How to use a steam generator

A steam generator is popular in everyday life due to its ability to tidy up outerwear, suits, curtains, not to mention everyday things in a matter of minutes. This device moisturizes fabric much more effectively than classic irons, reducing the time spent on ironing and leaving it for a more enjoyable pastime.

What is a steam generator and why is it needed?

A steam generator at home is a good alternative to a regular iron.
It can handle large volumes of ironing faster. Smoothing of the fabric occurs not due to its contact with the hot sole of the iron, but due to the powerful flow of steam at a high temperature of 100-140 degrees. The device consists of a separate water tank, a heating element and an iron. The steam generator is connected to the iron with a hose through which steam is supplied. Constant steam supply ensures fast ironing of even the most difficult fabrics.

Functional purpose of the steam generator

A steam generator is a unit that is functionally reminiscent of the steam generator in household irons (when water is heated under a powerful pressure, steam is released), although there is no external similarity. Design properties of operation: water is heated inside a special tank, and air jets come out with powerful blows through small holes.

It is worth noting that steam generators have disinfecting properties due to the high temperature of the steam.

The list of performance qualities is varied.

Cleaning and ironing clothes - with the help of a steamer it is very easy to reach hard-to-reach places, where you cannot reach with an iron. Removing stains and eliminating unpleasant odors is done without the use of aggressive chemicals - this is very convenient for delicate fabrics and things that cannot be washed in a machine (fur coats, for example).
Cleaning furniture, carpets, curtains. Here the steam generator acts as heavy artillery, because cleaning large objects is a labor-intensive task. Some people find it easier to change furniture than to get rid of dirt. Curtains are cleaned on the spot, you don’t have to remove them, eliminates the need to remove and remove carpets, all work is done at home, at a convenient time. In addition, it rids household items of dust mites, and this is an important factor for allergy sufferers and families with children.
Removing plaque, stains, dust, dirt from various hard surfaces: tiles on the floor and walls, wall panels, ceiling coverings, household appliances. It is very convenient to use steam cleaners to get rid of stuck grease in kitchen areas on stoves, range hoods, inside microwave ovens, ovens, and to clean the seams between tiles and sinks.
Car washes also use steam generators: for in-depth cleaning of interiors, chrome parts, body parts with oil stains covered with dust.

Your imagination can suggest other uses, from washing floors and windows, to making it easier to remove wallpaper.

Advantages and disadvantages

How does a steam generator differ from a regular iron, and why do housewives like this particular household device? Here are its main advantages, which take the ironing process to another level:

Fast and efficient ironing. Due to the fact that steam is supplied under high pressure, the impact on the fabric increases significantly. Ironing speed becomes faster and the process itself requires less effort. Ironing clothes with a steam generator is 5 times faster than with a conventional iron.
Large volume of water tank. The volume of the water tank in the iron is small, and water is consumed quickly. Because of this, it has to be topped up frequently during the ironing process. The steam generator holds a lot of water, the amount of which is enough to iron a large volume of laundry.
Little weight. If in a regular iron the water reservoir is located inside, then in a steam generator it is located in a separate device. Thanks to this, the weight of the iron is less, which increases its maneuverability and ease of use.
No water from the iron! When using a regular iron, hot water often pours out of the holes and hits the fabric, leaving streaks on it. Only dry steam comes out of the steam generator.
Possibility of vertical use. With this device you can easily iron already hung curtains or a suit hanging on a hanger. Thanks to the powerful steam flow, the result will be flawless.
Safety. The temperature of the soleplate of an iron with a steam generator is low - the risk of fire is minimized.
Ability to iron thick fabric. The powerful flow of hot steam is enough to easily smooth even thick material or fabric folded in several layers. This is convenient when ironing bulky bed linen.
Safe for delicate and synthetic fabrics. It is almost impossible to burn fabric with hot steam, so this unit is safe for any clothing. Steam is also harmless for decorative elements - sequins, beads, rhinestones, etc. Therefore, you can iron your clothes efficiently without fear of ruining their appearance. A wrinkled leather jacket is also not a problem - the steam will gently smooth out all the bruises and kinks without harming the skin.
Cleaning. Hot steam under high pressure not only smoothes the fabric, but also cleans it, and also gets rid of dust, odors and kills germs. Using a steam generator, you can clean dirt on upholstered furniture and refresh it. This multifunctional device is also used in cleaning, using it to clean different surfaces.

