Steam Australia Awarded best new product Fine Foods expo 2008
Steam - Why is this natural cleaning product such a good cleaner?
Since the mid 1980's, Europeans have been cleaning with steam generated by high pressure boilers. As both the use and production of portable steam machines increases you can now get this type of equipment in countries that are only just discovering what a brilliant cleaning tool steam really is.
When you think of steam, you might be thinking of something like the domestic steam mop that's used for cleaning floors. But what's being referred to here are commercial steam cleaning machines, which are very different. These come with numerous attachments that deal easily with the toughest of cleaning jobs, and are able to create steam at very high temperatures and pressures; which means they can deliver unlimited quantities of the best form of steam for cleaning : dry vapour steam.
There are various forms of steam. You're probably familiar with the kind of steam you see from a boiling kettle. This steam is created in an open vessel under what is termed as a 'normal' pressure. In this kind of situation, water simply can't increase in temperature above 100 degrees Celsius and therefore stays constant. Increasing the temperature of the heat source simply has no effect, and all that happens is the steam escapes the vessel easily.
One litre of water, under this kind of atmospheric pressure, produces 1.673 cubic metres of steam. This low density steam is entirely useless for cleaning.
When the vessel is sealed, however, water can be heated to a much higher temperature before boiling point because the amount of energy needed to form steam against the higher pressure is increased.
Commercial steam cleaning machines are able to heat water to temperatures of about 180 degrees Celsius. When steam of this temperature leaves through the nozzle of the steam cleaner it cools and expands considerably – so, that same litre of water leaving the steam cleaning nozzle at 130 degrees Celsius will produce half a cubic metre of dense dry vapour steam, considerably dense and ideal for cleaning.
Dry vapour steam produced under the above kind of pressure has a low moisture content of only 5%, and when released this dry steam vapour becomes less dense and increases in volume as it cools. So, as stated above, just 1 litre of water heated under this kind of pressure will produce generous amounts of dry vapour steam from a density far greater than normal steam.
The molecules of dry vapor steam are also considerably smaller than water molecules, which means they are able to penetrate in a far more intensive way compared with water, detergents or chemicals; resulting in a much deeper clean.
In addition, the dry steam is very hot at the release point meaning the targeted area expands significantly, and grime is far easier removed. An example of this is a stainless steel surface where steam expands the pores of the surface and flushes out any build-up that can't be removed when you use normal cleaning methods.
There are also very important added advantages besides just the excellent cleaning power of steam. After a cleaning session there is no detergent residue left behind, and very little waste water (as opposed to cleaning with detergents.) This means minimal waste, no chemicals – cleaning with steam clearly has tremendous environmental benefits.
Dry steam vapor is certainly the most effective when it comes to cleaning tiled floors, shower scum, grout, commercial ovens, cooking equipment, refrigerator seals and bathrooms. It can even be used for chewing gum removal on pavements, with some machines even built to perform that task. Steam also excels when it comes to killing bed bugs, killing pathogens and sanitizing surfaces, meaning there are numerous advantages in using steam cleaning for the healthcare industry. For restaurants and catering, using steam ensures that hygiene and food standards are easily met as dry steam is proven at killing bacteria effectively.
Most companies selling vapor steam cleaning equipment would happily give you an onsite demonstration, where it soon becomes evident that the list of applications suited to cleaning with vapor steam is immense. There is no doubt that you will be astounded at what a small amount of plain water – one of the most natural cleaning products, and certainly the safest and most environmentally friendly cleaning product - placed under the right pressure circumstances, can produce.
For more information please contact Steam Australia on 1300 79 5050
Steam Cleaning Grout
Cleaning grout with a steam cleaning machine will make your tile grout look like new, without the overuse of cleaning products.
If you examine your tiles a little more closely, and consider the tile grout, a very interesting question should come to mind, namely, “Since floor grout is so incredibly permeable, why do they use it for something like tiles which can get dirty so easily?”
You would be right in asking this question. The fact is that the grout porosity extends far below the surface, right down to the floor substrate, and can be best described as a sponge that absorbs all the dirt, grime and detergents it's exposed to every time you mop the floor. To get the grout clean with conventional chemicals is both a tedious and difficult task, and stronger chemicals cause incredible damage to the grout.
