Using a hand held steam cleaner to detail vintage machines

[pr-21]

Just wondering if anyone uses a handheld steamer to detail vintage vacuums or is this something one should not due. Can it harm or crack any of the parts? I usually use lots of qtips, lysol mostly undeluded, micro fiber cloths, magic eraser, and windex.

Any help or opinions would be very much appreciated.


Thank You in advance for your help.

PR-21
Bud Mattingly

 

[tolivac]

wouldn't steam possibly damage some painted surfaces?And it could melt plastic parts.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Exactly!

I wouldn't use one. Just my opinion. IF it damaged anything, you'd never forgive yourself. Perhaps try it on something not so special. I think, though, that the heat alone would be detrimental.

 

[pr-21]

Thank You for the replies

Thank you for the replies, I was mainly going to steam clean the wheels and underside of metal bodied vacuums. I was afraid the response would be not to do it and I will not, but it was worth a shot.....



Bud Mattingly
PR-21

 

[kenmore81]

Ive used steam on metal and some plastics. As long as you dont put the nozzle right on the surface I dont thinks theres a problem. Ive even steamed vinyl bags without a problem, just not where any writing is. That goes for plastics to. Id be afraid the lettering would get damaged.

 

[sarasvacshack]

Steamers

work great on parts like wheels, heavy plastics, inside nozzle heads, inside attachments, etc. Be very wary of steaming dark colored plastics, like blue, black or red, as the plastic can become discolored from the heat. If you do not place the nozzle of the steamer too close to the part, you are in good shape though. We steam clean all of our Electrolux and Kirby vacuum bodies to cut down on the time required to parts wash.

 

[sebo_fan]

I used a steam cleaner and yes it broke a plastic housing off one of my Hoover Junior models. It's better if you can find the spray cans of pressurized air as you can use different straw sized attachment rods for minimising the blast. Also ask your local dental hospital or dentist to where you can source dental tooth pick/scrapers from - they are brilliant for literally picking out dust out of difficult areas as the ones Colgate sell are good for your teeth but don't have strong necks and are liable to break.