A steam cleaner is the one machine in a cleaning cupboard that sanitises with nothing but water, and it is also the one that damages the most surfaces when it is used on the wrong thing. The technique is simple; the judgement is what matters.
Keep it moving, and let the heat work
Work in sections, keeping the head moving rather than holding it on one spot, and let the steam do the dwell work. Always test on a hidden area of the surface, and use the machine with the pressure and accessory the manufacturer specifies for that surface.
Prices are Freshway catalogue prices as at 16 September 2026 and are subject to change. Confirm the current price, and whether GST applies, before quoting.
The basic technique
- Fill with clean water and let the machine reach pressure. A full cold tank on most domestic machines is ready in a few minutes.
- Test on a hidden area. A floor tile under the fridge or the back of a cupboard will tell you whether the surface tolerates steam before you commit.
- Work in sections of about a square metre, head moving continuously, then wipe with a microfibre cloth while the surface is warm.
- Change the cloth often. Steam lifts soil, and a loaded cloth spreads it back on. Two cloths per room is normal.
- Empty the tank after use and descale on the schedule — scale is what shortens a steam cleaner's life.
What not to clean with a steam cleaner
- Sealed timber floors and laminate. Heat and moisture reach the joints; laminate cores swell and timber finishes haze.
- Cold glass. Thermal shock can crack a cold window or a mirror.
- Electronics, screens and anything with a coating. Steam gets into seams.
- Unsealed stone, and any grout that is crumbling. It lifts the joint instead of cleaning it.
- Loose vinyl and unsealed vinyl adhesive. Steam softens the glue.
Where steam earns its place
| Item | Use | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Karcher SG 4/4 | Professional steam cleaner, high duty cycle | A$2,599.00 |
| Steam hand tool | Detail work, grout lines and fittings | A$79.95 |
| Window nozzle | Glass and mirrors, with care | A$87.92 |
| Textile care nozzle | Upholstery and curtains, lightly | A$38.12 |
| Freshway Descaler 145 | Descaling the boiler on schedule | A$48.00 |
Where does the dirt go?
Steam loosens soil and lifts it to the surface; it does not carry it away. That is why the cloth matters as much as the machine, and why a steam clean finishes with a wipe. On a floor, the sequence is steam, then wipe, then a neutral cleaner if the surface needs a detergent as well. On a vertical surface, work top to bottom so the run-off does not streak what you have already cleaned.
Scale, water and machine life
The most common reliability failure in a steam cleaner is scale in the boiler, and the fix is the same as for a kettle: use the manufacturer’s descaling schedule, and descale more often in a hard-water area. Never fill with anything but clean water, and never add detergent to the tank unless the machine is designed for it.
Steam, chemicals, or both
Steam does two things well: it sanitises without leaving a residue, and it lifts grease on hard surfaces. It does not dissolve mineral scale, it does not carry soil away, and it cannot replace a surfactant on oily soil. That is why the honest answer to “can I stop using chemicals” is: for some surfaces, yes; for scale and heavy grease, no.
The combination that works on a hard floor is steam first to loosen and sanitise, then a neutral cleaner for the soil the steam lifted, then a clean mop or cloth. On the surfaces where steam is unsuitable — laminate, sealed timber, cold glass — the chemical method stays the primary tool.
Questions we get asked most
- How to use a steam cleaner properly?
- Fill with clean water, let it reach pressure, test on a hidden area, then work in sections with the head moving continuously and wipe with a clean cloth as you go.
- What should you not clean with a steam cleaner?
- Sealed timber and laminate, cold glass, electronics and coated screens, unsealed stone, and any grout that is already crumbling.
- Where does the dirt go when you steam clean?
- Steam lifts it to the surface and the cloth removes it. Steam alone does not flush soil away, which is why the wipe step is part of the method.
- What are common steam cleaning mistakes?
- Holding the head still on one spot, using a dirty cloth, steaming a cold window, and never descaling the boiler.
- Does steam clean without chemicals?
- For sanitising and for lifting grease on hard surfaces, yes. For heavy mineral scale and for soil that needs a surfactant, a cleaner still does work that steam alone does not.
References
Choosing between SC and SG?
Tell us how many hours a day the machine runs and what surfaces it has to handle, and we will tell you honestly whether a domestic unit is enough. Browse Karcher steam cleaners or ask our team.