The Driver
Detailers Workshop
How do you clean your steamer? Do you dissemble? what do run through it to break mineral deposits down?
How do you clean your steamer?
- Thread starter The Driver
- Start date
512detail
New member
Can't you run like distilled vinegar though it or white vinegar or something like that?
I think I read something of that sort in the past. I probably should follow this thread, I'm sure my steamer could use a cleaning and I don't know exactly how that would be accomplished.
I think I read something of that sort in the past. I probably should follow this thread, I'm sure my steamer could use a cleaning and I don't know exactly how that would be accomplished.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Hardly ever 
I've run some CLR through it a few times over the years, but I basically neglect it something awful and so far I've gotten away with it. That's the Daimer 1500C that I keep in the shop; I don't think I've ever done any maintenance at all on the DeLonghi that I use in the house. Heh heh, no...I'm sure not recommending that others neglect theirs that way!
I've run some CLR through it a few times over the years, but I basically neglect it something awful and so far I've gotten away with it. That's the Daimer 1500C that I keep in the shop; I don't think I've ever done any maintenance at all on the DeLonghi that I use in the house. Heh heh, no...I'm sure not recommending that others neglect theirs that way!Accumulator
Well-known member
I've always thought that regular grocery-store vinegar is kinda weak for this sort of thing, hence the CLR.
512detail
New member
If using distilled water , what is there to clean out?
Calcium deposits? aren't those supposed to be distilled out? I'm probably wrong though.
Calcium deposits? aren't those supposed to be distilled out? I'm probably wrong though.
Stokdgs
dansautodetailing.com
The instructions with my VX5000 say to run some Distilled White Vinegar through it once a year at least..
I only use Distilled Water in it when I use it for work...
That is all I have ever done and 7-8 years later, it still works great...
DanF
I only use Distilled Water in it when I use it for work...
That is all I have ever done and 7-8 years later, it still works great...
DanF
ShaneB
New member
As long as you only use distilled water it should be fine, but I've also read that vinegar should be used once a year.
my guess would be the concern over time could be any dirt or debis that may get into the boiler when filling. I could see some buildup as a result from that
my guess would be the concern over time could be any dirt or debis that may get into the boiler when filling. I could see some buildup as a result from that
512detail
New member
if natural look can't clean it up. I use steam.
Or if they have really nasty stains, I use steam. It's wonderful what steam will cut through if you ask me and I don't even have a fancy steamer.
Stokdgs
dansautodetailing.com
What is best for me about steam -
- Blasts everything out of cup holders that wont come out otherwise..
- Totally cleans out all those tiny spaces that even the best brush cant get to around all Consoles..
- Gets all the rest of the dust and dirt out of any A/C/Heater vent, etc., after you have cleaned it with a long bristle brush..
- Blasts all the leaves, debris, etc, out of the front door bottom hinge area and the area in front of it, better than anything else..
- Removes all the gunk, mold, etc., that is sometimes stuck in the upper trunk jamb and the trunk hinges better than anything
else..
- Gets into that little tiny space under tail light lenses that sometimes gets mold growing in it..
- Removes dirt, stains, etc., and anything else in the deep crevice between the Console and the Seats, and blows anything else
out so you can remove it..
- With a white towel over a triangular brush, gets an incredible amount of body oils out of seat belts better than anything else..
- With the same white towel set up, removes all the dirt out of Headliners faster than anything else..
- Removes that last little bit of dirt, etc., from those places that nothing else can reach better than anything else..
- With or without a white towel over a triangular brush, hard to beat what it does to Leather, Carpets, Mats, Rubber Mats, Cloth
Seats, etc..
- Cuts down on the amount of chemicals used by a significant amount.. I buy way less chemicals and the ones I have last
so much longer.. Distilled water= .89/gallon+ -
Hope my VX5000 lasts forever..
Dan F
- Blasts everything out of cup holders that wont come out otherwise..
- Totally cleans out all those tiny spaces that even the best brush cant get to around all Consoles..
- Gets all the rest of the dust and dirt out of any A/C/Heater vent, etc., after you have cleaned it with a long bristle brush..
- Blasts all the leaves, debris, etc, out of the front door bottom hinge area and the area in front of it, better than anything else..
- Removes all the gunk, mold, etc., that is sometimes stuck in the upper trunk jamb and the trunk hinges better than anything
else..
- Gets into that little tiny space under tail light lenses that sometimes gets mold growing in it..
- Removes dirt, stains, etc., and anything else in the deep crevice between the Console and the Seats, and blows anything else
out so you can remove it..
- With a white towel over a triangular brush, gets an incredible amount of body oils out of seat belts better than anything else..
- With the same white towel set up, removes all the dirt out of Headliners faster than anything else..
- Removes that last little bit of dirt, etc., from those places that nothing else can reach better than anything else..
- With or without a white towel over a triangular brush, hard to beat what it does to Leather, Carpets, Mats, Rubber Mats, Cloth
Seats, etc..
- Cuts down on the amount of chemicals used by a significant amount.. I buy way less chemicals and the ones I have last
so much longer.. Distilled water= .89/gallon+ -
Hope my VX5000 lasts forever..
Dan F
Accumulator
Well-known member
Gee, I'm not even using distilled water in mine...sometimes deionized but often just (softened/filtered) tap water. One of these days it'll probably bite me, but hasn't happened yet and I've had these two steamers for years.