Steam cleaners are celebrated for their ability to clean without chemicals, harnessing steam’s power to tackle household grime. However, it’s crucial to remember that steam isn’t just for cleaning—it’s also used to power engines in larger quantities. While you won’t lift off the ground with your household cleaner, it’s essential to use steam cautiously, as it can potentially damage some surfaces.
Here are key surfaces where steam cleaning might not be advisable:
Steam can effectively release wrinkles from certain fabrics, but it should be used sparingly on sensitive materials. Delah Gomasi, CEO of MaidForYou, warns against using steam on delicate fabrics like velvet, cashmere, or cotton. For instance, an antique French chair was damaged by steam, leading to crinkles and discoloration. Similarly, colorful fabrics can suffer from dye bleeding due to the heat and moisture of steam, especially if the fabric’s dye isn’t properly set.Steam and wood floors don’t mix well, particularly if the wood is unsealed. Moisture from steam can penetrate the wood, causing warping and rot over time. Gomasi notes that unsealed wood floors often develop large white blotches from steam cleaning. If you must clean sealed wood floors with a steam mop, ensure it has adjustable temperature settings to minimize potential damage.
Steam cleaning painted walls can cause significant damage. Gomasi recounts an incident where steam ruined latex paint, leaving walls in need of repainting after cleaning. Steam can cause paint to bubble or peel, so it’s best to avoid using steam cleaners on walls.
Water and electronics don’t mix, and steam is no exception. Ross Pascale, director of Neeet Cleaning Services, advises against using steam on wireless devices like keyboards, phones, or speakers, as it can cause irreparable damage.
While steam cleaning is usually effective on rugs, be cautious with multicolored designs. Taylor Riley, founder of Impact Cleaning Professionals, experienced dye bleeding on a rug where yellow dye spread into white areas due to steam cleaning. To avoid such mishaps, ensure the dye in the rug is stable before using steam.
To avoid potential damage, always perform a spot test before applying steam to a larger area. Riley suggests testing a small, inconspicuous spot to ensure that the material does not react negatively to steam. Additionally, use the lowest steam and heat settings and keep the steam cleaner in constant motion to prevent overheating any single spot.
By following these precautions, you can safely harness the power of steam cleaning while avoiding common pitfalls.