Examples of using

There are quite a lot of examples of using a steam generator in everyday life. The device is capable of ironing even dried laundry. In addition, it allows you to easily iron clothes folded several times, as well as steam items hanging on hangers.

Shirt

The device allows you to iron shirts even when dry. Thanks to the hot steam, folds are perfectly smoothed out, and office clothes always look smooth and neat.

Trousers

Hot steam makes it easy to iron your trousers so that no traces of ironing remain on them.

Collar, lapels, pockets

For steaming difficult areas of clothing, there are special hand-held boards, which, as a rule, are supplied with the device.

The board must be applied to the area of clothing on one side, treating this area with steam on the other.

Outerwear

Steamers help tidy up outerwear items such as coats.

Curtains

A vertical steamer allows you to iron clothes while hanging, so ironing curtains is not a problem with it. It is enough to move the brush over the curtain at a short distance, and the wrinkles will be smoothed out. Thanks to the non-contact action, the items being processed will not wear out much, unlike ironing.

Blazer

It is also convenient to iron the jacket with a vertical steamer. In addition, the device cleans clothes from dirt and eliminates unpleasant odors. To straighten wrinkles on a jacket, it is best to use a suspended steamer.

Dresses, shirts, blouses

Before steaming, the dress is placed on a holder stand. The steaming procedure begins from the bottom edge. First, large parts are steamed: skirt, frills, flounces. The sleeves and shoulder area are steamed at the end.

Types of steam generators

There are several varieties of this device depending on the purpose for which it is used.

Manual

The main advantage of hand steamers is their simplicity and ergonomics. This is a compact device that you can always take with you on the road. It runs on a rechargeable battery, so you don't need to have an outlet nearby to use it. Designed for quickly ironing things when there is no full access to the iron.

Floor-standing

A floor-mounted steam generator is not mobile like a manual one, but it is more powerful and more useful in everyday life. The large volume of the water tank increases the duration of its operation. The reservoir is located in a device located on the floor, and when ironing, only a light iron is used.

With this steamer it is easy to iron hanging clothes; it is also equipped with a special tripod on which you can hang clothes for steaming.

Pump steam generators

All steam generators are divided into two types:

gravity;
pump-action

In gravity-fed irons, the heating element is located in the iron itself. Under its action, the liquid entering the iron turns into steam and comes out.

In pump steam generators, the heating element is located in the steam station itself, in the same place as the water container. There the water is heated and, turning into steam, enters the iron. A pump steamer is considered more efficient as it produces more steam. However, he is also more vulnerable. The complex design does not allow for descaling on your own, so you will have to contact a specialist every time.

Combined

A combined steam generator is a real housewife's dream. It will help with ironing clothes and cleaning the entire house. It looks like a vacuum cleaner, has a water tank, a heating element, and generates steam that enters the hose. Many steam generators come with several attachments for cleaning any surfaces that are not afraid of moisture. Hot steam cleans no worse than any chemical and will make anything sparkle clean - floors, walls, tiles, plumbing, etc.

When choosing a combined steam generator, pay attention to the most functional one. The kit should include an iron and various attachments for cleaning and cleaning.

Choosing an effective device

To know what to look for when purchasing, you need to consider the following criteria.

Device dimensions. If you plan to use it for household needs, we choose a small-sized steam generator - its maneuverability and small dimensions are a plus for our apartments.
Steam pressure – the efficiency and time of cleaning depends on the power of the air flow. Some devices are equipped with a regulator.
Capacity volume – heating time varies depending on the capacity (the longer, the longer). Tanks with a medium capacity (1.2-1.5 liters) are the most convenient: they work for up to half an hour without adding liquid, heating occurs in five to seven minutes.

The water used in the steam cleaner must be boiled, distilled or filtered.

The steam generators come with a variety of brushes and attachments, each designed for a specific application:

extended nozzle for cleaning hard-to-reach places;
brush attachment for a wide range of uses: cleaning dust and dirt from carpets, furniture, windows, mirrors, glass, floors;
a brush attachment for removing stains (it is tougher than the others);
small brushes for chrome products;
brushes covered with fabric for washing floors and windows;
spray gun for cleaning plants.

