One of those things that people hear about, but are not sure about is steam cleaning — is it simply a fancy mopping with hot water, or is there something to it? There is indeed something to it; the short answer. Steam cleaning employs high temperature steam to remove dirt, kill germs and sanitise surfaces, potentially without any use of harsh chemicals. The blend of deep cleaning and sanitisation is especially beneficial in a country as humid as Malaysia, where dust mites and bacteria are always present and a real threat, even in homes and businesses.
Understanding the process of Steam Cleaning.
The generally accepted theory behind steam cleaning is that the high temperature of the water turns it into steam which is then used to clean a surface at high pressure. The heat works in two ways: it loosens and dissolves dirt, grease, grime and a significant amount of the bacteria, germs and dust mites that may reside on the surface. The steam reaches the pores that can’t be accessed with a piece of cloth, as well as the grout lines and fabrics, and the steam works with heat — not chemicals.
The “Chemical-Free” Part Matters.
One of the most appealing aspects of steam cleaning is that it doesn’t use a cocktail of cleaning chemicals to sanitise. That’s a real advantage for families with young children who crawl and play on the floor, for pets that tend to lick surfaces and for those who are sensitive to the strong odor and residue of cleaning products. A true chemical free clean surface that does not leave a chemical film. Well, again, be realistic, though: Steam cleaning will be great for many tasks, but it simply is not the perfect solution for every type of cleaning, and sometimes, a mix of techniques is best. A cleaning team that is good should evaluate what works best for you, and not just steam.
Steam Cleaning is most effective on areas where it is used.
There are a couple of specialties where steam cleaning really comes into its own:
The heat penetrates grease and removes dirt and grime from grout lines that scrubbing can’t. It sanitises along the way and as it goes.
Bathrooms — great for cleaning surfaces, where bacteria and mould can grow because of the humidity.
Kitchens — on greasy surfaces, stovetops and tiled backsplashes.
Sofas and mattresses — dust mites can be eliminated and the fabric is freshed up by the heat penetrating the fabric, which is very important in Malaysia’s humid climate.
Sealed hard flooring — sanitises without leaving behind heavy chemical residue.
Corners, edges and crevices (that a cloth can’t fit in) — the pressurised vapour enters hard to reach corners, edges and crevices.
It’s specifically well-suited for Malaysian homes, with several reasons:
Malaysia’s warm climate is accompanied by a humid one which is basically a year-round invitation for dust mites, bacteria and mould to thrive. Whereas in drier environments, natural relief comes from cold or dry seasons, our conditions do not allow these issues to be relieved. That is why the sanitizing part of steam cleaning works so well here — not only does it make things look clean, but it gets rid of the crazy tiny things that cause allergies, musty odors and just plain dirty. Cleaning with a steam cleaner may help make a difference for families who experience allergies, especially asthma.
Steam Cleaning vs Regular Cleaning
Visible dirt removal and tidying up on a day to day basis is essential and cleaning on a regular basis does its job well. Steam cleaning works in another way: it goes beneath the surfaces to deep clean and sanitise. Regular cleaning is like maintenance and steam cleaning is like a periodic reset. Most houses would benefit from both, regular cleaning to keep the house tidy and clean on a day-to-day basis, and steam cleaning, which is used at regular intervals for a really deep and sanitising clean up of areas that really need it.
The following is a list of what to expect from a professional steam clean.
The first step of steam cleaning is typically an inspection of the areas and items to be cleaned, as certain types of surfaces or materials may not be suitable for steam cleaning, or may require a different method or lower heat and moisture. The team then steams the surface systematically over the areas to be treated and generally cleans and dries the surface after steaming to prevent any damp areas that could lead to mould growth (particularly in humid conditions). Another reason for the results being significantly better than a do-it-yourself steam session with a handheld steamer is that the steamers used in a professional setting are hotter and more consistent.
When it comes to steamers, you can either hire professionals or use them yourself.
Handheld steamers are readily available and are acceptable for small touch-ups. However, there are limits to this reality. Consumer units do often fail to reach or maintain sanitising temperatures, they don’t generally feel hot enough to work with over a large area and can be very tiring to use, and it’s easy to over-wet surfaces or steam on materials that shouldn’t be steamed. This is where professional service comes into play, with better equipment, trained technique and the knowledge to know which surface works with steam and which doesn’t — this is what makes steam cleaning more than a novelty and makes it a true deep clean.
For more information, please get in touch with Book a Professional Steam Clean today.
Steam cleaning is certainly worth considering when you’re looking to deep clean something that’s not just dirt or dust — like dirty grout, an old sofa, or bathrooms and kitchens that haven’t been wiped down in a while. Whether you’re looking for a professional steam cleaning service for your home or office, or you’re interested in cleaning with bamboo, we have the solutions for you in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeir Sembilan and Melaka, with trained and certified cleaners in our own centre that are trained under HRDF, MECSc, CIDB and ISSA standards. Contact us, then I can recommend a treatment that is the correct one for your space and not a one-size-fits-all!
