How To Clean My Little Steamer

Cleaning the little steamer or fabric steamer time by time maximizes its capacity. The steps for cleaning the fabric steamer are not necessarily complex. In fact, these are taken from first-hand and basic experiences. 

A little steamer/fabric steamer is constantly exposed to mineral buildup from water. By its texture alone, a fabric steamer is instantly seen as a strong absorber. At times, it filters absorbed particles to release them again as active elements. You will know when it is time to clean the steamer when it fails to release steam. 

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Here are quick steps on how to clean my little steamer :

1. Remove All Water from the Steamer

You cannot begin cleaning with excess water or even moisture inside your steamer’s reservoir. Pour them all out. Some steamers have drain valves while most do not. For the steamers without a drain valve, you will simply have to open its tap to manually pour excess water out. 

2. Clean the Steamer’s Reservoir with Vinegar & Water

With the reservoir open, pour in a mixture of white vinegar and water (one glass vinegar; two glasses of water). Once the mixture has been poured in, close the reservoir tightly.

Turn the steamer on to observe its steam behavior. Now, be mindful of the density of the steam it emits. If it happens to yield the right amount/density of steam, then you are done cleaning. If not, you are to proceed with the next step. 

3. Turn Off & Unplug the Steamer with the Vinegar Mixture Inside

Another reason that your steamer is still not delivering ample steam is the overwhelming air traffic within the wand’s lining. Turn off and unplug the steamer to clear it all up. 

At this point, you can pour in a few drops of the same vinegar mixture. Then, you can proceed in diluting the solution by shaking the steamer sideways in a circular motion. 

Leave the solution inside the steamer for the next 30 minutes. This process facilitates faster absorption of the solution by the reservoir wall. Bearing the perfect timing, calcified minerals are expected to meet by the next few counts. 

Also, the 30-minute duration urges the solution to cool. When that happens, the melted mineral particles cool with it too. So, it would be easier to get rid of the calcified minerals in the given condition.

4. Repeat the Process with new Vinegar Mixture each Time

Pour the mixture out then turn the steamer on. If the result still ends up underwhelming, you will have to repeat the same process with a new vinegar mixture each time. 

Do not lose faith when the next time you try it on, the same result appears. Keep in mind that cleaning the steamer is a meticulous undertaking and that you are dealing with mineral buildups. That should take time. 

Patience is indeed a virtue in this kind of effort. If you are to repeat the process 3-4 times, then do it.

5. Rinse the Reservoir with Clean Water

Suppose the final result takes place and the tool is finally steaming well, proceed with the next step:

• First, pour out the last vinegar mixture. 
• Second, rinse the reservoir with clean water. 
• Third, shake the steamer. 
• Fourth, repeat the same process 3-4 times.
• Fifth, empty the reservoir one last time.
• Lastly, turn the steamer on until the last drop of water evaporates. 

6. Leave Reservoir Open to Dry

The drying process proves to be the trickiest part yet. While it may sound easy, the drying process actually requires full attention and perfect timing. 

Now, as you open the reservoir to air-dry, make sure you are placing it in a non-humid environment. If you fail to secure this, you will otherwise end up with a still-moist reservoir. 

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If that happens, you are then bound to repeat the whole process from the beginning as high-humidity in space causes water minerals to build up quickly again.

Carelessly allowing this to happen several times in a row eventually damages your steamer. So if you are now on the verge of air-drying your steamer, think again. Are you setting the right space for it? Is it not detrimental to the tool’s improvement? 

These are a few of the questions you are to bother yourself with. 

Benefits of Using a Little/Fabric Steamer & Why Cleaning it is Important

Steaming your clothes, unlike ironing them, is known to yield better results. Experts believe that although ironing came first, steaming should have been preferred for a lot of reasons. 

What is Steaming?

Steaming is a popular alternative for ironing. It is also known as an effective means for curing wrinkles in the fabric. Steaming does not require much space and energy as it needs only water and an actual device to function. Ultimately, it does not take much time to put up. 

For that, it should be ten times more hassle-free than ironing. Albeit some disadvantages, steaming still reigns as the most practical means of straightening garments.

Here are 7 benefits of using little/fabric steamer :

1. It is Safe & Gentle

Not only is it safe for the cloth, but it is also safe for you. Consequently, a fabric steamer utilizes the least heat to steam out. As a result, it minimizes the occurrence of burns on your cloth and hand. 

Unlike an ironing tool, the steamer does not make you feel cautious of certain areas as it does not store heat in its body. In fact, the main logic of the steamer is to release heat, hence the name. 

The steamer proves gentle on all types of cloth as it focuses mainly on straightening wrinkles. It does not press with excessive heat that potentially damages your clothing quality. 

2. It is Chemical-Free

Why it needs only water to function. So, it should be 100% chemical-free. The core process of a fabric steamer is to heat up water, release steam and distribute these particles into the fabric details for smoothening.

Without the presence of chemicals, the steamer is certified non-pollutant. Furthermore, it is even beneficial to the environment as it renews water particles, sort of conditioning it. 

3. It Rids Allergens and Pathogens from Cloth

Because it uses mainly water, it easily captures, traps and removes allergens/pathogens present in the fabric surface. Helped further by a pressurized flow of moisture, the steamer straight-out cleans the fabric, lest the air. 

