Steam jet vs. Pressure washer: these are the differences

Anyone thinking about purchasing a suitable steam jet or high-pressure cleaner will inevitably stumble across their differences. Both devices work with water and pressure, but are used for completely different purposes.

Differences in cleaning: steam jet or high pressure cleaner?

Whether you choose a pressure washer or a steam jet, each works in its own way, cleanly and thoroughly. One thing is certain: The use of these devices saves a lot of time and effort when cleaning in and around the house. Before buying, you should think about the purpose of the application and the location. Baked, greasy dirt needs heat to loosen it, you can only clean a walkway effectively with a hard water jet. The costs are moderate for both devices. Our CHIP test shows that you can get a good pressure washer from around 50 euros. The prices for steam jets start at around 40 euros.

Pressure washers can be used in a variety of ways

High-pressure cleaners are mainly used outdoors. Whether in vehicle maintenance or on sidewalks, water combined with pressure dissolves pretty much any pollution. It can even be used in roof and pipe cleaning. When you think about purchasing such a device, you are first faced with the question: 'Hot or cold?' The common high-pressure cleaners are operated with cold water. All you need is a conventional garden hose and a power connection. In the hot water variant, which is suitable for greasy soiling, there is an electrical unit for heating tap water in addition to the high-pressure pump. Here, in contrast to the steam jet, the water is not heated above 100 degrees. The use of a hot water high pressure cleaner is recommended if a long hose cannot be connected. Pressure washers reach their limits when it comes to indoor dirt. The massive use of water would cause severe flooding here.

When buying a pressure washer, you should pay attention to high-quality devices if you want to use them with both cold and warm water. Most of the pistons in the professional device are built with high-performance ceramics. Inexpensive devices only use cast aluminum. In order to avoid scratches and damage when cleaning the vehicle, the pressure of the high-pressure cleaner should be adjustable. You can get a good high-pressure cleaner from 50 euros, for example the K2 from Kärcher.

Steam jets are suitable for indoor use

Steam jets are preferred for indoor use. They use steam at a temperature of over 100 degrees to clean surfaces deep into the pores. Because they only vaporize steam, you don't have to be afraid of unwanted flooding. The purchase of a steam jet is particularly worthwhile for allergy sufferers. The fine steam makes it possible to get down to the smallest gaps and crevices when cleaning. This effectively kills bacteria and mites. Steam jets are considered to be particularly environmentally friendly because they completely eliminate the use of cleaning agents.

When purchasing, make sure that you need a portable steam jet or just want to clean the floors with a vacuum cleaner-like device, such as the Vileda Steam. You can get a good steam jet for as little as 40 euros.

The tips in our next article will save you valuable time when cleaning.