Grout stain is also more evident on lighter coloured grout, which is why darker grouts are used more frequently to lay tiles (masking the future build up of grime.) However, even with dark coloured grout, you can easily see the dirt in areas where more traffic occurs, and when cleaning stained grout it becomes incredibly difficult to match all the areas of the floor; there are always areas that are overlooked.
It's a fact that no tile cleaner, besides grout destroying acid, will penetrate and lift the grime 100%. To prevent grout staining, you might consider grout sealer, which can prevent grime from settling in. But grout sealer also needs to be re-applied at intervals throughout the life of the floor. So you're back to a cleaning problem, as cleaning tile grout thoroughly is recommended before sealing grout (otherwise you seal the dirt into the floor.)
Grout is not very tough, so when harsh chemicals are used it breaks down easily and loses structure. Permeability also increases through improper chemical use, making the problem worse. Once the structure is lost, grout repair is impossible.
So the only way to extend the life of grout is to use proper tile and grout cleaning methods.
How to Clean Grout without Cleaning Products, the Ultimate Grout Cleaner - STEAM
Cleaning with steam may be a new concept for you, so it's good to get a better understanding of how it works, along with the cleaning supplies involved.
Firstly, steam comes in various forms. At a normal pressure (in an open vessel) water can't be heated above 100 degrees Celsius. Even if you increase the heat, the water temperature doesn't rise – all that happens is more steam is produced which escapes the vessel.
However, if the vessel is sealed you can heat the water to a much higher temperature before it starts to boil. This is because the amount of energy needed to form steam against the higher pressure is increased. Water that can produce this type of steam is heated to temperatures of about 180 degrees Celsius.
The kind of steam that's produced under high pressure is known as dry vapour steam. This kind of steam is very different to what we could call 'everyday' steam because it's moisture content is very low (5%) and, when released, dry steam vapour has more volume. Just a litre of water heated under pressure will produce very large amounts of dry vapor steam. Since dry vapor steam has smaller molecules than water, they can penetrate to a much greater extent and give you a much deeper clean. Much more, since steam is very hot at the delivery point it makes the surfaces expand, greatly aiding in the release of grime.
One of the common misconceptions about steam cleaning is that the steam is delivered at a high pressure because it's produced at a high pressure. This is not the case as the steam is released in a very easily controlled way. It's not the blast of the steam that cleans (unless you really need one) but more the way the steam is able to penetrate deep into the grout and lift dirt and grime.
Chemical cleaning is not able to really penetrate very deeply since water is used. But dry steam vapor molecules are able to penetrate and soften the grime build-up that collects deep down in the grout pores, flushing it all to the surface without affecting the grout structure at all.
Also, when you use steam for grout cleaning, a small brush is usually attached to the steam lance. The mechanical action of this brush loosens the harder top layer of grime and pushes the rising grime out of the grout so that it can't seep back in.
It's also important to note that smaller domestic steam cleaning machines produce steam vapour at a much lower pressure and heat compared with a commercial steam cleaning machine. This means that they can't clean grout to the extent that a commercial machine can. Steam cleaning machines which are rated at a 6 bar pressure or more are the most effective when it comes to cleaning grout.
Most companies selling vapor steam cleaning equipment will give you an onsite demonstration. You will be amazed at the level of clean that can be achieved just by using water converted into steam, one of the most natural cleaning products and the safest cleaning product for the environment.
For more information contact Steam Australia 1300 79 5050
Commercial Cleaning Products vs. Vapour Steam Cleaning
A commercial steam cleaning machine can substantially reduce the costs of your cleaning supplies, as well as leave your floors and workplace exceptionally clean.
Just run your hands on a recently cleaned tile floor in any busy commercial kitchen and you will immediately notice a waxy feel to the floor. This is the result of detergents and grease mixed together left behind after the clean. It's not that the cleaning detergents haven't entirely worked, it's more a case of the chemicals and water mixing with the grease and grime of the floors during cleaning; which is subsequently all mopped back onto the floor, into the grout lines and the difficult cleaning areas.