4. It Straightens Wrinkles in Cloth

The steamer does what iron does, but utilizing only water and tempered heat. Deeper into its process lies a very basic and practical motion: to relax the cloth’s fabric by laying water into it. 

With an active molecule (activated by the steaming process), water droplets easily absorb into the fabric, softening it to its original form. 

5. It Rids the Cloth of Bacteria & Odor

One of the main agents of odor in your cloth is the buildup of bacteria. These bacteria thrive from the penetrated sweat in the fabric. 

Now, since the water droplets distributed by the steamer have activated molecules, they easily dry out, but not without trapping bacteria with them. 

6. It Also Works on Furnishings in the Home

Perhaps one of the best reasons why people prefer the steaming process is the fact it works not only for clothes but for home furnishings as well– pillows, blankets, etc. 

It is usually conflicting when despite your desire to iron some of them, some furnishings are just not meant for ironing. The immediate consequences of ironing linens include loose-threads, weakened fabric, and aggravated creases. 

Besides safely straightening the creases in the furnishings, a steaming process also kills bacteria in the fabric, further freshening it anew.

7. It is Fairly Light & Simple

The most immediate reason people resort to steaming is the fact that it’s light and simple. 

It is the right process for people on the go. Nevertheless, it does not consume much electric energy to function. In turn, it tends to be light and portable too. 

Imagine packing an iron in your traveling bag. Nope. That should already feel tiring just by the sound of it. And, that is not the case with the little/fabric steamer.

How to Pick the Perfect Fabric Steamer:

Picking the perfect fabric steamer is doubling the pleasure. By all means, it is a highly necessary pick and buys the best one. While the best and/or perfect steamer is priceless, it still warrants a calculative buying demeanor. 

The industry of little/fabric steamer is fairly impressive. It seems extremely little to no reports of poorly-performing steamers. By the looks of it, there are hardly any instances that fabric steamers, regardless of the brand and model, underperform. 

Still, you ought to choose well. Here’s how to pick the perfect fabric steamer:

Performance Ratings

First thing’s first. Read all the reviews about the product you are buying. Then, process these questions in your mind before you decide to buy that one:

• Does this heat up quickly?
• Does it have a wider water reservoir?
• Is it a low-maintenance model?
• Is it durable?
• Does it release/produce ample steam output?
• Does it have safety features?

Price Conditions

Be practical. However, do not be too confident with cheaper ones. After all, the price does not matter that much. If there’s room for negotiation somewhere (between your budget and the overall advantage of the steamer), then go for it. 

Remember that there’s always a trade-in for this stuff. If you are tight on a budget but are eyeing for the perfect steamer, reconsider your priorities. Go for the fairer trade. 

Steamer Type

To choose well by this context, you ought to inform yourself with its two major types– travel and home steamer. 

The travel steamer, while not strictly intended for travelling, comes in handy whenever you’re on the go. The home type, on the one hand, tends to be strict on the for-home-only-use. Why? Because it has a more limited potential compared to the handier travel steamer. 

Features & Attachments

Know the right features and attachments for your needs. You simply cannot be swayed by a steamer with all the attachments. You might not know it, but excessive attachments might instead hinder the steamer’s basic function. 

Some important attachments/features that you can set your eye on include the collapsibility of the handles, efficiency of the heat controls, safety features, brushes, reservoir, etc. 

Energy Usage 

Always make it a habit to look into the wattage capacity of the steamer you are choosing. Although most steamers don’t go beyond the standard wattage requirement, one just had to be sure. 

Besides, you cannot just dismiss the need for matching the wattage with the operation output you are expecting. At the end of the day, a few calculations here and there could make your life perfect. 

Important Things to Remember When Using a Steamer:

Besides cleaning your little/fabric steamer, the care of the tool is also realized through proper use. Proper use yields the best result. One cannot be too sure about it. 

So here are important things to remember when using  a steamer:

1. Let the steamer heat up

Allow the steam to heat up to determine its full potential. This should clear up once and for all the confusing occurrence of steam marks. 

2. Steam fabrics in a vertical, upright position

Water, in this case, shall have to be guided to flow down, not across the fabric. An absolute downflow not only softens the fabric but also trains it to resist wrinkles in the future. So, this warrants more as an investment. 

Another useful tip is to hang the garment to loosen its fabric and to allow condensed water to trickle down. More so, an upright position-to-downflow allows smooth traffic in the steamer’s hose.

3. Use the steam head in removing the creases on the fabric; do it very lightly

Do not exert much pressure when touching the fabric with the seam head. The ventilated flow of the steam speeds up the softening process. In some cases, fabric conditioners are even added to the water. But if you do it right in this case, you won’t be needing the conditioner. 

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Conclusion

Steaming via the little/fabric steamers proves to be more effective than ironing. In addition to that, it’s also safer. 

The two best means of maintaining the steamer’s quality is by cleaning it when it needs one and by using it properly. 

Cleaning the little steamer or fabric steamer time by time maximizes its capacity. The steps for cleaning the fabric steamer are not necessarily complex. In fact, the tips on how to clean a fabric steamer taken from first-hand and basic experiences. 

Properly using/operating the steamer both protects the device and the hand controlling the device. Although it’s safer than iron, it can still potentially burn the user’s skin as it utilizes heat to function.