Dupray Carmen Steam Machine

[AtoZDetailing]

Hey guys, recently purchased a steam machine and have a question for the guys Familiar with them.

The thing works an cleans amazingly. However, I noticed a white film or residue on some of the plastics i.e. door cards

I was thinking this might be calcium from the water? Any thoughts?

[Ronkh]

My suggestion is only use distilled water. Or be prepared to get another one soon.

[ShawnF350]

To add to what Ron said, I would do a tank clean ASAP with vinegar if you`ve been using tap water..... if it doesn`t give you a procedure in your manual, i will PM you the text from my VX5000 if you like.
If you only distilled water then it could be what Shane said below.

[ShaneB]

You may be overheating some surfaces. Not sure how hot your steamer gets but it`s important to keep temperature into consideration when cleaning. Steam can actually do quite a bit of damage if you aren`t careful.

[AtoZDetailing]

You may be overheating some surfaces. Not sure how hot your steamer gets but it`s important to keep temperature into consideration when cleaning. Steam can actually do quite a bit of damage if you aren`t careful.

It gets to about 300f. I didn`t use direct steam, I was the triangle attachment wit a microfiber wrapped around.
It is only in some spots. If it were calcium I guess it would be everywhere? Might be overheating

[jtford95]

Are you using a chemical with it?

[AtoZDetailing]

Are you using a chemical with it?

No, no chemicals. I noticed once I was done that there was sort of a chalky, white, residue on the doors. It won`t just wipe off either, so i`m wondering if it`s damage from to much heat or if it`s calcium from the water.

[Medicscott]

I use tap water as per manufacturers specs. This unit is built to filter tap. There should not be TDS at all. When I test mine it`s always 0

[Stokdgs]

I always run some Distilled White Vinegar (its at the grocery store in plastic gallon jugs) through my VX5000 Steamer to clean it out, then a lot of water to rinse it all out, and only use Distilled Water for work and have never experienced what you have posted..

I never use steam to clean large plastic anything,but I will use it to clean out the rubber or plastic coating inside of cup holders when they are really nasty, but use it only to get everything out of the bottom that is tuck and blasted out, so I am hitting it from a little distance with a rag over it to catch the debris that is coming out...

Also like to use my triangular brush with a white towel wrapped over it to get things like seatbelt grime out, carpets ready for extraction, and sometimes this same set up on headliners, with much care..
Dan F

[AtoZDetailing]

I always run some Distilled White Vinegar (its at the grocery store in plastic gallon jugs) through my VX5000 Steamer to clean it out, then a lot of water to rinse it all out, and only use Distilled Water for work and have never experienced what you have posted..

I never use steam to clean large plastic anything,but I will use it to clean out the rubber or plastic coating inside of cup holders when they are really nasty, but use it only to get everything out of the bottom that is tuck and blasted out, so I am hitting it from a little distance with a rag over it to catch the debris that is coming out...

Also like to use my triangular brush with a white towel wrapped over it to get things like seatbelt grime out, carpets ready for extraction, and sometimes this same set up on headliners, with much care..
Dan F

Hmmm....so does this sound like damage from too much heat? HAve you ever damaged anything with the steamer?

[ShawnF350]

I always run some Distilled White Vinegar (its at the grocery store in plastic gallon jugs) through my VX5000 Steamer to clean it out, then a lot of water to rinse it all out, and only use Distilled Water for work and have never experienced what you have posted..

I never use steam to clean large plastic anything,but I will use it to clean out the rubber or plastic coating inside of cup holders when they are really nasty, but use it only to get everything out of the bottom that is tuck and blasted out, so I am hitting it from a little distance with a rag over it to catch the debris that is coming out...

Also like to use my triangular brush with a white towel wrapped over it to get things like seatbelt grime out, carpets ready for extraction, and sometimes this same set up on headliners, with much care..
Dan F

Do you heat it with the vinegar and run it thru the hose?
I never did that but would like to.
Do you follow the instructions for suggested vinegar solution?

[Accumulator]

Hmmm....so does this sound like damage from too much heat? HAve you ever damaged anything with the steamer?

I bleached-out the pigment of some plastics with my steamer during my trudge up the learning curve, gotta be careful as some such surfaces can be more fragile than one might think. IF the white stuff merely wiped off I might think "mineral deposits" but this sounds like the heat killed off the coloring.

FWIW, most of the time I just run (softened) tap water through my steamer (occasionally use DI water instead) and it`s still OK after years of doing that. Every once in a *long* while I put vinegar in the tank, heat it up, and then dump it out via the drain plug, might put some more vinegar in and run some of that through the wand before again dumping it out. Not the "proper" type of on-going maintenance, but it seems to keep the mineral deposits down to a functionally acceptable level. Sure not saying this is the right way to do it, but it`s working OK for me.

[RaysWay]

Hmmm....so does this sound like damage from too much heat? HAve you ever damaged anything with the steamer?

In the Detailing Boot Camp classes, I`ve seen a few guys melt plastic or interior parts from letting a steamer sit in one spot for too long.

[AtoZDetailing]

I bleached-out the pigment of some plastics with my steamer during my trudge up the learning curve, gotta be careful as some such surfaces can be more fragile than one might think. IF the white stuff merely wiped off I might think "mineral deposits" but this sounds like the heat killed off the coloring.

FWIW, most of the time I just run (softened) tap water through my steamer (occasionally use DI water instead) and it`s still OK after years of doing that. Every once in a *long* while I put vinegar in the tank, heat it up, and then dump it out via the drain plug, might put some more vinegar in and run some of that through the wand before again dumping it out. Not the "proper" type of on-going maintenance, but it seems to keep the mineral deposits down to a functionally acceptable level. Sure not saying this is the right way to do it, but it`s working OK for me.

In the Detailing Boot Camp classes, I`ve seen a few guys melt plastic or interior parts from letting a steamer sit in one spot for too long.

So it sounds like I may have bleached out the pigment of the plastic. Once it was dry, I wiped it down with 1z cockpit and it seemed to make it look a lot better. The thing is, I used the triangle tool with a towel around it and didn`t sit on one spot. I was actually moving the tool around fairly quickly.

[Stokdgs]

Hmmm....so does this sound like damage from too much heat? HAve you ever damaged anything with the steamer?

No, I have never damaged anything with my VX5000 Steamer..
Its really hot so you have to be careful with it.
Dan F