Steam cleaners are very popular just now, but are they all they're cracked up to be?
These machines are great tools to have. They can clean without chemistry, which makes them environmentally friendly. They kill bacteria and cut through grease. However, there is a draw back... using them could destroy the very thing you are trying to clean!
What's the problem?
These cleaners produce steam at over 100 degrees Celsius, this makes them great for cleaning ovens, hobs and other surfaces that can withstand high heats.
Unfortunately though, high temperatures will 'cook' most natural products and damage the glues that hold synthetic fabrics together.
Take wool for instance, would you ever wash a wool jumper in a boil wash? Not if you wanted to wear it again! It wouldn't just shrink, the heat would begin to break down the wool fibres. Now consider what you paid for your carpet. Do you really want to risk damaging your investment? Even if it is synthetic, steam can still damage it. Don't risk it, save the steam for your oven.
Why do they sell them then?
I know what it says on the box... carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, but please look closer. The countries that make these devices don't have a lot of experience with fabric upholstery or wall to wall carpets.
One of our customers used a steam machine regularly to clean her carpet. She said, "The instructions told me I could use it on my carpet, so I did." Unfortunately, not only did she damage the wool, her carpet delaminated. That means the glue that held it together completely dissolved. It was beyond repair.
In their place they are useful.
Occasionally we use steam in moderation to remove wax, chewing gum and red dye. However, as a professional fabric cleaner I'd never recommend their use as a carpet or fabric cleaner.
These machines are great tools to have. They can clean without chemistry, which makes them environmentally friendly. They kill bacteria and cut through grease. However, there is a draw back... using them could destroy the very thing you are trying to clean!
What's the problem?
These cleaners produce steam at over 100 degrees Celsius, this makes them great for cleaning ovens, hobs and other surfaces that can withstand high heats.
Unfortunately though, high temperatures will 'cook' most natural products and damage the glues that hold synthetic fabrics together.
Take wool for instance, would you ever wash a wool jumper in a boil wash? Not if you wanted to wear it again! It wouldn't just shrink, the heat would begin to break down the wool fibres. Now consider what you paid for your carpet. Do you really want to risk damaging your investment? Even if it is synthetic, steam can still damage it. Don't risk it, save the steam for your oven.
Why do they sell them then?
I know what it says on the box... carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, but please look closer. The countries that make these devices don't have a lot of experience with fabric upholstery or wall to wall carpets.
One of our customers used a steam machine regularly to clean her carpet. She said, "The instructions told me I could use it on my carpet, so I did." Unfortunately, not only did she damage the wool, her carpet delaminated. That means the glue that held it together completely dissolved. It was beyond repair.
In their place they are useful.
Occasionally we use steam in moderation to remove wax, chewing gum and red dye. However, as a professional fabric cleaner I'd never recommend their use as a carpet or fabric cleaner.
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