How well do those steam mops really work?
Steam mops are the new thing in home cleaning, promising an eco-friendly, detergent-free alternative to the traditional mop and bucket. Are these new fangled devices worth the extra dough? Will your floors really shine, or will you still need to break out the soap and water? First, it is probably a good idea to understand how these steam mops work. Although there are some differences in the way they operate, many of their features are the same. They are corded units that use electricity to heat water. The base of the mops are covered with reusable, and generally machine washable, pads. By pushing on the handle or pulling on the trigger, steam is released into these pads. These pads, with the help of the steam, pick up dirt as they are passed across flooring surfaces. Contrary to popular belief, basic cleaning with steam mops generally will not sanitize flooring surfaces. The mop will not sanitize unless the cleaning pad is left in place for a specified period of time. For example, the
Steam mops are the new thing in home cleaning, promising an eco-friendly, detergent-free alternative to the traditional mop and bucket. Are these new fangled devices worth the extra dough? Will your floors really shine, or will you still need to break out the soap and water? First, it is probably a good idea to understand how these steam mops work. Although there are some differences in the way they operate, many of their features are the same. They are corded units that use electricity to heat water. The base of the mops are covered with reusable, and generally machine washable, pads. By pushing on the handle or pulling on the trigger, steam is released into these pads. These pads, with the help of the steam, pick up dirt as they are passed across flooring surfaces. Contrary to popular belief, basic cleaning with steam mops generally will not sanitize flooring surfaces. The mop will not sanitize unless the cleaning pad is left in place for a specified period of time. For example, the
