Wall steam cleaner
- Thread starter Islandguy
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Mikey P
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Yes, there are excellent commercial machines for this. What you are looking for is technically called a Commercial Dry Vapor Steam Cleaner.
Unlike the "cheap little floor steamers" (which often produce wet, heavy steam), commercial units produce "dry" steam (usually only about 5% water content) at much higher temperatures (typically 300°F+ internally). This is critical for walls because it minimizes runoff and prevents soaking the drywall or damaging the paint adhesion.
Here are the top commercial-grade options that fit your criteria of "not cheap, but good."
1. Dupray (Top Tier)
Dupray is widely considered the gold standard for commercial steam cleaning. They use high-grade stainless steel boilers and Italian engineering.
* The Model to look at: Dupray Hill Injection or the Carmen Super Inox (if you want integrated vacuum extraction).
* Why it fits:
* Continuous Refill: You can add water while the machine is running. You don't have to turn it off, depressurize, and wait for it to cool down to refill it.
* Heat: It reaches up to 345°F.
* Pressure: Adjustable up to 121 PSI.
* Durability: These are built for daily, heavy abuse.
2. Chief Steamer
This is a favorite among professional detailers and commercial cleaners because they offer high specs at a slightly lower price point than Dupray, but with incredible durability.
* The Model to look at: Chief Steamer Refill 100 or 125.
* Why it fits:
* It is a heavy-duty, stainless steel workhorse.
* It comes with a variety of robust attachments, including large rectangular heads that are perfect for walls.
* It specifically produces very dry vapor, which is exactly what you need for vertical surfaces.
3. Vapor Clean
Vapor Clean offers industrial units that are slightly more utilitarian but very effective.
* The Model to look at: The Pro6 Duo or Desiderio Plus.
* Why it fits:
* The Desiderio model includes vacuum extraction. This allows you to steam the wall and immediately suck up any loosened grime or moisture, which is the safest way to clean a painted wall without leaving streaks.
Critical Features for Wall Cleaning
When buying one of these machines, ensure you check for these three things:
* Continuous Fill: As mentioned above, for commercial work, stopping for 20 minutes to let a boiler cool down is unacceptable. Ensure the machine has a dual-tank system.
* The "Mop" Head with Clips: You generally do not want to blast live steam directly onto a painted wall (it can blow the paint off).
* The Technique: You use the large rectangular floor tool, clip a thick microfiber towel over it, and steam through the towel. The steam superheats the towel to dissolve grease/smoke/grime, and the towel instantly wipes it away.
* Dry Steam Output: Ensure the specs say "Dry Vapor." If the machine spits hot water, it will create run marks on the walls that are very difficult to fix.
A Note on "Painted" Walls
Even with a commercial machine, latex paint is sensitive to heat.
* Gloss/Semi-Gloss: cleans beautifully with dry steam.
* Flat/Matte Paint: Be extremely careful. Even high-end dry steam can "burnish" flat paint, leaving shiny spots where you rubbed. Always test a hidden spot first.
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