Steam Vapour Sanitation: A Better Method For Hard Surfaces

by: Rick Hoverson

Steam vapour sanitation enables cleaning hard and porous surfaces more thoroughly than conventional methods - which helps improve appearance, indoor air quality and safety - while minimizing chemical use and labour costs.

A steam vapour system facilitates applying low pressure steam ranging from 215 to 230 degrees Fahrenheit through a set of insulated tools to sanitize, clean and deodorize various surfaces.

Steam sterilization used in autoclaving requires 258 to 258 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period to destroy all living organisms, including spores.

Potent, Safe Sanitizing

Heat has been proven to sanitize, disinfect and even sterilize objects and is the most well-known germ killing agent.

According to researchers at the University of Sioux Falls, moist heat provides the advantage of rapid penetration to facilitate protein coagulation, which kills microbial organisms.

Moist heat also has the ability to break down and destroy biofilms, which are protective coatings of bacteria-generated slime that enable germs to resist standard disinfectants.

Trapping Steam

The surface temperatures achieved through the use of a steam vapour system are developed by holding the tool close to or in contact with the surface to be sanitized, confining the low pressure steam to a localized area.

This maximizes the energy (heat) carried my the steam vapour and minimizes the need for scrubbing.

When the steam vapour is free to expand into the atmosphere, it cools rapidly as it leaves the tool orifice.

This fact is important to note as it relates to ease of use and control as well as operator safety.

Because the steam is saturated, it contains very little water, only 5 to 6 percent, enough to effect emulsification of grease, oils and all types of surface soils.

This makes a little water go a long way - the system will consume between one and one and a half quarts of water per hour of use.

Meeting the Mold Challenge

Steam vapour penetrates deep into surfaces where typical cleaning methods can't reach.

Superheated steam, by definition, provides a fine water mist that carries energy in the form of heat.

Compared to other methods, this heat penetrates far deeper into porous areas, such as grout substrates, to remove mold, as well as surface soils that feed molds.

Results are visibly superior and prevent the return of the mold for up to 6 to 8 weeks.

This mold-free period can be extended almost indefinitely with quick periodic cleaning, using the system on a regular basis.

As an added bonus, toxic or offensive chemicals are not needed and harmful exposures are minimized.

Unlike strong chemical treatments, steam vapour sanitation will not damage the substrate.

In fact, the surface will be easier to clean in the future because the surface is not degraded.

Pros and Cons

In case studies where steam vapour systems have been used, in such settings as health care, hospitality, university and school environments, results have been positive.

Users report that these systems are easy to use, reduce chemical use, produce visually better results compared to traditional cleaning methods, offer less call backs and reduce labour times.

Equipment cost amortized over a 5 year (conservative) lifespan, including wear and tear, is less than $1.50 a day.

Other considerations such as reduced water consumption, reduced workers compensation claims, improved worker morale, improved indoor environmental quality, less facility degradation through misuse/abuse of chemical cleaners, less possible future liability pertaining to multiple chemical sensitivity, and other chemical exposure can also be achieved by professional cleaning operations.

Rick Hoverson is a steam vapour system consultant and principal of Advanced Vapour Technologies, Edmonds, WA.