Tile & Grout Home Care Steam Sanitizer

Sanitizing Tile Surfaces

• The chief advantage of steam sanitizers is their ability to provide superheated steam directly to surfaces to kill germs, mold spores and viruses. Home care steam cleaners can be used on both floors and walls, with a variety of attachments available to sanitize hard-to-reach areas of the bathroom or kitchen. Steam sanitizing tile and grout surfaces also avoids the use of harsh chemicals that cause skin and respiratory problems in individuals with chemical sensitivities. Home steam sanitizers can be used with steam alone to clean and sanitize tile and grout in areas where moisture and humidity create the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth.

How Home Steam Sanitizers Work

• Home sanitizing with steam cleaners is done with the use of water that is heated to a temperature above 212 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point the water becomes steam. This steam is sprayed onto the tile and grout surfaces, killing bacteria and viruses as well as mold and mildew spores. The steam quickly cools and dries, leaving the surface clean and sanitary.

Steam Cleaning Tile and Grout

• Effective steam sanitizing for tile and grout surfaces in kitchens, bathrooms and other areas to remove mold and mildew requires that the steam cover the surfaces evenly and at the required temperature. The steam removes dirt and germs on the smooth tile surfaces as well as the more porous grout between the tiles where mold and mildew spores cling and grow. Using steam to sanitize grout avoids the use of harsh chemicals that penetrate and degrade the grouting material and does not leave chemical residues on surfaces to attract and hold dirt and germs. Grout should be scrubbed before use of the steam sanitizer to loosen dirt and germs for best results, according to the North American Tile Cleaning Organization website.

Disinfecting Chemicals For Steam Sanitizing

• Though additional chemicals are not needed for steam sanitizers, some homeowners may desire additional disinfecting properties in special situations, such as when colds, flu or other illnesses are being passed from person to person or when family members suffer from immune system problems. Chlorine bleach and quaternary ammonium compounds are the most effective sanitizers, according to professor Julie Garden-Robinson on the North Dakota State University website.