Volume Control Levels on steam cleaners: Low (1/4 turn), Med (1/2 turn), High (fully open)
General steam cleaning guidelines:
1. Let the hot vapor do the work at low volume
2. Begin in least dirty area and work towards most dirty
3. Do edging and detail first with steam cleaner, then large areas
4. Consider how heat affects the surface you are steam cleaning
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| Floors |
Steam cleaner volume |
Tools or accessories to be used with steam cleaner |
Hints & Techniques |
| Vinyl Tile or Sheet Goods |
Low-Med |
Large brush + towel, extension tubes, nozzle with nylon
nozzle brush, triangle brush |
Sweep or vacuum first; mop with large brush, corners and baseboards with small
nozzle brush or large nozzle brush; do by sections using continuous motion, heavily soiled areas use triangle brush, no towel. |
| Quarry Tile, Slate, Ceramic Tile Grout |
Med |
Large brush + towel on front clips only, nozzle with nylon
nozzle brush, triangle brush with towel |
Sweep or vacuum first; mop with large brush, flip towel under brush to finish wipe, use nozzle brush on grout lines and wipe away loosened dirt. |
| Hardwood |
Low |
Large brush + towel, extension tubes |
Fix towel to large brush, heat with steam "on", reduce or turn steam off and mop floor, repeat as towel cools. Towel should be hot and moist, not wet. |
| Smooth Concrete |
Med-High |
Large brush + towel on front clips only, triangle brush |
Sweep or vacuum first; mop with large brush, flip towel under brush to finish wipe, use nozzle brush or triangle brush for heavily soiled areas. |
| Wax Removal |
Med-High |
triangle brush, extension tubes |
Treat by section with triangle brush, no towel. Do twice, DO NOT OVERHEAT |
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| Carpets |
Steam cleaner volume |
Tools or accessories to be used with steam cleaner |
Hints & Techniques |
| Wall to wall, Maintenance, Area Rugs |
Med |
Large brush + towel, extension tubes |
Vacuum and then PRE-STEAM with triangle brush or large brush a 6'x6' area at 6" above the surface. Attach towel to large brush and wipe in two directions-the second at right angles to the first. Stubborn areas may be pre-treated with a light application of gentle detergent followed with steam treatment. |
| Spot Cleaning |
Med-High |
Nozzle or Steam gun |
When using nozzle or steam gun on spots, stay 4" - 6" from carpet surface. Blot spot with towel, repeat as necessary. DO NOT OVERHEAT |
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| Wall & Ceilings |
Steam cleaner volume |
Tools or accessories to be used with steam cleaner |
Hints & Techniques |
| Painted, Paneling, Wallpaper |
Low |
triangle brush or large brush with towel, extension tubes |
Painted walls, wallpaper, wood paneling are heat sensitive. Always use 2, preferably 3 layers of towel on brushes when treating these surfaces. Do not dwell on any one area too long - treat once, let cool and retreat. On heavily soiled areas, pre-steam with nozzle 6" from surface and then use brush withtowel. Towel surface may be pre-treated with gentle detergent mist to help loosen soil. On wood paneling move quickly, check towel surface for color transfer. WALL PAPER REMOVAL - use nozzle on seams, wallpaper stripper on large areas. Use triangle brush with towel to remove residual paste. |
| Acoustical Tile |
Low |
triangle brush or large brush with towel, extension tubes |
| Vents |
Med-High |
Nozzle or extended nozzle, ext. tubes, large brush with towel |
Wipe vent surface with large brush with towel. Pre treat with extended nozzle if necessary. For louvered vents, use nozzle with nozzle brush and towel. |
|
| Upholstery |
Steam cleaner volume |
Tools or accessories to be used with steam cleaner |
Hints & Techniques |
| Vinyl, Synthetics |
Low-Med |
triangle brush with towel |
Test in inconspicuous location prior to treatment. Some velours are very heat sensitive and may deform. Pre-steam area with steam gun at 6" from surface. Use triangle brush with towel over surface, working in two directions. Towel should be hot & moist, not wet. Use nozzle on seam lines at 2" from surface, wipe away dirt with towel. Condition leathers after treating. |
| Cotton |
Low-Med |
nozzle, no brush |
| Leathers |
Low |
triangle brush with towel |
|
| Blinds |
Steam cleaner volume |
Tools or accessories to be used with steam cleaner |
Hints & Techniques |
| Levelor, Venetian type, horizontal |
Low-Med |
nozzle, extension tube, extended nozzle |
