Why More and More Car Detailers Are Switching to Dry Steam Technology

8 Minutes

The world of car detailing is changing. Whereas in the past, cleaning mainly involved using large amounts of water, extraction cleaners and various chemical products, more and more professional car detailers are choosing a more efficient way of cleaning: dry steam technology.

The reason is simple. Cleaning a car interior with steam delivers a deep-cleaning result while significantly reducing water consumption, drying time and the use of chemical products. For professional detailers, this means not only a cleaner interior, but also faster working times, the ability to treat more vehicles per day, shorter drying times and the opportunity to offer a more sustainable cleaning method.

Why are car detailers switching to steam?

Less water, faster results

A traditionally cleaned interior can contain a lot of moisture. Seats, floor mats and fabric upholstery in particular need time to dry completely. Dry steam technology uses much less water. This means a vehicle can be returned to the customer sooner and drying time is reduced. This is particularly interesting for car detailing businesses, leasing companies and fleet operators, but also for businesses that clean large numbers of company vehicles or other heavily used vehicles.

Less dependence on chemical cleaners

Traditionally, various interior cleaners and chemical products are used to tackle different types of dirt. Dry steam technology works differently. The combination of high temperature and pressure helps loosen dirt, grease and deposits, making you less dependent on aggressive cleaning products.

Would you still like to use a cleaning product for specific types of dirt? There are products that work very well in combination with steam cleaning. For example, The Clean Experience offers Bio Steam Clean: an ecologically biodegradable cleaner specially suited for use with steam technology.

  • A cleaner working environment
  • Lower costs per treatment
  • Less impact on materials and the environment
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Professional cleaning in hard-to-reach areas

It is often the small details that make the difference between a standard interior cleaning and professional car detailing. Dirt builds up in seams, crevices and hard-to-reach areas, making it difficult to remove completely with a cloth or vacuum cleaner. The concentrated steam jet loosens dirt from small spaces, after which it can easily be removed.

For example:

  • Air vents and hard-to-reach openings
  • Seams, crevices and joints
  • Buttons, switches and control panels
  • Door handles, seat rails and small storage compartments
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How do you clean a car with dry steam?

Cleaning a car interior with dry steam does not start with steaming straight away. By first removing loose dirt and then targeting different types of contamination, you can get more out of your cleaning process. The exact steps you follow naturally depend on the condition of the interior and the material you are cleaning.

1. Vacuum up loose dirt first

Start by using the vacuum function of the steam extraction vacuum cleaner. Remove loose dirt, sand, dust and other surface debris before you start steaming. This prevents you from spreading it further across the surface during cleaning.

2. Tackle mineral contamination

In upholstery, mineral contamination can build up alongside ordinary dirt. This includes, for example, residues left behind by water or sweat that have penetrated the fabric. For this, you can use a mildly acidic upholstery cleaner. You can then steam the upholstery while vacuuming at the same time.

Most TCE steam machines also have a Hydro-Jet function, which allows you to add extra water to the steam jet. By using the Hydro-Jet and vacuum functions simultaneously, you can effectively rinse heavily soiled areas out of the upholstery. Ideal for stubborn stains.

3. Remove grease and organic contamination

After tackling mineral contamination, you can move on to organic contamination. This mainly includes body oils, sweat and other dirt that has built up in the upholstery.

For this, use a suitable degreaser, such as Bio Steam Clean | Citrus, and then work with steam and vacuuming simultaneously. The steam helps loosen the dirt, while the vacuum function immediately removes the loosened dirt and moisture.

4. Give stubborn stains extra treatment

Do you come across stubborn stains during cleaning? You can use the Hydro-Jet function to apply extra water and rinse the area. This allows you to steam the area, add extra water and then vacuum it up immediately.

By using extra water only where needed, you do not have to use large amounts of water as standard.

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5. Clean seams, crevices and edges with a detailing nozzle

A compact steam nozzle is ideal for smaller and hard-to-reach areas. Think of the seams between seats, door gaps, edges and other places where sand and dirt accumulate. A useful accessory for this is the steam lance, which allows you to direct the steam precisely where needed. Any remaining water droplets can then easily be wiped away with a thick microfibre cloth.

6. Clean plastic surfaces

For larger plastic surfaces, you can use a steam glove or a soft nylon brush, for example. These allow you to thoroughly clean surfaces such as dashboards, door panels and other plastic components.

Always use the correct attachment on sensitive surfaces and, if in doubt, test on an inconspicuous area first.

