Everyone in this era is wondering whether steam cleaning can kill viruses or not. People have concerns about steam cleaning. They are dubious about using it as a positive alternative to get rid of viruses and pathogens and disinfect the house, especially if anyone in your home is already in self-isolation.
While cleaning companies profess that steam cleaning can kill 99.99% of germs and bugs, the question remains; does steam cleaning kill viruses? Heat and steam are always known to kill bacteria, germs, and viruses. We have gathered all the facts to provide you with a detailed guide. But before getting down to the article must check our top recommendations for the best steam cleaner for allergies and the best floor steam cleaners.
Does Steam Cleaning Kill Viruses at Home?
The crucial requirement is the sterilization of objects contaminated with the virus or suspected to be contaminated. High-temperature steam is already being used in hospitals in autoclaves to sterilize medical equipment under controlled settings. The extremely high-temperature steam damages the outer layer or exterior and destroys the viruses. But is it effective to use steam cleaning at home to get rid of the fatal Coronavirus?
Researchers are split on steam cleaning being used to kill Coronavirus at home. Some believe home-based steam cleaning solutions aren’t as effective in terms of intensity, pressure, and heat to ensure coronavirus safety. Others claim that it can work along with soap and water as an added protection layer.
Dr. Keith Armitage suggests that high temperatures of steam can kill all kinds of viruses, and they cannot survive harsh weather conditions.
Factors That Influence Steam Cleaning
Two important factors can significantly influence the effectiveness of steam cleaning to kill the Coronavirus.
- i) Duration
- ii) Intensity of steam/heat
Yes, the research has suggested that steam should have a high temperature and high pressure. At least three minutes of constant heat ranging from 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit is needed to ensure the pathway is cleaned from Coronavirus. The less intense the steam is, the more time it may require to kill the virus.
How Does Steam Cleaning Work?
Steam cleaning involves water being heated at a high temperature, which is then released at high pressure in a particular direction. This steam melts the dust and grime layer on any surface and makes cleaning easier. It’s not just the dirt that steam cleaners deal with; the high heat bursts the outer layer of viruses and makes them inactive. Almost all viruses are susceptible to heat, and Coronavirus is no different.
The Coronavirus is an enveloped virus. The outer layer is a thin membrane of the fatty layer, which is vulnerable to soaps, disinfectants, heat, and steam. The high-temperature steam kills bed bugs, bacteria, viruses, and dust mites and stops the spread by killing their eggs. As a result, it disinfects floors and other surfaces from all the beasts that can’t be seen.
Why is Steam Cleaning Better?
As opposed to vigorous chemical cleaning, odors, and fumes coming from brute chemicals, steam cleaning is an alternative eco-friendly approach. It can clean almost all types of surfaces like windows, walls, floors, curtains, upholstery, and bathrooms where grimes of dirt and viruses are clinging to the surface.
Chemical cleaning also has health hazards and is not suitable for people who are susceptible to allergic reactions; in that case, steam cleaners are the next appropriate option.
Moreover, steam cleaning isn’t only used in homes; it can also reach the grime and dust in the small crevices of your car where other cleaning methods can’t reach. It can also disinfect boats and motorcycles to ensure safety.
The Versatility of Steam Cleaning
Steam Cleaners are multi-purpose tools. They go all the way from melting the grime or dust to killing any bacteria or virus beneath the layers of grime, which would be hard to reach otherwise.
Moreover, steam cleaners are effective on bathroom fixtures, countertops, hardwood floors, tiles, doorknobs, kitchen sides, and other diverse surfaces. Overall, a great tool to disinfect floors. It even goes to clean and disinfect where bleach wipes and chemical sprays are not recommended, like bed mattresses, upholstery, and soft furnishings.
Does Steam Cleaner Stop Bed Bugs Infestation?
With the steam cleaner’s power to release steam at a lethal temperature, it can effectively kill bed bugs. The steam can go ¾ inches deep into the surfaces and cracks and manage to kill under-the-table bedbugs. Additionally, exposure to heat ranging from 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit also kills their eggs, which can successfully stop further infestation.
Our Recommendation!
In the pandemic crises, where business opportunists are rushing to serve the consumers, and Amazon’s list is filled with thousands of steam cleaners’ suggestions, it is hard to find a reliable solution to kill the virus, bacteria, and germs. Our recommendation is Mcculloch MC 1385 which is a heavy-duty steam cleaner with the power to burst, stubborn dirt and stains, bed bugs, and carpet allergies. Mcculloch can deal with the toughest germs and deliver remarkable results.
The messier stove tops darkened grout, and small awkward spaces in the bathroom are no match to the Mcculloch’s capability to clean surfaces without harming them. It’s durable, and sleek, and has multiple attachments and a large tank reservoir to fill with water. We recommend this powerful Mcculloch steam cleaner if you are wary of allergens and harsh chemicals.
Bottom Line!
While warm water, soap, bleach, and EPA-approved disinfectants are front-line warriors against Covid-19, steam cleaners have also joined the fight against the virus. The steam cleaning method has been used for ages to kill pathogens, and its power was unchallenged, but Covid-19 has tested its potential to the fullest. While hospital-grade steam cleaners can effectively disinfect the equipment, you can still use home-based cleaners to add the security layer to disinfect the house from the virus.
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