STEAM CLEANERS are sweeping Australia, as they have through Europe and America. In some countries they are used in 70 percent of all homes - this is extraordinary considering that until recently, they were virtually unknown in Australia.

The Australian Advantage

Because of the steam cleaners' widespread popularity overseas, and thanks to the extensive research carried out by our team at Austeam Appliances, Australian's are at an advantage when purchasing for themselves - for we have assessed what has occurred elsewhere, both success and failures, and can offer a better choice.

Austeam Appliances offers this guide to assist you in choosing the most appropriate steam cleaner for your home or workplace.

What to look for in a steam cleaner

All steam cleaners are basically designed to do the same job, that is, they are designed to lift dirt and grime while sanitising, without the need for chemicals. But, just as all cars are basically designed to get you from point-A to point-B, they still can vastly differ from one another. The quality of steam cleaners also varies. So what differences should we look for?

Pressure

The pressure generated within the boiler directly effects the performance of your steam cleaner. The higher the pressure the more powerful the cleaner. A higher bar pressure creates hotter steam which more effectively dislodges dirt and grime and kills bacteria and mould. For faster, better cleaning choose a model with at least 3.5 bar and preferably 4 bar pressure or more.

Capacity

A family of four will get little use from a two-seater car. In the same way a mini-steamer or a steam-mop with a capacity of one or two cups, will need to make several trips to the tap before it can clean an average family home. Full-size steam cleaners have a stainless steel boiler with a capacity greater than 1.5 litres and will provide at least 1-1.5 hours of uninterrupted steam: That is enough to clean the floors, bathroom and kitchen surfaces in an average home. Larger homes or businesses should consider a 3 or 4 litre model, or one with automatic refilling and a reservoir tank.

Accessories

A good steam cleaner comes equipped with a range of practical accessories to clean your whole home including small, hard-to-get-at crevices. Ensure the model you choose has tools specifically designed to clean floors, walls, ceilings, glass, sinks, bathroom and kitchen. Some brush-nozzles will wear out over time, check that replacements are readily available and reasonably priced. A steam cleaner without replacement accessories is about as useful as a car without replacement tyres.

Optional Iron

Select a model which comes with the option of a professional iron attachment. This type of iron will give you high performance steam ironing, is up to 6 times more powerful than a domestic iron and can cut your ironing time in half. Use a professional steam iron just once and you will never want to use your old one again. If you do not want an iron straight away, check that you may purchase one separately at a later date should you change your mind.

Safety Features

We cannot stress how important it is to look for the following safety features:

A pressure relief valve, a safety filler cap, a thermo dry boiler switch with water out light or signal, and a thermo back-up switch (should all else fail). In addition, adjustable steam volume allows you to confidently clean delicate surfaces and a drain located at the bottom of the steam cleaner makes for easy cleaning of the boiler - these features will be present on all good steam cleaners.

Vacuum

With the introduction of Steam Vacuums, Austeam Appliances have entered the realm of the next generation. To discover the Steam Vacuum Advantage visit: steam cleaners with suction .

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