spot on your coutch, you can try cleaning it up a bit with a natural cleaning solution, like a baking soda and lemon mixture. Sprinkle a bit of this mixture in your steam cleaner and watch the magic happen.
The Battle of the Steam Cleaners: Commercial VS Home Steam cleaners
They both serve the same purpose. And you can alter the temperature and the amount of steam that is produced on both of them. So which one is better?
The commercial ones are slightly more powerful. However, for a smaller space, we recommend regular home steam cleaners. Your apartment will benefit most from the portability and low cost of household steam cleaners.
On the other hand, a commercial steam cleaner is advisable for bigger areas. High-traffic and large-area steam cleaning will require a more powerful steam cleaner. It can sanitize all kinds of surfaces without leaving any residue since it generates 90% dry steam vapor.
Do Steam Cleaners Pose A Risk For Damaging Your Carpets?
We use hot steam to clean our carpets, and steam cleaning is safe if done correctly. If you use it as instructed, neither of the steam cleaner models we mentioned will damage your carpets or couches.
After all, these steam cleaners wouldn’t sell so much if they posed any major risks. If you’re scared it could damage your hardwood floors, just don’t put it on high pressure steam. Some steam cleaners even come with a few special attachment for very delicate fabrics as we mentioned before. So, no need to worry. All safety precations were taken into account.
Tips To Keep Your Steam Cleaner Running Smoothly
Mainting a steam cleaner is rather simple. You don’t need any special knowledge for that. Everything about the upkeep will be written out in your steam cleaner’s manual. But in case you lost it somewhere, we’re here to remind you what you should do.
- Every time you need to clean your steam cleaning device, make sure it is turned off. If you have a steam mop with a built in tank, make sure you empty it when you’re done mopping the floors. And leave it to dry before putting it back on.
- To prevent dust mites and debris to spread through your home, take a damp cloth and wipe the tank and let it dry for one hour before using it.
- A limescale remover will come together with your steam cleaner. Don’t throw this away. It’s very important to clear your steam cleaner of limescale on a regular basis.
- Make sure the steam cleaner is completely cooled down before dismantling it. This may be obvious, but we’re all in a hurry sometimes. It’s better to just turn it off and leave it out than burning yourself.
I’ve noticed that my steam cleaner is most effective at around 165 °F, which is of course lower than the 300°F you’ve quoted. Too much heat can warp and damage certain materials, so it’s always important to consider the material you’re cleaning to avoid unintended damage.
Granger, I agree with your point on considering the material before deciding the temperature. For instance, heated steam might do wonders on my greasy car engine parts, but it will definitely mar my vintage hardwood floors if I’m not careful.
Steam cleaning, to me, is like a bespoke tailored suit, it fits perfectly when applied correctly. Just like you wouldn’t throw your favorite woolen blazer in a regular washing machine, there are surfaces that are too delicate for high-temperature steam cleaning. I found porcelain features on my trains became discolored if I wasn’t cautious about the settings.
Littlewood, I can see where you’re coming from with the delicate materials! I once accidentally caused some peeling on my wallpaper because I used too high of a temperature with my steam cleaner.
I agree with Quail. Littlewood that you really need to be conscious of what surfaces you use your steam cleaner on. Always remember to test on an inconspicuous area first to avoid irreversible damages!
Personally, as a mechanic, I’ve used steam cleaners not just in my house but also in the garage on the vehicles. Over time, I realized that temperature control is indeed crucial and getting it wrong can lead to unwanted results. Just like Tesni mentioned, always do a test run on an inconspicuous area; it’s saved me more times than I’d like to admit.