Guest guest Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 > > I am thinking of getting one of these. Can anyone recommend a particular make and comment on how useful they are. > > Thanks, > > Jane > > The one I have seen is made by Polti > I cannot remember the name of the one which I have , but its good . I use it to clean the oven and bathroom. Sara Its amazing how much dirt it removes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010  From what I have read the steamer has to reach a certain heat to kill mites. The Lady Bug steamer reaches the hottest temp. of all the small steamers but it is the most expensive. I have the Steam Fast steamer and it reaches 221 degrees. The McCulloch steamer is made the same way the Steam Fast is but doesn't reach the 221 degrees as the Steam Fast does. The Steam Fast is about $140.00.....it was $99.00 on Walmarts site but I don't think the sell it any more. I haven't look at steamers in some time. The reason I like the Steam Fast is the high temp. it reaches and it has the clips on the floor attachment where a cloth can be attached and used like a mop to pick up dirt and debris at it steams. Rita Fiber Critters - Rita, Bessie, Marie and ...? Hi All,I'm wondering how many of you have observed the fiber critters during and after being bitten by the bird mites? And. . . for those of you who did experience the fibers (a ball of black, white, gray, sometimes blue fibers of various sizes like described in an earler post) and are no longer suffering directly from the mites - did you recover from the fibers? I have no lesions from the fibers but these fiber balls are on my bed every single morning - multiples. No chance they can be lint or fibers from clothes or bedding - believe me.I'm wondering if they eventually go away after the mites are gone? Or do they continue to multiply? Has anyone had them progress to lesions?Any help much appreciated. I'm so .o.o grateful the mites seem to be gone - sure hope they don't come back with warmer weather. Does anyone know about that ? Do they disappear in the winter and come back later?Thanks again,Rose N. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 A friend of mine had an older car that bothered me alot so they had it professionally steamed cleaned. I could not tolerate the car at all after that. Only makes sense to me that if the car has mold, why add more moisture? I dont know, but the musty smell in their car got much worse after the cleaning. D > > Hi, there was some discussion of steam cleaning car interiors a while > back. Today I googled steam cleaners and found them ranging in price > from a couple hundred dollars to $1,500 and more. I was looking because > I am currently using a borrowed van that smells musty inside. I don't > like the smell although it doesn't make me sick, but I want to clean it > up before I have to transport my sick family member any great distance > in it again, like the 5-6 hour trip down to Dr. Gray's, or to our next > temporary home where ever that ends up being, or possibly across the > country to some other EI clinic... > > 1) is steam cleaning a good way to get rid of mold in cars, and for > housecleaning (they are advertised for cleaning floors, bathroom grout, > ovens, etc., or does it just blow mold off of say bathroom tile grout > into the air where it can be breathed in? also, I am wondering since > they use water, do they actually increase mold growth in the long term > by saturating wood floors or baseboards...? > > 2) if people do find them useful for car and housecleaning, are the > more expensive brands worth the extra money, or can you get a decent mid- > price or low-price model? > > Thanks, Sue V. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 The only steam cleaners that are any good are the expensive commercial ones used by professional detailers, they steam and vacuum at the same time-should cost you anywhere from $100-200 to have the interior done > > Hi, there was some discussion of steam cleaning car interiors a while > back. Today I googled steam cleaners and found them ranging in price > from a couple hundred dollars to $1,500 and more. I was looking because > I am currently using a borrowed van that smells musty inside. I don't > like the smell although it doesn't make me sick, but I want to clean it > up before I have to transport my sick family member any great distance > in it again, like the 5-6 hour trip down to Dr. Gray's, or to our next > temporary home where ever that ends up being, or possibly across the > country to some other EI clinic... > > 1) is steam cleaning a good way to get rid of mold in cars, and for > housecleaning (they are advertised for cleaning floors, bathroom grout, > ovens, etc., or does it just blow mold off of say bathroom tile grout > into the air where it can be breathed in? also, I am wondering since > they use water, do they actually increase mold growth in the long term > by saturating wood floors or baseboards...? > > 2) if people do find them useful for car and housecleaning, are the > more expensive brands worth the extra money, or can you get a decent mid- > price or low-price model? > > Thanks, Sue V. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 From what I read steam vapor cleaners can't be used on wall to wall over hardwood floors. Is that correct? I've looked at one (Shark) at Target but still confused if it would be ok for carpet over hardwood. There seems to be some confusion here (as always) between traditional " steam cleaning " and cleaning with a " steam vapor " cleaner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 There seems to be some confusion here (as always) between traditional " steam cleaning " and cleaning with a " steam vapor " cleaner. Steam cleaning uses HOT WATER (not steam vapor) and can saturate fleecy materials with water, exacerbating mold growth. The water is not necessarily at the boiling point to begin with and cools rapidly upon contact with a surface. Cleaning with steam vapor is entirely different, as only true steam (water vapor, a gas, NOT a liquid) is used. Anything properly treated with steam vapor should dry in a few hours because only a small amount of vapor actually condenses to liquid during the process. If done properly, the danger of mold growth is nil. The prices of steam vapor cleaners have come down a lot and a decent machine can be purchased for under $400. Steam vapor treatment increases the temperature of surfaces far more than traditional steam cleaners (212F versus about 160F) and all insects can be killed with steam vapor, the only completely safe way to kill mites. The temeprature is high enough to kill some molds and bacteria as well. The temperature is high enough to denature many allergens (including mite, cat and dog) if the dwell time is adequate. Steam cleaning (with hot water!) cannot do this. Also see: http://www.housekeepingchannel.com/a_565-Use_Dry_Steam_Vapor_Treatment_for_Healt\ hier_Carpet_Upholstery " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips " May Indoor Air Investigations LLC > > > > Hi, there was some discussion of steam cleaning car interiors a while > > back. Today I googled steam cleaners and found them ranging in price > > from a couple hundred dollars to $1,500 and more. I was looking because > > I am currently using a borrowed van that smells musty inside. I don't > > like the smell although it doesn't make me sick, but I want to clean it > > up before I have to transport my sick family member any great distance > > in it again, like the 5-6 hour trip down to Dr. Gray's, or to our next > > temporary home where ever that ends up being, or possibly across the > > country to some other EI clinic... > > > > 1) is steam cleaning a good way to get rid of mold in cars, and for > > housecleaning (they are advertised for cleaning floors, bathroom grout, > > ovens, etc., or does it just blow mold off of say bathroom tile grout > > into the air where it can be breathed in? also, I am wondering since > > they use water, do they actually increase mold growth in the long term > > by saturating wood floors or baseboards...? > > > > 2) if people do find them useful for car and housecleaning, are the > > more expensive brands worth the extra money, or can you get a decent mid- > > price or low-price model? > > > > Thanks, Sue V. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Jeff, Thank you for this info. Should I wear a mask while steam cleaning the van (I am not MCS or mold-sensitive, my kid is)? should I vacuum it before or after or both? Are there brands or models that you can recommend? Thanks, Sue > > >There seems to be some confusion here (as always) between traditional > " steam cleaning " and cleaning with a " steam vapor " cleaner. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Sue, It can't hurt to vacuum before and after. If you don't have any sensitivities, I would not worry about using steam vapor. But do the vacuuming outside in case the vacuum is leaky and there are allergens. Do the steam treatment in a garage (or where it isn't too cold) and leave the van inside so it can dry or drive it around with the heat on high. I have seen the Fogacci and DeLonghi steam vapor units and they are fine but they are more expensive. Perhaps someone else has a recommendation. Even Amazon sells them now. They probably have comments on the products. Very inexpensive units (under $200) are probably toys. You want a vapor cleaner that puts out at least 40 psi, can hold at least a liter of water and consumes more than 10 amps; use a good power cord! Slow treatment is the key for knocking down allergens. I treated a quarter of a mattress for 30 minutes! Hold the head in place for at least two or three seconds at each location. You don't need a vapor cleaner for some things, you can treat them on a stove. You can use steam on plush toys to kill just about everything: place a plush on a steamer tray in lobster pot and steam away. May May Indoor Air Investigations LLC www.mayindoorair.com/blog for direct questions > > Jeff, > > Thank you for this info. Should I wear a mask while steam cleaning the > van (I am not MCS or mold-sensitive, my kid is)? should I vacuum it > before or after or both? Are there brands or models that you can recommend? > > > Thanks, Sue > > > > > > >There seems to be some confusion here (as always) between traditional > > " steam cleaning " and cleaning with a " steam vapor " cleaner. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Jeff, will a vapor steam cleaner help remove residual odor of scented candles used by an owner's home we mght rent? I have mcs but the house is pretty nontoxic otherwise. She uses them in her livingroom. The house is five years old, mold free, hardwoods downstairs and Berber carpet upstairs, all quality. > >There seems to be some confusion here (as always) between traditional " steam cleaning " and cleaning with a " steam vapor " cleaner. > > Steam cleaning uses HOT WATER (not steam vapor) and can saturate fleecy materials with water, exacerbating mold growth. The water is not necessarily at the boiling point to begin with and cools rapidly upon contact with a surface. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 At link you mention, in another article 'gram negative bacteria'. Why do you single those out Jeff? Are they harder to kill, or more dangerous, smaller? Thanks.. " gram-negative bacterial endotoxin can only be detected by a more costly assay. " Article on allergy and asthma at same link below. > > >> > Steam cleaning (with hot water!) cannot do this. Also see: > > http://www.housekeepingchannel.com/a_565-Use_Dry_Steam_Vapor_Treatment_for_Healt\ hier_Carpet_Upholstery > > " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips " > May Indoor Air Investigations LLC > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Barb, I mentioned gram (-) bacteria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram-negative_bacteria) because they produce a toxin associated with health symptoms. The toxin, endotoxin, is a lipopolysaccharide (fat combined with sugars) and not a protein (like most mycotoxins), so steam would probably not affect it(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipopolysaccharide). Gram (-) bacteria might be growing in a damp carpet. The steam would probably kill some of the bacteria but I don't know how effective it would be. " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips " May Indoor Air Investigations LLC > > > > > >> > > Steam cleaning (with hot water!) cannot do this. Also see: > > > > http://www.housekeepingchannel.com/a_565-Use_Dry_Steam_Vapor_Treatment_for_Healt\ hier_Carpet_Upholstery > > > > " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips " > > May Indoor Air Investigations LLC > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 The steam would enhance the evaporation (off-gassing) of the odor but I don't know if it would eliminate it. I have seen synthetic carpets that barely had an odor that smelled like new carpet again when treated with steam; when they cooled, the smell was decreased again. So the higher temperature certainly increases the volatilization. I would think that multiple passes with steam vapor is certainly worth trying. Do it with plenty of ventilation (window exhaust fan) and air circulation so the odor can be diluted and removed. Depending on the molecular structure, some fragrance molecules are readily destroyed by ozone. I am not a fan of any air purifier that produces ozone but for odor elimination, treatment with ozone is also an option (with the usual precautions). You could test a small area of carpet by enclosing it in a big box (from a refrigerator or dishwasher) with the ozone generator inside. Run the set up for 15 minutes, air the place out and see if the treated area smells less. I tried this technique on a musty smelling piece of wood that came from an outdoor grille. It made no difference in the smell at all. On the other hand, we had a skunk in our garage and 15 minutes of ozone got rid of the smell entirely. You could also cover the carpets with Dennyfoil (a foil-paper laminate)and put your own rugs on top. The foil would stop the odor. " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips " May Indoor Air Investigations LLC --- In , " cocopollyphenol " <cocopollyphenol@...> wrote: > > Jeff, will a vapor steam cleaner help remove residual odor of scented candles used by an owner's home we mght rent? I have mcs but the house is pretty nontoxic otherwise. She uses them in her livingroom. The house is five years old, mold free, hardwoods downstairs and Berber carpet upstairs, all quality. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 If you treat a carpet that is over a hardwood floor, the steam could fog the wood finish, just the way a cold drink fogs the varnish on a dining room table. If you plan to treat an area rug that is on a wood floor, support the rug off the floor when treating it. (You can use a drying rack for this if the rug is small, or saw horses if it is larger.) " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips " May Indoor Air Investigations LLC > > > From what I read steam vapor cleaners can't be used on wall to wall over > hardwood floors. Is that correct? I've looked at one (Shark) at Target but > still confused if it would be ok for carpet over hardwood. > > There seems to be some confusion here (as always) between traditional > " steam cleaning " and cleaning with a " steam vapor " cleaner. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 I get a cloudy haze on some areas of hardwood if I don't move vapor steam fast enough so I know what you are referring to. I've taken some white vinegar and gotten them up but they don't wipe up easily, have to rub so I try not to stay too long. Type of wood I have doesn't have the newer harder finishes on it. I don't use it often on the wood floors. I bought the vapor cleaner for other things but used in the summer when I think pet may have brought fleas in, vacuum and use vapor cleaner. > > If you treat a carpet that is over a hardwood floor, the steam could fog the wood finish, just the way a cold drink fogs the varnish on a dining room table. > > If you plan to treat an area rug that is on a wood floor, support the rug off the floor when treating it. (You can use a drying rack for this if the rug is small, or saw horses if it is larger.) > > " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips " > May Indoor Air Investigations LLC > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Thanks Jeff. The livingroom has hardwood floors. It opens onto the kitchen area which has tile. Upstairs is Berber carpet but I did not detect the candle odor upstairs which makes sense as the stairs are off to the side and have a wall on either side not open bannisters so not much fragrance got upstairs. I am leery about using ozone in a rented house. They are willing to let us do a sleepover to see how I tolerate. I'm assuming the candle chemicals are in the upholstered furniture, rugs, paint on walls and perhaps floors altho the floors are some kind of high end prefab wood that may be well sealed. > > > The steam would enhance the evaporation (off-gassing) of the odor but I don't know if it would eliminate it. > > I have seen synthetic carpets that barely had an odor that smelled like new carpet again when treated with steam; when they cooled, the smell was decreased again. So the higher temperature certainly increases the volatilization. > area smells less. > May Indoor Air Investigations L > The house is five years old, mold free, hardwoods downstairs and Berber carpet upstairs, all quality. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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