History | What is Steam | Why Choose Steam | Pest Control | Steam Cleaners

Steam vapour cleaning history

Italian boiler manufacturers began experimenting with steam vapour as a cleaning medium in the late sixties to early seventies. Recognizing the enormous potential of highly pressurised, low moisture content steam as an internal and general cleaner, they were extremely excited by the sensational results they achieved with the early prototypes. The effectiveness on difficult surfaces and the sanitizing capabilities, far exceeded their initial hopes.

Steam vapour cleaning had begun its inexorable growth as the modern, ecological cleaning system.

Early models, however, were cumbersome, awkward to use and were unable, as with unsophisticated versions available today, to maintain a constant steam pressure to allow cleaning and sanitising of reasonable household areas.

Experimentation and product development resulted in the evolution of the powerful, highly efficient and user friendly models that are available today.

Acceptance of these modern appliances with continuous steam and steam with vacuum combinations, throughout Europe and America in both domestic and commercial applications is unprecedented and has ensured steam vapour technologies position as the method of choice for efficiency and sustainability in our modern, fast paced world.

EUROGEM IS PROUD TO BRING TO YOU, THE LATEST IN STEAM CLEANING TECHNOLOGY

back to top

What is steam (vapour) cleaning and how is it different?

Steam (vapour) cleaning is a simple yet extremely effective method of surface treatment.

The high temperature of the steam softens the greases, oils and fats etc that bind dirt into or onto surfaces, allowing the pressure to dislodge all the particles. The dirt can then be wiped or vacuumed away leaving surfaces sparkling and also sanitised, as the temperature of the blast is deadly to germs, bacteria and bugs. The same process is used to steam clean car engines, however, steam vapour is only 5% moisture allowing it to be suitable for internal cleaning.

Steam cleaning is a non abrasive method of cleaning so chores are simplified and far less taxing than the old fashioned scrubbing methods or elbow grease as it was known. The high pressure blast allows cleaning and sanitising of hard to reach areas yet, with the temperature of the steam dropping dramatically as it merges with the air, steam is quite safe to use.

So with the heat and pressure doing the cleaning and sanitising, in general cleaning you no longer have to waste money and risk your health and safety on costly and often toxic cleaning chemicals. With chemicals being linked to conditions such as ASTHMA, CANCER, CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME etc, aside from the constant damage they do to our environment, more and more people are realising the benefits of reducing the toxic load we put on ourselves and our world.

Steam is the worlds best method for cleaning tiles and grout, will clean windows and stainless steel or polished surfaces without streaking, removes baked on grease from bbq's and ovens, removes most stains from carpets and kills and removes mould from ceilings and walls. In fact steam is one of the most versatile cleaning methods available today and can be adapted to almost any task in and around the home or workshop.

back to top

Why Choose Steam as your Cleaning Preference

STEAM IS THE EASIEST METHOD OF CLEANING!
By using heat to soften the binding agents that hold dirt or stains onto or into surfaces and then the pressure to dislodge them, steam takes a lot of the work out of cleaning. Old abrasive methods of cleaning are labour intensive and slow and become almost impossible for infirmed or elderly people to perform.

STEAM IS THE CHEAPEST CLEANING METHOD!
In general or maintenance cleaning you can achieve outstanding results purely and simply with water. By eliminating the use of expensive chemicals and various cleaning tools, your ongoing cleaning costs are hugely reduced if not erased and with one litre of water producing in excess of fifteen hundred litres of steam, you are using less water than the older style cleaning.

STEAM IS THE HEALTHIEST CLEANING METHOD!
Our generation is the first to be brought up in a chemical soup as such, with the use of chemical cleaning solutions escalating from the 1940's. Every day we are faced with new evidence on the hazards of constant exposure to many chemicals with proven links to CANCER, ASTHMA, CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME amongst others. All maintenance cleaning can be done with steam only and the use of any cleaning solution is rare and only when faced with particularly stubborn stains and you can often substitute natural cleaners for toxic solutions.

STEAM IS THE RESPONSIBLE CLEANING METHOD!
“We didn't inherit this world, we are borrowing it from future generations.” Cleaning chemicals don't just disappear, they create a chemical load on our planet in the same way they build up a chemical load in our bodies. Now there is no excuse for further damaging our fragile environment as steam is the truly sustainable cleaning method.

STEAM CAN IMPROVE YOU’RE QUALITY OF LIFE!
ASTHMA and ALLERGY sufferers are hyper sensitive to dust mites (as well as many chemicals) but these and other invisible microbes affect us all in many different ways. The ability of steam to kill these parasites and their eggs breaks the breeding cycle and although we can never totally eradicate dust mites, by controlling and minimising the populations, we improve our quality of life.

back to top

Steam for control of Bed Bugs, Dust Mites, Fleas and other pests!

