Steam Cleaners – The Purest Way To Clean

Steam cleaners are machines that clean surfaces using steam or hot water. Steam cleaners are usually used to kill allergens, dust mites, bacteria, mold, fungus etc on the surface being cleaned. Steam cleaners are used in hospitals, hotels, bakeries, restaurants, pharmacies, etc. Household steam cleaners are used to cleanse kitchens, bathrooms, carpets etc. Steam cleaners can be used to clean almost any surface like floors, curtains, furniture, and almost any surface which is heat resistant. There are two types of steam cleaners, traditional steam cleaners and vapor steam cleaners and many steam cleaning methods that can be used.

A traditional steam cleaner uses hot water to clean the surface. The traditional steam cleaner consists of a boiler, a collecting tank, a hose and brushes. Hot water is sprayed under pressure on the surface being cleaned. Then rotating brushes scrub the surface and the dirty water is suction extracted into the container. Some traditional steam cleaners also use cleaning agents to clean, while most rely on steam and brushes to do the job. Cleaning agents help to remove spots and grime on the surface. The use of traditional steam cleaners is usually restricted to floors only.

A vapor steam cleaner consists of a water container with a heater attachment (collectively known as boiler), a hose and a nozzle. Water is boiled in the container under pressure to produce super heated steam or dry steam. Dry steam is a steam which is heated to more than 100 degrees Celsius. This dry steam is then passed through a hose to the nozzle and onto the surface being cleaned under pressure. This loosens the dirt and grime on the surface being cleaned. Then a vacuum cleaner is used to clean the surface.

The steam generated in a vapor steam cleaner has very low moisture content, usually up to 5 percent. So when a surface is cleaned by steam it becomes dry within few minutes. They generally do not have continuous water supply hence are more convenient to use. Vapor steam cleaners can be used to clean any heat resistant surface like vehicle interiors, windows, bathrooms, etc with proper attachments. Vapor steam cleaners are generally used by people suffering from allergies or who do not want cleaning by chemicals.

There are specialized steam cleaners for carpets called carpet cleaners. They do not use steam but use hot water to clean the carpet. After wetting the carpet, the area is scrubbed with brushes and then the dirty water is sucked back into the receptacle. The carpet is left to dry. Switching on the Air Conditioner in a room dries the carpet quickly as it removes humidity from the air. Once the carpet is dry, it should be vacuumed to clean it thoroughly.

Steam cleaners can have an independent water container or continuous water supply. Continuous water supply is more convenient as the tank need not be refilled repeatedly. The dirty water is expelled after cleaning.

There are many models available in the market. The cost ranges from $100 for residential models to $2000 for commercial models. Before buying the buyer should look for boiler capacity, the attachments, mobility, warranty, user manual, demo CDs etc.

Everyone has a different approach to combating fresh stains on a carpet. Most consumers are quick to run to a nearby cabinet to snatch some sort of solution and pour it over the stain. While this may seem like a smart idea, it’s really not. Many people end up damaging their carpets by acting in such an expedient and rash manner. As of today, there are various types of carpets available to consumers – each made out of different materials. What creates an issue is that many consumers don’t pay attention to the type of carpet they have. Thus, as they shop for a cleaning solution they grab the one which seems most fit to them.

When they dab their carpet with this solution, they usually find it has an opposite effect – one that’s not very desirable. We recommend stocking up on some neutral carpet cleaning supplies, ones that are fit for just about any material. However, there are some specific cases that may require special more than just some cleaning solution. Stains that are the result of ink, wine, or pet urine may require the attention of a qualified professional. If you’re up to the task, you could consider tackling the project yourself.

This would require some equipment rentals and a bit of elbow grease. You will find, in the end that it’s a wiser choice to have a professional do it. So how does a professional go about cleaning carpet stains? First off, he or she asses the carpet and decides on the best treatment option. Some common cleaning techniques include dry chemical cleaning, steam cleaning, hot water extraction, and dry cleaning.

Depending on the severity and type of stain, the carpet cleaner will choose an appropriate process. Although you may be convinced that you could save money by cleaning your carpet yourself, you will end up paying more. Carpet stains are unfortunate but shouldn’t be made a huge deal of. If you know what to do when a stain first appears, you should have no problem getting rid of it and getting back to enjoying your carpet

Pool Cleaning 101: Filters

Essentially, there are two important things that a pool owner has to consider when he or she wants to keep her pool at a healthy condition. 1. Constant running water; the kind of water that go on good circulation and will unlikely have the chances of getting stagnated. 2. Proper filtration; where it keeps the dirt off the precious pool.

