The GoVacuum Blog

By Michele Kadison
I am a newcomer to the idea of steam cleaning, and now that I’ve done some research, it seems like this is the best way to go…. not just in terms of cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing the house , but also in terms of helping maintain the health of our families and the environment.

Steam cleaning involves vaporized water that is heated to over 200 degrees F and applied to surfaces via appropriate attachments.  The steam heat weakens the bonds between the surfaces and the dirt or stains that linger there.  Because all hard surfaces are in reality porous, the steam is able to dislodge embedded elements, killing microorganisms and sanitizing the area naturally.  With the heat creating an almost moisture-free cleaning agent, any type of surface can be wiped, rubbed, or scrubbed as needed, depending on the attachment tool you use.

Looking a lot like a conventional vacuum cleaner, a home steam cleaner is lightweight and easy to maneuver.  Units come in canister, upright, or hand-held models and include a wide range of attachment tools that make cleaning almost any surface a breeze.  You can use a steam cleaner on large surface areas such as tile floors and countertops, as well as on carpeting, upholstery, window screens, mirrors, car interiors, baked-on grills, toys, and everything in between, including removing dry cleaning solvent from clothing.  Steam cleaners are also highly effective in getting rid of animal smells, with no toxic substances that could potentially harm your pets.

Because the only ingredient used in a steam cleaner is water, you are able to do a complete cleaning without a single chemical.  Allergy free, this natural sanitizer banishes toxic residue, with nothing else but water washing down your drain into the communal water supply.

With better results than any other form of cleansing, steam cleaning your home eliminates bacteria, mildew, mold, viruses, toxins, and any other element that can cause infections, irritations, or allergies.  Allergens such as mites, pollen, and other microscopic pests are immediately killed once the surfaces on which they lodge are hit with steam heat.  This is the same for pathogens like E. Coli and salmonella, making a steam heat unit especially effective on kitchen surfaces.

I’ve looked at two steam heat cleaners, which are excellent choices once you decide to change your cleaning habits.

The Environmate Steam Cleaner T730A comes with a refillable built-in water tank with a light indicator to alert you when the water level is low.  This unit is great for tough chores and is made with a 1450 W heating system inside a stainless steel tank.  Included is an eleven-piece accessory kit, which means you have enough tools to clean the whole house.  The unit comes with a power switch on the handle, a pressure gauge for regulating power, and an automatic shut-off system for when the water level is too low for efficient cleaning.

The Lady Bug T2200S has a continuous water refill system and professional-grade cleaning tools.  This unit is made with an EPA-certified TANCS system, (Thermal Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation) that helps improve air quality as it removes chemical residues from the environment.  The system functions by heating nano-crystals in tap water, whereby they are activated to blast the cell membranes of microorganisms when initiated by heat.  This fast-acting disinfection is, according to Nelson Labs of Utah, ” thousands of times better than any directly applied water disinfecting system using chemicals.”

Though the initial investment when buying a home steam cleaning unit may be high, it evens out in the long run, and then some.  You won’t ever have to spend money on cleaning supplies again, which includes buckets, rubber gloves, disinfectants, polishers, glass cleaners, oven sprays, and the like.

The Monster EZ1 Steam Mop has impressed GoVacuum when it comes to performance, and value. Euroflex has just released the second edition of the popular upright steam mop, and have made some nice revisions to the new model. The only real complaint that I have heard on this machine was that the handle was flimsy, and was difficult to assemble. Euroflex listened to their customers, and completely redesigned the machine and added a metal telescoping handle to it, and simplifying the assembly. We have not heard a single complaint since this new design, and have done extensive testing of it ourselves.

The Monster EZ1 Steamer comes with a 1000 Watt Boiler, and heats the water to 266 degrees Fahrenheit. The unit can clean for up to 30 minutes of continuous steam before a refill is needed. When refilling the unit heats up to 266 degrees in only 3 minutes, and has a convenient indicator when the steam is ready, as well as the when the water needs to be filled.

Check out our Monster GoVacuum Video Review!

Unique to the Monster EZ1 Vapor Steamer is the four front mounted steam jets, which are activated by pulling the trigger in the handle. These jets are extremely helpful as they are able to loosen the dirt before the micro-fiber pad picks it up, usually getting even the ground in grease and grime up with one swipe of the pad. The Eurolex made Monster EZ1 also has a variable steam control, allowing to decrease the steam for cleaning delicate rugs, or cushioned vinyl floors. The pads on the Monster are also extremely easy to remove, and can be washed many times before having to replace them. The Monster EZ1 combines quality, and performance at a price that doesn’t break the bank. 4 Stars for the Monster EZ1 From GoVacuum.

A growing trend in the Floor Care Industry currently is the use of residential steam mops. These eco-friendly products can not only clean just about any type of surface, but they also sanitize, and completely kill any germs, viruses, bacteria, almost on contact, all without any chemicals! Vapor steamers are also very effective in preventing the spread of colds, and flu viruses (even rumored to kill Swine Flu).

With their growing popularity, it may be difficult to choose the right steam mop for your specific household needs. As such, over the next few blog entries, we will be outlining GoVacuum’s favorite vapor steam mops on the market, specifically highlighting the features and benefits of each machine. In the meantime, we’ll provide you with some general information on vapor steam cleaners.

Vapor steam cleaners use a boiler to heat up regular tap water to temperatures between 200-320 degrees Fahrenheit within minutes causing the water to be transformed into a very fine, dry mist that drys very quickly.

Vapor Steam cleaners allow you to completely sanitize your home using only tap water, which allows you avoid using and storing chemicals in the home. As such, you no longer will have harmful chemical residues left behind when you clean your floors. Using a vapor steamer in your home may also help improve your homes indoor air quality since you no longer will be spreading harmful air molecules that chemicals can produce.

With the average consumer becoming distinctly aware of the impact they have on the environment, vapor steam cleaners also can help you reduce your carbon foot-print. Using such a machine will reduce your dependence on highly consumable products like sponges, mops, buckets, paper towels and expensive household chemicals.

Very Important! Please note that most Vapor steam manufacturers will make some claim that the machine can be used on carpets and rugs. Most will include a carpet bracket, sledge, or carpet tray that will be attached to the bottom of the steamer. Now the steamer can be used to sanitize and kill any bacteria or viruses in your carpets and rugs, but the steam cleaner is NOT meant to remove stains, or spills from carpets and rugs.  You will be very disappointed with a vapor steamer if you purchase it thinking it will do a great job on carpets and rugs. The vapor steamers are the most effective on bare surfaces.

-Chris Jones, Operations Manager