Did you know that home cleaning is the third largest source of indoor water usage in the average American home? That’s a lot of water (and money!) going down the drain. In truth, many cleaning routines require copious amounts of water to achieve even modest results. And that’s where steam cleaners can help. These nifty machines use much less water than standard cleansing methods and can get the job done in any home faster with superior results. A steam cleaner can also work great outside the home. For example, washing and detailing cars — a job that can waste a ton of water if you aren't careful. Check out our tips on using a steam cleaner to help you use less water.

Save Water While Cleaning Floors

First and foremost, if you are cleaning hardwood or tile, use a steam cleaner with a large floor attachment. Some models can save up to 70% of water as compared to a standard mop. When it comes to cleaning carpets, rugs, and upholstery, use a steam cleaner with a specialty cleaning head or attachment. Many of these attachments allow for efficient “pre-soaking” with heated water or chemical injection, meaning you can clean fabrics on the “damp” side of the scale rather than the “saturated” side. This can save you up to 80% of water usage while still getting your items clean! Finally, when it comes to cleaning tile and grout, you will want to use a steam cleaner with a special “grout brush attachment.” These brushes are designed to release dirt from the grout lines of your floors and countertops, extending the life of your tile. Many of these steamers also allow you to adjust the amount of steam flowing through the brush, further maximizing water savings!

Reduce Water Usage While Cleaning Windows

If you are cleaning windows and/or mirrors, you can use a steam cleaner with a specialized window accessory, or without a cleaning attachment. Simply dispense a small amount of steam onto the window, then use a clean towel to wipe the steam off the windows, leaving them streak and lint-free. This is a great way to save water when cleaning windows and mirrors. If you have water left in the tank when you're done, you can also use it to remove pet hair from furniture and other items. Simply set the steam cleaner to a low setting, then use the steam cleaner to loosen pet hair from surfaces.

Switch from a hose to a steam cleaner when you wash your car

When it comes to cleaning a very dirty car, we recommend using a high-pressure steam cleaner as it requires the least amount of water while still covering a lot of ground. However, it is important to ensure that the appropriate tools are used to clean the car. In addition to this, a high-pressure steam cleaner can also be used on a lower setting to clean smaller parts of the car such as the wheels, tires, or interior.

Save Even More Water While Cleaning Carpet

To clean carpets with a steam cleaner, you can use a specialty attachment and adjust the settings accordingly. For the attachment, use the “pre-soak” setting or hot-water injection as it uses less water and provides better results than a regular carpet shampooer. If using a standard cleaning attachment, the “wet/dry” setting should be used, which delivers a moderate amount of water suitable for carpet cleaning. Additionally, steam cleaners can also be used on hardwood floors and tiles by setting it to the “dry” setting, which conserves water while cleaning.

Final Words

Of course, not every home owner has a steam cleaner. If you don’t, don’t despair! You can still save water when cleaning your home. We like keeping up with the latest recommendations from trusted sources like the EPA WaterSense. But if you DO have one, it's a fact that using a steam cleaner WILL help you save water, money, and time.