Light dust - open blind ½ way & use nozzle on med - high from 4" away. Caution - Thin plastic blinds may be deformed by too much heat. Use care. Heavy or greasy dust - shut blind, mist with mild detergent, use nozzle at 4" from surface, wipe immediately with towel. Vertical vinyl - triangle brush with towel on one side and large brush with towel on opposite side - top to base, switch sides |
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| Glass |
Steam cleaner volume |
Tools or accessories to be used with steam cleaner |
Hints & Techniques |
| Windows, Mirrors, Window Screens |
Med |
Window cleaning tool, triangle brush with towel, extension tube(s) |
Pre - steam glass with steam gun at 6" from surface or use triangle brush with towel over entire surface the first cleaning. Follow up with window tool. Wipe squeegee blade often. Avoid cracked mirrors or windows. Use triangle brush with towel on screens. |
| Window Frames |
Low-Med |
nozzle with nozzle brush, extension tube(s), towel |
Use nozzle + brush to renew frame area, latches etc. Use towel over nozzle brush to finish and polish. |
|
| Kitchens |
Steam cleaner volume |
Tools or accessories to be used with steam cleaner |
Hints & Techniques |
| Stove Tops, Ovens |
Low-Med |
Nozzle with nozzle brush - nylon, brass, large nozzle brush, stainless steel pad, ext. tube, towel |
Use large nozzle brush with stainless steel pad for oven surfaces, oven racks, glass in door. Use small nylon or brass nozzle brush for tight areas, corners, burner bibs. |
| Small Appliances |
Low-Med |
med nozzle brush, triangle brush with towel |
For large areas use triangle brush with towel, or large nozzle brush directly. Use nozzle without brush for nooks & crannies, wipe with towel. |
| Sinks, Faucets, Drains |
Med |
Nozzle with nozzle brush - nylon or brass |
Use nozzle to reach into tight areas, use with nozzle brush where needed, rinse or wipe surface. |
| Counter tops, Cabinet facing |
Low-Med |
triangle brush with towel, nozzle with nozzle brush |
Use triangle brush direct and wipe with towel, use nozzle with brush on moldings, wipe with towel. CABINET FACING: pre - steam with nozzle from a distance of 6", let stand a moment, wipe with towel, repeat if necessary. |
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| Bathrooms |
Steam cleaner volume |
Tools or accessories to be used with steam cleaner |
Hints & Techniques |
| Tile & Grout |
Med |
Nozzle & med nozzle brush, triangle brush, extension tube |
Use nozzle brushes, triangle brush with no towel to clean grout, rinse or wipe clean. Use triangle brush with towel to maintain. |
| Porcelain, Chrome Fixtures |
Med |
Nozzle, nozzle brush - nylon, triangle brush with towel, extension tube |
Use triangle brush with towel to treat larger areas, nozzle brush with towel or nozzle with nylon nozzle brush for corners, hinges, ledges and bars, wipe or rinse away dirt. |
| Shower Stalls & Doors |
Med |
Nozzle, nozzle brush - nylon, triangle brush with towel, extension tube, large nozzle brush with stainless steel pad |
Use triangle brush without towel or large nozzle brush with stainless steel pad to remove heavy soap scum from glass panels. Pre - treat area with mild detergent if necessary. Rinse tools often. Wipe or rinse away loosened dirt. |
| Fiberglass |
Med |
Large round nozzle brush, triangle brush, extension tube, towel |
Use triangle brush direct without towel, or large round nozzle brush for stubborn areas, rinse or wipe away soil. Use extension tube for easy reach |
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| Cars-RVs-Boats |
Steam cleaner volume |
Tools or accessories to be used with steam cleaner |
Hints & Techniques |
| Interior Surfaces |
Med |
triangle brush with towel, nozzle with nozzle brush |
Triangle brush with towel for fabric & vinyl surfaces, nozzle to clean seams, and spots - SEE Carpet Spotting. Do not overheat plastics or vinyls. |
| Detailing Interior, Exterior |
Med |
Nozzle, nozzle brush - nylon, triangle brush with towel, extension tube |
For nooks & crannies use nozzle, wipe with towel. Use nozzle brush on chrome & gaskets. Wipe with clean towel to polish. |
| Other steam cleaner applications |
| Dust plants, polish jewelry, clean tools, yard equipment, sports equipment, outdoor furniture, unclog drains, defrost freezers, remove stickers & decals. Remove and kill algae on deck or other exterior wood surfaces. Deodorize fabrics & carpets. Kill unwanted vegetation. |
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