Expert Steam Cleaning Advice from Iwan Carrington
Expert steam cleaning advice from Iwan Carrington
Cleaning expert Iwan Carrington shares five ways to get more from your steam cleaner, from tackling suitable car interiors to refreshing upholstery. His tips focus on reducing reliance on cleaning products, caring for belongings and choosing the right attachments and techniques. Always check surface suitability and your steam cleaner’s instructions before use.
Introduction
Have you just bought a steam cleaner and you’re unsure on where to start? Or are you considering picking one up but you want to be sure you’ll use it regularly? We’re here to give you 5 tips from our cleaning expert Iwan Carrington on how to use your steam cleaner in ways you might not have thought about yet.
Want more inspiration? Check out our steam hub for more tips and tricks or follow us on Instagram @beldrayuk for regular steam cleaning inspiration. Now, let’s dive into Iwan’s top tips.
1. Swap the cleaning cupboard for steam
Iwan Carrington’s first tip is to reduce the amount of cleaning products you own and use and replace them with a steam cleaner. Many cleaning products and solutions are only good for one area and can contain harmful or toxic chemicals. Replacing these single-purpose cleaning solutions with steam will save you money and space in the long run.
Iwan says cleaning with steam is “a great way to challenge the ‘one product per task’ mindset. Instead of reaching for a different bottle for each job, ask yourself whether water and heat could tackle it. For suitable surfaces, steam can be a incredibly effective method, helping you to cut down on the number of cleaning products you use around your home.”
2. Think beyond the kitchen and bathroom
We’re big fans of using a steam cleaner across the home to clean and sanitise tiles, grout, sinks and more, but did you know you can also use steam outside the home? Iwan’s advice is as follows.
"Take a steamer out to the car to tackle suitable hard surfaces and those fiddly areas where dirt collects such as cup holders, blast debris from dirty suitcase wheels before putting them away or clean your windows and exterior doors for a fantastic finish”.
— Iwan Carrington
Additionally, Iwan advises to think outside the cleaning box by using the steamers for garments and upholstery too. Using a steamer to refresh clothes instead of popping it in the wash is a great way to reduce unnecessary washing and extend the lifespan of your clothes.
3. Refresh rather than replace
Similarly to steaming clothes rather than excessively washing them, Iwan advises regularly steaming sofas, mattresses and rugs to keep them fresh and give them a new lease of life. Steam can help lift the pile on suitable rugs that have lost their bounce as well as remove odours and bacteria on upholstery.
‘Looking after what we already own rather than replacing with new is one of the easiest ways we can be more sustainable’- Iwan Carrington, cleaning expert.
4. Remember the power of water before adding another cleaning product
The best way to fully utilise your steam cleaner is by considering whether steam can replace a cleaning task you currently use a chemical product for. As an example, Iwan uses steam to clean his cat's stainless steel litter trays, where he previously used a fragranced cleaning product.
His 5th and final tip ties in with tip 4, which is to
5. Use the right tool, not more product.
"If something isn't coming up clean, I change the tool or technique before reaching for another chemical cleaning product" says Iwan. By reducing the number of products in your cleaning caddy you can free up space and save money in the long run. Iwan further points out that while it might be tempting to use a lot of cleaning product in areas such as the toilet rim, steam can kill 99.99% of bacteria on household surfaces, making it an ideal way to clean heavy-duty areas.
Conclusion
Ultimately, what it comes down is that there is no right or wrong way to use a steam cleaner. As long as you have checked that the surface you’re looking to clean can be steamed, the best way to approach it is by just giving it a go. Use Iwan’s top tips and our steam hub as inspiration and discover your favourite way to steam clean!