Easy Green: Steam Cleaners for a Chemical-Free Sparkle
Deep clean and sanitize by harnessing high-temperature water for floors, curtains and clothes as immaculate as they are healthy
When you are working toward a chemical-free home, it's fairly easy to take care of day-to-day tasks without using harsh products. A stack of good microfiber cloths, an all-purpose natural cleaning spray and a bottle each of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are all you really need to keep the house tidy.
But there are times when a quick surface cleaning just won't do — the flu is going around, and you just hosted a play date with a dozen toddlers mouthing your child's toys, for example; or you are hosting Thanksgiving, and your carpeting hasn't had a proper cleaning since last year. What do you do then? If you want the sanitizing effect and deep-cleaning power of a stronger product, minus the chemical headache, look to the latest crop of steam cleaners to get the job done.
Steam Cleaners for Just About Everything
Going far beyond carpets, these hardworking steam cleaners can take care of tile and wood floors, bathroom grout, kids' toys, upholstery and even clothes. Some steam cleaners on the market (including those rented from home improvement centers) do call for a chemical cleaning formula to be used in conjunction with water, so it's important when shopping to look for descriptions like "chemical free" or "cleans with water alone."
This list is a great starting place, because none of the products featured here use chemicals of any kind. You'll also find steam cleaning tips to make your house sparkle naturally.
But there are times when a quick surface cleaning just won't do — the flu is going around, and you just hosted a play date with a dozen toddlers mouthing your child's toys, for example; or you are hosting Thanksgiving, and your carpeting hasn't had a proper cleaning since last year. What do you do then? If you want the sanitizing effect and deep-cleaning power of a stronger product, minus the chemical headache, look to the latest crop of steam cleaners to get the job done.
Steam Cleaners for Just About Everything
Going far beyond carpets, these hardworking steam cleaners can take care of tile and wood floors, bathroom grout, kids' toys, upholstery and even clothes. Some steam cleaners on the market (including those rented from home improvement centers) do call for a chemical cleaning formula to be used in conjunction with water, so it's important when shopping to look for descriptions like "chemical free" or "cleans with water alone."
This list is a great starting place, because none of the products featured here use chemicals of any kind. You'll also find steam cleaning tips to make your house sparkle naturally.
EnviroMate 2-in-1 Steam Cleaner and Vacuum
Best suited for: Carpet, upholstery and hard surfaces.
Chemical-free steam cleaners meant for carpets are surprisingly hard to find — this one from EnviroMate is pricey, but it doubles as a vacuum with an allergen-busting HEPA filter, and can steam clean your hard floors with it, too.
Spring for it if you have lots of carpeting in your home and want the convenience of steam cleaning at a moment's notice, or if a member of the household has bad allergies — this one operates at a temperature high enough to kill dust mites.
Chemical-free steam cleaners meant for carpets are surprisingly hard to find — this one from EnviroMate is pricey, but it doubles as a vacuum with an allergen-busting HEPA filter, and can steam clean your hard floors with it, too.
Spring for it if you have lots of carpeting in your home and want the convenience of steam cleaning at a moment's notice, or if a member of the household has bad allergies — this one operates at a temperature high enough to kill dust mites.
Haan FS20 Plus Steam Cleaning Floor Sanitizer With Deluxe Sanitizing Tray
Best suited for: Sealed hard floors (linoleum, sealed wood and tile). An attachment is included for refreshing carpets.
If your home has hardwood floors or tile, count yourself lucky — most of the steam cleaners meant for hard surfaces carry a much lower price tag than the carpet-cleaning models. This steam mop from Haan sanitizes hard floors, killing dust mites, germs and bacteria with powerful 212-degree steam heat.
If your home has hardwood floors or tile, count yourself lucky — most of the steam cleaners meant for hard surfaces carry a much lower price tag than the carpet-cleaning models. This steam mop from Haan sanitizes hard floors, killing dust mites, germs and bacteria with powerful 212-degree steam heat.
Test carefully on sensitive surfaces. Because of the high temperature, steam cleaners cannot be used on all surfaces. Most of the time, sealed hard flooring is fine and unfinished wood and porous tile are not — but read the instructions to check the recommendations for your device. To be on the safe side, start by using your steam cleaner on a small, out-of-the-way area, like the floor under your bed or an inside corner of your drapes.
Clean all around the house with a hand-held steam cleaner. The beauty of some of the new hand-held steam cleaners is the ease with which they can tackle chores that would otherwise need to be sent out. Drapes can be steam cleaned right where they hang, and pillow covers, upholstery and clothing can all be easily refreshed.
AllPro Portable Hand Held Steam Cleaner
Best suited for: Hard surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms. It includes attachments for upholstery, household fabrics and clothes.
This versatile little steam cleaner from Haan can be used just about anywhere — perfect if you don't have lots of carpets (an upright or canister steam cleaner would be better for that) but want to deep clean hard surfaces and textiles.
This versatile little steam cleaner from Haan can be used just about anywhere — perfect if you don't have lots of carpets (an upright or canister steam cleaner would be better for that) but want to deep clean hard surfaces and textiles.
How to get the most from your steam cleaner:
- Vacuum carpets both before and after steam cleaning — the steam cleaner will bring deep dirt to the surface but won't completely remove it.
- Use only distilled water to fill the reservoir in your steam cleaner, unless the instructions say otherwise. Tap water contains deposits that can damage the machine and void warranties.
- Some steam cleaners get quite hot during the cleaning process. To be on the safe side, maneuver the machine only by the handle.
High-temperature and "vapor" steam cleaners (including all the products featured here) get hot enough to actually kill dust mites, viruses, bacteria and mold. Be wary of products that do not list the temperature of the steam produced — it needs to be at least 140 degrees to kill dust mites and at least 160 degrees to kill bacteria and viruses.