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- Understanding The Power Of Steam Cleaning
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A morning cup of espresso illustrates the power of steam. An espresso machine takes heated, pressurized water and releases it in a controlled way through coffee grounds to get that thick Italian drink.听The use of steam vapor for cleaning works much the same way. The process uses low moisture 鈥� about 4 to 6 percent water 鈥� pressurized to around 60 psi and heated to 240 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Instead of making coffee, the combination effectively clean surfaces and kills viruses, bacteria and fungi.And while steam vapor cleaning is not as popular as caffeine, its use by building service contractors has increased, especially among those with an eye on green cleaning.鈥淚f a person wants a nontoxic, environmentally friendly way to both clean and disinfect at the same time, I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a better technology [than steam],鈥� says Benjamin Tanner, a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology, and the president, CEO and co-owner of听听in Round Rock, Texas.To be effective, however, steam vapor cleaning requires the right equipment and training, along with knowledge about the types of surfaces and environments where this method shines.鈥淔irst thing to know is not all machines are created equal,鈥� says Tanner.The effectiveness varies, so he recommends finding a manufacturer that has tested the equipment in a laboratory and can recommend a configuration.听鈥淵ou want to find a company that has a lab report that describes how it did its testing,鈥� says Tanner. 鈥淎nd if you can mimic the way it did its testing and treat a surface in that manner, then you鈥檙e golden, because that will ensure you鈥檒l get the same disinfection.鈥滶xperts agree a stainless steel boiler is best. Also, there鈥檚 a cool-down period before a single-tank design can be refilled, so a two-tank system reduces down time. Hoses should be well-insulated and removable for easy repair or replacement. And BSCs should look for user-friendly controls to improve speed and safety. They should also consider ease of maintenance, since a boiler builds up a coating of minerals on the metal parts, which lowers efficiency.听, author of 鈥淚nfection Prevention for Dummies,鈥� recommends buying from a company that offers one-on-one training, or videos to generate interest and show staff steam cleaning is easy and saves time.鈥淥nce they get it and see it does work, I think you鈥檒l find employees will find other uses for it that you hadn鈥檛 even thought of 鈥� and that鈥檚 a good thing,鈥� says Hicks.
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