It can remove even stubborn stains in a short period of time.
Let's consider the pros and cons of using a steam generator to clean the car interior, the sequence of cleaning actions, and tips for choosing a household appliance.
Device efficiency
Using a steam generator eliminates:
- ingrained dirt,
- lubricant
- fat,
- rust,
- petroleum products from the surface of the car.
During high-temperature exposure, the adhesion of dirt to the car coating is disrupted. High pressure removes dust. The advantage of steam washing lies in the combination of high temperatures and pressure, and minimal water consumption.
The steam generator is indispensable in the following cases:
- If you cannot use water, for example, to clean the fan, engine, car interior.
- If there is a need to disinfect the surface.
- During an on-site car wash.
- For greasy, greasy stains.
After steam washing, the coating remains not only clean, but grease-free and dry . During cleaning, rapid evaporation occurs, and there are no problems with wastewater disposal. The steam jet that comes out of the device pipe affects hard-to-reach areas of the car.
The conical nozzle allows you to remove dirt from corners and crevices. With the help of steam, dust mites, bacteria located in the chair and fabric are destroyed.
The steam generator allows you to wash your car without using chemical detergent.
Dry cleaning of seats [velor | textile]
[~60-90 min]
The service consists of:
Professional dry cleaning using materials from Koch Chemie and Meguiars. The price is for one seat.
| Class | |||||
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| 1690 | 1690 | 1690 | 1790 | 1790 | 1890 |
Cons of car cleaning
Cleaning with a steam generator has not only advantages, but also disadvantages :
The car ceiling is treated with care. Since it contains a large amount of glue, which can weaken under the influence of high temperatures. This will cause the ceiling to sag.- It is difficult to remove paint and ink stains using a steam generator.
- You cannot steam treat leather interiors. High temperatures lead to skin tightening, swelling, and microcracks.
- Plastic should be handled with caution when using a steam generator. Otherwise it will become dull and unsaturated. If there are foam elements under the plastic coating, they can swell and become deformed when exposed to high temperatures.
Steam treatment requires good ventilation and subsequent cleaning with a vacuum cleaner . The main disadvantage of the steam generator is its high price category.
Using a steam generator you can remove even the unpleasant smell of tobacco.
Dry cleaning of seats [leather]
[~30-60 min]
The service consists of:
Professional dry cleaning using materials from Koch Chemie, Meguiars and LeTech. The price is for one seat.
| Class | |||||
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| 1290 | 1490 | 1490 | 1590 | 1590 | 1590 |
Choosing a device for the car
There are many steam generators for cars on the modern market. In order for the device to be useful, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:
- Volume. If there is a need to clean a large vehicle, you should opt for a large water container. To wash a light car, a volume of about 2.8 liters is required;
Power. A stronger installed heating element allows water to boil faster and turn into steam.
Power affects pressure. At low power, a small amount of steam will be produced. For a light car, 2000 W is enough;- Humidity. If you have humidity control, you can choose the most optimal cleaning mode for the car body, trunk, and interior;
- Apparatus material . The best option would be an aluminum product. Since this coating heats up quickly, it resists scale;
- Pressure. It is better to choose a device with a working pressure of 6 to 8 bar. Otherwise, it will be difficult to remove old stains and dirt;
- The presence of nozzles of different configurations allows you to clean even hard-to-reach places;
- Regulating the type of steam . For example, with dry steam you can treat a car seat without getting it wet.
For home use, it is better to choose a compact, lightweight steam generator; this will make it easier to use and will allow you to treat the interior in the garage.
You can get by with a household appliance. Typically, professional models are used for car wash services.
Dry cleaning of door trims [plastic | leather]
[~ 30-60 min] The service consists of:
Professional dry cleaning using materials from Koch Chemie, Meguiars and LeTech. The price is for one cover.
| Class | |||||
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| 1000 | 1100 | 1100 | 1250 | 1250 | 1350 |
Step-by-step instructions for cleaning the car interior
Experts give the following step-by-step recommendation for cleaning a car with steam:
- First of all, you need to clean the car of debris.
- Vacuum the interior.
- Cleaning starts from the ceiling, blowing out even small amounts of dirt, dissolving it. For this purpose it is better to use dry steam. If after the first time it was not possible to remove the contamination, the procedure can be repeated. Ceiling cleaning should be done with the utmost care. Because it contains adhesive which may loosen and cause the ceiling to sag.
Next, the rear shelf is cleaned.- The seat can be cleaned with detergent. After removing the foam, you should go through the device again.
- The ventilation hole in which dust from the street accumulates is cleaned.
- To dry the interior faster, you can open the car doors or leave the heater on.
- The cleaning ends with the floor, plastic surfaces, and rugs.
- After steam treatment, the floor with rugs must be cleaned using a washing vacuum cleaner.
- Next, the dirt is removed from the trunk.
A standard steam cleaning of a car takes at least 5 hours. After which drying is required, which takes 2 hours.
When is it needed?
