Dusting the things is not enough for cleanliness. They contain many dirty areas that must get treated with hot water using a steamer. Steamers work on water. The users must put normal temperature water in the steamer, and the steamer increases its temperature until it turns into steam. This steam must get targeted on the clothes to make them wrinkle-free. Most steamers can for about a decade if used appropriately. The steamers must get cleaned regularly. But, using tap water makes the user clean it thoroughly and reduces steamer life. Read more Why you Should Never Use Tap Water in Steamer?
Tap Water Formation
Tap water, also called hard water, comes from groundwater and surface water. It gets polluted by different heavy metals such as aluminum, mercury, copper, lead, and more depending on the surrounding. Thus, most manufacturers do not recommend users to add tap water in the steamers but distilled water.
Advantages Of Using Tap Water
Most companies do not advise the users to use mineral water for their steamers. The weaknesses of tap water get considered as the strengths here.
The following are a few advantages of using tap water in the steamers:
- Electrical Conductance
The heavy metals present in the tap water make it a good conductor of electricity. These salts present in the tap water get broken into positive and negative ions. But, pure water has high resistivity that resists the flow of the electric current and makes it act as an insulator.
- Initial Working
The steamers might work well initially with the tap water but later may prove to get risky. Some individuals might risk polluting pure water by adding related salts or acids in pure water. Some might even think of using seawater that provides a large amount of conductance. But, these ideas do not offer a practical solution.
Challenges Of Using Tap Water
The disadvantages of using tap water for steamers are more than the advantages. Most users will refuse the use of tap water for the steamers after coming across the following disadvantages:
- Corrosion
A typical steamer can consist of materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, bamboo, and more. Tap water contains acids, salts, and different heavy metals according to the source from where it comes. If tap water enters a steamer, these materials will react with each other corroding the steamer internally. It reduces the lifespan of the steamer. If the users do not discard the tap water from the steamer, it might get damaged. The users must clean the steamer thoroughly after every use.
- Accumulation
Tap water is hard and contains different minerals that get accumulated in the steamer. Thus, the steamer cannot get used continuously for a long time. The users must clean it often during use. Iron deposits in the steam vent result in the emission of brown water, whereas calcium deposits result in white water. They clog the steamer and stain the target surface. Also, it takes a long to generate steam. The steamer continues to heat unnecessarily and finally stops working.
- Foaming
Steamers generally do not cause foaming. If the users find foam in their steamers during the use, it must be an outcome of calcium carbonate residue. It has chances of getting emitted on and staining the clothes. It occurs if the users use tap water for the steamers but do not clean them thoroughly when required. This issue does not arise in the case of distilled water.
Solution To Tap Water
The following are the better alternatives to tap water:
- Regular Cleaning
The use of tap water requires the users to clean the steamer again and again. The use of distilled water does not require frequent cleaning. Still, the users must always keep the steamer clean from the inside. For that, a solution of vinegar and distilled water must get added to the steamer. Then the steamer must get turned ON for the vinegar solution to reach every inner part where the human finger cannot. Finally, the users must empty the steamer.
- Distilled Water
Distilled water gets considered to be the best stuffing for a steamer. After regular water that contains impurities is heated and covered by a vessel. Vapor starts getting accumulated in the form of pure water on the surface above water. The water that gets formed is called distilled water. Thus, distilled water remains free from impurities.
- Filtered Water
The use of filtered water depends much on the minerals present in the tap water because it is a filtered form of tap water. The water purifiers or filters take tap water as input, perform filtration or purification processes, and provide a comparatively better water quality as output. Many water purifiers use chemicals. However, one must not depend on them as they do not get 100% metal-free. Filtered water does contain a large number of heavy metals. Thus, the usage of filtered water must get avoided for the steamers.
- Bottled Water
Bottled water is the cheaper form of soft water. It gets sourced from rain, wells, reservoirs, and other related sources with contaminated water. Companies often apply different layers of filtration on this type of water, but bottled water still cannot get considered to be healthy for the human body. Similarly, it is not free from heavy metals. Thus, it must not get used in a steamer.
- Vinegar
It acts as a natural disinfectant. It is acidic and removes bacteria. Vinegar gets mainly used for cleaning the steamer itself. It can get used for cleaning, disinfecting, and making the kitchen countertops odorless. But, vinegar must not get used on stone floor tiles, stubborn stains, irons, and hardwood floors. Also, users must know the exact amount of vinegar to get added with water (mostly distilled) before using it for cleaning. It can help the users get rid of grease and removable stains. Instead of cleaning, vinegar can remove the glue from the vinyl plank floors and the coating from the wooden materials.
Types Of Steamers
The following steamers get differentiated according to their uses:
- Food Steamers
The users must add normal temperature water and the food items to get cooked in the food steamer. The steamer will do further work by boiling water. Users must then take their boiled stuff when it gets ready. Food steamers mainly get used in hotels, restaurants, parties, and other related events. They do not require much amount of electricity and are reusable and budget-friendly.
- Garment Steamers
A garment steamer can get used as an alternative for the traditional irons. It mostly gets used for delicate and soft fabric because it relaxes the wrinkles and removes possible stains. This article mainly talks about garment steamers.
- Facial Steamers
Human skin has a positive charge, and a facial steamer contains negatively charged ions. Thus, when the facial steamer throws hot water on the face, it gets deep down into the skin. Generally, the facial steamers maintain the hot water temperature at 40 degrees Celcius. Only distilled water get suitable for such steamers.
- Multi-purpose Steamers
As the name suggests, they get used for a wide range of applications. They heat up quickly, are not noisy, and do not fade away clothing color. One appliance can get used for many rooms in the house.
- Steam Mops
A steam mop acts as a mop to wipe off regular stains and a steamer to apply hot water on stubborn stains. But, their mop pads get dirty with ease if the floor contains a lot of mud, litter, and hair. Thus, the users must vacuum the floor before using steam mops.
- Handheld Steamers
Handheld steamers are light, portable, comfortable, and can reach difficult areas. They remove mites, dirt, debris, bacteria, bugs, and viruses. They can get used for cleaning the corners of the bathrooms, toilets, ceilings, floors, furniture, cars, and more. However, they might not offer help for cleaning large areas.
Conclusion
The chemicals emitted by the steamers due to the contaminated water inside them are dangerous for themselves. They are also harmful to the people, environment, and other things around them. Steamers are easy to use and maintain, and different types of steamers possess different rules. Users must get careful while handling and managing them. They must understand which apparatus is better for what kind of work.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Is A Steam Vaporizer?
Answer:
A steam vaporizer takes water and electricity and heats the water to emit water vapor. It not only enters facial pores but also goes down the inhalation track. Thus, the users may add the juices of medicinal plants or other related medicines as suggested by the doctors. It eliminates irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat, allergies, cough, and cold. Thus, it comes to hand during sickness.
- What Are The Different Stores In America That Sell Steamers?
Answer:
The stores in the United States that sell the steamers include Target, Amazon, Walmart, Rowenta, Jiffy Steamers, and more.
- What Is The Difference Between A Steamer And An Iron?
Answer:
A steamer is more flexible than iron. Users must have an ironing board to spray water on the clothes and iron them. Iron has more chances of burning someone’s hand than a steamer. Iron must get handled with care according to the instructions while handling delicate materials because it comes in direct contact with the clothes than a steamer. The temperature of the iron can get adjusted by humans with ease.