Until you see for yourself how dry vapor steam cleaning is able to remove this build up easily you'll be under the impression that this waxy slippery feel on your floors is normal. But read on and you'll be astonished how effective vapour steam, just produced from plain tap water, is at cleaning greasy floors and many other areas of your business.
Steam is simply the purest all natural cleaning product available today, and is undoubtedly an exceptionally powerful cleaning tool.
What kind of steam, exactly?
To help you better appreciate the clear benefits of cleaning with steam, it's good to know a little about steam itself. Let's take a brief look.
There are various forms of steam. The type most of us are familiar with (such as a boiling kettle) is created in an 'open' vessel at a 'normal' pressure. Water in this kind of situation stays constant and can't be heated above 100 degrees Celsius. Even if you increase the temperature of the heat source, the water temperature simply doesn't rise. All that happens is the steam continues to escape the vessel easily.
But the other type of steam we're going to look at is called dry vapour steam. This steam is produced from water under pressure. It has a low moisture content (5%) and gets up to temperatures of 180 degrees Celsius. When dry steam vapour is released, it cools and subsequently becomes very voluminous. In fact, just one litre of water heated under this kind of pressure is able to produce abundant amounts of dry vapour steam that has both a heat and density much greater than normal steam.
Since dry vapor steam molecules are small they are able to penetrate to a far greater extent than a cleaning solution of water and chemicals, which means you get a significantly deeper clean. Dry steam is also very hot at it's delivery point, meaning the targeted surfaces expand and the grime is released far easier. This can be seen on a stainless steel surface where steam expands the pores of the surface and flushes out any build-up easily.
Another brilliant benefit of using this type of floor cleaning technology is that a minimal amount of water is used; not just because of conservation efforts but also because, once the cleaning job is done, there isn't any dirty, wasted water mixed with chemical solution that needs to be thrown out. There is also a massive benefit when it comes to cleaning grout and tiles, as this dirty water doesn't get into the grout lines and cause permanent damage.
When it comes to cleaning tips for the hard to reach places, nothing really works as well as steam. A chemical slurry simply can't clean trolley wheels, fridge seals, hinges and all the tight places like steam can. Steam even does a fantastic job when it comes to chewing gum removal.
When it comes to the different types of steam cleaning machines, a commercial steam cleaning machine rated at 6 bar pressure along with a wet and dry vacuum (and a great selection of attachments) is simply the most effective in almost all commercial situations. Domestic machines, such as steam mops and small steam cleaners, produce much lower pressures and temperatures of steam and therefore simply lack in their effectiveness.
For more information contact Steam Australia on 1300 79 5050
Chewing Gum Removal - Steam Cleaning Chewing Gum With Dry Vapour Steam.
Dry Vapor Steam is the most environmentally sound method of removing Chewing Gum from walkways.
For over 75 years, discarded Chewing Gum has been problematic for the authorities. The following quote from Wrigley's website affirms that an attempt to address the problem was being made way back in 1933 :
“In what may have been the first litter prevention campaign in the U.S., Wrigley Chewing Gum's second president Philip K. Wrigley began imprinting the advice to 'Use This Wrapper to Dispose of Gum' on the label of every stick of gum manufactured.”
Today, however, this well intended message is generally ignored by the majority of people chewing gum.
Just walk along any busy pavement or walkway and notice the pronounced black Chewing Gum dots spread all over the sidewalk. This is a problem where education just seems to have no effect, and is subsequently costing the authorities millions of dollars each year in Australia alone to clean and maintain.
For the majority of people, discarded Chewing Gum is not really a worry. In fact, most people don't know that those black dots are caused by Chewing Gum. It's not until you step on a newly discarded piece of gum that you protest that something should be done about this widespread litter problem.
If discarded Chewing Gum was not periodically removed, it would built up to a point where the entire walkway would just be a mass of these dots. When gum is removed from the pavement, a clean light-coloured dot is left behind (this is because Chewing Gum is naturally sticky, taking grime with it when removed.) After cleaning, the black dots are (temporally) exchanged for light-coloured dots.
