A clean house is a universally admired thing. Even those of us who might scoff at perfectly kept homes still secretly wish ours were as tidy. We all want a showcase home. A clean home isn’t just a delight to the eye, however; a really clean home can be a haven for someone with allergies.

Getting your home squeaky clean can be a bit of a two-edged sword for some people, though. In one way, you know that everything is clean, because you’ve meticulously scrubbed it down with effective, germ-killing chemical cleaners. In another way, you’ve potentially aggravated another allergy by introducing a harsh cleaning agent, sometimes with added fragrances that can elicit a whole separate set of reactions.

There is a simple answer is to clean your home more thoroughly with less effort and no chemicals. Sound too good to be true? Nope. It’s one of the most elementary things out there, present every day in kitchens and bathrooms. Steam.

Steam itself can be an astonishingly effective cleaner. Modern steam cleaning devices, not to be confused with old-school deep steam carpet cleaners, are one of the most useful household tools on the market. With one device, you can clean just about any surface, eradicate dust mites and fleas, and loosen the wrinkles out of your clothing. All with the simple power of water.

An Elegant Solution

Using superheated, pressurized steam to clean solves many of the problems that sensitive people worry about. Dangerous chemicals aren’t necessary, making it an environmentally responsible cleaning method. It uses only tiny amounts of tap water, and even that small amount is enough to clean an immense amount of space. Steam, especially the dry steam used in steam cleaning units, starts out at about 600 degrees F and cools to about 300 degrees F by the time it comes in contact with surfaces in your home. This is still more than enough to kill bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and dust mites.

There is no residue to worry about afterwards, and no allergy-inducing smells. The particular kind of steam used in these cleaners is usually only about 6% water. This means that dirt and grime get lifted easily, and surfaces are almost instantly dry again.

The Heat Treatment

It cannot be stressed enough that steam cleaning thoroughly gets rid of a lot of live allergens. Fleas and dust mites eggs, larvae, and adults simply can’t survive the extreme temperatures involved. Bacteria and viruses certainly can’t. Even the really tricky irritants, like mold spores and bedbugs aren’t proof against this kind of heat.

Luckily for us, surfaces treated with steam are almost instantly touchable and useable again. Some care should be taken about which surfaces you clean this way. Paper, for instance, does not hold up well, for obvious reasons. Unsealed hardwood floors are also a no-no, because excessive heat can warp and dry out wood.

Pretty much anything else within reason is fair game. This includes hard surfaces like tile, laminate, glass, and sealed wood. Soft furnishings like upholstered furniture, drapes, carpets, and pillows can all be cleaned this way, but will require a simple wipe afterwards to remove any potential dirty residues (just because the steam lifts the dirt doesn’t mean it sucks it up like a vacuum). Even children’s grubby toys (both hard ones and stuffed animals) can get a quick sanitary once-over with next to no effort.

Makes and Models

There are different designs of steam cleaners available, depending on what you need. For smaller spaces and items, a handheld model may be the perfect choice. Lightweight and maneuverable, with a fast heat-up time, these little wonders make short work of bathrooms, countertops, or curtains. Have a little more space to spruce up? A steam floor mop is a great option. Built with a larger reservoir, these steamers can go a long time without refilling while still eating away at pollutants, grime, and germs.

Steam and Safety

Using a steam cleaner is simple, safe, and straightforward. This doesn’t mean that you cannot get a painful burn if you are careless or use it in a way not recommended by the manufacturers. What is proof against germs can also be painful for us. Be sure to read all the instructions before charging around on your first wild cleaning spree.