Why do you need a steam function in an LG washing machine?

The more modern home appliances are, the more useful additional features they have that people never even considered before. One such feature is the steam function in LG washing machines, which, for some reason, many housewives underestimate. Let's take a closer look at this additional feature to clear up any further questions about how it works.

The meaning of steam treatment

Steam has been used in laundry for many years, with dry cleaners and laundries being the most active users. These establishments use specialized steam generators, which effectively remove stubborn stains, eliminate unpleasant odors from clothing, and kill harmful bacteria. However, ordinary people often believe that steam cleaning is only suitable for industrial-scale cleaning and is completely unnecessary at home. Let's try to prove the benefits of this unusual method.

Housewives are often dissatisfied with the steam program because it doesn't clean dirty clothes. However, the steam function in LG washing machines isn't supposed to do this; it's not a replacement for the main wash cycle, but a complement to it. Steam helps freshen laundry and straighten the fibers, but it doesn't whiten it or remove old stains.

If clothes are loaded into the machine in a crumpled state, steam treatment is not able to treat all areas of the item, since it simply does not have free access to the laundry.

Why do visible results from the program only appear after using both the main wash and steam treatment simultaneously? This is because only this method provides complete treatment for the garment.

• The powder effectively removes stains from berries, grease, tea, blood and more.
• Steam improves the penetration of bleaching detergents into the fabric fibers.
• Additionally, thanks to the steam, the items undergo complete disinfection, after which no germs, fungi or infections remain in the clothes.

Why is steam washing different in effectiveness from laundry or dry cleaning? It's because a washing machine can't evenly treat the entire surface of an item, as steam only reaches the surface of the garment and its surrounding areas. In a laundry, steam is applied to the entire garment to completely remove old stains through prolonged heat exposure.

Steam generation technology

In a washing machine, steam is generated by a small steam generator, which is essentially a small boiler with a heating element installed inside. When it's turned on, water enters the miniature boiler, boils, and then steam escapes through the holes in the boiler.

The steam function in LG washing machines is a feature the manufacturer always heavily promotes, as it significantly increases the machine's price and, therefore, the company's profits. Despite all the hype, this feature has both its pros and cons. Let's start with the pros.

• Fresh laundry. Steam removes virtually all wrinkles and creases from clothes, making ironing significantly easier. Items like wool scarves, shirts, and other delicate fabrics don't need to be ironed at all after steaming. This effect can also be achieved with a household steam cleaner, so there's no need to buy an expensive washing machine with a steam generator.
• Partial stain and odor removal. While this program isn't capable of completely removing stains from clothing, it can remove certain types of stains even without household chemicals, making it especially useful for allergy sufferers who must wash their clothes without detergent. The quality of dirt removal depends on the type of dirt, the type of fabric, the amount of clothes loaded into the drum, the power of the steam generator and the selected work cycle.
• Disinfecting clothes without boiling water. One of the main advantages of a steam generator is its ability to kill all bacteria without damaging your clothes. This prevents the growth of mold, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms, without ruining the color or shape of your clothes. While steam treatment isn't 100% effective, it will definitely significantly reduce pollen, harmful microbes, and other allergens.

Steam treatment does not occur at a high enough temperature to ensure complete sterility of the fabric, so it is better to continue washing baby clothes using the baby wash cycle.

Now that we've covered the program's advantages, all that's left is to identify the disadvantages. They're few, but very important.

• Scale buildup is especially problematic in areas with poor-quality hard water. Hard water causes salt deposits to form on heating elements. Consequently, the hotter the heating element, the faster scale builds up, leading to failure of the heating element responsible for steam generation. In such conditions, the only solution is to install a filter to soften the tap water beforehand.
• The high price is due to this feature being considered a premium feature. Because of this, steam-powered appliances often cost twice as much as those without. It's also worth noting that steam generation consumes more resources, which will lead to higher utility bills. Finally, a steam generator increases the load on the power supply, increasing the risk of your "home assistant" malfunctioning, which will also lead to additional costs.

Ultimately, the steam function in the LG washing machine is truly useful, as it can remove unpleasant odors and a variety of stains from clothes, as well as add softness and volume. However, a steam generator is definitely not necessary, as it's prohibitively expensive, and clothes can be steamed using an iron or a handheld steamer.

   

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