Steam vacuum cleaners: features, types and tips for choosing

Household appliances are designed to make life easier for a person. Cleaning an apartment requires a lot of time and effort, so a modern manufacturer strives to make their devices multifunctional and convenient.

Nowadays, the functions of a vacuum cleaner are not limited to the simple elimination of dust and debris. The units can clean floors and windows, disinfect surfaces, humidify the air and much more.

It is no coincidence that many people prefer steam devices. The principle of operation of the devices is as follows: water is poured into a special tank, where it is heated to a high temperature. Cleaning is carried out with hot steam, which is able to destroy bacteria and microorganisms on the treated surface.

Steam cleaners do an excellent job of removing stubborn dirt and stains, and are suitable for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms. But during operation, be sure to take into account the peculiarities of the surfaces to be treated: not all of them are able to withstand high temperatures (natural stone can crack, a carpet with natural pile can lose its former beauty).

If we take design features as the basis for the classification, then there are two types of such devices.

• Steam vacuum cleaners... Outwardly, they are no different from ordinary vacuum cleaners. They perform dry cleaning of the premises and additionally have the function of steam treatment.
• Steam mops. The nozzle for such devices is fixed on the handle, where the water tank is located. This is a vertical model.

Mops with a steam cleaner are lightweight and therefore easy to operate. Moving them from one place to another is easy. The base is usually movable, which provides maneuverability and ease of cleaning in hard-to-reach areas of the apartment. Depending on the specific model, even the length of the handle can be adjusted, thereby adapting the device to each specific user.

The power and intensity of the steam supply are adjustable, which is extremely important for high-quality cleaning. Since the volume of the water tank in the mops is small, heating occurs very quickly (unlike vacuum cleaners). In just a minute, it will be possible to start using the device.

The vacuum mop is a 2-in-1 device. It is additionally equipped with a dust collector. A cyclone filter is usually installed in such a steam apparatus. The advantages of such models: the ability to perform dry and wet cleaning, as well as disinfection without the use of any chemicals.

The mop is compact. It is easy to store. It takes up very little space. Vacuum cleaners with a steam generator are usually equipped with several attachments, so the devices are suitable for cleaning and cleaning all surfaces. It is enough to choose the appropriate tip: narrow for hard-to-reach places, round for corners.

Vertical wireless models are convenient to use. With such a device, you will not be limited in movement by the length of the cord. It can be used even where there is no power outlet, for example, when cleaning the interior of a car.

Among the disadvantages of vertical models, their insufficiently high power is noted. They are ideal for daily cleaning, but will not work if the level of pollution in the room is large.

Manufacturers offer a huge selection of steam vacuum cleaners. To choose the right device, you need to follow the advice of professionals.

• Never go on about emotions, especially if the model has an exceptional design. Examine the technical characteristics, strengths and weaknesses. Otherwise, it may turn out that a stylish and attractive appearance is the only plus of the product.

• Pay attention to the types and number of attachments included in the kit. They will allow you to understand what types of cleaning the model is available: an oval brush with short, hard fibers is suitable for clothes, a turbo brush will remove animal hair, a narrow nozzle is designed for hard-to-reach places.

• Check if the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a manual steam power control. Ideally, the technique should have five positions. Find out the pressure of the steam jet. It should not be less than 5 bar.

• Familiarize yourself with the filtering system of the device. The fabric filter can be used many times, but its disadvantage is that it is inconvenient to use. To get rid of debris, it needs to be cleaned. No matter how carefully you perform the procedure, dust particles will still remain on the fabric, which is unhygienic. The paper filter is more environmentally friendly. However, it is disposable, so this option cannot be called economical.

• Do not lose sight of such a parameter as the volume of the water tank. The larger it is, the less often you will be distracted during cleaning to fill it.

• Be sure to read the instruction manual and specifications. This will give you a complete and objective opinion about the device. The technical parameters will make it possible to conclude about the power of the vacuum cleaner, the noise level, the time of uninterrupted operation, and the complete set. A good vacuum cleaner has a capacity of at least 1000 kW.

• Don't go for cheap options.

The market for washing steam vacuum cleaners is diverse. The palm rightfully belongs to Kitfort KT-535 (Russia). The device demonstrates the ideal ratio of quality and cost. It is an upright model that is inexpensive, compact and efficient. Equipped with three operating modes: sucks in fine debris, cleans with steam, at the same time sucks in dust and disinfects with hot steam.

In second place is Karcher SV 7 (Germany). Main advantages:

• steam cleaning, dirt collection and drying;
• continuous steam supply;
• multiple filtration.

If you need a reliable and durable vacuum cleaner with an aquafilter, this model will suit you completely and completely. With it, you can make complex cleaning, get to hard-to-reach places. Thanks to the filtration system, consisting of four stages, such a device becomes indispensable in those families where there are allergy sufferers. The disadvantage is the high cost of the product.

The bronze medalist of the rating is the Polti FAV30 vacuum cleaner, which has a classic design. It is relatively inexpensive, easy to use, equipped with an aquafilter that retains dust and dirt particles at the bottom of the bowl. If you have a fluffy pet living in your home, the device will quickly collect fur and disinfect surfaces. It will do an excellent job of removing mold and mildew on the walls.

In this model, buyers noted the insufficiently high level of assembly. There is no place for automatic winding of the wire, which is not very convenient when storing the device.

The fourth place goes to MIE Bello from the Italian manufacturer, versatile and powerful. The presence of several attachments allows you to clean not only the floor, carpets, but also glass, mirrors. The steam is supplied at a very high pressure (5.5 bar), so the device can handle even stubborn dirt. The volume of the water tank is 1.7 liters. The appliance takes about 10 minutes to warm it up. Among the advantages, the presence of an anti-drip system is noted.

The vacuum cleaner has a light weight (5 kg), good maneuverability (equipped with large wheels), a long hose and a very comfortable handle.The set includes attachments: cone-shaped, point brush, for floors, windows, iron attachment. A branded bag made of nylon is provided for their storage. The disadvantages include the high noise level of the operating device.

In fifth place is a representative of Tefal. The VP7545RH does not require the use of chemicals. Thanks to the Clean & Steam function, the appliance first sucks in dust and then performs a hot steam treatment, destroying germs and bacteria. Steam is distributed evenly by two special channels located at the base of the nozzle. The buyers attributed the disadvantages to the sliding handle and the high noise level of the operating device.

For an overview of the steam vacuum cleaner, see the video below.