35 Ways to Use a Handheld Steam Cleaner

A handheld steam cleaner might be small, but it packs a mighty punch when it comes to sanitizing and cleaning. Typically costing less than $50 and looking something like an old-fashioned coffee pot with a pointy spout, you can use your handheld steam cleaner in a variety of ways around the house.

These gadgets are a bit different from your normal steam mops or steam cleaners you’d use to clean a carpet with, rather they are hand held units and that means they’re protable and can be used practically anywhere. And that’s what makes them so handy.

Check out the different ways you can use your handheld steam cleaner around the house.

In the Bathroom

The bathroom can be a germy place. Warm temperatures, high humidity and frequent exposure to bodily functions encourage the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria and viruses that can cause illness. Steam is hot enough to kill most infectious organisms, and without the need for toxic or stinky chemicals.

• Blast away hard water deposits and grunge from the sink faucet and around the drain.
• Get all the mildew and sludge out of the shower door track (thanks to this website).
• Sanitize the toilet.
• Remove the soap ring around the tub.
• Clean and shine glass shower doors.
• Disinfect doorknobs, light switches and bathroom counters.
• Clean tile or vinyl floors, removing built-up hairspray, sticky spills and general grime.
• Easily clean grout without tedious scrubbing.

In the Kitchen

The average kitchen hosts a wide range of microorganism that will gladly make you ill if they get the chance. Raw food, spills, cooking grease, humidity and paper bags attract and hold dust, germs and allergens that not only look bad, they can make you feel bad. A handheld steamer makes it easy to de-germ, degrease and de-grime kitchen surfaces.

• Disinfect your sink, including the faucet and handles.
• Clean the countertops.
• Easily remove dried, crusty spills from counters, stovetop or the floor.
• Clean the oven and microwave with no need for toxic chemicals.
• Get grills, pans and drip trays shining like new.
• Remove built-up grease, dust and odors from your stove hood.
• Defrost an overly icy freezer.
• Bring the shine back to appliances, and remove grunge from underneath the stove, dishwasher and refrigerator.

In the Bedroom

The bedroom is a common spot for allergens, especially dust mites. Dust bunnies, mostly composed of shed skin, dust mites and dirt, lurk under furniture. Your hand steamer makes it easy to clean and sanitize in the bedroom, as well as get fabrics looking fresh and pressed.

• Sanitize your mattress and pillows. Steam is hot enough to kill dust mites, bedbugs and molds or bacteria.
• Steam away creases from your drapes, and get them fresh again.
• Clean baseboards, hard floors and underneath the bed.
• Spot clean the carpet and rugs.
• Get the windows clean, with no streaks or spots.

 

In the Living Room

They don’t call it the living room for nothing. This busy room sees a lot of traffic during the course of the day, and that means dirt and germs, as well as the occasional spill, pet accident and mishap with craft supplies. Once again, your hand steamer comes to the rescue.

• Use the upholstery attachment to give new life to your sofa and upholstered chairs.
• Blast away pet urine or accidents, spills or dirt from the carpet or rugs.
• Clean the ceiling fan.
• Shine heating vents, baseboards and doorknobs.
• Disinfect children’s toys.
• Kill fleas in pet beds, and neutralize dander and odor.
• Remove dust from faux flowers and plants.
• Shine the windows, and clean dirt and grime from the windowsills.

In the Laundry Room

If you hate to iron, you’ll love your hand steamer in the laundry room. It’s the perfect tool for a faster, easier way to remove wrinkles, along with a multitude of other uses.

• Remove wrinkles from your clothes, leaving them fresh and ready to wear with no need for the iron.
• Freshen items that have small spots or spills, but can’t go in the washing machine.
• Relax creases in leather items.
• Get your washer and dryer sparkling clean.
• Disinfect the floors.
• Clean pet areas.

Using a Steam Cleaner

You’ll soon find your handheld steam cleaner is an indispensable part of your weekly cleaning routine, and it’s a lot more fun to use than most cleaning supplies. There are some cautions to observe, however:

• Steam can cause severe burns, so always be aware of where you are aiming the steamer, keep children and pets away, and stay alert.
• Don’t use your steamer on delicate fabrics, unsealed or waxed surfaces, old or imperfect paint or thin plastics like nylon.
• Stay away from antiques, musical instruments or small electrical appliances. When steaming large appliances, keep the steam away from the motor.
• Unplug your steamer before refilling the tank or changing the attachments.
• The steamer will remain hot for quite a while after use, so keep it out of reach of children, and be careful to avoid burns.
• Use distilled water to avoid mineral buildup in the steamer.
• Be aware that while steamers make it easy to wipe away dust and grime, they do not remove it. Have plenty of rags on hand to wipe away the moisture and dirt as you steam.
• If you aren’t certain whether a surface can tolerate steam, test a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding.

So do your own home inspection and go looking for dirt and I bet you can come up with even more awesome ways to use a steam cleaner. Inexpensive, easy to use and efficient, you can put your steamer to use in every room of your home.