INTRODUCTION

"Steam cleaner" is the new generation cleaning appliance to deep clean and sanitize any surface without using detergents. To produce steam is rather simple, we need a boiler with an heating element, normal tap water and the electric power supply. To obtain a good quality steam, however, is the real challenge.
In fact, every manufacturer adopts different solutions with the aim of obtaining the best steam quality with the most reliable and durable system. As far as we know there are at least 3 systems:

1. Heating element placed inside the boiler, immersed in the water. [so far it is the most common system]
2. Heating element placed outside the boiler.
3. Hot-plate for instant steam generation.

Each system has pros and cons; the boiler that has the heating element inside, immersed in the water, reaches the ready pressure/temperature more quickly but it is subjected to limestone incrustation so that a regular maintenance is required to extend its lifetime. The boiler that has the heating element placed outside, not immersed in the water, takes a little bit more time to reach the ready temperature/pressure but it is free from that limestone problem. This last system, however, may generate higher temperature inside the machine, for the heating plate is generally placed under the bottom of the boiler and good insulation is required.

We consider good quality steam the one generated with low humidity at high temperature and supplied in constant amount. It seems a contradiction but professionals in this field call good quality steam "hot dry steam".
Another important factor is that the system should grant a sufficient operating time according to the size of the area to be cleaned.

TWO TYPES OF STEAM CLEANERS IN THE MARKET

Nowadays there are two kinds of steam cleaners in the market, we call them "Single tank" and "Twin-tanks".
single tank

Single tank steam cleaner consists of a boiler under pressure. So far it is the most common system in the market.
Only at a cold unit it is possible to fill the water in the boiler, the bigger boiler capacity the longer operating time. Once the water in the boiler ends up a safety device cut the current to the heating element so the machine cannot work until the boiler is refilled of water again. It is necessary to switch off and cool down the machine before opening the safety pressure cap and refill with new water.
The opeating time depends on the boiler capacity, generally it goes from 45 to 60 minutes time depending also how the machine is used.
This was absolutely the first introduced system and today one of the most popular in the market. In our experience, when consumer gets accustom to use steam for cleaning they become more demand and need to use steam for longer operating time avoiding to wait to cool down the machine before refill with new water.
It is for this reason that "twin tank" system has been realized. Once consumer gets accustom to clean with steam she/he will experience to use steam in so many applications and she/he will never go back to previous cleaning method. It is also to be considered that steam cleaner can work also as professional ironing station, therefore housekeeper may want to start cleaning once finished the ironing or viceversa.

Twin-tank steam cleaner consists of a separate water tank and the boiler. The system is getting popular as "continuous steam system" because it allows to refill the machine at any time, without waiting to cool down the machine. The level of the water inside the boiler is constantly detected by a special sensor, when the water reaches the bottom level the sensor sends the command to an electronic board which activates the pump. The pump takes the necessary amount of water from the cold water tank and fills the boiler. In this case there is always a constant amount of water in the boiler.
twin tank

This system brings many advantages:
No waste of time for refilling, unlimited operating time.
Less time required to get steam ready because of less amount of water in the boiler to be heated.

The user that approaches a steam cleaner for the first time may not understand immediately the importance of these advantages. When he/she gets accustomed to use steam cleaner he/she would appreciate to have quickly ready steam and unlimited operating time.

The system is particularly delicate as it requires the adoption of sensitive components and safety devices, when the system was firstly introudced there has been some quality issues but now it has reached certain reliability. For this reason we source continuous steam cleaners only from experienced factories.

 

DIGITAL STEAM CLEANER New!

No more tolerances that can stress delicate components, but a precise and reliable system to grant the maximum optimization of the performance and at the same time extending the machine lifetime.

The first digital controlled steam cleaner is today available :)
So far the mechanical safety devices used to keep under strict control the temperatures, the pressure, the levels of water inside the boiler, etc. etc have been working indipendently, in an analogic system.

