Steam Overview Steam cleaning is the use of heated water vapor to clean a surface. The steam is often sprayed with significant force through a hose to the surface. It is effective for removal of water-soluble contaminants, heavy oils, greases, and heavy soils. Additives can be used, such as alkaline detergents or rust inhibitors. Chemical concentrations may be lower than those required for equivalent cleaning in immersion cleaners. Steam cleaning is often done manually. The process is very useful for infrequent cleaning of large objects. If production rates do not justify purchasing a spray system, which is generally more expensive, a steam system may be a good substitute. Steam generation equipment can be portable and usually requires little floor space. Safety issues include protecting people from hot steam and from hot surfaces after cleaning. Also, many systems are very loud, and hearing protection is required. The cleaning area may have to be vented or cleaning may have to be done in the open to prevent steam buildup. Some systems produce large amounts of condensed water that must be contained and disposed of. State Information | Glossary | Conversion Checklist | Comments Home | Process Advisor | Alternatives | Links | Search All SAGE material, Copyright© 1992, Research Triangle Institute Last Update: 18 March 1995 sage@rti.org http://clean.rti.org/alt.cfm?id=st&cat=ov