So, you’ve been browsing steam cleaners and watching incredible before-and-after clips on social media, with your greying bathroom grout in mind. Or perhaps you’ve just purchased a steam cleaner, the grout is now dazzling white and you’re left wondering what other magic this little cleaner could perform around the house.
Steam cleaners can be used for so many household jobs that you previously might have found awkward or difficult, or put off entirely. We recommend patch-testing a small area before every steam clean as good practice, so with that in mind here are 15 less obvious uses for your steam cleaner, that will help you get your money’s worth and make cleaning a little bit more fun:
1.Steam cleaning for pets
Bathing the dog after winter walks doesn’t seem to keep pet beds smelling fresh. Luckily, steam cleaning is safe for pets, as using only water stops pets being exposed to any toxic chemicals. Leave to dry fully for a couple of hours and voila – Bella’s bed is fresh and clean. Hamster cages can also be fully sanitised using steam and a brush attachment, speeding up the job.
2.Using a steam cleaner to remove wallpaper
Doing up a fixer upper house, prepping for a home extension or just feeling bored of the lounge and want a change? Steam cleaners are the perfect handy tool to make wallpaper removal an easy-peel dream. Aim the steam at the joins in the paper and you’re off. For painted rooms that have an uneven surface or too many layers to repaint over, hold the steamer close to the paint until you see distortion or bubbles, and scrape off with a scraping tool while you steam the next area.
3.How to clean windows with steam
No need to buy expensive window cleaning devices when you already have one in the cupboard – in the shape of your steam cleaner. To clean windows, our advice is to use long sweeps rather than short bursts and follow up with a glass attachment to prevent watermarks – steam cleaning is perfectly safe for windows. The Ewbank Steam Dynamo comes with multiple nozzles to help users to complete as many cleaning tasks as possible, so check if you have a window attachment or can buy one. Finish with a dry microfibre cloth to wipe the glass and achieve the high-shine results, chemical-free. Also applies to steam cleaning glass shower cubicles, mirrors and shower screens!
4.Does steam clean your clothes?
Handheld clothing steamers are getting more popular – who really wants to put up the ironing board? If you’ve already got a steam cleaner and want to avoid another electrical purchase – simply use your steam cleaner nozzle to freshen up winter coats or formal wear that have been sat in storage. De-crease, kill bacteria and de-odourise in one easy task, ready to wear.
5.Cleaning the oven with steam
We know, it’s a horrible job with a bad rep, one that we tend to avoid until it gets pretty bad. Make it easier and quicker by using steam to clean the oven – loosen any grease and baked-on dirt using bursts of steam, saving twenty minutes scrubbing with a scourer. Use a detail brush for fiddly areas and we bet you’ve halved your oven cleaning time.
6.Best way to clean a BBQ
You’ve enjoyed your outdoor summer garden party, with drinks and friends and lovely smoky barbecue food. Unfortunately, the metal grills on your BBQ were forgotten about, and now the burnt-on food doesn’t want to budge. Steam clean the dirty outdoor grills, using our specific attachment designed for BBQ grill cleaning, and thank us later! Great if you’re concerned about harsh chemicals being used on a food prep surface. Also perfect for helping to prevent cross-contamination for veggie cooking.
7.Steam clean and sanitise inside the fridge
It’s not just the oven that can benefit from the steam treatment. Using only water to sanitise, steam cleaning is a great option to clean areas where food is kept or cooked – like your fridge. Another off-putting task, now you can easily steam the interior of all the fridge drawers and shelves, killing bacteria that collects from spilt food. Wipe to dry and re-stock, maybe even taking the opportunity to label your shelves or put in place a new fridge organisation system. The thrills are endless.
8.Ceiling fans
Dust can collect on the fan when not in use and switching it on only showers the dust all over your clean room. You won’t even have to drag the ladder out of the shed, as your steam cleaner will likely have a long wand, so avoid having to re-vacuum by gently steaming the dust off the fan. Keep steam focused on the blades (rather than directing at the mechanisms).
9.Use steam to prevent the spread of illness
Someone in the home is ill, and you definitely want to prevent the others from getting it, too. Steam-cleaning light switches, door handles, handrails and any other surfaces used heavily by the whole family can help stop the spread of germs in its tracks, giving you the upper hand on keeping the sickness bug contained.
10.Remove cooking grease
We clean kitchen surfaces pretty much daily, but how often do we clean the rest? Easily lift cooking grease and dirt from cabinets, drawer handles and washing machine dials, leaving your kitchen grime and germ-free with your steam cleaner. Sanitise work surfaces with steam if you have been cutting raw meat products. Shiny, clean kickboards can be easily achieved using an angled attachment on your cleaner, and can even make your floor look cleaner by extension – no brainer!
11.Steam the dust off your plants
Not all of us are green-fingered enough to keep multiple plants alive around the house and have instead opted for their artificial counterparts. When faux plants inevitably start to collect dust, quickly and easily refresh them using your steam cleaner and restore the bright pop of greenery in your décor. Your faux-monstera will thank you. Holding the steam wand further away, you can even steam clean dusty leaves on real houseplants using your steam cleaner, restoring their glow without any accidental damage from a cloth. Layers of dust inhibit plant growth, so act quickly before you have an array of empty pots that reveal your inadequate plant parenting.
12.Will my steam cleaner remove limescale?
The short answer is yes! If you live in a hard water area, you’ve probably noticed the white residue on taps and fixtures (though using filter jugs can help to protect the interior of your kettle). The best product for removing limescale? You already own it. The temperature and pressure generated by your steam cleaner can help to restore your fixings to their normal shiny silver appearance. Spray white vinegar and leave to sit for a few minutes before steam cleaning on more stubborn areas, to work with the power of science on your side, and there’ll be no need to use harsh limescale removers and fill the room with fumes before you have friends round for coffee.
13.Steam clean the car
For some of us, our car is our pride and joy. Restore that new-car feeling by getting out the steam cleaner after you’ve finished vacuuming. Steam the seats (fabric, not leather) and inside door pockets, remove any trace of your kids’ snacks, muddy wellies and juice spilt in footwells. Go to town and leave everything shiny and fresh, using window attachments for inside the windscreen, and restore your four-wheeled-sanctuary to its former glory.
14.Defrosting the freezer
How can I defrost my freezer quickly? The age-old thought that pops into your head as you kneel in front of the freezer with a hairdryer and scraper. There’s got to be an easier way, you think to yourself. There is. Using your steam cleaner to defrost the freezer will speed up the job, easily get thick ice out of the appliance and sanitise at the same time. Make sure you have a tray to catch the ice that falls as you apply the steam (and it goes without saying that you’ll have unplugged and kept water away from the electrics).
15.Bins
There are products to keep your bin smelling fresh, including scented powders and sprays, but if you’re in full deep-clean mode, take out the bin bags and steam clean the actual bin, inside and outside. Sanitise as you clean, removing any residual bacteria or odours. Your bin will be good as new, and your kitchen or utility will be fresher as a result. You could even go the whole hog and steam clean the wheelie bin outside, if it takes your fancy. Go wild.
If you have any top steam cleaning tips, share them in the comments below or Tweet us @EwbankLtd using the hashtag #MeandEwbank. If you’re anything like us, you’ll be looking around your home thinking, “what can I steam clean next?”
Read more of our how-to guides, for information on cleaning hints and tips and using your Ewbank products.
Find out more or purchase the Ewbank Steam Dynamo Multi-Tool Steam Cleaner.
