ARTICLE
Spring-clean with nothing but steam
Published Jul 28, 2025 • Updated Jul 2, 2026 - 4 min read
Steam can clean, sanitise and refresh more effectively than a bucket and harsh chemicals, especially for floors, kitchens, living areas and laundry. This article shows where steam appliances shine, what they can replace and which surfaces to avoid.
Key takeaways from this article
Steam gets deep into surfaces to loosen grime, dust and allergens.
It helps kill dust mites, mould and bacteria as it cleans.
Avoid steam on unsealed tiles, soft plastics and delicate fabrics.
Steam ovens, dishwashers and mops can cut mess, water use and scrubbing.
Nick Trajkovski (The Good Guys Buyer, Floorcare) says plain water works best when heat is added.
A top-to-bottom house clean with no vigorous scrubbing and nary a chemical in sight. Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong. That’s the power of steam. “Plain water is undeniably nature’s best cleaning agent, especially when you add heat, and the latest appliances have gone full steam ahead to make the most of it,” says Nick Trajkovski, The Good Guy Buyer – Floorcare.
Want to get in on the budget-friendly, non-toxic, green cleaning action in your kitchen, living room, laundry and beyond? Here’s how.
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The Power Of Steam
So how does steam clean so effectively? Because it’s hot, hot, hot! “Steam-based small appliances heat water past boiling point, then force out pressurised vapour through a nozzle, brush or other attachment. This vapour – made up of minuscule water particles – gets deep into porous surfaces to loosen dirt, dust and allergens, and kills dust mites, mould and bacteria,” says Nick Trajkovski.
Just avoid unsealed tiles and flooring, soft plastics, surfaces with water-based paint and delicate fabrics, which can all be damaged by steam. Check your appliance’s user manual for guidance.
“Plain water is undeniably nature’s best cleaning agent, especially when you add heat, and the latest appliances have gone full steam ahead to make the most of it.”
Nick Trajkovski, The Good Guy Buyer – Floorcare.
In The Kitchen
Next-gen kitchens are steamy in all the right places. Take the oven – simply by upgrading to a steam oven, you’ve got yourself healthier and mess-free cooking. There are no grease or oil splatters (you don’t need fats for cooking) and food residue simply can’t get a grip on steamy surfaces.
The latest dishwashers are steaming it up too with steam cycles replacing pre-rinses to save water and blitz caked-on stains. Steam mops are coming in hot for sanitised, sparkling floors without a sloppy mop bucket in sight!
Top Steam Sensations
In The Living Room
A regular dust and vacuum is great, but add a little steam with a steam cleaner and you can deep clean and deodorise your carpets, couches, cushions and curtains.
And did you know that some diffusers work their magic using essential oil-infused steam? Use one of these to add a luxe touch to your spring-clean and transform your living room into a heavenly scented oasis. Is there anything steam can’t do?
Top Steam Sensations
In The Laundry
It’s here where steam arguably does some of its best, time-saving work. Anyone who’s discovered the portability and versatility of a garment steamer will tell you so.
Then there’s the energy-efficient ways the latest washers and heat pump dryers use steam to prolong the life of your clothes and save you money at bill time. You know that pile of lightly worn clothes that could use a refresh, but not necessarily a wash? Steam Refresh cycles in next-gen washers and dryers will do exactly that, without the need for abrasive detergents. The high-pressure steam alone kills odour-causing bacteria plus eases out wrinkles for good-as-new outfits.
Top Steam Sensations
Ready for things to get steamy at your place? Visit us in-store or online for the biggest and best range of appliances for your spring-clean.