Proper filtration in your pool will not only ascertain that the water will not get filthy; it also gives you assurance that bacteria is prevented from every infesting your pool. Something of ulterior importance to any pool owner. Come to think of it, who would want to swim over a pool full of sickness causing bacteria?

Pool filters have 3 types. They are the ones most widely used the homeowners to ensure the comprehensive maintenance of their residential swimming pools and pools of other proportions. If you want to keep a clean pool keep reading.

1. Sand Filters

Generally, all sand filters make use of 3 mechanisms: 1. they contain sand, which is actually the distinguishing material that is used to filter out dirt from the pool water. 2. the water enters at the top of the filter then flows down to the sand filters to be sifted off with dirt and debris. 3. the cleaner water is issued back to the pool.

Sand filters are perhaps one of the oldest known methods of water filtration known to man. Way even before during the time of ancient civilizations, they already make use of sand to filter out dirt from their water linkages in order to make the water potable.

They are very effective cleaning mechanisms when you are not making use of any chlorine oriented cleaning agents such as biguanides.

2. Cartridge Filters

Cartridge filters also have 3 things in common. 1. All types of cartridge filters make use of fiber pleated cartridges to trap all kinds of dirt in the pool water. 2. This water will flow down from the top of the tank into the bottom where the cartridges are situated and then it gets filtered. 3. Cleaners is then returned back to the pool ready for use.

Cartridge filters are generally large in size. The pleated fiber material can reach as large as several hundred square feet, very much larger than that of residential sand filters which sizes range only below 4 square feet. Due to its considerable size the chances of it getting dirty in between cleanings would take a while.

3. DE Filters

Diatomaceous Earth Filters are the best known filters to any pool owners. They make use of highly specialized microscopic mechanism called septum, finger-like in form that traps almost all impurities present in the pool water.

DE filters basically functions in the same way as the previous two filters. The only difference is that it makes of DE coated septum to do a better job.

House Cleaning Tips And Tricks That Will Help You Out In Saving Time

You do not have to spend every evening and all weekend cleaning house. There are a lot of little things you can do to save time and to make the house cleaning chores easier on you. What are some of the house cleaning tips and tricks that will help you save time for other things? Hiring a maid or cleaning service may not fit into your budget, but if it does, think about the help you can have by doing so. If not you will be stuck doing all the house cleaning yourself.

If the kitchen is wrecked, it seems as though the whole house is as well. Keeping your kitchen clean at all times is important to not only how it looks, but to how you feel as well. There are germs and bacterium that grow in the drains and sinks in the kitchen from food being put into the drains while washing dishes. The counter tops can be breeding places for these germs when it is not wiped clean with a disinfectant after each meal preparation. Never leave dirty dishes in the sink over night. Do them as soon as you are done with a meal.

The sinks in the kitchen need to be kept as clean as possible to prevent odors and from preventing illness. One way to stay on top of this is to sprinkle salt into them once a week and scrub it with half of a lemon. This is a great deodorizer and the citric acid works great for removing stains. You could also stop up the sink and soak it with filled with water and bleach.

Cleaning the bathroom is always going to be one the house chores that are dreaded. This cleaning can be made easy by using bowls cleaners that remain in the toilet. These help to prevent stain around the rim of the bowl and they keep down germs as well. Make sure to have the cleaners you need for the bath under the sink. This will help you to spot clean quickly and easily.

Windows and vinyl blinds in your home do not have to be cleaned every day, but if they get dirty, you certainly start noticing them every day. A spotless room will appear dirty if the blinds and windows in that room are filthy. One way to easily clean blinds is by soaking them in soapy water with bleach added to it. Leave them in the water for an hour or so and look at the results when you get them out. Hang them outside to dry and the deed is done. Cleaning windows will have better results when you use newspaper and vinegar.

Think about how much time you spend picking up behind your kids. This is certainly one of the most time consuming of all household chores. Teach your kids to clean up after themselves and you will see just how much time you have been speeding doing it. If you find crayon marks on the wall, you can easily remove without a lot of scrubbing using toothpaste. Toothpaste is good for removing shoe marks off linoleum floors too.

Does your furniture seem to get dusty a day or so after you have spent half the day dusting it? Do you have a time in getting to all those curves and grooves that seem to fill up with dust over night? Using the brush attachment to your vacuum will eliminate the time it takes to pick out this hard to reach dust. You should always use a polish that is for repelling dust.

Trying to keep a clean house can take up a lot of your time. If you want to have more free time to do the things you like doing, then make a scheduled day for cleaning the house. In this way, you can use all the house cleaning tips and tricks in a day that will prevent you from cleaning every time you turn around.

