A clothes steamer is a handy little appliance that most people use just for smoothing out wrinkles on clothes before wearing them. But did you know that a clothes steamer can do so much more? From sanitizing kitchen counters to removing wallpaper, there are tons of surprising uses for a clothes steamer around your home. Keep reading to learn 11 unexpected things you can clean with a clothes steamer!
Refresh Pillows
Pillows take a beating – we lay on them every night, drool on them, and sweat on them. All of this can lead to oils, perspiration, and bacteria building up in the fabric. Luckily, a clothes steamer is a great way to freshen up pillows between washes.
To steam clean a pillow, start by stripping the pillow case and setting the bare pillow on a hard, clean surface. Hold the steamer head about an inch above the surface of the pillow and steam it for 1-2 minutes, moving the head slowly across the entire surface. The steam will penetrate into the pillow fibers, killing bacteria and removing built up oils. Flip the pillow over and repeat on the other side. Then replace the pillowcase with a fresh one – your pillow will look and smell so much cleaner!
Sanitize Stuffed Animals
Kids love their stuffed animals, but those fluffy friends can get pretty gross with time. From sticky mystery stains to dust build up, stuffed animals are magnets for grime. But you can’t exactly throw them in the washing machine. Luckily, a clothes steamer provides a great way to sanitize and freshen up stuffed animals.
To steam a stuffed animal, start by giving it a good shake outside to remove any loose dirt or dust. Next, lay the stuffed animal on a clean, hard surface and hold the steamer head about an inch above its surface. Slowly steam the entire outer surface of the stuffed animal, moving the steamer head constantly. The high heat will kill bacteria and help lift stains. Flip over the stuffed animal and repeat on the other side. Let the stuffed animal fully air dry before giving it back to its owner – it will look refreshed and fluffy!
Remove Wallpaper
Removing old wallpaper can be an absolute nightmare. But it turns out a clothes steamer makes this tedious task so much easier! The steam helps soften the wallpaper glue so you can peel off wallpaper quickly and cleanly.
To remove wallpaper with a steamer, first score the surface by lightly scraping over it with a scoring tool. This helps the steam penetrate. Next, hold the steamer head about an inch from the wallpaper and slowly go over the entire section you want to remove. Concentrate on steaming each section for 30 seconds to a minute before moving on.
After steaming, slide a putty knife under a corner edge of the wallpaper. You should see it peel off cleanly! Keep steaming and slowly peeling off the wallpaper section by section. The steam does all the hard work for you. Just be sure to use a drop cloth under the area you’re working on to catch all the globs of wet wallpaper.
Clean Tile Grout
Over time, tile grout can accumulate dirt, grime, and stains, making it look dingy and discolored. Cleaning grout by hand is tedious and often ineffective. But a clothes steamer provides a great shortcut for getting grout squeaky clean!
To clean grout with a steamer, fill the steamer reservoir with equal parts water and white vinegar – the vinegar will help cut through grime. Hold the steam head about an inch from the grout lines and steam over them slowly. Concentrate on each section for 30 seconds or so before moving on. The grout lines should look noticeably cleaner right away. For really stubborn stains, use a grout brush to gently scrub the grout as you steam. Rinse the area with clean water when finished – your grout will look brand new!
Melt Crayon Marks
Kids love to create colorful art – whether it be on paper, the walls, or furniture. Crayon is notorious for staining and being hard to remove fully. But thankfully, you can banish crayon marks easily with the power of steam!
To remove crayon with a steamer, place a small towel over the wax mark. This protects the underlying surface from excess heat. Hold the steamer head over the towel, about an inch away, concentrating the steam over the hidden mark for 30 seconds at a time. Slowly move the towel and check the spot – you should see the crayon melting away. Keep steaming and wiping until its completely gone. The crayon will transfer onto the towel – just throw it in the wash after. This trick works great on all kinds of surfaces, from finished wood to painted walls!
Clean Oven Hoods
Over time, residual oil and grease splatters can build up on oven hoods and vent filters, making them extremely gross and grimy. Cleaning them by hand never seems to get them fully clean. But thankfully, a clothes steamer can power through that greasy build up with ease!
Start by detaching any metal mesh filters and soaking them in warm soapy water to loosen debris. Next, lay some paper towels under the bottom edges of the oven hood. Then, hold the steamer head about an inch away from the hood’s surface, concentrating the steam over each section for 30 seconds or so before moving on. The steam will soften and dissolve the hardened grease. Wipe away any grime with clean paper towels as you go. Make sure to get inside crevices and along the bottom edges where grease loves to hide. When finished, wipe down with a degreasing cleaner and dry with a microfiber cloth for a streak-free shine.
Kill Dust Mites in Fabric Furniture
Dust mites are microscopic bugs that feed on dead skin cells that accumulate in soft surfaces like couches and armchairs. Pretty gross! Steam cleaning fabric furniture is an easy way to kill these nasty pests and their eggs.
To steam clean upholstered furniture, vacuum it first to lift away loose dirt and dust mites. Next, lightly mist the entire surface with a mix of water and a few drops of dish soap – this helps release more mites from the fabric. Then, hold the steamer head about an inch above the surface and slowly steam over every section of the furniture. Concentrate on steaming each section for 1-2 minutes before moving on. The combination of heat and moisture will kill living mites. Allow the furniture to fully dry before using. Repeating this steaming every month will keep dust mites at bay!