Here are some interesting facts about Chewing Gum :
· It's estimated that Chewing Gum makes up to 40% of all dropped litter in Australia.
· People worry less about dropping Chewing Gum because they mistakenly believe that it's biodegradable.
· Chewing Gum is a synthetic rubber made up of resins, elastomers, fillers, waxes, fats and emulsifiers- along with softeners and sweeteners to make it desirable.
· The cost of removing Chewing Gum from pavements is three times more than what the gum chewing consumer paid for the product!
· If councils did nothing about the problem it would build up and cover entire footpaths.
· Chewing Gum is discarded more noticeably at traffic lights and close to the entry of buildings. At night, people discard Chewing Gum in places where they would not normally discard gum during the day.
Education can reduce Chewing Gum litter to some extent, but until we see the development of a biodegradable gum we must consider the various methods of removing discarded Chewing Gum.
So, here are the current cleaning alternatives :
Chemical Reaction
Since councils now must be environmentally responsible, this is generally not an option anymore. The large amount of chemicals needed to address the problem would eventually find its way into our drains and waterways.
Freezing Chewing Gum
Dry Ice Blasting is very effective at Chewing Gum Removal. Here, freezing CO2 is directed at the gum, freezing and smashing the Chewing Gum. The disadvantage, however, of blasting with dry ice to remove gum is that bystanders must also wear goggles and earmuffs. This makes the method impractical for public areas, which is where the problem is so prevalent.
Pressure Washers – Detergents Combined with Masses of Hot Water
This is when large amounts of water are used along with certain detergents. This method, however, doesn't really affect the sticky structure of the gum, meaning that it can spread easily and is sufficiently harder to pick up. A large area is also needed to be cordoned off just to clean a small area, and the machines used are also very noisy. This method is not environmentally sound, due to the large amounts of water and cleaning products used.
Removing Chewing Gum with Small Amounts of Detergent and Dry Vapor Steam
By using a small amount of environmentally friendly detergent with a short blast of dry vapour steam, Chewing Gum is removed very conveniently and effectively. A commercial steam cleaning machine, coupled with a wet & dry vacuum (to vacuum the small amount of waste) is the most environmentally sound option, and it can be carried out in public places without any disruption.
Environmentally friendly detergent has been developed to work with very high temperatures without breaking down, and when injected with the steam, it's released from the cleaning head where a small stainless steel brush exists.
This combination of heat and biodegradable detergent removes the stickiness from the gum, which is dissolved at the same time. The steam also means water wastage is kept to a minimum, as it has a low 5% moisture content. What waste is left behind is vacuumed up in a simple operation that requires very little effort.
Some councils have even developed dry steam “Gum Removal Vehicles”- an electric golf cart with a steam cleaning machine housed at the end of the vehicle. These vehicles allow the council workers to drive in malls and along footpaths without impacting the public.
If you are considering using vapor steam for the cleaning of Chewing Gum from pavements, an 8 bar pressure steam cleaning machine (with vacuum) is the most suited for your requirements. High vapour pressure and high temperature at the delivery point is crucial to ensure the structure of the gum is neatly broken down before vacuuming.
For more information contact Steam Australia on 1300 79 5050
Backpackers' bed bugs get the bite
By Tim Dick Urban Affairs Reporter
September 6, 2005 From Sydney Morning Herald
  Illustration: Cathy Wilcox
The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, has a plan to stop bed bugs biting Australia's most lucrative tourists: backpackers. Under the plan, all new hostels will have to provide washed mattress protectors and pillow covers to reduce the extent of bug infestations. The rules will make every hostel use dense foam in its beds "designed to eliminate potential harbourage of vermin including bed bugs" while providing coverings for mattresses and pillows, washed after each backpacker.
The City of Sydney has no power to apply the rules to existing hostels, as they are applied during the development approval process in the conditions attached to a hostel's consent.
Jeff Lewis, a spokesman for the Lord Mayor, said bed bugs presented backpackers with a continuing problem, with marked infestations occurring either at least every second year.
"It's a health issue that needs to be resolved," he said, with the council planning to use the plan as a way to "educate" hostel operators into following its example.
