Steam Cleaning The Bathroom: Part 3 of 6. The Bathtub
It seems as though no matter how often the bathtub gets scrubbed there is also soap scum or a ring remaining. Using harsh chemicals is harmful to both your family and the environment as well as being very expensive. Over time the use of chemicals will remove the smooth surface of the tub resulting the germs and grime being more difficult to remove. The use of a steam cleaner will remove the germs, bacteria, soap scum and years worth of build up.
Items Needed:
Hand Held Steam/vapor Cleaner
Detail Nozzle For Steaming
Soft Dry Cloth
Step 1:
Fill the water container on the steam/vapor cleaner with distilled water. Plug the unit in and allow the water to heat up.
Step 2:
Direct the steam using the detail nozzle to the shower head. Making sure to move the nozzle slow enough around the back where it meets the wall to get the unseen grime that has built up.
Step 3:
With the detail nozzle direct the steam at the back of each faucet, where the faucet and wall meet. Slowly apply steam/vapor to the hot/cold water dial and the spicket.
Step 4:
Using a soft, dry cloth wipe the excess water and loosen grime while steaming the faucet and shower head area.
Step 5:
Using the detail nozzle direct the steam/vapor to the overflow section of the tub and wipe dry with soft cloth.
Step 6:
Using the detail nozzle spray the steam/vapor over the entire surface of the tub, using a cloth to dry excess water as you go along. For areas that have extreme build up, there may be a need to go over the area a couple of times to completely remove grime.
Following the above steps once each week will prevent the build up of germs and grime. The process can be completed more than once each week, however, if the tub is wiped with a clean, soft cloth after each the tub will stay clean when steamed on a regular basis.
Steam Cleaning The Bathroom: Part 2 of 6 Shower Doors And Mirrors
Shower doors and the mirrors in bathrooms are tough to get completely streak free when using traditional cleaners. The usual products used contain ammonia and other harmful, toxic ingredients that can be harmful to the family members that inhale the during and after using them. A hand held steam cleaner will quickly remove soap scup and bacteria, including mold from the shower doors as well as the mirrors found in a bathroom.
Items Needed:
Steam/vapor Cleaner
Detail nozzle
Squeegee attachment
Soft dry cloth
Step 1:
Fill cleaner with water according to machine directions. Attach detail nozzle attachment, plug in and let water heat up.
Step 2:
Starting at the areas where the metal casing meets the tub and joins the glass, direct the steam into all grooves and caulking areas.
Step 3:
Wipe excess water away with dry cloth while steaming each area.
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Step 4:
Attach the squeegee attachment and slowly steam/vapor small sections of the glass at a time.
Step 5:
Using a dry cloth wipe away all excess water from the steam as each area is completed. When entire door has been steamed, wipe with dry soft cloth to remove water missed during cleaning.
Step 6:
Clean the mirror with the squeegee and wipe dry with soft dry cloth.
Repeat the above steps at least once per week to prevent buildup of soap scum, germs and bacteria.
How To Steam Clean The Bathroom: Part One of Six
Shower Tile
An average household will usually have a little dust here and there which can be ignored, but when the bathroom is dirty and grimy it cannot be ignored or overlooked. A steam cleaner will take a grimy, gritty bathroom and make it sparkle as well as remove any germs and/or bacteria. The bathroom should receive a thorough cleaning at least once per week but, if the family is large or gets used a lot it should be cleaned more frequently.
To keep the bathroom clean and sanitary there are several tips that can utilized for making the heavy cleaning less intense. Each time the shower is used wipe the walls and tub with a cloth to reduce the amount of buildup. If there are shower doors they should be towel dried as well and the sink area should be wiped out on a daily basis. When the day of the week rolls around for the thorough bathroom cleaning the following instructions will make the task go quickly and efficiently. Start with the tile in the shower and tub area then work your way around the room until the entire room is sparkling clean and free of germs/bacteria.
Items Needed:
Steam cleaner
Detailing nozzle attachment
Small bristle attachment (stainless or stiff brush)
Mop or squeegee attachment
Soft cloth
Environment safe bathroom cleaner (optional)
Cleaning The Tile
Step 1: fill the container on a hand held steam cleaner with water (preferably distilled). Plug the unit in and allow the water to heat up.