Sanitize Sponges
The damp environment of kitchen sponges makes them a hot spot for germs like salmonella and E. coli to grow. Simply rinsing them under water doesn’t kill these harmful bugs. Sanitizing sponges in the microwave works, but can create a stinky mess. Steaming them is an easier and more effective method.
To steam clean a sponge, start by dampening it lightly under the faucet – this prevents it from burning. Next, lay the sponge flat on a plate. Hold the steamer head directly over the sponge, concentrating the steam on each section for 30 seconds or so. Flip and repeat on all sides. The heat from the steam combined with the moisture in the sponge will kill up to 99% of bacteria and germs. Let the sponge cool and dry completely before using again. Steaming your sponges once a week will keep them much more sanitary!
Clean Makeup Brushes
Most makeup brushes don’t get washed nearly as often as they should. Built up makeup residue on the bristles can cause acne breakouts and facial irritation. Cleaning makeup brushes by hand never seems to get them fully clean. But using a clothes steamer provides a quick and effective way to deep clean them.
Start by getting the bristles damp – dip them into a bowl of warm water mixed with a tiny amount of mild soap. Gently swish them around. Next, lay the wet brushes bristle-side up on a towel. Hold the steamer head about an inch above the bristles, concentrating the steam on each section for 30 seconds before moving onto the next section. The steam will dissolve the caked-on makeup residue. Gently wipe the bristles over the towel to remove any grime. Lay the brushes on their sides to fully dry. Your brushes will look like new and be totally sanitized!
Remove Stickers and Gum
Stickers seem to end up stuck on every possible surface kids can reach. And chewing gum somehow finds its way onto clothes, furniture, and even carpets. These sticky surprises can be a chore to scrape off. But a clothes steamer provides an easy, non-messy method to tackle them.
For stickers, lightly mist the surface under the sticker with water first – this helps conducting the steam. Hold the steamer head about an inch above the sticker, concentrating the steam over each section of the sticker for about 10 seconds before moving on. Slowly peel up a corner – the sticker should lift off easily. Continue steaming and peeling until its completely removed.
For gum, lay a small towel or paper towel over the affected area. Hold the steamer head over it, concentrating steam for 30 seconds at a time. Slowly pull the towel up – the gum should transfer onto the towel instead of the underlying surface. Repeat steaming over any sticky residue remaining behind. The steam melts the gum away with minimal effort!
Remove Grease from Range Hoods
The greasy film that builds up on range hoods over time is next to impossible to scrub off. No amount of elbow grease and cleaner seems to bust through it fully. But thankfully, a clothes steamer can provide the power needed to dissolve that greasy gunk and leave your range hood sparkling!
Start by taking down the metal mesh filter and soaking it in hot, soapy water if possible. Next, lay paper towels along the bottom edge of the range hood to protect your counters. Then, hold the steamer head about an inch from the surface of the hood, concentrating the steam over each section for 30-60 seconds before moving on. Use a towel in your other hand to wipe away the grease as its softened by the steam. Get into all nooks and crannies where grease loves to hide. You may need to apply a degreasing cleaner and do a final wipe down when finished steaming to remove all residue. But the steam does most of the hard work!
Clean Windows and Mirrors
You can spend ages scrubbing windows and mirrors and still end up with annoying streaks and smears. Using a steamer allows you to get the glass pristine clean without any dripping mess. The steam gently lifts away grime and condensation helps prevent spotting.
To clean glass with a steamer, start by misting the surface very lightly with water from a spray bottle – this prevents the steam from drying out too quickly. Hold the steamer head about 6 inches from the glass and go over the surface in an up and down and side to side motion. Get close to the frame and into corners. After steaming the whole surface, use a squeegee or lint-free cloth to wipe away any moisture. Your windows and mirrors will be crystal clear without any hassle!
Freshen Mattresses
Mattresses are the perfect environment for dust mites, bacteria, and odors to accumulate. Yuck! But thankfully, steam cleaning can freshen up a mattress easily.
To steam clean a mattress, start by stripping off all bedding. Next, lightly mist the entire mattress surface with water from a spray bottle so the steam penetrates better. Hold the steamer head about an inch above the surface, concentrating the steam on each section for 30 seconds at a time before moving on. Flip the mattress and repeat on the other side. Then steam along all the edges and crevices. The steam will kill bacteria and dust mites, and remove musty odors that have built up in the fabric. Finally, use a towel to absorb any excess moisture. Let the mattress fully dry before making the bed with fresh linens. It will smell so nice and clean!
Conclusion
As you can see, clothes steamers have so many unexpected uses beyond just de-wrinkling clothes! They provide a chemical-free, mess-free way to deep clean and sanitize many surfaces around your home. From sanitizing kitchen items to removing stuck-on gunk, clothes steamers utilize the power of steam to tackle cleaning jobs that are otherwise tedious. Keep one handy and you’ll be amazed at all the ways it can help refresh your home. What hidden cleaning uses have you discovered with your clothes steamer?