During operation, the car interior loses its cleanliness and freshness. Spots, dust and stains form and become noticeable. As the car gets dirty, it needs to be cleaned, even if it was purchased on the secondary market. A suitable method would be to steam dry clean the interior. If stains are found, you must bring the car for service. A personal cleaning procedure involves moisturizing the car with cleansing absolutely all surfaces, removing stains and old dirt deposits using high-quality biodegradable chemicals.
Top 3 popular models
There are many models of steam generators on the market. The following are the most popular.
Karcher
These models are distinguished by increased power and pressure generated.
This allows you to eliminate different types of contaminants. Some types additionally have scale protection and a safety valve. The device has a minimum set of attachments . Often there is a need to purchase additional attachments separately. The price category of the Karcher steam generator, depending on the type of model and configuration, varies from 7,000 to 30,000 rubles.
Wagner
The manufacturer offers compact models equipped with many attachments of various sizes. The devices of this brand are safe, as they are protected against high steam output .
The devices easily cope with oil and grease stains. Clean the car trim and panel well. The average price category is from 10,000 to 25,000 rubles.
McCulloch
McCulloch is a device designed to work with different types of equipment . This is a more maneuverable version of the steam generator, equipped with the necessary functionality. The set includes many attachments of various shapes and wheels for easy movement.
Powerful steam production allows you to remove old stains. These devices cost between 6,000-11,000 rubles.
Companies worth paying attention to
The products of the following companies are in high demand among manufacturers.
Kitfort
This company from St. Petersburg produces steam cleaners in China. Strict control of the production process and regular test checks of manufactured products allow the Russian company to produce high-quality goods. The use of cheap labor from the local population allows Kitfort to declare the low cost of its products. At the same time, the technical characteristics of the devices are at the proper level.
MIE Forever Clean
The Italian company MIE occupies a leading position in the production of premium steam equipment. The reasons for the success of the devices are due to the constant introduction of innovative technologies in the production of such equipment, high quality of local, European assembly, and modern product design.
Grand Master
The production of steam cleaning equipment of the Russian brand is carried out according to the currently fashionable scheme: the office is located in our country, production facilities are in China. The company's products are widely represented on the domestic market; they are also known to consumers in some former Soviet republics. Steam cleaning devices are used in shops and studios, hospitals and hotels. Such products are also in demand among Russian car enthusiasts.
Karcher
There is no need to introduce devices from a leading German company producing cleaning equipment. Its branches are located on various continents of the planet. Steam cleaners come to the domestic market from enterprises in Italy, Germany and China. The quality of steam cleaners is at the highest level, regardless of where they are assembled.
Steam technology
This is a new technology that is being actively introduced into the car care services segment. Steam allows you to give your car an excellent appearance in a short period of time and with minimal costs for consumables.
Special steam generators are used to create steam. This is quite expensive equipment, so buying it for personal use is impractical.
The steam generator is equipped with a hose of the required length and special nozzles. Water, mixed with additional substances to improve washing, evaporates and is supplied to the car in the form of steam through appropriate nozzles. The nozzle is selected depending on what area of the vehicle needs to be treated.
Steam is unique in that it contains a small amount of water. This allows the surfaces to be left virtually dry after treatment. Due to the high temperature and pressure, steam washing does not require a large amount of auto chemicals. In some cases it does not apply at all.
Steam is more effective than water because, in addition to removing dirt, it can sterilize surfaces and give them a natural shine.
Steam is supplied at temperatures ranging from 80 to 160 degrees Celsius, and under pressure from 9 to 12 atmospheres. There are also other models with slightly different characteristics. This is 140-160 degrees Celsius at a pressure of 2.5-6 atmospheres.
Such characteristics make it possible not to cause any harm to the paintwork of the car. Therefore, there is no need to worry about this. The steam flow is capable of reaching the most inaccessible places, which makes steam generators one of the ways to perform a truly high-quality wash. This is true when the car is being prepared for sale. Steam generators are actively used in services that specialize in engine detailing and washing.
But it is important to consider that not always and not all elements of a car can be treated with steam. Therefore, you need to delve into the features of steam car washing in more detail and take into account some precautions.
Features of using steam washing
A car can be divided into several elements and components. But for all of them, steam washing can be used when processing cars, which should be taken into account.
Specialized services that have such equipment note that washing any car with hot steam under pressure is used to treat some components.
It is necessary to separately consider in what cases steam can be used. And in which there is a high risk of damaging machine parts that are exposed to high pressure, humid environment and temperature.
- Body. Washing the main body parts in pairs is not usually done. Steam generators with attachments are used only for hard-to-reach body parts. Steam cannot remove all contaminants without the additional use of auto chemicals and the usual water treatment method. Steam treatment is relevant for internal parts of the body. These are door fastenings, pillars, tailgate, etc.
- Engine and engine compartment. Steam washing, compared to conventional water treatment, involves the use of much less moisture. This protects against short circuits and increases safety. Experts advise using steam to clean the engine. But only in combination with dielectric auto chemicals for washing engines with subsequent treatment with preservative compounds.