Step 2: Using the steam cleaner with detailing nozzle and small bristle attachment, start with the grout and gently run the brush over each section of grout to loosen the soap scum and grime.
Step 3: Work in small sections at a time in order to thoroughly clean each area.
Step 4: Using the soft cloth, as you go over a section of grout with the steam cleaner, wipe excess water away.
Step 5: After the grout has been completely cleaned, change attachment to the mop head or squeegee attachment and go over the entire tile area a section at a time.
Step 6: Wipe the tiles with a soft dry cloth as you are steaming to remove excess water and to make the tile shiny.
The steam cleaner will remove all grime, germs and bacteria when you work in small sections at a time, however, for areas that have extreme build up using an environmentally friendly cleaner will help to break up areas with a lot of build up.
How To Use Steam To Clean Disinfect The Refrigerator
Refrigerators are a haven to germs and excess food build up. When there is food spills in the drawers and shelves in a refrigerator it can lead to germs that can cause numerous viruses from the bacteria. To safely clean and disinfect the refrigerator use a hand held steam cleaner to clean in the crevices of a refrigerator where germs and bacteria can seep into and build up. The steam clean is also excellent for removing food odors that build up in the refrigerator and can lead to other food items have a bad taste or odor. Keeping the seal clean will also help to maintain the correct temperature in the refrigerator and freezer to prevent excessive energy use.
Items Needed:
Hand held steam cleaner
Sponge or cloth
Step 1:
Fill the water container on the steam cleaner and set the temperature to low setting. Allow the water to heat up.
Step 2:
Remove all shelving and drawers.
Step 3:
Aim steam at the corners and work out. Wipe each area following steaming to remove the excess grime. Clean top, sides and bottom of the inside of the refrigerator.
Step 4:
Using the detail nozzle, aim the steam on the door seal to remove the buildup of food and germs. Wipe with clean and soft cloth while steaming.
Step 5:
Steam the shelves and drawers, wiping clean and dry with a soft cloth. Replace drawers and shelving.
Step 6:
Remove the guard (if possible) from the bottom of the refrigerator and clean by directing the steam into the grates and wipe dry. Replace on refrigerator.
Step 7:
Remove any magnets, decorative items from the top, front and sides of refrigerator .
Step 8:
Using the steam cleaner and soft cloth attachment, clean the top, sides and front of refrigerator and wipe dry.
To maintain the seals, keep odors and germs out of the refrigerator repeat the previous steps once each month.
How To Steam/Vapor Clean The Inside And Outside Of An Oven
One of the worst parts of cleaning a kitchen is the oven. The entire job can be completed in only a few steps with a steam/vapor cleaner and the attachments designed to help with oven cleaning. Cleaning the oven requires heat, not scrubbing to clean and disinfect. The steam cleaner is safe for electric and/or gas stoves.
Items needed:
Steam/vapor cleaner
Brass or stainless scrubbing attachment
Soft dry cloth
Degreaser(optional)
Vacuum cleaner
Step 1:
Remove all racks from inside of the oven.
Step 2:
Vacuum out any loose food or other debris from inside the oven.
Step 3:
Add water to the steam/vapor cleaner and let the water heat up.
Step 4:
Using the detail nozzle with small brass, nylon or stainless brush attached, lightly scour the interior of the oven using steam and the small brush. Steam small sections and wipe with soft cloth or sponge to remove excess. Clean all areas inside of the oven before cleaning the door and glass. If there are areas with excessive build up that are difficult to remove, spray a small amount of environmentally safe degreaser and re-steam.
Step 5:
Using the detail nozzle and small brush clean the inside metal of the door and wipe clean with sponge or soft cloth.
Step 6:
Change the brush to the window squeegee and clean the oven window. Wipe excess with soft cloth or sponge.
Step 7:
Using the detailed nozzle, spray the steam/vapor on the top of range and wipe with cloth. The electric burners can be removed and lightly sprayed and wiped dry. For gas ranges, remove the cast iron plate and place on a dry towel to catch debris while steaming. Wipe dry and replace.
Step 8:
Steam and dry the oven racks and plate bibs before replacing.
Steam Cleaning: Six Easy Steps To A Clean And Odor Free Range Hood
Range hoods are excellent for collecting the grease that escapes during cooking but, they can become built up with excessive grease, dust, grime and germs that make the area retain the odors as well as the germs. A range hood should be cleaned at least once each month to prevent excessive build up. To clean the range hood and rid the kitchen of bad odors steam clean the entire unit.
