Steam Cleaner Damaged to Car?

5

5jjt

New member
Sorry Guys, I don't have pics of damage.


I am just wondering, since I just got a new steamer, aside from being idiotic with it, are there any precautions to take with using a steamer., i.e. (don't use on this material, or that material, (never do this, never do that) etc.  I ask because I damaged a fabric chair and a vinyl chair in my house.  The vinyl became very matte looking; more matte looking than had I just applied an APC to it.  And, the fabric on the chair started to separate, badly.


 


Anyone else have any steamer horror stories?
 
I damaged the carpet in the Mazda MPV I used to have, not exactly "melted", but something along those lines.  And I overheated a plastic hood-prop rod retaining clip once.  So I'd take it easy on plastics and other synthetic materials.
 
I would probably take it easy on plastic fenderwell liners; I put an oval-shaped mark in a 2010 Accord front liner, from trying to steam one section for too long. I thought my steam cleaner was going to be the "be-all-end-all" for that job, but nope.
 
A lot of common sense goes a long way when steaming. Many stains are stubborn and repeated  attempts may be needed but putting the wand on a stain and just holding it there is a recipe for trouble.
 
Very true, Paul. Just holding the wand there would be rather risky. However I ruined a vinyl chair's finish just with a few light passes. Hopefully I won't do this to any car in the future. The more I use the steamer for cars, the more I consider using apc for the same results.
 
Like others have said, be careful around plastics. You can overheat them if you are to strong on them with the steam. 

Something I was recommended to do was practice on some scrap panels from a wrecker. I sure learnt a lot about it. 


Also, depending on the steamer, you can change the heat to give a cooler steam or keep the seam further away from the surface. 


I can see damaging vinals or plastics, but the fabrics I have never had an issue with. Perhaps it was damaged before hand and the use of the steamer only brought that to the surface? I have seen high temps release adhesives before and lift fabric up. Perhaps it was glued together and the temps softened the glue?
 
Hi, I'm new to the forum. I'm somewhat of an expert with the steamers. I own 2 steam car washes and 2 mobile steam vans, What kind of steamer are you using?


The closer you hold the steam the hotter it is, if you have a brush attachment wrap a towel around it once or twice. With a steamer that has pressure hit the surface at a 45 degree angle (if your right handed) never dead on. On fabric wrap with a towel and keep it moving, you only want to heat it up a small area at a time. This opens the fibers and loosen the dirt, then use a couple sprays of cleaner, scrub with a brush, wipe with a clean rag then lightly steam to restore texture. This is the same for swede and carpet.
 
Tonya- Welcome to Autopia!


 


I've heard of steam carwashes, but never actually saw one...what part of the country are yours in?
 
True steamers do have their place and do wonderfully with the right application.  They are not a do it all tool as much as some think....you got to really know your materials and physics of steam to know how they react together.  I took mine out to a junk yard when I got it to see how long you can heat various materials until they start to become damaged. MUCH safer way to learn........cheaper too  :D
 
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