RaysWay
09-25-2015, 10:58 AM
I don`t know what I ever did without a steam cleaner. I`ve recently started to use my Vapamore MR-100 PRIMO Steam Cleaning System much more frequently and I love it. I know there are more powerful (and more expensive) steam cleaners on the market, but this little guy is all I need.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xUP8Qa8WWKY/VeSKwnEUSnI/AAAAAAAAYoM/91ppoEIuf_8/s640-Ic42/IMG_1080.JPG
My procedure so far has been to turn on the MR-100 while I vacuum the interior. I think it takes 10-15 minutes to heat up. The MR-100 can be filled with 1400 ml`s of Distilled Water, but I`ve only been filling it up with 500 ml`s of water and I`ve been able to steam clean entire interior without having to refill. I don`t have very many "action shots" of me using this since I usually have the steamer in one hand and a general purpose microfiber towel in the other, but after completing another detail last night; I really wanted to post my thoughts on this tool.
The cheapest I`ve found a gallon of Distilled Water is the "Crystal" brand at Target for 69 cents a gallon. I purchased 3 gallons, and if I`m using 500 ml of water per vehicle that means I have enough distilled water to steam clean 22 vehicles! For only $2.07 (plus uncle sam)!! If you`re a professional, the cost effectiveness of a steam cleaner should get you excited; but there are other benefits too...
We`ve all heard that steam cleaners sanitize surfaces without leaving behind ANY residue which is amazing for interiors. Since I have sensitive allergies and asthma, I can really appreciate a sanitized and clean interior. The best way I can describe a steamed interior is the fresh scent you smell outside after a rainstorm. The Mercedes I detailed recently comes to mind since it had a very musty, stale smell in the interior. By the time I was finished, it smelled fresh and clean.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fnyoO7RNCZU/VeSKt4HdCYI/AAAAAAAAYpk/x-luOnDg2Sk/s640-Ic42/IMG_1073.JPG
But I`ve also been using it regularly in the engine bay. When I popped the hood of this Mercedes to inspect the engine bay, I noticed the plastic was dressing with a greasy and streaky dressing. I decided to strip the plastic to reapply CarPro PERL since I knew it would look much better. In the past, I would have to put on my respirator to avoid inhaling the strong APC and scrub every inch of the plastic with a microfiber towel preferably while wearing nitrile gloves to avoid skin contact. Now...I just point and shoot. Here`s a 50/50 shot of removing the old dressing with my MR-100:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-87-QDw-qn-M/VeSKzCcOQ1I/AAAAAAAAYpA/_vn39nMbelk/s640-Ic42/IMG_1084.JPG
Even grease and dirt under the hood are no match for 220˚ of super heated steam :)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rvipXtHPGeQ/VgVUIhLk1xI/AAAAAAAAamQ/PJTSB-KiI3I/s640-Ic42/IMG_1574.JPG
I DO NOT miss having to use an engine degreaser.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bN_3w0GLgRs/VgVUI-XppiI/AAAAAAAAamU/Llo0m2lazQM/s640-Ic42/IMG_1575.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lLnsWxUFP9U/VgVUJX4BakI/AAAAAAAAamo/fUD4zBgL4yo/s640-Ic42/IMG_1576.JPG
Small nooks and crannies are easy to clean too, like around the screws on this Jeep. A steam cleaner really makes it effortless. Just point, spray and wipe.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sf5wR_pn_qQ/VgVUJij1_wI/AAAAAAAAamk/z52svPgulLc/s640-Ic42/IMG_1577.JPG
One area of the car I don`t see mentioned too often when talking about the benefits of a steam cleaner are the emblems and panel seams. Even after masking off door handles or car emblems, sometimes you still get compound/polish/wax residue in those hard to reach areas. With a steam cleaner, it`s very easy to remove that residue. I`ve found myself walking around the vehicle one last time with this steam cleaner to inspect all the panel seams and emblems before finally applying my LSP.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4411300055_d595dca86d_o.jpg
To recap...
Pros:
Versatile cleaner
Cleans without the use of harsh chemicals
Sanitizes surfaces
Can be used for a wide range of applications, not just limited to auto detailing
Inexpensive to operate
Easy to use
Leaves surfaces clean without a film or residue
Cons:
Initial cost
Temperature dial on the front rotates counter-clockwise to raise the temperature
Thanks for reading!