To help you clean your home, a steam cleaner is not only convenient and practical, but even irreplaceable. Housewives will appreciate the effectiveness of its work.

Preparing for work

In order to start using the steam generator, you need to unscrew the valve cap, fill the tank with water and connect the device to the power source. After switching on, the water in the container is heated to a vapor state. If the steam temperature rises above the normal limit, the fuse will activate and the heating will stop working. When the temperature drops, the heater will turn on again.

What kind of water to pour into the steam generator

Modern appliances are designed to use tap water. If the liquid is of low quality, with a high content of impurities, manufacturers advise replacing it with demineralized or distilled one. It is allowed to use a mixture of tap water and distillate in a 50/50 ratio.

It is not recommended to pour settled, boiled, melted or well water. The use of special perfumed water for irons is allowed. However, due to the high fluid consumption, its use may not be economically feasible.

Operating rules

Using a steam generator is no more difficult than using a regular iron. How to do it right?

Fill the water container with the volume of liquid specified in the operating instructions.
We turn on the device into the network and wait until it is ready for work - it will give a special signal.
We bring the device to the surface to be treated and press the steam button.

Since steam is produced when water boils, refueling needs to be done from time to time. This should also be done as carefully as possible so as not to get scalded by the hot air, because in the tank it is under pressure and when the lid is opened, it is released.

During operation of steam generators, as well as many other electrical appliances, strict adherence to safety precautions is required:

use indoors, avoid exposure to precipitation;
it is necessary to work so that hot jets of steam do not fall on exposed parts of the body (boiling point 100 degrees C); if handled carelessly, the risk of burns increases;
Do not use the device with wet hands;
It is prohibited to clean the steam generator under running water;
ensure that the brushes are cleaned in a timely manner (the holes in them should not be clogged).

How to use it correctly

Operation of the steam generator is simple and easy. Let's look at the sequence of actions on how to use a steam generator.

Pour water into the special compartment of the device.
Plug it in. We are waiting for a signal that we are ready for use.
We direct the device suitable for use to the desired object. Press the button and steam.

Should you choose an iron or a steam generator for your home?

When choosing between a regular iron and a steam generator, you should be guided by the number and type of items that will need to be processed. If in most cases it is necessary to iron things the appearance of which is not significant, that is, bed or underwear, as well as everyday wardrobe items, then a regular iron with a steam function will be quite sufficient. If giving an impeccable appearance to things is constantly required, and especially office suits and shirts are the main part of these things, then using a steam generator will significantly simplify and reduce the time spent on performing this procedure.

It would also be very appropriate to have this device in a house where there are small children and animals. Handling items for a child must be of the highest quality to ensure their safety. While animals bring various harmful bacteria and microbes into the house, it will be much easier to deal with them using this device.

Steam cleaner - reviews on forums

If you haven’t washed your stove for three years, it won’t be enough to wash it once and expect it to shine like the day you bought it. On difficult places (for example, heavily cracked ones) you need to direct a stream of steam and hold it, rub it with a brush attachment. For ordinary cleaning, yes, it’s simply a miracle. Cleaning is easy, pleasant and sterile: steam kills everything! There is no need to come into contact with chemicals or breathe them - the steam cleaner cleans without it. There is no need to smear, then wait, and then scrub hard for a long time, everything is much easier to clean, effortlessly. Cleaning takes place in a matter of minutes. It washes those places where it was impossible to reach or scrub. Also saving on cleaning products and more: I changed my mind about painting the walls and radiators again, the hood also came back to zero)))

Cool stuff! It looks like a small vacuum cleaner. I take it out about once a month and thoroughly clean everything: the bathroom, toilet, kitchen. Everything just shines. Then it is easier to maintain order. You can use your hands to scrub all sorts of cracks between tiles and plumbing fixtures - it’s very cool. I use a special nozzle to steam curtains - no need to take them to the dry cleaner!

I bought a small one a couple of days ago. I cleaned the old stove quickly and wonderfully, but I had to tinker with the microwave - it was very dirty. However, I immediately went through it with dish soap. Then the ferry several times. I tried the tiles in the kitchen - not bad. Now I gave it to friends to test, they cleaned the seats in the car. They are also happy and will buy for themselves. The disadvantage is that the hand, of course, gets tired. I'm thinking about buying a larger steam cleaner.

