What is steam cleaning?
Steam cleaning is environmentally friendly as you do not need additional detergents to sanitize different surfaces. With just steam, it removes up to 99.99 percent of bacteria, viruses, and germs from surfaces.
Over the past several years, steam cleaning has become the preferred method for cleaning and sanitizing a variety of things, including homes, offices, medical facilities and many different types of commercial businesses as a post construction services.
General bathroom deep cleaning tips
Why are professional cleaning people able to deep clean your place with such ease? The staff cleans up the items according to their order and removes the clutter from the bathroom so it can be easily cleaned. Here are a few tips for a clean bathroom:
- Any time you clean the whole bathroom, remember to put away bath mats and window curtains before any bathroom cleaning.
- Dust the tile floors from any loose debris and only then start to mop the floors or use the steamer.
- To easily clean your bath tub, using a spray bottle, spray vinegar onto its surface, then drizzles baking soda all over the tub, and let it sit for 10 mins. After the time passed, begin scrubbing the tub with a bristle scrub brush.
- If you have a plastic shower curtain in your bathrooms, change it every couple of months, as bacteria spreads very easily on it.
- For constant fresh air in your bathroom, install a diffuser in your bathroom and pick your favorite essential oils to use for the water.
- Do not avoid hard to reach areas, as they will collect a lot of debris that will be hard to clean up later
- Cloth shower curtains in the bathrooms should be changed or washed every couple of months
- Make sure to use clean microfiber cloths for your glass to avoid window tracks
- Use a toilet brush daily to avoid any longterm marks
- Wipe the tile floors of your bathroom daily from hair and other dirt
Why do you need to vapor clean your bathroom?
A handheld steamer has many advantages over scrubbing the bathroom tile floors with hands.A steamer has enough power to substitute an old grout tool, saving you time in the process. When cleaning bathrooms with a steam cleaner, the bacteria on your tile shower, bathroom floor, shower doors and etc will be gone when the steamer reaches their flat surfaces with only water in its tank.
Steam cleaners do not require chemicals to be used when cleaning with them. Using a vapor cleaner is the cleaning solution. Unless the grout has been in your bathroom for a while, you should not need any harsh chemicals.
How to use a steam cleaner for cleaning a shower
No matter if you have a tile shower or prefab shower, residue from the soap, stuck hair and other nasty things can be found.
For a regular bathroom cleaning, use the vapor cleaner on the shower walls by pointing the vapor closer to the more stained parts and wipe with a microfiber cloth.
For deep cleaning of your shower, get a spray bottle with vinegar in it, and then spread baking soda on the shower walls and the shower head. Let sit for a couple minutes. With a steamer, start cleaning off the cleaning solution you left on the shower, and wipe down with a microfiber cloth.
Steam cleaning of soap scum on glass shower doors
Soap scum is inevitable in every house hold. It can be difficult to remove and becomes hard as cement with time. With a vapor machine, the soap scum on your shower doors, faucets, bathroom tile and walls will be gone.
Steam clean your the toilet
Hoping that your toilet is not full of brown marks, prepare your toilet for a deep clean by scrubbing its walls with toilet brush. Then, get a jet nozzle for your steamer and start cleaning in circular motions. When there is no more grout left, squeeze your favorite toilet gel inside.
How to use a steam clean for cleaning glass
Spray the entire surface of the mirror with a homemade cleaning solution or the one bought at the store. Use the vapor in a zig zag motion to clean a mirror, wiping off the residue of the cleaner with paper towels or a dry cloth.
For more detailed instructions, follow this link for a complete guide how to clean the glass
Soap scum on glass shower doors
Soap scum is inevitable in every house hold. It can be difficult to remove and becomes hard as cement with time. With a steam cleaner, the soap scum on your shower doors, faucets, bathroom tile and walls will be gone.
How to vapor clean bathroom tiles
The tile in the bathrooms tend to get dirty easily. By using a scrub brush tool, you will be able to bring the white back on your bathroom floor.
If you have hardwood floors, check our special guide for woods floors cleaning
Steam cleaner options for your bathroom
There are many options on the market of steam cleaners. A commercial steamer is the best cleaning device for hard surfaces. The dry steam provides exceptional cleaning without the use of harmful chemicals. Depending on your purpose for steam cleaning will heavily rely on the type of a commercial steam cleaners you will need to look for.
Depending on the type of a cleaning job you want to get from your steam cleaner will be the main factor when picking which device is right for you. Even though all steam cleaners will have the same function of hot vapor, some will be more appealing to those who are looking for more than just a clean floor.
Factors to look for when choosing your bathroom cleaning system
Heating time
You do not want to be waiting for too long for your steamer to heat up.The faster your steamer heats up, the faster you will be able to start your cleaning process with vapor. Heating times vary depending on the price and the watts of the model. Vapor can be produced by a commercial steam cleaner anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes. The higher the power rating of a steam cleaner is, the less heat time it will require to heat up the water tank.
Weight and Size
Commercial steam cleaners that are smaller and lighter in size are easier to move around and store on the contrary of the big and heavy machines. If you are looking for a steam cleaner that is solely for home use, there are still is still a powerful steam cleaner for you that will have enough pressure to actually help you clean off surfaces and floors.
Temperature and adjustable pressure
A steam cleaner is more efficient when the heat and pressure is higher. The pressure is expressed in psi or bars. When choosing your steam cleaner, look for a machine that will have the biggest maximum temperature as it will be more effective to kill germs and bacteria in your house while also using less time to clean. Keep in mind, the closer you point your steam gun to a surface, the hotter the steam output will be, which in turn might damage the surface.