Vapamore MR-100 PRIMO Steam Cleaning System (http://www.autopia-carcare.com/vapamore-mr-100-steam-cleaner.html)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xUP8Qa8WWKY/VeSKwnEUSnI/AAAAAAAAYoM/91ppoEIuf_8/s640-Ic42/IMG_1080.JPG
My procedure so far has been to turn on the MR-100 while I vacuum the interior. I think it takes 10-15 minutes to heat up. The MR-100 can be filled with 1400 ml`s of Distilled Water, but I`ve only been filling it up with 500 ml`s of water and I`ve been able to steam clean entire interior without having to refill. I don`t have very many "action shots" of me using this since I usually have the steamer in one hand and a general purpose microfiber towel in the other, but after completing another detail last night; I really wanted to post my thoughts on this tool.
The cheapest I`ve found a gallon of Distilled Water is the "Crystal" brand at Target for 69 cents a gallon. I purchased 3 gallons, and if I`m using 500 ml of water per vehicle that means I have enough distilled water to steam clean 22 vehicles! For only $2.07 (plus uncle sam)!! If you`re a professional, the cost effectiveness of a steam cleaner should get you excited; but there are other benefits too...
We`ve all heard that steam cleaners sanitize surfaces without leaving behind ANY residue which is amazing for interiors. Since I have sensitive allergies and asthma, I can really appreciate a sanitized and clean interior. The best way I can describe a steamed interior is the fresh scent you smell outside after a rainstorm. The Mercedes I detailed recently comes to mind since it had a very musty, stale smell in the interior. By the time I was finished, it smelled fresh and clean.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fnyoO7RNCZU/VeSKt4HdCYI/AAAAAAAAYpk/x-luOnDg2Sk/s640-Ic42/IMG_1073.JPG
But I`ve also been using it regularly in the engine bay. When I popped the hood of this Mercedes to inspect the engine bay, I noticed the plastic was dressing with a greasy and streaky dressing. I decided to strip the plastic to reapply CarPro PERL since I knew it would look much better. In the past, I would have to put on my respirator to avoid inhaling the strong APC and scrub every inch of the plastic with a microfiber towel preferably while wearing nitrile gloves to avoid skin contact. Now...I just point and shoot. Here`s a 50/50 shot of removing the old dressing with my MR-100:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-87-QDw-qn-M/VeSKzCcOQ1I/AAAAAAAAYpA/_vn39nMbelk/s640-Ic42/IMG_1084.JPG
Even grease and dirt under the hood are no match for 220˚ of super heated steam :)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rvipXtHPGeQ/VgVUIhLk1xI/AAAAAAAAamQ/PJTSB-KiI3I/s640-Ic42/IMG_1574.JPG
I DO NOT miss having to use an engine degreaser.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bN_3w0GLgRs/VgVUI-XppiI/AAAAAAAAamU/Llo0m2lazQM/s640-Ic42/IMG_1575.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lLnsWxUFP9U/VgVUJX4BakI/AAAAAAAAamo/fUD4zBgL4yo/s640-Ic42/IMG_1576.JPG
Small nooks and crannies are easy to clean too, like around the screws on this Jeep. A steam cleaner really makes it effortless. Just point, spray and wipe.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sf5wR_pn_qQ/VgVUJij1_wI/AAAAAAAAamk/z52svPgulLc/s640-Ic42/IMG_1577.JPG
One area of the car I don`t see mentioned too often when talking about the benefits of a steam cleaner are the emblems and panel seams. Even after masking off door handles or car emblems, sometimes you still get compound/polish/wax residue in those hard to reach areas. With a steam cleaner, it`s very easy to remove that residue. I`ve found myself walking around the vehicle one last time with this steam cleaner to inspect all the panel seams and emblems before finally applying my LSP.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4411300055_d595dca86d_o.jpg
To recap...
Pros:
Versatile cleaner
Cleans without the use of harsh chemicals
Sanitizes surfaces
Can be used for a wide range of applications, not just limited to auto detailing
Inexpensive to operate
Easy to use
Leaves surfaces clean without a film or residue
Cons:
Initial cost
Temperature dial on the front rotates counter-clockwise to raise the temperature
Thanks for reading!
Vapamore MR-100 PRIMO Steam Cleaning System (http://www.autopia-carcare.com/vapamore-mr-100-steam-cleaner.html)