- Ceiling in the salon. Steam removes dirt well, does not leave streaks behind, and has an antibacterial effect due to high temperatures. This is one of the effective ways to eliminate unpleasant odors. But different types of glue can be used in the ceiling cladding. High temperatures can cause the ceiling to sag. Steam generators are used very delicately in order to carry out antibacterial treatment.
- Floor in the cabin. It has the same beneficial properties as ceiling washing, but with fewer risks to the coating. At the same time, you need to use vacuum cleaners to remove large debris.
- Velor and fabric upholstery of seats. Steam cleans these materials well, does not leave streaks, and eliminates unpleasant odors. It is better to use steam after cleaning with special auto chemicals for washing the interior.
- Leather, eco-leather, etc. Steam easily removes dirt, eliminates odors, and carries out antibacterial treatment. But you cannot heat the skin to 100 degrees or more, otherwise it will lead to damage and deformation.
- Plastic elements. Steam will do an excellent job of removing dirt and will not leave streaks. The plastic returns to its original shine. But it is important to set the steam generator to a temperature of no more than 80-90 degrees Celsius.
The essence of the steam generator
Already from the name of the device it follows that the device is a mechanism for generating steam. A special container of the steam generator is filled with water, which is generated into steam under the influence of high temperature. Depending on the power of the device, the strength of the steam jet is set, which cleans the car interior.
Removal of contaminants can be from surfaces such as leather, velor, plastic, glass. Without the use of aggressive detergents, the steam generator allows you to remove greasy dirt, mold, glue, chewing gum, stains from lubricants, and resins. The device may have additional functions that allow not only dry cleaning of the interior, but also disinfection of the surface.
There is a possibility of cleaning using detergents and a moisture suction function.
Advantages of using a steam generator
A steam unit can have many functions that allow you to carefully care for the car interior and other equipment. The priority cleaning tasks are as follows:
- the ability to clean surfaces in hard-to-reach places;
- seat upholstery can be processed without chemical detergents;
- eliminates unpleasant odors, due to the deep penetration of hot steam into soft car seats, you can even get rid of tobacco;
- the mats are processed at high speeds of steam and drying, which prevents the formation of dampness and, as a consequence, mold;
- steam treatment is safe for equipment built into the cabin.
The modern method of cleaning the car interior with a steam generator allows you to cope with the most difficult contaminants. Since the mechanism of the device provides for dry surface treatment, the car can be used immediately after cleaning. Having a household steam unit, you can keep vehicle seats and upholstered home furniture perfectly clean.
Handheld steam cleaners
This device is characterized by its small size, which also affects the capacity of the tank.
Advantages:
- compact size;
- fast heating;
- ideal for use in confined spaces;
- profitable price.
The disadvantages include:
- short operating time – up to 30 minutes;
- Models with tanks larger than 1 liter are difficult to hold in your hands.
A hand-held steam cleaner is a cleaning assistant that will help you cope with complex stains.
Dry cleaning of doorways [for 1 piece]
[~15 min]
The service consists of:
Cleaning the paintwork of the opening part from bitumen and reagent stains, lubricating the locks.
Professional dry cleaning using materials from Koch Chemie.
| Class | |||||
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
Features and Details
In order to better understand what kind of interior cleaning is necessary, you need to know how and how cleaning methods differ. Three main ways:
- Dry cleaning is the oldest and most reliable method of cleaning a car interior; it can be safely called a classic cleaning method. Dry cleaning is dry cleaning using special substances and anhydrous solvents. This kind of cleaning is quite high quality; dry cleaning does an excellent job of removing grease stains and dirt that have become ingrained into the surface of the material.
- Steam cleaning. A relatively recent method of cleaning the interior with a steam cleaner. Its peculiarity is that the surfaces are treated with steam under high pressure. When cleaning, attention is paid to every small detail, thanks to which maximum results are achieved without the use of various chemicals.
- Steam dry cleaning. Many people misunderstand this phrase. Most people mistakenly believe that this method includes the first two. However, this is not true, since steam dry cleaning of the car interior is cleaning using cleaning substances that have nothing to do with traditional dry cleaning.
Floor steam cleaner
At first glance, these steam cleaners look like small vacuum cleaners. They have the same body shape on wheels and a hose with a nozzle through which steam is supplied. The water tank is located in the floor compartment, which means it makes working with the device much easier.
The advantages of this model include:
- multifunctionality;
- good steam supply power;
- continuous operation for 1.5-2 hours;
- requires a minimum of effort.
The disadvantages include:
- high cost;
- you need to allocate a specific storage space.
Dry cleaning one spot [5cm x 5cm]
[~15-30 min]
The service consists of:
Professional dry cleaning using materials from Koch Chemie and Meguiars.
| Class | |||||
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| from 150 | from 150 | from 150 | from 150 | from 150 | from 150 |
