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Centralised Cleaning Systems

Steam Cleaner

The use of steam in industrial processes has seen much development since its possibilities were first widely developed by Watt in the late eighteenth century. The use of steam in power generation and heating is well known and in the last century its development as a cleaning medium began with its accidental discovery (it is said) by an American bootlegger who, when trying to develop a new type of still, noticed that when steam was played on the floor, the grease and dirt changed its state and became removable.
Steam cleaning machines are on the increase domestically and in industry; but it is not only the cleaning capabilities of the machines that is attractive, it is also that they reduce or eliminate the need for chemicals and use less water than other methods, so an environmental conservation case can be made. In addition, because of the reduction in the use of chemicals and the ability of steam to directly bacteria and mites, steam cleaners are useful in reducing the incidence of allergic reactions.

There are two main types of steam cleaning machines, one which produces what is known as wet steam and the other dry steam.

Wet Steam Cleaners

Hot water pressure washers  like the Edge Tiger pressure washer with steam facility can have the addition of steam to enhance their cleaning capabilities. By adjusting the pressure in the unit to reduce the flow rate of the water but still allowing the heat exchanger to operate to lift the water temperature the steam will be produced. The water temperature would be increased to around 140ºC. The steam produced has a comparatively high water content and is known as wet steam, which whilst effective in some situations, it does introduce additional moisture into the cleaning process when it may not be required.

Dry Steam Cleaners

These are steam cleaning machines like the Edge Steam Tec dry steam cleaner  that use pressure to raise the boiling point of the water to create a saturated form of steam at a temperature up to 170ºC at which point the steam acts to dissolve the dirt and grime without adding excess water. The advantage of this type of cleaner is that the steam can penetrate into the cracks and crevices of a surface where bacteria and dirt are found to enable their removal. These steam cleaning machines can be portable, for where ad hoc cleaning is required or static where there is a regular clean down requirement. The advantages of a static cleaner are that it is less open to operator abuse, its settings can be fixed and it is always ready to use. Dry steam can also be used as part of a vacuum cleaner for deep carpet cleaning. Steam cleaners are vital wherever deep sanitizing is important. Industries such as healthcare and food processing among others benefit greatly from these machines.

Don’t be put off by the thought of steam. It is eco friendly, efficient, effective and B& G can give the clearest unbiased advice together with the best prices available.

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Wet Steam Cleaners

Dry Steam Cleaners