It has been studied a special design electronic card placed inside the unit that can control all of them together much more precisely, this has brought the realization of a digital steam cleaner.

Digital display available by the end of the year.

There are many advantages with a digital steam cleaner;

• Much more precise control of the end of water, the heating element never suffers and we can gain in reliability and durability.
• Possibility to install a digital thermometer for the visualization of the temperature and the digital manometer to visualize the pressure. In this way we can have a real vision of the exct steam temperature and pressure.
• Lower external and internal temperature of the unit due to the more precise control of the boiler temperature, this grants that all the components work in less stress conditions
• Auto-diagnosis at every switch ON, presence of the integrated filter in the electronic board to prevent electromagnetic compatibility problems and higher safety level on the low tension commands as the system is directly controlled by the micro-procesor.

WHICH ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS TO HAVE A GOOD STEAM?

1. The operating pressure and the temperature.
2. The installed power (wattage). The more wattage power the heating element the less time need the boiler to recover the pressure and temperature.
3. The hole diameter of the steam passages is very important. The bigger hole the faster pressure reduction. The smaller hole ensure a dry steam, there should be a good compromise because to clean efficiently the steam should be sufficiently humid.
4. The boiler volume; there should be a good steam dome capacity and a good water level.
5. The control of the pressure and temperature: digital control is much more reliable and precise than the tradtional analigical system.

FIELDS OF APPLICATION

It is important to push the level of hygiene to high standards, steam cleaners can be of help if used regularly. Generally it is recommended to steam clean in any place where people live:

• Home and Office
• Restaurants, hotels, shops
• Food Industry
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Sport centers
• All public areas

Steam can be used on any surfaces except for those that are extremely heat sensitive.

ADVANTAGES

 

Advantages of using steam cleaners:

• To maintain hygiene
• To respect the environment
• To save on detergents
• To save on water
• To reduce allergies
• To cover various applications: to clean floors, dirty tiles and grouts, clean and degrease the kitchen, sanitize the bathroom. clean and freshen furniture, clothes, tents. To defrost freezers, dust an mist live plants, polish jewellery, etc.

The efficiency of the system has been proved and certified by several tests run by specialized laboratories and by the Ministry of Health.




COMPARISON WITH TRADITIONAL SYSTEM

1. Traditional cleaning methods are based on water and detergents. These methods can only offer superficial results, it is impossible to get rid of the dirt that is deposited in the surface pores. It is there where bacteria proliferate continuously.
   The use of detergents require a lot of water consumption.
   Though it is necessary to rinse the cleaning area several times with water, there will always be some portion of chemical residuals remaining on the surface. Especially if we think about the kitchen where food is processed or rooms where children live.
2. At high temperatures and pressures steam reaches the organic materials deep down in the surface. The dead organisms can be removed by using the brush and eventually with a micro fibre cloth. New germs cannot find a proper ground to grow. As steam uses only water the residuals and wastes are 100% biodegradable.
   Hot dry steam can prevent bacteria proliferation. By using steam on carpets, sofas, pillows, covers we preserve our children's health and reduce the possibility to get deseases, allergies, and respiratory problem.

APPLICATION IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY

Nowadays the steam cleaning for sanitization and sterilization is becoming indispensable in many fields but particularly in the food industry.
The aim is to continuously improve the hygiene in order to preserve the health of the consumers by offering a safe product and/or service. At the same time preserve also the health of the operators that are working in this environment every day.

In the food industry the 90% of the contaminations happen during the production and packaging process.
The main contagious deseases are the followings:

• SALMONELLOSIS
• STAPHYLOCOCCUS
• GASTRO-ENTERITIS
• BOTULISM
• ESCHERICHIA COLI
• LISTERIOSIS

The recent SARS problem has warned all the countries, everybody should care about the hygiene to avoid bacteria proliferation. The first priority is the prevention of such dangerous deseases and the adoption of an efficient cleaning and disinfection system in every situation is a must.