Alison McDonagh, the business development manager for the hostel operator YHA, supported the rules, saying bed bugs were "incredibly expensive" to eradicate once they infested a hostel.
It supported the rules, despite a slight increase in hostels' operating costs, because bed bugs were bad news for tourism, but she said the council needed to do more about illegal hostels.
"The council needs to crack down on the places which have no approval," she said. While the plan will force hostels in Kings Cross and near Central Station to comply with minimum standards such as space-per-person, mattress size and laundries, those operating without approval are unlikely to abide by the rules. "The ones that are illegal just throw as many people in as they can," she said.
The rules extend the 28-day limit on how long people can stay in backpackers' hostels in the city, ban triple bunks and discourage carpets, also to cut down on the spread of bed bugs.
Last year the Herald reported council findings that almost eight out of 10 eastern suburbs backpacker hostels had infestations.
February 2006
Following a very successful presentation at the Hako dealer conference in February, Steam Australias innovative range of steam cleaning equipment certainly caught the the eye of some of Australia's leading cleaning equipment dealers. It should only be a matter of time now until the range of steam machines will be added to the range of a number of cleaning supply stores.
Waterwise Cleaning !
Tackling a bakery oven that has built-up grease and carbon deposits usually means a lot of hard work for a cleaner as well as the use of lots of caustic and degreasing chemicals.
One process for cleaning ovens can involve degreasers suspended in water applied with cleaning sponges, scourers or cloths. This method is messy and time consuming. It involves a lot of repetitious action as well as the potential overuse of chemicals due to the inefficient application process.
Another option is the use of high pressure dry steam. This has the benefit of concentrating the cleaning actions as well reducing the use of chemicals and water. Recently, Advanced National Services cleaned the supermarket bakery ovens pictured and through the use of Steam Australia’s Vega steam vacuum machine it produced the dazzling results below.
The combination of steam and dry foam administered chemicals produced excellent results with minimal water usage or chemical wastage. Advanced National services estimated that the cleaning process used no more than two(2) litres of water in the Steam Vacuum machine. The Agar Chemicals used in conjunction with the steam vacuum were effective in removing the grease and carbon deposits. It was estimated that the alternative to the steam based cleaning process would have used at least twenty (20) litres of water. This economy is not only good cleaning practice and environmentally sound but it also demonstrates a consideration for the wider community’s welfare.
ADVANCED NATIONAL SERVICES
October 2005 - Steam Australia is to make its first appearance in WA this month at the inaugral Fine Food expo in Perth. It will be a great opportunity for WA hospitality businesses to see first hand the many benefits steam has to offer. Steam Australia's great range on display is sure to once again be a great place for visitors to stop and see what all the fuss is about.
September 2005 - Steam Australia had a very successful month exhibiting at the Hospitality and fine food expo in Sydney.
Congratulations to Turramurra Village Cakes who were the very lucky winner of a Steam Pro which was given away during the expo. "The machine will come in more than handy" said Mr Foy who is looking forward to maintaining the highest level of cleanliness in his store.
April 2004 - At the recent Hospitality and Fine food expo in Brisbane, Steam Australia were a finalist in the Best new product category
Feb 2004 - The first conveyer belt cleaning system was installed in a bakery in the UK this month. The trials had been hugely successful and will be launched in Australia in the comming months. The new steam belt cleaning system is a huge advance from the traditional method of scrubbing and washing by hand. It will more than pay for itself for the end user by reducing up to 5 hours of labour per belt per day.
Feb 2004 - Car Magazine Auto Salon has trialed the Robby Pro steam machine for use on cars. The trial was so succssful they have writen a 3 page editorial praising it's uses in the March issue. They cleaned the whole car inside and out, they even made the engine shine.
Nov 2003 - HACCP - Steam Australia have been endorsed by HACCP Australia. This is great news for businesses looking to set up their kitchen in the most efficient manner. Steam Australia's machines have been given the big thumbs up by HACCP.
The following article was published in Clubs Management magazine December 2003
Getting steamed up about food contamination
Is your kitchen clean? Really clean? If you have any doubts at all, maybe it’s time to think ‘steam clean’.
