Green Cleaning: Steam Cleaning in Manufacturing and Food/Beverage Processing

In our recent blog, we discuss not only the history of steam cleaners, but more importantly we talk about the emergence of dry vapor steam cleaners within the US market.

In the post, Green Cleaning: The History of Steam Cleaners, we explain that dry vapor cleaning is an economical, eco-friendly and effective form of cleaning. At Goodway, we’re finding that these cleaners are particularly useful to the manufacturing and food/beverage processing industries.

Dry vapor steam produces vapor with as little as 5% moisture content. Using only water, substances such as stubborn grease, oil, dirt and other residues can be cleaned from all kinds of surfaces, even small holes, and crevices, without any need for chemicals.

In the manufacturing industry, dry vapor steam cleaning is used to clean small parts, tubes, switches, sensors, moving parts, and areas that can’t be reached with cloths or most other cleaning tools. Often with vapor steam cleaning, it’s not even necessary to dismantle parts because this form of pressurized cleaning can push water through even the smallest holes.

In food and beverage processing facilities, dry vapor steam cleaning is used to dissolve grease, oils or other types of residues on stoves, hoods, burners, vents, and even ceilings. Vapor steam cleaning is also effective at cleaning and sanitizing conveyor belts and other types of machinery used in food and beverage processing.

One of the cleaning challenges facing all companies today is the labor intensity involved in cleaning water-sensitive, computer-controlled equipment.

With dry vapor steam cleaning, you don’t need to use chemicals to clean equipment. Additionally, because of the cleaning method’s low moisture content, it leaves equipment dry and ready for immediate use.

Dry vapor steam is safer to use around electrical equipment as well as inside control panels that wet steam or water. Cleaning is also accomplished easily during production times, which means you don’t have to worry about downtime.

Many industry leaders and facility managers are recognizing the need to restrict the use of chemicals for both employee safety and the health of the environment. Even OSHA “sets enforceable permissible exposure limits (PELs) to protect workers against the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.”

Vapor steam cleaning doesn’t use any chemicals, so PELs attributable to cleaning with chemicals are of no concern in facilities that use this green technology. But dry vapor steam cleaning, because of its high temperature, is still able to kill microorganisms. And the pressurized steam vapor also removes allergens from equipment and other surfaces.

Goodway’s commercial heavy-duty Vapor-Steam Cleaner, GVC-18000, is powerful and compact. Its two stainless steel boilers heat the water, providing a variable output pressure of 0-145 PSI and an output temperature of 290 degrees Fahrenheit. The unit can produce continuous steam at 7-9 gallons per hour. It also comes with hoses and various cleaning tool attachments to reach all cracks and crevices.

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