I wash everything and everywhere with it. In the kitchen there is a stove, facades, tiles, appliances (refrigerator, micro, oven, washing machine - all turned off first), freezer. In the bathroom, steam will not cope with limescale only if you first moisten it with vinegar for about 15 minutes. But all the corners and crevices are a blast. In the toilet there is a seat, a toilet bowl on top and under the rim: there is no need to unscrew the lid, and the chemicals are only applied to the toilet elbow. Both the floor and the mirrors. In general, this is a very necessary thing for me.

I use it every day to clean the floor (two small children), once every two days to iron clothes and remove dust from furniture, once every three days to clean the kitchen and bathroom, once every 7 days to wash windows and mirrors. In addition, I use a steam cleaner to steam toys, clean shoes, freshen strollers, clean suede items, and freshen clothes. Ironing clothes with it is a pleasure: children's clothes are on the front side (neither stickers nor other finishing is spoiled), linen clothes are effortless. I am very, very pleased with the purchase! Everything is done quickly and easily. We breathe chemicals only in the form of dishwashing detergent and Domestos for the bathroom (once a week). I recommend purchasing it if you have the opportunity! The price corresponds to the quality.

My mother purchased a steam cleaner from another company (often advertised on TV). After conducting a comparative analysis, I came to the conclusion that it is not worth saving on a more affordable option. Mom eventually returned that steam cleaner...

Which steam generator to choose for your home?

Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the most acceptable and best model of a steam generator for the home will be a device with a remote water tank, which will also serve as a convenient stand. The optimal power of the steam generator will be approximately 2000 W or slightly less than this value. At the same time, the higher the steam pressure and the intensity of its supply, the better. Also mandatory for safe use is the auto-shut-off function, and anti-scale protection will significantly increase the period of its operation.

ROWENTA Silence Steam DG 8985

Professional premium steam generator with a noise reduction system. The power of the device ensures high-quality and comfortable ironing. Five operating modes allow you to achieve results on all types of fabric.

BOSCH TDS 4070 EasyComfort

This device is designed for easy and effective ironing of all types of fabrics. The steam generator has one universal operating mode and a large 1.3 liter tank. In addition, it is characterized by the presence of an effective cleaning system to remove limescale from the surface.

TEFAL Liberty SV7020

Combines efficiency and ease of use. It handles any task faster than steam irons, thanks to its power and large water tank. The reservoir is removable.

KITFORT KT-922

A budget steam station that can replace a conventional iron with water supply. Smoothes out wrinkles quickly and accurately, without leaving crumpled stripes. Has horizontal and vertical steam supply modes.

MIE Vapor

This iron with a steam generator is suitable for ironing all types of fabrics. Its features include a system for monitoring excess water on things, a ceramic sole, buttons for short-term and continuous steam supply, and a spacious water tank.

PHILIPS ComfortTouch Plus GC558/30

The steamer has five steam modes, thanks to which it can give a fresh look to clothes made of any fabric. The kit includes a brush that allows you to clean out small dirt.

The device is equipped with an aroma capsule, thanks to which you can add the scent of essential oils to things. The set also includes a hanger with a board for straightening long-style items.

Additional features

In addition to ironing clothes, steam generators have a number of additional capabilities. They can be used for inhalation, boiling water, killing moths and even boiling eggs.

Inhalation

Steam inhalation is a traditional method of treating colds and nasal congestion.

Boil eggs

If desired, you can boil an egg in the hand steamer tank.

Boil water for tea

Hand steamers are suitable as a replacement for a travel electric kettle. If necessary, you can boil water for tea in them.

Remove sticker

The steam generator is suitable for removing stickers or tape from surfaces; it does not leave any traces of glue. It is necessary to heat the surface with the sticker with steam, pry it off with a paper clip and remove it with a light movement. If necessary, if the sticker breaks, heating should be repeated.

Refresh fur products

The dry steam produced by the steam generator allows you to clean and refresh fur products, bringing them to their original condition.

Restore original appearance to artificial flowers

The steam generator is suitable for processing artificial flowers. Over time, their petals become wrinkled and droop due to dust, and steaming can restore them to their original appearance. You just need to turn on the device and place the bouquet under the stream of steam.

Destroy the moth

Steaming clothes and furniture helps get rid of moths.