Steam cleaner

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Steam cleaner in the military

A steam cleaner is a device for use in industry and household that evaporates water and releases it at high pressure through a nozzle . The effectiveness of a steam cleaner mainly depends on the temperature and pressure of the steam jet. The pressure in particular can be influenced by suitable accessories. Steam cleaning can be used widely, both on different surfaces in the context of building cleaning, but also for cleaning production facilities and in particularly hygiene-sensitive areas such as e.g. B. the food industry, as steam also has a disinfecting effect. Steam cleaning is ideal for degreasing and de-oiling, on the other hand for disinfection. The main advantages of dry steam are less obstruction of view, higher cleaning power and quick-drying surfaces than with wet steam and less power consumption than superheated steam.

There are two common methods of steam generation: heating the water in the boiler ("steam boiler devices") or as a "flow heater". The water heater generates a continuous stream of steam, whereas a boiler device is limited to the size of the boiler.

Mode of action

Depending on the device, relatively cool steam with temperatures around 150 ° C ("wet steam"), "dry steam" with temperatures between 160 and 190 degrees or "superheated steam" with temperatures above 300 ° C is generated and emitted at high or low pressure. This enables the efficient removal of particularly greasy soiling with little water and chemical consumption. Common household appliances tend to work with low temperatures and low pressure in order not to damage the objects to be cleaned and to minimize the risk of accidents.

When the water evaporates, the volume increases by approx. 1,700 times, i.e. H. 1,700 liters of steam are produced from one liter of water. As a rule, the steam hits the surface at a speed of around 180 km / h. The steam molecules, which are microscopic in comparison to water droplets, penetrate the smallest bumps in a surface and, thanks to their high temperature, dissolve greasy, oily and waxy dirt. Cleaning agents are not required for steam cleaning.

Advantages and disadvantages in use

Disinfection can be achieved after a long exposure time . This aspect can be assessed positively or negatively depending on the area of ​​application. There are also the following aspects:

advantages

  • Dirt is dissolved without the addition of chemical agents
  • There is no residue (streaks, streaks) of cleaning agents
  • The cleaning of places that are difficult to access, e.g. B. in niches and columns is made possible
  • Fast drying without water or limescale marks
  • Mostly faster and more effortless cleaning results (especially when using "instantaneous water heaters")

disadvantage

  • Temperature-sensitive materials (e.g. some plastics ) can be damaged
  • Scalds are possible if the steam cleaner is used improperly (only with pressure boiler models)
  • Steam cleaners have a high energy consumption (especially pressure boiler models)

Environmental aspects

Steam cleaners have advantages because little water is required compared to conventional cleaning. You can also do without chemical cleaning agents. The disadvantage is the energy consumption. Here you can save energy yourself by using instantaneous water heaters or using less water if you only have to do smaller tasks without affecting the cleaning result.

Areas of application of steam cleaners

In private households

Various accessories enable numerous areas of application. Steam irons can also be connected to branded household appliances.

  • Cleaning of floors (including laminate and wooden floors) and fittings
  • Cleaning of cooktops, extractor hoods and ovens
  • Cleaning of showers, mirrors, limescale deposits and tile joints
  • Minor stains on carpets and upholstered furniture
  • Ironing and textile care ("freshening up")

Window cleaning is also possible in principle. With other devices (window vacuum cleaners) significantly better results are achieved and we therefore advise against this. In addition - especially in winter - you have to be careful of the sometimes extreme temperature differences, otherwise the window glass can crack.

In the industry

The use of steam cleaners in industry is diverse and depends heavily on the accessories used. The devices are often used in the following fields:

  • Freezer cleaning
  • Cleaning machines in food processing
  • Barrel cleaning
  • Chewing gum removal
  • Weeding
  • Air conditioning cleaning
  • Removal of oils and lubrication of production parts
  • Conveyor belt cleaning

Steam vacuum cleaner

A further development of the steam cleaner is the steam cleaner ; this has an additional suction function.

The combination of the two devices enables the following work steps in one operation:

  1. Loosen the dirt with hot steam
  2. Sucking off the loosened dirt

Known / relevant manufacturers

In the private sector

This is only a selection of the major manufacturers:

In the industry

Web links

  1. ↑ Quickly clean with steam - efficient cleaning of building services . ( rationell-reinigen.de [accessed on February 28, 2018]).
  2. ↑ Steam equals steam? | Kärcher. Retrieved February 28, 2018 .
  3. ↑ Steam cleaner - clean gently and effectively | Kärcher. Retrieved February 28, 2018 .
  4. ↑ Steam equals steam? | Kärcher. Retrieved February 28, 2018 .
  5. ↑ Ironing and laundry care with a steam cleaner. Retrieved on February 28, 2018 (German).
  6. ↑ COTRACO GmbH: Read glossary article. Retrieved February 28, 2018 .
  7. ↑ TECNOVAP: CHEWING GUM REMOVAL KIT - BY TECNOVAP -. November 27, 2007, accessed February 28, 2018 .
  8. ↑ Joachim Löffler: Weed Removal (chemical-free). Tobias Löffler, accessed on February 28, 2018 .
  9. ↑ Faster, more thorough, easier - building services clean efficiently . ( rationell-reinigen.de [accessed on February 28, 2018]).
  10. ↑ COTRACO GmbH: Conveyor belt cleaning with steam. November 11, 2013, accessed February 28, 2018 .