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The Old Grey Whistle Test
Pressure and Temperature
The cleaning power of vapour steam cleaners comes from the high temperature vapour steam and pressure. The high vapour steam temperatures break down dirt, grime and grease as well as killing bacteria and sterilization, the pressure penetrates into the dirt to dislodge it. Look for units with medium - high temperature and pressure that produce vapour pressure (‘dry’ steam). Some cleaning tasks do not require high pressure, so a pressure control is desirable. Low temperature units, such as most handheld units, will allow the steam to condense (‘wet steam’) below the boiling point of water (212ºF) at the output tip resulting in dripping hot water during use that is messy and can scald you.
Capacity - Look for large capacity water tanks. Handheld units only store small quantities of water. Continuous dual tank vapour steam cleaners allow you to refill the unit at any time for non-stop cleaning.
Construction
There are two main construction details in selecting a vapour steam cleaner. The housing material and the boiler material, select a unit with a housing made of stainless steel or heat resistant thermoplastic. Stainless steel will not crack during a hard impact, but is a more expensive option than thermoplastic. Units with painted steel housings should be avoided as these can eventually rust due to exposure to water and moisture from use. Quality vapour steam cleaners use stainless steel boilers. Stainless steel will last longer and not react with water impurities like aluminium, as it can oxidize over time and react with impurities to cause pitting and make it difficult to clean the boiler.
Using dry steam vapour
A system that produces a high temperature, low moisture vapour that contains only 5% water and is much less dense than air, a steam vapour system is equipped to safely produce thousands of gallons of live dry steam using only about 1.5 quarts of water per hour. Temperatures should be hot enough to kill bacteria and germs, emulsify grease and oil as well as other surface contaminants.
Apply a cleaner to a sponge, work up foam and apply to the surface, then pass the steamer just above the top of the area previously cleaned and lightly agitate with a micro fibre towel, then wipe dry. Steam vapour helps to emulsify the grime, while the foam encapsulates it. Steam when it cools turns to condensate (water) which helps to re-hydrate leather upholstery
Steam Vapour advantages
•Can access areas that a carpet extractor cannot
•Cleans between seats, consoles, dashes, cup holders, vents, door pockets, door jambs, seat tracks and more
•Will not leave moisture to soak materials as the steam vapour only contain 5% water moisture
•Steam-vapour dries very quickly (unlike a carpet extractor) and therefore will not cause mould or mildew to form.
•A steamer will clean hard (vinyl, wheel and glass) surfaces that an extractor cannot
•A steamer can be used to clean leather upholstery quickly and more efficiently than standard methods and without the use of chemicals
Note- Steam can scald the skin so wear cloves, and don’t use with synthetics materials as it could cause them to melt
Carpet Extractor
An extraction system process is the choice of professional detailers due to its cost effectiveness, performance efficiency and time saving over conventional methods. Extractors work by using a cleaning solution dispensed from a tank that heats the solution to 200oF+ and is sprayed at medium pressure, high volume from the machine via a cleaning wand; it is then filtered and re-circulated. Extraction also allows the ability to remove cleaning residues due to its high suction power (100-inch water gauge +). Rinsed fabrics look and smell cleaner and resist soiling better.
Organic stain removal- quarter (1/4) cup Protein Stain Remover (topoftheline.com) / 1-cup 303â„¢ Cleaner & Spot Remover / one gallon hot water let dwell for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react
Other stain removal / normal cleaning- 10:1 distilled hot water/ P21S Total Auto Wash, let solution dwells for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react
Note- Run a gallon of distilled white vinegar through the extractor either weekly, or after every ten fresh fills. Vinegar contains acetic acid, an organic carboxylic that will help eliminate scale, mild mineral deposits etc. from clogging your extractor
[This section will be expanded]
The cleaning power of vapour steam cleaners comes from the high temperature vapour steam and pressure. The high vapour steam temperatures break down dirt, grime and grease as well as killing bacteria and sterilization, the pressure penetrates into the dirt to dislodge it. Look for units with medium - high temperature and pressure that produce vapour pressure (‘dry’ steam). Some cleaning tasks do not require high pressure, so a pressure control is desirable. Low temperature units, such as most handheld units, will allow the steam to condense (‘wet steam’) below the boiling point of water (212ºF) at the output tip resulting in dripping hot water during use that is messy and can scald you.
Capacity - Look for large capacity water tanks. Handheld units only store small quantities of water. Continuous dual tank vapour steam cleaners allow you to refill the unit at any time for non-stop cleaning.
Construction
There are two main construction details in selecting a vapour steam cleaner. The housing material and the boiler material, select a unit with a housing made of stainless steel or heat resistant thermoplastic. Stainless steel will not crack during a hard impact, but is a more expensive option than thermoplastic. Units with painted steel housings should be avoided as these can eventually rust due to exposure to water and moisture from use. Quality vapour steam cleaners use stainless steel boilers. Stainless steel will last longer and not react with water impurities like aluminium, as it can oxidize over time and react with impurities to cause pitting and make it difficult to clean the boiler.
Using dry steam vapour
A system that produces a high temperature, low moisture vapour that contains only 5% water and is much less dense than air, a steam vapour system is equipped to safely produce thousands of gallons of live dry steam using only about 1.5 quarts of water per hour. Temperatures should be hot enough to kill bacteria and germs, emulsify grease and oil as well as other surface contaminants.
Apply a cleaner to a sponge, work up foam and apply to the surface, then pass the steamer just above the top of the area previously cleaned and lightly agitate with a micro fibre towel, then wipe dry. Steam vapour helps to emulsify the grime, while the foam encapsulates it. Steam when it cools turns to condensate (water) which helps to re-hydrate leather upholstery
Steam Vapour advantages
•Can access areas that a carpet extractor cannot
•Cleans between seats, consoles, dashes, cup holders, vents, door pockets, door jambs, seat tracks and more
•Will not leave moisture to soak materials as the steam vapour only contain 5% water moisture
•Steam-vapour dries very quickly (unlike a carpet extractor) and therefore will not cause mould or mildew to form.
•A steamer will clean hard (vinyl, wheel and glass) surfaces that an extractor cannot
•A steamer can be used to clean leather upholstery quickly and more efficiently than standard methods and without the use of chemicals
Note- Steam can scald the skin so wear cloves, and don’t use with synthetics materials as it could cause them to melt
Carpet Extractor
An extraction system process is the choice of professional detailers due to its cost effectiveness, performance efficiency and time saving over conventional methods. Extractors work by using a cleaning solution dispensed from a tank that heats the solution to 200oF+ and is sprayed at medium pressure, high volume from the machine via a cleaning wand; it is then filtered and re-circulated. Extraction also allows the ability to remove cleaning residues due to its high suction power (100-inch water gauge +). Rinsed fabrics look and smell cleaner and resist soiling better.
Organic stain removal- quarter (1/4) cup Protein Stain Remover (topoftheline.com) / 1-cup 303â„¢ Cleaner & Spot Remover / one gallon hot water let dwell for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react
Other stain removal / normal cleaning- 10:1 distilled hot water/ P21S Total Auto Wash, let solution dwells for 5-10 minutes to enable cleaners to react
Note- Run a gallon of distilled white vinegar through the extractor either weekly, or after every ten fresh fills. Vinegar contains acetic acid, an organic carboxylic that will help eliminate scale, mild mineral deposits etc. from clogging your extractor
[This section will be expanded]