Flow rate
The vapor output by the steam cleaner is also called the flow rate. The rate can be measured in grams per minute (g/min). Some steamers will let the user adjust the flow rate according to the surface being cleaned and the amount of vapor needed to get rid of the dirt. If you are thinking of cleaning more than just hardwood floors, make sure to look for a steamer with an adjustable flow rate.
Water tank capacity
When the water in your tank runs out, you will have to turn off the unit to refill it and wait for it to heat up again. A larger water tank or a continuous refill option will help you avoid these issues.
Cable and hose length
Depending on how big the area that you are trying to clean is, consider it when looking for a steam cleaner. If the steamer is fairly light and compact, you will have no problem moving it around as you go to different parts of your house or office.
Accessories
A variety of attachments is what makes the steamer a versatile cleaner. With extra attachments, the steam cleaner becomes a multi purpose machine that is able to tackle any types of dirt around the house or office, on the floor or on hard surfaces. When choosing a steam cleaner, look for these attachments:
- large and small brushes
- mop head
- jet nozzle tool
- a window squeegee attachment
- set of microfiber cloths
Most accessories can also be bought separately and used with your hands while having the steam cleaner help you, but is always nice to have a cleaning device that has all the right extra tools to help you achieve a clean looking home.
Our Choice for shower steam cleaners
1. Fortador Volt Mini
Fortador Volt Mini is ideal for cleaning and disinfection of your home. Weighing in at 16.5 lbs, allowing operators to move it easily in and out of their home. Like other Fortador steamers, the Volt Mini's boiler heats quickly, taking only five minutes to start produce steam. Unlike other small commercial steamers for cleaning, the Volt Mini works at high volume and temperatures, giving you 101.5 psi power of vapor at a maximum temperature of 338 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Vapor Clean Pro6 Solo
This steam cleaner is used widely in commercial and home use. The Pro6 Solo offers well designed features like a detachable hose which allows for easier storage. The pressure regulator knob lets the user adjust the steam settings for your needs.
The boiler of the steam cleaner can get up to 75 psi or 294 Fahrenheit. It takes about 12 minutes for the steam output to begin, so make sure you have enough time from start and finish without rushing to get the job done. The commercial steam cleaner also comes a set of various accessories like extension tubes, a steam gun, and microfiber cleaning cloths. If you are looking for a steam cleaner that will have continuous steam, Vapor Clean also has a Pro6 Duo steamer that can provide you with that feature.
Learn more about furniture steam cleaning in our guide.
Steam mops for your bathroom floors cleaning
What is a steam mop?
Instead of chemical cleaners, steam mops turn regular water into hot vapor to help deal with grout lines, pet messes, and everyday dirt. Another benefit of a steam mop is the ability to sanitize areas with it. A steam cleaner delivers vapor at high temperatures. Because you are using hot vapor, the steam mop will kill the bacteria from places full of germs like the bathroom floor and kitchen floor and pet spaces without the need to use vacuum cleaners or a regular mop.
Why use a steam mop head instead of a regular mop?
Dry vapor has been proved to be great for tough cleaning jobs like dried up stains and pet messes. Unlike a traditional mop, the hot water in the steam mop will help absorb the dirt and kill 99.9 percent of the bacteria invisible to the human eyes. Using continuous vapor does not only cut the cleaning time, but is also a more sanitary way.
Factors to consider when choosing the best steam mop for your bathroom
Versatility
Even though steamer mops are great, most of them are only good for hard floors. Grout can not always be cleaned with just vapor, they might need a small brush to get rid of the dirt.
Heating time
Since a mop only has one function to do, it should not take long for it to heat up. Most steamer mops should take no longer than 2 minutes to heat up.
Mop and Vacuum
Some brands have also make an all in one vacuum. The vacuum part will trap hair and debris, while the steam mop will help you remove stains from the floor. If your vacuum is getting pretty old, think of switching to a 2 in 1 device which will clean better and help save space.
Cleaning levels
Most of the time, a steamer mop will only have one button to press. However, some mops come with multiple vapor settings that will allow it to release more moisture into the mop head, helping you clean off very dirty or stained floors.
A Steam mop with a detachable handheld Cleaner
This sonic mop is removable and comes with numerous accessory items to handle your bathtub, floors, etc. The heating is just 30 seconds, so it will take varying degrees depending on the cleaning area. Its powerful steamers work on wood, tiles, vinyl, marble and grout. I just use grout cleaner and it works really well. A 12-oz receptacle is provided for a clean floor and 20 ft of cord is enough for cleaning a large area. Steam mop is supplied with one year warranty.
Our Choice for steam mop with optional fragrance
BISSELL Power Fresh steam mop allows for quick and easy cleaning of the bathroom floor. This steam mop does not include scented water but is packaged with two Spring Breeze scented discs which can be ordered in additional sizes compatible with your mop. You can purchase scented water in different scents including Spring breeze, Citrus, and Eucalyptus mint.
Ask anyone what room they hate cleaning the most in their home, and they will invariably say the bathroom. Not only is the bathroom is the most used room in the home, even surpassing the kitchen, it’s also the one that harbors the most harmful organisms, including bacteria, viruses, mold and mildew.
Learn more about best vacuum steam cleaner.
Conclusion
Steam cleaning your bathroom is a very effective way to get rid of pesky dirt and grime, especially in tough to reach places. The steps noted above in this article describes different tactics and procedures that will help fast track the cleaning process. The high powered vapor will clean water marks, dirt, grime and mold that appear in a bathroom over time. Drastically reducing your cleaning time, using a steam cleaner is by far one of the quickest and most effective ways to deep clean your bathroom.