I’ve had a Haan Steam Mop for several years and I absolutely love using it on my tile floors! Gone are the days of dragging out a big bucket of water to mop the floor. I’ve never used my steam cleaner for anything other than tile, but I recently came across some great ideas for putting it to work on an amazing array of other things! A standard steam mop, like the one pictured above, should work for a lot of the tips you’ll find below. However, I have also read some amazing reviews of the HomeRight SteamMachine. It has lots of attachments for all kinds of different cleaning jobs. After writing this post, I may just have to order one! :-)
More Ideas You'll Love
Before we get into the rest of the post, I wanted to give a few words of caution for using a steam cleaner…
- Do not use a steam cleaner on painted walls, waxed or polished items, unsealed floors (hardwood, cork, unglazed tile), musical instruments, nylon mesh screens or antiques.
- Don’t linger too long on wood or any painted surfaces to avoid distorting or staining the item.
- Only use a steam cleaner on wood if the finish is polyurethane-based.
- If you have hard water, use distilled water in your steamer.
Clean Tile and Grout
I wish I had known this trick when working on my how to clean grout post a couple of weeks ago! Get the instructions from Lindsay at Makely School for Girls.
Dust Your Ceiling Fan
This job is even easier if your steamer has a long arm attachment! Get all the dust off ceiling fans without having to drag out a ladder.
Disinfect Doorknobs & Light Switches
This is a quick and easy job with the help of a steam cleaner!
Clean Grills
More Ideas You'll Love
I did a post a couple of years ago about how to clean your grill without chemicals but this method looks even faster than mine! Get the instructions from Matt & Jacque at The DIY Village.
Clean Patio Furniture
Use a steam cleaner to get dirt, grime, bird poop etc. off of patio furniture. You can even use it on upholstered patio furniture and umbrellas.
Clean and Disinfect Wire Pet Cages
Steam gunk and grime off of wire pet cages. Much easier than having to haul them outside to rinse with a hose!
Clean the Entire Kitchen
You can use a steamer to do just about every cleaning job you can imagine in the kitchen! Don’t forget to hit up the bathroom as well. Get the instructions from Jenna at Rain on a Tin Roof.
Clean Your Car Engine and Tire Rims
More Ideas You'll Love
Use a steam cleaner to degrease your car engine and tire rims.
Dust Baseboards
This is one of my most dreaded cleaning tasks! Now I’m dying to try cleaning my baseboards with a steam cleaner.
Clean and Disinfect Toilets and the Surrounding Area
Raising three boys has taught me just how dirty a toilet can get! I love the idea of the getting the toilet clean and disinfected with a steam cleaner. Get the instructions from Beckie at Infarrantly Creative.
Remove Hard Water & Limescale from Faucets
So much easier than scrubbing forever to remove lime deposits! Can’t wait to try this on my jetted tub.
Steam Wrinkles Out Of Clothing
Just be sure to check the label on your clothing to ensure that a hot blast of steam won’t ruin the fabric.
Clean a Mattress
Such a genius idea to clean something that is impossible to wash any other way! Get the instructions from Stacy at Not Just a Housewife.
Clean & Disinfect Toys
Get rid of nasty germs on toys and stuffed animals.
Clean High Chairs, Car Seats, Strollers Etc.
Heaven only knows what kind of grime ends up on any of those items! A steam clean can tackle it all.
Detail Car Upholstery
Getting car upholstery professionally detailed can be very expensive! This is a money-saving and effective way to DIY. Get the instructions from Discount Queens.
Clean the Inside of the Refrigerator, Dishwasher, Washing Machine & Dryer
I’ve written posts in the past about how to clean all of those things but never thought about steam cleaning them!
Clean & Disinfect Garbage Cans
What a great way to get all the nasty gunk out of the bottom of your garbage can!
Remove Wallpaper
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the words “easy” and “wallpaper” in the same sentence! Removing wallpaper can be a total pain but this tutorial makes it look so easy. Get the instructions from Kristin at Bliss at Home.
Clean & Remove Wrinkles from Curtains
I always hate having to take down my curtains to wash and iron them! With a steam cleaner you can clean and remove wrinkles with the curtains still hanging. This same technique would work on bedding that comes out of the package super wrinkly.
Remove Gunk from Corners, Cracks & Creases
If you have a steamer with a detail attachment you can use it to clean just about any hard-to-reach spot!
Wash Windows
This method would work on sliding glass doors and mirrors as well! Don’t forget to use the steam cleaner to get all the grime out of the window tracks as well. Be sure not to use this method on cold glass, as the steam may cause it to crack. Get the instructions from Anna at Ask Anna.
Defrost Your Freezer
Quickly defrost a freezer with the help of a steam cleaner.
Clean Upholstery
Easily remove dirt and stains from upholstered furniture with a little steam.
Clean the Oven
I thought my ammonia method was the easiest way to clean an oven but this method looks just as effective and a little less smelly. Get the instructions from Jenn at Clean and Scentsible.
Dust Faux Plants
I’ve never found an easy way to dust faux plants and flowers but this might be just what I’ve been looking for!
Clean Carpet and Rugs
I always use my steam cleaner on my tile floors but never thought to use it on my areas rugs. Get the instructions from Laura at HomeRight.
Clean Garden Tools
Get rid of caked-on dirt on garden tools and leave them sparkling clean!
Ice & Water Dispenser
After I saw these instructions I was a bit horrified at all the grime that gets stuck in the ice and water dispenser! Yuck! Get the instructions from Steph at Crafting in the Rain.
Clean and Disinfect Pet Beds
Many pet beds are too large to fit in a home washing machine. A steam cleaner would be a great way to clean and disinfect them without having to haul them to a laundromat.
Do you have any other creatives uses for your steam cleaner?
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Cleaning Homekeeping