Steam cleaning is an amazingly versatile cleaning method. It’s a great way to clean almost everything in your Tujunga home, whether your carpets, tiles or even walls. It’s an effective way to remove stains and kill bacteria and other harmful particles.

But there are times when getting a Tujunga steam cleaning is not safe for the object being cleaned. When do you know when to stop steam cleaning? What can steam not clean?

Porous Surfaces

Porous surfaces don’t react to steam cleaning very well. The porous areas trap moisture that will have a hard time evaporating. This encourages mold growth. On top of that, some porous surfaces are too delicate to handle extreme heat. Something like cardboard will warp after a steam cleaning.

Porous surfaces include stucco, brick, bamboo, cardboard, cork, wood, and anything with cracks.

Unsealed Surfaces

Unsealed surfaces generally have the same problems as porous surfaces. In fact, unsealed stone surfaces are porous and are very good at trapping moisture after cleaning. And unsealed hardwood will warp under the heat. If you have flooring that needs cleaning, you should have it sealed as soon as possible.

Unsealed surfaces include concrete, marble, hardwood, limestone, stone. You may encounter these suitcases when you are cleaning tile and grout.

Certain Finishes

Steam cleaning is designed to remove stains and blemishes, and as a result, sometimes paints and decorations can run as well. Plenty of painted walls and furniture can handle steam cleaning fine, but you should be wary of water-based paints before applying a steam cleaning machine. On top of that, steam cleaning machines can remove wallpaper very effectively.

Water-based paints include acrylic or latex. All wallpaper should be avoided.

Delicate Fabrics

Steam cleaning involves a lot of heat and pressure, and delicate fabrics can be damaged or even destroyed by them. Sometimes fibers are uprooted through the water pressure, or dyes run along with the water. Heat can burn and warp surfaces as well. Generally speaking, many different things can go wrong with delicate fabrics.

Delicate fabrics include silk, velour, rayon, and other synthetic materials.

Plastic

Plastic generally isn’t built to handle extreme heat. Steam cleaning water can get hot, and this can cause plastics to start to warp underneath the steam. If your plastic is thin or made to bend a little, it should never make contact with a steam cleaner.

You might find plastic in food containers, buckets, cups, bowls, children’s toys, trash cans, and other objects in your Tujunga home that may need regular cleaning.

Cold Glass

You may be tempted to steam-clean your windows, mirror, or even some glassware with a steam cleaning machine. This is generally not a bad idea, as long as you take some safety precautions. For example, if you’ve ever tried to cook with glass, you know how dangerous sudden temperature changes can be. High heat introduced to cold can cause the glass to shatter.

Be careful around cold windows, iced glassware, and mirrors in unusually cool houses.

Amateur Cleaner

This isn’t a particular surface, but a steam cleaning machine in the hands of someone who’s never used it before can result in some trouble. An inexperienced person can create too much moisture and cause mold to grow. They can also use improper techniques and cause damage. At best, they may not get everything clean.

Hire a carpet cleaning professional if you need a Tujunga steam cleaning.