Nowadays, when women spend their time at work on an equal basis with men, various equipment helps to put the house in order. Thanks to her, a woman saves her time and performs all her household duties, keeping the apartment clean, tidy and comfortable. Thus, washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and multicookers have become indispensable assistants in everyday life. But wet cleaning is still necessary for optimal floor cleanliness. The engineers foresaw this and presented the fair sex with a new product - a steam mop. What is it, what is its principle of operation, what advantages does it have and what varieties can it have?
What kind of miracle is a mop and steam?
So, a steam mop is a household tool consisting of a rotating base, a handle that has an adjustable reach, a water tank and attachments. This device is electric, but completely safe, despite contact with water. Depending on the model, the rotating base may have special brushes that allow you to easily remove stubborn stains and dirt from the surface. The weight of the structure usually does not exceed 3-4 kg, which ensures ease of cleaning. The moisture reservoir can be easily removed and replaced if necessary, and the comfortable handle makes cleaning more comfortable.
The operating principle of the steam miracle is quite simple and similar to the operation of a steam cleaner.The poured liquid is heated to a boiling point, steam flows are fed into special holes in the base, after which they act under pressure on the surface being cleaned. With such a simple solution, the housewife copes with the most difficult dirt without the use of chemicals.
Advantages of the equipment
To understand how necessary this tool is in the home and how much better it is than a regular rag and bucket, it is worth listing its advantages:
- The multifunctionality of this invention allows you to equally efficiently clean various floor coverings from dirt. Ceramic tiles, linoleum, laminate and other coverings are cleaned simply and effectively.
- A high level of maneuverability makes operation more convenient and efficient.
- The presence of a temperature regulator allows you to clean dirt of any complexity without leaving marks and stains.
- Thanks to hot steam, not only dirt is removed, but also ingrained odors, dust mites and other pathogenic bacteria. The room is practically disinfected.
- Ecological hypoallergenic cleaning is achieved by the absence of various detergents and chemicals. Therefore, it is an excellent option for a family with an asthma patient.
- Due to the lack of need to buy floor detergents, some savings are felt.
- Original design and ease of use.
- Speed and ease of cleaning allow you to save not only time, but also energy.
Considering all these advantages, we can safely conclude that a steam mop is much better than a regular one in every sense. And if you add versatility and efficiency here, then the choice falls on a technical novelty.
Distinctive characteristics
Despite the identical principle of operation of the devices, they are quite different from each other. Due to these common features, you can choose the best mop for your needs. The main distinguishing feature is power; it can vary from 1 thousand W and above. The power of the model determines both the period of its continuous operation and the maximum temperature of water heating. When choosing an assistant for frequent use, you should take this important factor into account.
The waiting time for the equipment to be “ready” depends on the rate of heating of the liquid. In different models, this figure can range from a few seconds to 15 minutes, so if you have time to wait, you can purchase a cheaper model. The volume of the container is of no small importance, because no one wants to run after every 10 minutes of cleaning for a new portion of “fuel”. Therefore, when choosing a mop, you should pay attention to this criterion, which varies from 0.35 to 0.5 liters. But it’s worth considering that the more liquid, the longer it will take to heat it up. Therefore, it is worth purchasing a model that meets all indicators. For example, if the volume of the container is small, you can take a closer look at low-power products and vice versa.
The quality of cleaning also depends on the heating temperature of the water, because the higher the temperature, the more complex contaminants can be easily removed. In cheap models, the ability to heat water from 100 to 130 degrees is more common. In more expensive ones, this figure can be 170-180 degrees. The additional function of adjusting the steam temperature will make cleaning optimally effective. This is also affected by the pressure under which the steam enters the flooring.The greater the pressure, the stronger the stream of steam escaping, which results in better dirt removal. Accordingly, in more expensive models the pressure is higher.
Equipment
The devices also differ in their equipment. The basic one is a microfiber floor nozzle. It absorbs moisture perfectly, dries quickly and is easy to clean from dirt. It is universal in its application, capable of cleaning both linoleum, parquet, laminate, and tiles. In addition, the rag has a reasonable price, so it can be periodically replaced with a new one.
For heavily soiled areas, there are special brushes that will effectively remove old stains. This solution is optimal for the kitchen, where the floors get more and more dirty. More expensive models may have a round bristle brush, which is great for cleaning furniture. With it you can easily remove excess lint, debris, hair and fur, and dust. It is especially convenient to remove dirt in hard-to-reach places - seams and armrests. For final glass cleaning, the kit includes a rubber scraper that removes remaining water and gives the glass a flawless, crystalline look.
Also, using a mop, you can simplify the cleaning of carpets by softening the pile with steam, after which all that remains is to clean the carpet with a brush or rag.
Manufacturers offer various models with a variety of attachments, which determines the price. Chinese products have a lower price and a decent set of attachments, but their quality also differs from other manufacturers.
How to choose a quality item
Due to the variety of products offered, it is sometimes difficult to choose the best option.To help you with this, below are the main aspects that need to be taken into account when purchasing a miracle technology.
First of all, you should decide on the required set of qualities; this is done in order not to spend a large sum on those functions that are simply not useful to you. Secondly, it is worthwhile to imagine how often the equipment will be used. If you are going to use it actively, then you should pay attention to models of high quality and high power, otherwise an inexpensive model of low power will suit you. And if in doubt, you can always look at reviews from other customers.
