Steam Mops and Cleaning Hard Floors

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Steam Mops and Cleaning Hard Floors

How steam works, which floors it suits, technique and what to avoid

Steam cleaning uses heat and a small amount of water rather than chemicals, and it suits some floors and damages others.

How it works

Water is heated to produce steam, which loosens dirt and kills most bacteria on contact given enough dwell time. A microfibre pad then lifts the loosened soil.

The pad does much of the actual cleaning, so a dirty pad simply moves dirt around. Change it more often than feels necessary.

Which floors

Sealed tile, porcelain, stone and properly sealed vinyl handle steam well. Laminate and engineered wood are the risk — moisture penetrates at the joints, swells the core and lifts edges.

Many flooring manufacturers void warranties where steam has been used. Check your floor's guidance before buying a steam mop.

Unsealed wood, waxed floors and anything with damaged joints should not be steamed at all.

Technique

Vacuum first, since steam turns loose grit into a smear. Work in sections, keep the head moving rather than resting in one place, and let the floor dry before walking on it.

Do not add detergent or descaler to the tank unless the manufacturer allows it, since that damages the boiler.

Limescale

Use distilled or filtered water in a hard water area, which is what prevents the boiler furring and failing.

Safety

Steam burns. Keep children and pets out of the room, never point the head at anyone, and let the unit cool before emptying it.

Other floor cleaning

Vacuum before anything wet, since loose grit is what scratches hard floors. For sealed wood, a barely damp microfibre mop and a dedicated floor cleaner is gentler than steam and does the job.

Deal with spills immediately rather than letting them sit at a joint.

Pads and consumables

Wash pads after every use without fabric softener, which clogs microfibre and ruins it. Check replacement pads are still sold for the model before buying.

Carpets and upholstery

Steam refreshes carpet and does not replace extraction cleaning, and over-wetting a carpet causes mould underneath. Test any fabric on a hidden area first, since heat sets some stains and shrinks others.

Never steam leather, silk, waxed surfaces or anything with a water-sensitive finish.

Buying and using

Check the weight, since a heavy unit with a full tank is tiring to push, and whether the head swivels enough to reach under furniture. Look at how the pad attaches, because fiddly fastenings are what stop people using a mop.

Empty the tank after every use rather than leaving water standing in it.

Buying

Check the pad cost and availability, the tank size and how long it takes to heat.

WHERE TO BUY

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