The use of steam cleaning equipment is revolutionising the hospitality industry overseas and all the experts, companies like the Sydney-based Steam Australia, are predicting that Australian outlets will shortly follow the trend as the full benefits of the process become better known.
Food safety and hygiene is one of the most serious issues facing clubs and other stakeholders in the hospitality industry. The Australian and New Zealand Food Safety Authority (ANZFA) is flexing its muscles more than ever before and any establishment caught breaching its stringent regulations faces horrendous fines – and the threats of litigation.
Recently, a restaurant in Melbourne was fined $100,000 after a number of customers suffered severe attacks of food poisoning. The victims have since instigated a class action involving huge claims for compensation and the restaurant is not expected to survive the litigation. Unfortunately, this is no isolated case. HACCP Australia, the project management company, which has long developed and managed comprehensive food safety programs, setting standards for all sectors of the food industry, estimates that the number of food poisoning occurrences in Australia is now well in excess of two million each year.
Hospitality outlets, and particularly clubs with their large bistro and catering operations and traditionally high staff turnovers, are especially vulnerable to the threats of food contamination and management teams are realising that a totally new approach to food safety and hygiene procedures is needed. Is steam the way to go, they are asking?
What are the benefits of steam cleaning over more traditional methods?
Steam Australia proprietor, Mark Rosenberg lists the main advantages of the latest machines on the market: no chemicals – and only a small amount of water - are needed in the process; the blasts of dry steam penetrate to every corner, cleaning, sanitising and killing harmful germs; the machines are safe and extremely user friendly; they are flexible enough to handle any cleaning job (big, small, high, low) as the machines come in a wide range of sizes; and they are highly cost effective.
Says Rosenberg: “It’s so much safer and better than the old mop/sponge and bucket method which needs chemicals that can be left as residue on whichever surface is being cleaned. The dirt is merely smeared about, into corners and edges. Over time, the residues, dirt and grease build up providing the perfect environment for the growth of harmful organisms with their risks of both direct and cross-contamination. In contrast, steam cleaning (at temperatures of 130 to 180 degrees C) removes dirt and dissolves grease at the same time, leaving only a residue of pure water rather than those potentially-dangerous residues.” When using a steam and vac machine the surface is instantly left dry.
Steam Australia’s machines were recently put through tough laboratory and hospital tests in Yorkshire in England. The tests were sponsored by the USA and UK arms of the international Hygenica company to determine the effective killing of microbes and other bacteria in self-generated slime (biofilm) in moist conditions such as kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, etc. The results were impressive. Using steam, 90 to 100% of germs were killed within 3 seconds. According to clinical microbiologist, Dr Peter Kite who led the research, the use of superheated steam marks a major advance in the constant fight against disease-causing microbes.
Back in our club kitchen environment, steam cleaning can produce the same impressive results not only for floors, walls, sinks, storage areas and working surfaces, but for equipment like ovens, stove-tops, range hoods, fryers, refrigerators, coolers and freezers. All can be cleaned and sanitised to ANZFA standards, leaving everything sparkling clean and importantly, mould/germ free.
And Rosenberg says the same applies right throughout the premises, whether it’s a lobby, food serving/display areas, dining room, bar and lounge, gaming area, staffroom, office or restroom.
“Thanks to today’s advanced technology, our new steam cleaning machines can handle any cleaning/sanitising job from tables, chairs and other furniture to upholstery, drapes and blinds, carpets and even windows.”
Summing up, it seems cleaning by steam is certainly something that the clubs, which have not yet made the changeover, should be investigating. According to all the gurus, it’s a win/win/win situation. Clubs can minimise the very real risks of food contamination (and consequently the threats of heavy fines and litigation) yet, at the same time, reduce their labour, energy and chemical cleaning bills. Club patrons can enjoy cleaner, more hygienic and safer surroundings. And last, but by no means
least, as the latest steam machines require no chemicals and use only a small amount of water in the cleaning process, the environment is emerging as the other big winner through less waste chemicals and a saving in water and the energy to heat it.
Steam Australia and Mark Rosenberg can be contacted on 1300 79 50 50. The company’s website is www.steamaustralia.com.au
By Dee Wren |