The extreme temperatures of steam vapour cleaners have been proven to kill not only a wide range of pests but also their eggs meaning, unlike aggressive chemical treatments, you are eliminating two generations at once and completely breaking the breeding cycle.

The benefits of using steam to eliminate pests are many and mostly obvious.

Firstly, steam vapour is pure water and air. The actual moisture content is just 5% so they are not messy nor do they leave surfaces or materials wet and smelly, in fact, most soft furnishings including mattresses and carpets dry within fifteen minutes in average temperatures. The heat does the killing.

Steam is the most economical form of pest control.

You don’t have to isolate or close off rooms during or after treatment.

You can treat a surface or article as often as you like as water vapour leaves no residue and won’t damage it.

Anyone can use steam. You need very little training and no qualifications.

Steam vapour isn’t selective. You aren’t just targeting individual species; the steam kills them all as well as most viruses, germs and bacteria.

Research from the University of Glasgow found steam extremely effective in controlling dust mite populations in carpet and stated in the conclusion of their paper The use of domestic steam cleaning for the control of house dust mites, “CONCLUSION: These data indicate that steam cleaning has considerable potential as an highly effective and efficient method of killing dust mites and reducing concentrations of Der p 1 in domestic premises,” These trial results showed “No live dust mites were found at any time in the treated carpet squares.” Source: "Colloff MJ, Taylor C, Merrett TG."

Like dust mites, bed bugs and fleas perish at temperatures above 50° Celsius or 120° Fahrenheit. So with the temperature of steam at more than 100° Celsius, this method is very effective.

When treating rooms for people who suffer from ASTHMA or ALLERGIES it is not enough to just kill the pests as it is the waste and detritus that often causes attacks and reactions. By using the EUROGEM steam with vacuum you are able to both eliminate the pests and remove the waste and litter, leaving the area fresh and safe for even extreme sufferers.

Most people would agree this is much better than using expensive, toxic chemicals that cause irritations and rashes to remove minute pests that cause irritations and rashes.

STEAM IS THE SIMPLE, SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR PEST CONTROL AND CLEANING.

back to top

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A STEAM CLEANER

STEAM PRESSURE AND CONTINUOUS REFILL

Pressure is the secret to successful cleaning with steam. Put simple, more pressure equals easier cleaning, lose pressure and you lose the ability to clean. Steam pressure is measured in bars and you need at the very least 3 bars of pressure for effective cleaning. Also, steam comes in wave form with an element heating the new steam as you clean. Inferior machines can give you an initial blast of steam but are not sophisticated enough to maintain pressure for more than a few seconds.

Always check the steam pressure before you select a steamer and always test how well the pressure is sustained.

Older style steamers are filled direct to the boiler and sealed with a pressure cap. This means your cleaning time is restricted to the amount of water the boiler holds. Refilling the boiler involves depressurising, refilling then reheating.

Modern steamers use a second “reservoir” tank which pumps water into the boiler as it is needed meaning no back pressure so no pressure cap, you can refill the reservoir while you clean and, by using a smaller boiler, it takes less time for the initial heating of the steam.

A WIDE RANGE OF ACCESSORIES

There are various tools that can be used with a steam cleaner to simplify your cleaning tasks. Most of these tools are supplied as standard with quality appliances with specialised tools available as optional extras.

Always make certain you have a good range of tools available for your steamer of choice.

CHOOSE AN APPLIANCE THAT FULFILS YOUR NEEDS

Steam (vapour) cleaners range from small steamers which can be used for small specified tasks to the modern and popular steam with vacuum combination appliances giving a total cleaning package. Consider what you want to achieve before selecting your steamer.

QUALITY CONSTRUCTION

If you want an appliance that will last, you need to be assured of quality components. The boiler is the heart of the steamer so for longevity you should select a steamer with a stainless steel boiler and to maintain the boilers for years of trouble free cleaning, it is recommended you use some form of filtered water.

The old saying you get what you pay for is certainly true with steamers so you should be prepared to pay a bit more to ensure a quality appliance.

AFTER SALES SERVICE

As steam is, for most people, a new form of cleaning it is imperative to be shown the correct method of use. This can be done personally by the representative, which is why steamers are sold direct, or, with reputable companies, via an instruction format, preferably video or dvd.

Spare parts and repairs need to be accessible.

EUROGEM appliances are the best available with the latest technology, quality parts, appliances for most situations and full support both with learning about steam and after sales service.

EUROGEM MAKES YOUR CHOICE SIMPLE

Various uses for steam cleaners.

CONTACT EUROGEM NOW TO SPEAK TO AN ADVISOR ON THE BEST APPLIANCE FOR YOUR NEEDS.

contact us

back to top