| Copyright (c) 2007 The Janitorial Store | | | | * Vapor cleaning kills mold spores in |
| | | | bathrooms and kitchens. |
| Are you looking for a way to clean that | | | | |
| involves less elbow grease? Are you looking | | | | * Because vapor cleaning uses only water, |
| for a healthier way to clean? Have you | | | | there is no chemical residue left behind |
| considered switching to vapor steam cleaning? | | | | after cleaning. |
| Vapor steam cleaning is a unique cleaning | | | | |
| method that uses high temperature (240 to 280 | | | | * Less physical effort is needed, meaning |
| degrees), water vapor, and pressure to clean, | | | | less burnout by your employees. |
| sanitize and deodorize in one easy operation. | | | | |
| Although these systems have been around since | | | | Advanced Vapor Technologies, which makes |
| the 1970s, the early models were expensive | | | | several models of steam vapor cleaning |
| and cumbersome. Models of steam vapor | | | | systems, recently worked with the cleaning |
| machines on the market today are lighter, | | | | staff at the University of Washington. One of |
| easier to use, and affordable. | | | | the daunting tasks that staff has is to clean |
| | | | a 123,312 square foot library, which is open |
| How does the cleaning process work? Steam | | | | 24 hours a day. Technical specialists from |
| vapor machines heat tap water to an extremely | | | | Advanced Vapor Technologies trained custodial |
| high temperature so the water forms a fine, | | | | workers on the use of their Mondo Vap 2400 |
| dry mist. There is no need to use chemicals | | | | steam vapor cleaning system. They conducted a |
| in the cleaning process - the heat actually | | | | six-week test to determine the effectiveness |
| does the cleaning for you. The water is | | | | of the equipment. |
| placed in a sealed boiler and heated until it | | | | |
| gets to the right temperature. This usually | | | | The equipment was well received by the staff |
| takes about 25 minutes until the system is | | | | who noted that the extension handle made |
| ready to use. | | | | cleaning hard-to-reach areas - such as behind |
| | | | toilets and urinals - much easier. Using the |
| It is the dry steam that dislodges soil and | | | | equipment took no more time than the |
| stains. The high temperature softens grease | | | | traditional methods of cleaning and there was |
| and oils that make soil stick to surfaces. | | | | a higher degree of cleanliness and reduced |
| The steam also gets into those hard to clean | | | | drying time. The risk of cross contamination |
| areas - sliding door tracks, window sills, | | | | was also minimized since no dirty mop water |
| and the nooks and crannies that can be | | | | or mops were used throughout the restrooms. |
| difficult to clean. Once the pressure of the | | | | If cleaning staff faced tough soils, they |
| steam dislodges soil, grease and debris, it | | | | pretreated with a non-VOC solution before |
| is wiped or vacuumed away. The surface is | | | | using the steam vapor system. This process |
| left not only clean, but sanitized. The high | | | | proved to be more efficient than either steam |
| temperatures used in the cleaning process not | | | | or chemicals used alone. |
| only cleans, but also kill germs and | | | | |
| bacteria. | | | | You can use the machines to clean floors, |
| | | | walls, ceilings, windows, carpet, kitchens, |
| Vapor steam systems use as little as 1 - 1 | | | | bathrooms, blinds, glass, and upholstery. |
| � quarts of water per hour. This is | | | | Because of the heat of the steam, the systems |
| because the vapor is created at a high | | | | are not practical for surfaces that are heat |
| temperature with very low moisture content. | | | | sensitive - such as silks, some thin |
| The vapor contains only 5 or 6% water, so | | | | plastics, and some types of velour |
| there is less mess and surfaces dry quickly, | | | | upholstery. |
| usually in 15 minutes. Safety concerns of | | | | |
| using steam are slight, as the temperature of | | | | Steam vapor systems are available for both |
| the steam drops dramatically as it leaves the | | | | residential and commercial use. Residential |
| machine and merges with the surrounding air. | | | | systems start out with a price tag of around |
| | | | $400. Commercial systems run from $1600 to |
| The overall benefits of using a vapor | | | | $3200. |
| cleaning system include: | | | | |
| | | | Although steam vapor systems have been around |
| * Equipment is easy to use and has great | | | | for many years, the first models were |
| accessibility. Steam vapor units can reach | | | | cumbersome, expensive and ineffective. Models |
| into those small spaces and corners that | | | | that have been introduced in the last couple |
| traditional cleaning methods have a hard time | | | | of years are efficient, compact, easy to use, |
| reaching. | | | | and affordable. With the continued interest |
| | | | in green cleaning, the investment in a steam |
| *As no chemicals are used, there is a benefit | | | | vapor system is one way to decrease the use |
| to indoor air quality. In addition, it | | | | of chemicals while still ensuring that you |
| reduces the risks and hazards that come with | | | | have a high degree of cleanliness. New |
| chemical use, and there is no chemical | | | | technologies can be tough to incorporate into |
| residue left after the cleaning process. | | | | your existing cleaning protocol, but a steam |
| | | | vapor cleaning system can be an easy and |
| * Vapor systems are great for carpet spot | | | | profitable adjustment for your cleaning |
| removal. | | | | company. |
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