Vacuuming vs. Steam Cleaning A
Car – What’s Better?
No matter how you use your car, its cabin inevitably gets soiled and dirty over time. There are different contaminants that can affect the interior of your car, such as dust, dirt, pollen, food, pet stains and odors, and many others.
Most vehicle owners regularly vacuum their car interior, at home or at a detail car wash, but the efficacy of this cleaning method is limited. In the last years, auto detailing shops have included steam cleaning into their routine services, with excellent outcomes and at affordable costs. Steam cleaning has brought a whole new standard of car interior cleaning, ensuring results that cannot be obtained through traditional vacuuming. Let’s find out what each cleaning method implies and when each is recommended!
What Are Vacuuming and Steam Cleaning
Vacuuming is a cleaning procedure we are all familiar with. It involves using suction to whisk away dirt and store it for disposal. The vacuum cleaner is a true household hero whose applications extend far beyond our homes, enabling us among others to keep our car interiors clean. This appliance, found in almost every home, uses an electric motor that spins a fan and sucks in air, with all the small particles caught up in it. The dirt stays in a bag or canister for later disposal, and the air is evacuated through an exhaust port venting it to the other side.
Steam cleaning is an entirely different process. First of all, it is considered a greener option because it delivers results without using chemicals, but just the mere power of steam. The surge of vapor helps to loosen grime and kill germs at the same time.
How does steam cleaning work? Water is heated past the boiling point and forced out through a nozzle as pressurized steam.
The question is – what happens with the dirt dislodged through steam cleaning? The simplest yet not so effective method is wiping the dirt with a cloth. Fortunately, there are steam cleaners that also employ a suction mechanism to remove the cleaning fluid and dirt, combining the amazing benefits of both vacuuming and steam cleaning!
Advantages of Steam Cleaning Your Car Interior
While vacuuming is only effective at extracting loose dirt and dust from your car, it will not kill germs or eliminate stains. Steam cleaning is a compulsory part of a full auto spa and it delivers the following benefits:
No Need To Use Harsh Chemicals
Cleaning products that deliver results similar to those of steam cleaning can be harsh and potentially harmful to your health. At Stuey’s Green Auto Clean we recommend steam cleaning as the most effective and greenest method for car seat cleaning and cabin cleaning. Even if we use cleaning solutions, we limit our options to EPA-certified products only, as these are subject to strict regulation and deemed safer for the environment and human health.
Steam Penetrates Deep Into Upholstery
Vacuum cleaners are able to extract dirt from surfaces only, while steam penetrates upholstery deeper and in places that are hard to reach.
Steam Softens and Loosens Up Dirt
Vacuuming does a great job at removing dirt that is already loose, but what about a stain that has already settled in? Or very stubborn grime? Steam cleaners only use water and electricity to clean and the high temperature of the steam is powerful enough to dislodge hardened dirt and treat stains properly.
Delivers Excellent Results In Hidden Spots
Steam cleaning can be used on a variety of surfaces. When it comes to your car interior, you can apply it to virtually any area that is not sensitive to high temperature: upholstery, windows, cup holders, door jambs and trims, consoles and dashboards, door panels, ventilation systems, carpets, not to mention auto body or under the hood. By using the right attachment or nozzle, you can apply steam to spots that are hard to reach, thus making sure your cabin is as clean as possible.
Is Cost-Effective and Easy to Perform
Unlike other cleaning methods that employ chemicals, steam cleaning comes at a lower cost because you don’t have to regularly purchase cleaning solutions. There is no rubbing or scrubbing involved, so you will probably drop no sweat while you steam clean your car. It’s definitely an enjoyable process if you like taking care of your car and maintaining it at home.
What Goes Into Car Interior Cleaning At A Detail Car Wash
Both vacuuming and steam cleaning are important in car cleaning and auto detailing. The efficiency of steam cleaning does not render vacuuming obsolete rather it completes it and allows you to obtain the best results.
At our auto detailing shop we offer the following services as part of car interior cleaning: Car Seat Cleaning and Shampoo, Carpet and Mat Cleaning, Plastic and Trim Cleaning, Trunk Cleaning, Headliner Cleaning, Interior Glass Cleaning, and Odor Removal, using steam cleaning whenever it is possible, depending on surfaces to be treated.
Looking for a full-service car wash near me? Look no further than Stuey’s Green Auto Clean for full auto detailing services!
