Do you want to thoroughly clean your home without constantly using different cleaning agents? Then a steam cleaner without cleaning agents is an interesting solution. With hot steam you can clean many hard surfaces and loosen dirt, grease and deposits without having to add a chemical cleaning agent by default.
But which steam cleaner without cleaning agents should you choose? And what should you look out for when buying a steam cleaner? In this article we explain how steam cleaners work, what advantages they offer and which features are important when choosing a good model.
What is a steam cleaner without cleaning agents?
A steam cleaner uses water to produce steam. The water is heated in the device, after which the hot steam comes out under pressure through a nozzle. This steam can help to loosen dirt and grease, after which you can clean the surface with a cloth or suitable attachment.
With a steam cleaner without cleaning agent you therefore do not add all-purpose cleaner, degreaser or any other cleaning product to the water. In many situations, you can clean the surface with water and steam alone.
That makes a steam cleaner especially interesting for people who want to simplify their cleaning routine and be less dependent on different cleaning agents.
Does a steam cleaner really work without cleaning agent?
Yes, for many cleaning tasks a steam cleaner without cleaning agent can be effective. The combination of heat and steam helps to loosen dirt. Then you can remove the loosened dirt with a cloth, brush or other suitable accessory.
The effect is especially interesting on hard, non-porous surfaces such as:
- tiles;
- grout;
- glass;
- mirrors;
- sanitary facilities;
- faucets;
- kitchen surfaces;
- certain floors;
- hard-to-reach crevices and corners.
The result naturally depends on the type of dirt, the surface and the steam cleaner used. With very stubborn or caked-on dirt, it may be necessary to repeat the treatment or to clean it mechanically afterwards.
Why choose a steam cleaner without cleaning agents?
One of the biggest advantages is convenience. For many cleaning tasks, you only need water. This means you don't have to get out a different cleaning product for every room or type of dirt.
A steam cleaner without chemicals can also be interesting for households that want to reduce their use of cleaning products.
Other advantages are:
Fewer different cleaning products
For many tasks, you can get started with just one device and water.
Versatile use
With various attachments, you can use one steam cleaner for multiple cleaning tasks.
Thorough cleaning
Hot steam can help loosen dirt, grease and grime.
Handy for hard-to-reach places
With a narrow nozzle or small brush, you can target areas such as grout, crevices and corners.
Simple cleaning routine
Fill the reservoir with water, let the appliance heat up, and you can get started.
What should you pay attention to when buying a steam cleaner?
Not every steam cleaner is the same. When you want to buy a steam cleaner without cleaning agent, various specifications are important.
1. Steam pressure
Steam pressure is usually expressed in bar. Higher pressure can help direct steam more powerfully onto the surface to be cleaned.
For light cleaning tasks, a lower pressure may be sufficient. If you want to regularly tackle grout, kitchen surfaces, bathroom fixtures, and more stubborn dirt, a more powerful model is more appealing.
For example, an operating pressure of around 4 bar is an appealing specification for versatile household use.
2. Steam temperature
The temperature of the steam produced is also important. Hot steam helps loosen dirt and grease.
Please note that not every surface is suitable for hot steam. Therefore, always check the care instructions from the manufacturer of the surface to be cleaned.
3. Water tank
Because a steam cleaner without cleaning products uses only water, the capacity of the water tank is important.
A compact reservoir makes a handheld steam cleaner light and easy to handle. For larger cleaning jobs, a larger reservoir is more practical, because you need to refill it less often.
4. Warm-up time
No one wants to wait long before a cleaning appliance is ready to use. So look at the warm-up time when you compare different models.
A fast warm-up time is especially useful when you use the steam cleaner regularly for small cleaning jobs.
5. Accessories
Accessories largely determine how versatile your steam cleaner is.
Useful accessories include:
- a pointed nozzle;
- grout brush;
- round brushes;
- floor attachment;
- window squeegee;
- extension hose;
- microfiber cloths.
A 12-in-1 steam cleaner can therefore be used for many more applications than a simple basic model.
Which steam cleaner without cleaning agents is suitable for the bathroom?
The bathroom is one of the places where a steam cleaner can come in very handy. Tiles, grout, sanitary fixtures, faucets and glass can all present different cleaning challenges.
For smaller surfaces, a handheld steam cleaner is particularly practical. You can use the device in a targeted way on, for example, grout, faucets and hard-to-reach places.
The FLOWSTEAM 12-in-1 Handheld Steam Cleaner is interesting for this thanks to the combination of an operating pressure of 4 bar and various attachments. This allows you to use the device for a wide range of cleaning tasks.
