10 Surprising Ways to Use a Clothes Steamer for Household Chores

A clothes steamer is a convenient laundry tool that can remove wrinkles from clothes and freshen your dry-clean only items. But the multifunctional appliance can do so much more than care for your garments. The high heat from the steam is an effective disinfectant that can sanitize and clean many household items, including windows, curtains, and more. To realize the full potential of your clothes steamer, we're sharing several surprising household chores you can accomplish with the versatile tool.

Removing Grease

Hot steam is an excellent way to break down grease and oil. "The high temperature breaks down the grease and makes it easy to wipe away," says Jennifer Parnell, co-founder of Humble Suds. "It is excellent for cleaning stove tops, ovens, stove exhaust fans, the grill, and much more." To use your steamer as a degreaser, fill it with distilled water and hold it close to the area of build-up for a few seconds. "Once the grease breaks down, wipe it away with a microfiber towel," says Parnell. Clean the area with an all-purpose cleaner to remove leftover residue.

Sanitizing Countertops

You can use your steamer to clean non-porous countertops as long as its temperature gets high enough to kill off bacteria and germs. "Turn up your steamer to between 250 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit," says Kathy Cohoon, the director of franchise operations of Two Maids. "Run the steamer over the countertops and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth."

Cleaning Your Couch

If your couch doesn't have removable covers, you can use your steamer to clean it. Start by vacuuming the couch to remove any loose debris and pre-treating any stains. "Steam the couch by running your garment steamer over it," says Parnell. "If a good amount of moisture was accumulated, use a hair dryer to dry it." Check your couch's care tag to ensure steaming is a suitable cleaning method—for example, you should never steam velour couches.

Refreshing Curtains

Give curtains new life by running a steamer over them, which removes wrinkles and sanitizes all at once. "To avoid clogs or grime, vacuum or lint roll curtains first to remove hair, dust, or dry debris," says Cohoon. "Then steam curtains as you would clothing and repeat as needed." Do not use this method on curtains that are dry-clean only, says Parnell.

Cleaning Grout

Steaming grout is one of the most effective ways to flush out built up dirt and grime, says Parnell. To do so, point your steamer towards the grout and drag it along the line. Keep the steamer about 8 to 10 inches away from the tile to avoid over saturating it. "The dirt and stains should lift," says Parnell. "Wipe them away with a microfiber towel."

Defrosting the Freezer

Cleaning your freezer can be difficult when ice builds up on the walls and dividers. When done carefully, you can use your steamer to defrost your freezer. "Empty the freezer as you would for a normal defrosting," says Cohoon. "Then use the steamer on a higher setting and work from the back of the freezer to the front to help defrost. Avoid getting the steamer wet."

Cleaning Shower Doors

Steam is great for streak-free cleaning of glass and sanitizing shower doors, says Cohoon. "Clean your door as usual, then steam the surface and wipe excess moisture with a squeegee," she says. Just make sure that when you use your steamer on glass, you use distilled water to avoid water stains and build-up.

Cleaning Windows

If you have a hard time cleaning windows without leaving streaks, try steaming them for a sparkling finish. "Run the steamer from top to bottom. Quickly follow with a squeegee. Wipe away any areas that can't be reached with the squeegee," says Parnell. "Do not steam windows if it is cold outside—the extreme temperature difference could damage your window."

Cleaning Your Car

Detail your car from home with your steamer. "Steamers are great for getting those hard-to-reach spots in the car and sanitizing and cleaning the inside of your vehicle," says Cohoon. "Clean the inside of the car as usual and vacuum. Then steam those hard-to-reach areas, windows, and even upholstery."

Cleaning Mirrors

Use your steamer on a low heat setting to clean mirrors. "Run your steamer across in an up and down motion until it is completed fogged," says Parnell. "Follow up with a squeegee or microfiber towel."