Modern Robot Duct Cleaning Technology

The HVAC systems that use ducts collect contaminants and pollutants over time that impact air quality in doors adversely. Special tools are used for dislodging the dirt and debris that is then vacuumed out with a powerful vacuum cleaning device. Use of robots as tools to keep the duct system humming along is a part of the techniques applied to this purpose. The use of modern robot duct cleaning tools is a practice that is part of the cleaning arsenal of equipment applied to clean the indoor duct system. The advantageous aspects of using high tech robot technology has been demonstrated to be super in operational delivery over other methods.

Cleaner ductwork is beneficial to health and finances. Air duct cleaning is a growing industry as we are spending more time indoors and learn that poor ventilation increases indoor pollution levels. More people are becoming aware of the benefits of air duct cleaning and the fact that adverse health effects can show up speedily or after years of exposure. Millions of people with allergies are a natural market for this service. As the EPA has revealed hazardous indoor pollutants can exceed outdoor pollutants by a number of multiples.

Duct cleaning equipment should remove both visible and invisible contaminants. Mold and bacteria can affect indoor air quality and pose a health risk when air ducts become host to microbial agents. Legionnaires Disease is one example that has gained notice as it has caused outbreaks that effect many people. Poorly maintained air conditioning equipment has been found to encourage the propagation of the bacteria causing the disease. The key to preventing such outbreaks is the proper monitoring and maintenance of the equipment.

Robot duct cleaning speeds up the cleaning process and save workers from exposure to hazardous materials. Technological advances can be seen in the duct cleaning equipment now available as evidenced also by the robotic equipment deployed today. Robots are especially useful in areas where access is a challenge for other types of equipment. Robots can be used for the cleaning, spraying and sampling part of the process, although initially such equipment was used to inspect the environment inside ducts.

Camera and video recorders attached to robots allow viewing and documenting of the conditions and operations inside ducts. Robots can maneuver adeptly around obstacles and fit into smaller apertures than other types of tools. Reducing cost and improving efficiency is a hallmark of their application.

The remote controlled robotic equipment comes in various shapes and sizes for different uses. In the 80s the first use was of robotic video cameras to record conditions inside the duct. Now, robotic cleaning systems have many more uses. These devices reduce labor costs and provide improved access for better cleaning. Recently, areas for the application of small mobile robots have extended purposes in the service industries, including applications for duct cleaning and inspection. These cleaning robots are a useful tool for maintaining the sanitary condition of the ventilation system.

Manual operation controls the use of robot tools. Improvements in technology is an ongoing process. Researchers are working on greater advances towards improving the efficiency of these productive tools.

Be aware that the service you select is qualified to clean and cleans each component of the system to prevent recontamination of the whole. Methods and tools may vary, but there are industry standards established by industry associations. Expenses vary depending on elements such as the service selected, systemic proportions, accessibility and the contamination levels.

6 Commercial Carpet Cleaning Myth Busters

Avoid these misconceptions about commercial carpet cleaning to keep your carpets looking their best:

#1: You should wait as long as possible before cleaning your commercial carpets.
FALSE. Dirt is abrasive, causing your carpets to wear out faster. Regular vacuuming helps, but regular hot water extraction cleaning with a truck mount system from a commercial janitorial services company is the best way to minimize permanent damage.

#2: The only reason to clean carpets is to remove visible dirt.
FALSE. The air contains pollen, bacteria, pollution, smoke, dust, exhaust and a myriad of other contaminants which can become absorbed in your commercial carpets. They can be removed, however, with proper deep cleaning.

#3: All carpet cleaning methods are more or less adequate.
FALSE. Popular “dry” and low moisture cleaning methods do NOT truly clean your carpets. Instead, these procedures leave a dirty reside that can often accelerate re-soiling. Truck mount hot water extraction is the most effective method to really clean your commercial carpets.

#4: Having the right equipment is all a company needs to clean carpets well.
FALSE. The best commercial janitorial service companies have the right equipment, but they also have employees who are professionally trained and certified.

#5: The company offering the lowest price is the company you should hire.
FALSE. Low bid companies may not provide you with the service you expect and require. Quality may suffer and the end result is frequently much less than satisfactory. And the price offered initially may very well not be the price you pay ultimately.

#6: An honest cleaning company should be able to give you a firm price over the phone or as a result of a quick “walk through” inspection.
FALSE. The cost should be based on a number of factors including square footage, the type of carpet, the overall condition of the carpet, the amount of soiling and the expected frequency of the cleaning assignment. Carpets cleaned only once a year or not cleaned in the past 2-4 years frequently take longer to clean than carpets cleaned six months ago.

Read a few more carpet cleaning myths here.