When cleaning grout and sanitary fixtures, make sure that after loosening the dirt you actually remove it with a cloth or brush. Steam loosens dirt, but the dirt still has to be removed afterwards.
Which steam cleaner is suitable for the kitchen?
A steam cleaner without cleaning agents can also come in handy in the kitchen. Grease and dirt around the stove, tiles, countertops and hard-to-reach places in particular can be treated with steam, provided the material in question is suitable for this.
A narrow nozzle, for example, is handy for working in a targeted way around edges and crevices. A brush can then be used to remove the loosened dirt.
For larger surfaces, a model with a larger water tank and multiple cleaning settings may be more convenient.
Handheld steam cleaner or large steam cleaner?
Which variant you need depends on what you want to use the steam cleaner for.
Handheld steam cleaner
Buying a handheld steam cleaner is worthwhile when you mainly want to carry out small, targeted cleaning tasks.
Think of:
- grout;
- faucets;
- kitchen;
- sanitary facilities;
- windows;
- crevices;
- small surfaces.
The compact size also makes a handheld steam cleaner easy to store.
Large steam cleaner
Do you want to regularly clean floors and larger surfaces? Then a larger steam cleaner may be more practical.
A larger model often offers more capacity and may be better suited when you want to clean for longer stretches at a time.
FLOWSTEAM offers, for example, not only compact models but also more powerful steam cleaners for larger and longer cleaning jobs.
Can you clean every surface with a steam cleaner?
No. This is an important consideration when you buy a steam cleaner without cleaning products.
Although steam can be suitable for many hard surfaces, you should be careful with materials that are sensitive to high temperatures or moisture. For example, certain untreated types of wood, delicate coatings, and materials for which the manufacturer explicitly states that steam cleaning is not suitable.
Therefore, always check the material or manufacturer's instructions before using steam.
In addition, never use a steam cleaner on a surface just like that if you are not sure whether it is suitable. If in doubt, test on an inconspicuous spot first.
Is tap water suitable for a steam cleaner?
That depends on the device and the water hardness in your area. Limescale from hard water can accumulate in a steam cleaner over time.
Therefore, always check the manufacturer's instructions. When recommended, you can for example use demineralized or distilled water.
Regular maintenance of the device also helps to maintain the lifespan and performance of the steam cleaner.
What do you use a steam cleaner without detergent for?
A multifunctional steam cleaner can be used for many different applications. These include, among others:
Bathroom: tiles, grout, taps, shower areas and sanitary fixtures.
Kitchen: suitable work surfaces, tiles, cooking areas and hard-to-reach spots.
Windows: with a suitable window accessory, certain glass surfaces can be cleaned.
Floors: certain hard floors can be treated with a suitable steam cleaner.
Cracks and corners: a pointed nozzle makes it possible to work with great precision.
Textiles: some steam cleaners may be suitable for certain textile applications. Always check the instructions from the material and the manufacturer for this.
Which steam cleaner without cleaning agent should you choose?
The best choice ultimately depends on your cleaning needs.
Do you mainly want to clean small surfaces and hard-to-reach spots? Then choose a compact handheld steam cleaner with sufficient steam pressure and multiple accessories.
Do you want a device for larger surfaces and longer use? Then look for a more powerful model with a larger water tank and multiple cleaning modes.
And do you want to perform as many different cleaning tasks as possible with one device? In that case, a multifunctional 12-in-1 steam cleaner is an interesting choice.
When comparing, pay particular attention to the combination of steam pressure, temperature, power, water tank, heat-up time and accessories. Looking only at the number of watts does not give a complete picture of a steam cleaner's performance.
Conclusion
A steam cleaner without cleaning agent can be a practical and versatile addition to your cleaning routine. For many hard surfaces, you only need water to loosen dirt, grease and grime with hot steam.
When you want to buy a steam cleaner, it is important not to look only at the price. Steam pressure, temperature, water tank, operating time and accessories together determine how suitable the device is for your situation.
For small cleaning jobs, a compact handheld steam cleaner is a practical choice. If you want to clean larger surfaces, a more powerful model with a larger tank is probably more interesting.
Choose your steam cleaner at FLOWSTEAM
Do you want to clean with the power of steam while using as few cleaning products as possible? Then take a look at the range from FLOWSTEAM. From compact handheld steam cleaners to powerful and multifunctional models: there is a steam cleaner for every cleaning job.
Discover the best steam cleaners from FLOWSTEAM and choose the model that suits your household today.