They're often advertised as suitable for all types of floors, including hardwood. However, hardwood floors require special care, and steam mops are not suitable for this type of flooring. Here's why steam mops can harm your hardwood floors and what you should do instead to keep your floors looking their best.
Engineered Hardwood Floors
Though durable on the surface, engineered hardwoods are bonded using adhesives, and the steam cleaning can affect the quality of those adhesives. Moisture can seep between the layers, weakening the bond and permanently damaging the floors. Avoid using steam mops on engineered hardwood floors.
Tile floors are ideal partners for steam mops. Whether ceramic or porcelain floor tiles, they have excellent heat and moisture resistance. The steam not only cleans the surface of the floor tile, but also penetrates into the gaps between the tiles, removing dirt that is difficult to reach with traditional mops.
But, most experts don't recommend steam mops for wooden or laminate flooring, or for surfaces with potential gaps such as vinyl tiles or vinyl planking. A hardwood floor may have small cracks that are invisible to the naked eye.
Cork Tiles and Unsealed or Waxed Timber: Steam mops can damage these surfaces. Timber and Laminate Flooring: Manufacturers often warn that steam can seep between boards, potentially causing expansion and damage over time, including delamination and buckling.
So, where does the dirt go when you steam clean? Actually, it doesn't go anywhere. Instead, the heat and vapour of steam cleaning ensure that all the unwanted substances or stains are fully broken down and easy to get rid of.
While steam mops offer a deep clean for many surfaces, they are not be the best choice for vinyl flooring due to the potential risk of heat and moisture damage. Instead, stick to our recommended cleaning practices with regular vacuuming and mopping with a damp microfiber mop and gentle cleaner.
What NOT to Steam. Steam cleaning can be done on almost any surface. However, some fabrics will ruin if you try to steam them. Velour or velvet is one of these surfaces.
On the packaging for most steam mops, you'll see claims like “Sanitizes Bacteria 99.9 percent” or “Eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria.” Are these claims overblown—and do they apply to viruses, such as the coronavirus or flu? We consulted microbiologists to find out. The short answer: Technically, yes.
If your flooring is waterproof, you can use a wet Swiffer safely, and can get a deeper clean than you'll get with a dry mop. Make sure that you use pads that feature a neutral household cleanser, rather than any harsh chemicals that could damage the flooring.
What to spray on the floor before steam mopping? Before steam mopping, you can spray a mild cleaning solution or a vinegar-water mixture on the floor to help loosen dirt and enhance the cleaning process.
It is never recommended to wet mop a hardwood floor. No matter what you've heard, read, or watched, true experts are not trying to sell you something. Easily maintain flooring with a safe for hardwood cleaner and microfiber mop.
Steam is an excellent way to clean the grout in your home but you must be careful that the steam and pressure is not too high that it damages the grout.
Steam cleaning works well for tough dirt or grease on baseboards.
Do not use a steam mop on an unsealed floor. Steam mops are typically safe to use on ceramic or porcelain tile, and on linoleum floors. Steam mops should not be used on most hardwood, laminate, marble and other natural stones, and vinyl floors, unless clearly specified by the manufacturer.
Don't use ammonia or ammonia-based cleaning solutions. Ammonia can break down the vinyl and cause it to crack. Don't use a steam cleaner on vinyl plank flooring. Though vinyl can sometimes be impervious to water, it won't stand up to both the water and the intense heat produced by steam cleaning.
You want to avoid steaming unique materials, including leather, suede, and velvet. You also want to be conscious of any embroidery, beading, or plastic decorations, since these can damage fabric while the clothing is being steamed.
The steam's heat penetrates even the toughest grime, rejuvenating floors by lifting and removing dirt that traditional mops may leave behind. This makes the steam mop a superior choice for thorough cleaning, especially on surfaces that are often challenging to maintain, like textured tiles or deep grout lines.
Do you use a steam mop before or after mopping? You should use a steam mop after you've swept or vacuumed the floor, but it typically replaces the need for a traditional wet mop. Steam mops use heat and steam to sanitize and clean the floors, which eliminates the need for a separate wet mopping session.
As water and detergent circulate through the dishwasher, all the dirt from the utensils ends up in a filter below the bottom rack. This calls for the filter and other parts of the dishwasher to get cleaned as often as possible.
Using any type of cleaning solution, perfumed oils or other chemical cleaner with your steam mop is not recommended. These products can have damaging affects to your steam mop and defeat the benefit of chemical-free cleaning. Do not use anything other than water in the unit.