What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Steam Washing Machine?
Laundry room remodels are among the most common home improvement projects that homeowners take on. When you’re looking to save as much money as possible on your remodel, choosing energy-efficient appliances is always an excellent choice. You’ll not only end up with a remodel that virtually pays for itself, but you’ll also have a remodel that is cheaper upfront since laundry rooms are usually small in size.
If you’ve recently been shopping around for a new washing machine, you may have noticed that many models have a new “steam wash” setting. These steam washers have a special cycle that, instead of releasing water, releases steam in the tub that cleans your clothes. You may find yourself wondering if these steam washing machines are worth considering and what advantages they could offer your laundry days.
Since the steam used in a steam washing machine increases the temperature inside of the tub, the fibers of your clothing can more effectively absorb water to break down dirt and stains. The detergent will dissolve quickly with higher temperatures, killing off bacteria. Steam washing machines’ high temperatures also reduce wrinkles, sanitize clothing, and diminish allergens. These machines are not without their drawbacks, though, including limited options, high price points, and questionable practicality.
Ultimately, the additional cost of a steam washer will be justified based on your specific needs and how you plan to use your washing machine.
With that said, let’s take a look at steam washers in further detail to understand how they work, their advantages and disadvantages, how much they cost, and who would benefit from having a steam washing machine in their home.
How a Steam Washing Machine Works
The steam washing cycle may vary depending on the brand of the machine that you have. In some models, the steam function is a minor bonus that adds freshness to your linens and in others, it’s a comprehensive feature that removes contaminants from the wash. Steam deep cleans your clothing in a way that simply water and detergent cannot.
A steam generator is located at the back of the washer, with a filler valve tube attached to it. Water enters the tank through this tube and steam enters the tube through a rubber tube that is attached to the steam generator. With this function, your clothing can be cleaned and disinfected without getting them wet. Though, in most cases, steam washers use a combination of steam and water to clean clothes. According to the washing patent from LG, here’s how steam cleaning works:
- Pre-wash phase: While the water enters the washtub, steam works with the water to soak your clothing more thoroughly than just water would.
- During the wash phase: If the steam is added while the detergent is mixed with water, it increases the temperature inside the tub to enhance cleaning power. This also activates the detergent, by dissolving it more effectively to get the most out of it.
- Post-wash phase: When steam is added after the wash, higher temperatures are created to sanitize the clothing. It also softens the fabrics to eradicate any hard wrinkles that may have formed while the clothes were tossed around in the tub.
If you opt for a steam washer and dryer set, the steam provides a final sanitation for the clothing and removes wrinkles further.
Pros of Steam Washing Machines
There are a number of benefits associated with opting for a steam washing machine or a washer that is equipped with a steam feature. Some of these include:
- Tough on grime. Steam washers clean your clothes in a more effective way than conventional washing machines. The steam penetrates deep into the fibers to lift out stains and dirt, while also eliminating bacteria. It makes the temperatures of the wash hotter, which also detergent to dissolve quicker and work more effectively as well.
- Safely cleans delicate items. Steam cycles are excellent for cleaning your delicate items, saving you a trip to the dry cleaning. This saves you time and, depending on how much clothing you usually send out for cleaning, may save you a lot of money over the long run.
- Reduces wrinkles. The high temperatures of the steam soften fabrics, which helps to remove wrinkles that become deeply embedded into your clothing during spin cycles.
- Eliminates allergens. In addition to killing bacteria, the high-heat steam effectively removes allergens such as pet dander and dust mites.
Cons of Steam Washing Machines
Like any major home appliance, steam washers come with some disadvantages that should be considered before you make such a big investment. The cons of steam washing machines include:
- Limited options. Although steam washing machines are starting to slowly become more common, there are still only a few manufacturers that offer them.
- High price point. Simply put, steam washing machines do not come cheap. The model from Whirlpool is the most affordable, which is slightly under $1,000. Though, you can expect to pay a pretty hefty price for a steam cleaning machine from any other major brand.
- Questionable practicality. There is currently some debate regarding the practicality of these steam washing machines. Consumer Reports claim that stain removal is virtually the same with or without the introduction of steam. They also found that with most steam washing machines they tested, the steam option caused the machines to use more water and more energy.
- Higher electric costs. Although steam washing machines typically use less water and less energy in general, cycles tend to be slightly longer with these appliances. As such, you may end up spending more on electric costs than you would with a conventional washer. However, this will depend on the cycles that you use. Very rapid spin cycles can reduce dryer time needed, which may make up for some lost energy savings.
Who Would Benefit from a Steam Washer?
Steam is understood by many to be an excellent option if you either need very clean clothing or you have exceptionally dirty clothing to wash. It can also be a great choice if you’re concerned about wrinkles or allergens. With that said, you may benefit from a steam washing machine if:
- Your work or hobbies involve getting very dirty. For example, if you work at a hospital, with machinery, or you’re an artist. Also, if you enjoy the outdoors, frequently work in a garden, or do anything that causes you to sweat through your clothing.
- You or someone in your household is highly sensitive to allergens. The higher the temperature, the more effective the wash is at killing bacteria and dust mites. Not to mention, it would be very convenient to remove viruses and germs off of towels and bedding from someone who was just sick with the flu.
- You frequently treat stains or are particular about your clothes getting as clean as possible. Steam is very effective at loosening dirt from fibers, which helps with stain removal. Deep cleaning using steam has been proven to be most effective for stain removal and may make pre-soaking a thing of the past.
Make sure that you know these Samsung washing machine error codes.
How Much Do Steam Washing Machines Cost?
Although most steam washing machines are on the higher end of the price spectrum, there is one model (from Whirlpool) that is available for $1,000 or less. It’s important to note, though, that not all steam features are equal. They will vary from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer in terms of temperature achieved and intensity. Depending on the number of cycles and various additional technology features, steam washers could cost as much as $2,000.
When shopping for a steam washer, make sure you take the time to ask about the specific steam feature it has. Also, confirm what temperature the washer reaches so you can evaluate whether the cost of the machine is worth it. Paying for a steam feature ultimately depends on how efficient the steam is, how often you plan to use the cycle, and what the price difference is between that washer and one without steam.
Related Questions
Do steam washing machines shrink clothes?
Generally speaking, it’s not the steam itself that will cause your clothes to shrink, but rather the prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Therefore, if you’re at all concerned about your clothes shrinking, make sure that you read the care label on your clothes before you wash them in a steam washer, steam dryer, or even use a clothing steamer.To avoid possible shrinking, wash by hand in cold water with a small amount of detergent. If that’s not possible, then wash on a delicate setting in cool water and hang dry or set the dryer to the lowest setting possible.
Can steam washing machines kill bed bugs?
Bed bugs have one main weakness: heat. Provided that the temperature in your steam washing machine is high enough, you can use it to kill bed bugs. Bed bugs will survive in a washing machine if you use cold water. For best results, make sure you use the hottest temperature that your fabrics can safely handle in both your washer and dryer.
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Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home. Being a Los Angeles resident, Jessica spends a lot of her time looking for her next DIY project and sharing her love for home design.
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