7. Don’t forget the details

With car detailing, the difference is often in the small details. Air vents, seams, switches and other hard-to-reach areas can be tackled with a concentrated dry steam jet. Did you know that you can not only clean air vents with steam, but also give them a fresh scent using Acqua Clean | Aloe Vera?

Various accessories are also available for specific types of dirt, such as dog hair, allowing you to work in a targeted way. One example is the TCE turbo brush.

8. Clean the car paintwork and, if necessary, the engine bay

Steam technology is not only suitable for the interior. Steam can also be used to clean the engine bay and remove dirt from the car’s paintwork.

For the engine bay, you can use a targeted steam jet to loosen grease, oil and other dirt. By working precisely, you can also clean hard-to-reach areas without using unnecessary amounts of water.

Steam can also be used on car paintwork to loosen surface dirt. For this, use the steam lance and a clean, high-quality microfibre cloth. Hold the steam lance in one hand and the cloth in the other. Direct the steam towards the paintwork from a distance of approximately 20 centimetres, directing the steam towards the cloth. This allows the loosened dirt and moisture to be absorbed directly by the cloth.

This method allows you to work in a controlled way across the surface, leaving it clean and dry. Always use a clean cloth and make sure you continue working with a clean section of the cloth to prevent loosened dirt from being spread back across the paintwork. For sensitive or delicate surfaces, it is advisable to test the method on an inconspicuous area first.

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9. Clean the windows

You can also include the windows in your cleaning process. Steam and a good microfibre cloth can be used to remove dirt and deposits from the glass. The steam helps loosen the dirt, after which you can finish the surface with the microfibre cloth for a clean, clear result.

10. Allow the interior to dry properly

When cleaning with dry steam, you use relatively little moisture. TCE machines use patented dry steam technology, with a moisture content of approximately 3–10%. How quickly the interior dries depends on the material, the cleaning method used and how much additional water you have applied.

With a properly performed cleaning process, drying time is generally between approximately 15 minutes and 3 hours. If you have used extra water to rinse out a stubborn stain, that particular area may naturally take a little longer to dry.

Personalised advice for your interior

No two car interiors or cleaning methods are the same. Choosing the right steam cleaner therefore depends not only on what you want to clean, but also on how many vehicles you treat, how you work and what results you want to achieve.

That is why we are happy to help you find the right machine and accessories for your situation. During a free demonstration at your business premises, you can experience for yourself what steam cleaning can mean for your work. Our adviser will show you how the machine works, discuss the different possibilities and provide practical advice on the right techniques and accessories.

Would you prefer to see the machines first? You are very welcome to visit our showroom in Barneveld. Please make an appointment beforehand so that we can make time for you.

Curious which steam cleaner is right for your business? Explore our full range of steam cleaners and accessories for car detailing or contact us on +31 (0)342 701 205.

Request information
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References

"Melt, suck it up and be done!"

De Texelse Chocolatier

“The steam cleaner is easy to use and easily removes chocolate from the floor. With a few strokes it is clean and dry, because it works with steam the chocolate is melted in no time and you can easily vacuum it with the steam extraction vacuum cleaner. It also comes with handy brushes for the wheels of the workbenches, for example, so you clean these easily too.”

"Really clean in half the time!"

Luigi’s Ice cream parlor

Astrid Miltenburg

“We bought the TCE steam vacuum cleaner M8 Athena with electric brush initially for hygienic cleaning of the store floor of our ice cream parlor. It steams, scrubs, vacuums and pulls the floor really clean and almost completely dry. But with all the included attachments we now do more than just the floor. Our stainless steel worktops and ice cream display case also become flawlessly clean and shine like new. Awkward spots are no problem at all. We clean the windows in half the time than before, with better results. We can no longer do without it, because with this steam vacuum cleaner we work cleaner, more efficiently and with a lot of pleasure!”

 

"Steam beats water!"

Steam Up, Eindhoven

Ralf Frickel

“The TCE M8 from The Clean Experience bv, meets our needs because it is a professional but handy machine. A favorite accessory is the electric scrub-shampooing steam brush. It works easily on a rechargeable battery and the result never ceases to positively amaze me. Last but not least, steam is also capable of removing up to 99.99 percent of germs and bacteria from a wide variety of surfaces. Still, nice to know that not only does it look clean, but it really is clean.”

 

"Our bakery is visibly and tangibly cleaner than before"

Bakery Willemsen, Borne

Dennis Willemsen

“Our bakery is visibly and palpably cleaner than before we used The Clean Experience’s machine. We were looking for a machine that could effortlessly clean the oven, as well as the plastic ceiling of our bakery. Both rather tricky jobs, because it’s hard to reach.”