Items needed:
Steam cleaner
Sponge
Large towel
Step 1:
Place the towel over the top of the oven to catch any grime and/or water from the range hood.
Step 2:
Fill the steam with the recommended amount of water for the cleaner you are using. Turn on and let the water heat up.
Step 3:
Steam the outside top of the range hood before cleaning the inside to prevent dirt from seeping through to clean areas. Using the detail nozzle, direct the steam into the corners and around the seam connecting the top to the sides. Wipe off each section as you are steaming to remove the excess grime and grease.
Step 4:
Use the soft bristle brush and detail nozzle to clean the sides and top of the range hood. Wipe each area with a sponge or soft cloth after steaming.
Step 5:
Remove the screen and light bulb cover, place on a towel and steam, drying to prevent water from building up.
Step 6:
Replace screen and light bulb cover.
Repeat the previous steps at least one time per month to maintain the range hood. Keeping the hood clean will prolong the life of the range hood, prevent cooking odors from building up and prevent the buildup of dust and grease.
Four Steps To Clean And Sanitize Granite Countertops
One of the strongest materials as well as attractive for kitchen countertops is granite. Granite is also used as the flooring due to the strength it has for a high traffic area, however, granite can get a build up of dirt, dust, grease and grime on the surface as well as in the grout areas. Purchasing cleaners designed for cleaning granite can be very expensive and harmful to the environment. Using a household steam cleaner will clean all areas of the granite and grout on countertops and/or floors. The pressure from the steam gets all of the particles loose without having to scrub or buy expensive chemical products.
Items Needed:
Steam cleaner
Soft cloth (countertops)
Water
Floor mop cover (floors)
Step 1:
Fill the tank with water according to the directions provided by the manufacture. Remember to fill with water before plugging the steamer in and do not use any additional cleaners.
Step 2:
Using the detail nozzle, steam the grout areas first. Wipe with a soft cloth as you are steaming to remove the buildup in the grout. Do not hold the steamer in one place for long periods of time but, attempt to move the steamer at a rate of one inch per second and hold the nozzle at approximately two inches away from the granite and grout.
Step 3:
Change the steamer attachment to the soft cloth and gently steam the granite. Wipe as you are steaming to prevent the dirt and grime from sitting and building up on the granite.
Step 4:
For a granite floor, follow the same steps as above for countertops, except use the floor mop attachment. Go over the entire floor a section at a time and wipe steam as you go along to prevent build up of water on the floor.
How To Use A Steam Cleaner To Clean Disinfect The Refrigerator
Refrigerators are a haven to germs and excess food build up. When there is food spills in the drawers and shelves in a refrigerator it can lead to germs that can cause numerous viruses from the bacteria. To safely clean and disinfect the refrigerator use a hand held steam cleaner to clean in the crevices of a refrigerator where germs and bacteria can seep into and build up. The steam clean is also excellent for removing food odors that build up in the refrigerator and can lead to other food items have a bad taste or odor. Keeping the seal clean will also help to maintain the correct temperature in the refrigerator and freezer to prevent excessive energy use.
Items Needed:
Hand held steam cleaner
Sponge or cloth
Step 1:
Fill the water container on the steam cleaner and set the temperature to low setting. Allow the water to heat up.
Step 2:
Remove all shelving and drawers.
Step 3:
Aim steam at the corners and work out. Wipe each area following steaming to remove the excess grime. Clean top, sides and bottom of the inside of the refrigerator.
Step 4:
Using the detail nozzle, aim the steam on the door seal to remove the buildup of food and germs. Wipe with clean and soft cloth while steaming.
Step 5:
Steam the shelves and drawers, wiping clean and dry with a soft cloth. Replace drawers and shelving.
Step 6:
Remove the guard (if possible) from the bottom of the refrigerator and clean by directing the steam into the grates and wipe dry. Replace on refrigerator.
Step 7:
Remove any magnets, decorative items from the top, front and sides of refrigerator .
Step 8:
Using the steam cleaner and soft cloth attachment, clean the top, sides and front of refrigerator and wipe dry.
To maintain the seals, keep odors and germs out of the refrigerator repeat the previous steps once each month.