Why is the steam function needed in an LG washing machine?

steam function in washing machine The more modern household appliances are, the more useful additional options they have that people never even thought about before. One of these is the steam function in the LG washing machine, which for some reason is underestimated by many housewives. We will analyze this additional feature in detail so that no one has any more questions about its operating principle.

The meaning of steam treatment

Steam has been used in washing for many years - dry cleaners and laundries use this technology most actively. In these organizations, special steam generators are installed for steam treatment, which can effectively remove stubborn stains, eliminate unpleasant odors from clothes, and also kill harmful bacteria. At the same time, ordinary people often believe that steam treatment is only relevant on an industrial scale, and is completely unnecessary at home. Let's try to prove the benefits of this unusual regime.

Housewives are often dissatisfied with the steam treatment program because it does not wash dirty clothes. However, the fact is that the steam function in the LG washing machine should not do this, because it is not a replacement for the main wash, but an addition to it. Steam treatment helps to freshen the laundry and straighten the fibers of the fabric, but does not whiten it or remove old stains.

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

For what reason does the visible result from the program appear only after simultaneous use of the main wash and steam treatment? This is due to the fact that this is the only way that clothes can be processed in a comprehensive manner. steam function is harmless to things

The powder helps effectively remove stains from berries, fat, tea, blood and more.
Steam improves the penetration of bleaching cleaning agents into fabric fibers.
Additionally, thanks to the steam, things also undergo complete disinfection, after which no germs, fungi or infections remain in the clothes.

Why is steam washing different in terms of efficiency from washing or dry cleaning? This is due to the fact that in a washing machine it is impossible to evenly treat absolutely the entire surface of the item, since steam reaches only those items and their areas that are on the surface. In the laundry, the entire item is treated with steam to completely remove old dirt using long-term temperature exposure to the dirt.

Steam generation technology

In the washing machine, steam is produced by a small steam generator, which is a small boiler with a heating element installed inside. When it turns on, water enters the miniature boiler, comes to a boil, and then steam comes out of the part through the holes.

The steam function in an LG washing machine is an item that the manufacturer always advertises especially strongly, because it significantly increases the price of the machine, and therefore allows it to increase the company’s profit. Despite all the advertising addressed to it, the regime has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. Let's start with the advantages.

Freshness of linen. Due to the effect of steam, almost all folds and creases on clothes disappear, which greatly simplifies ironing.At the same time, items such as woolen scarves, shirts and other clothes made of thin fabrics do not need to be ironed at all after exposure to steam. However, this effect can also be achieved using a household steam cleaner, so it is not necessary to buy an expensive washing machine with a steam generation function.
Partial cleaning of clothes from stains and odors. Although this program is not capable of completely removing dirt from clothes, it can remove some types of stains even without household chemicals, which is especially useful for allergy sufferers who are forced to wash without detergents. The quality of dirt removal depends on the type of dirt, the type of fabric, the amount of clothing loaded into the drum, the power of the steam generator and the selected operating cycle.
Disinfection of clothes without boiling water. One of the main advantages of a steam generator is the ability to kill all bacteria without risk to clothing. This way, you will avoid the formation of fungus, mold and other harmful microorganisms, but will not spoil the color of the item or its shape. The effect of steam treatment is not one hundred percent, but the content of pollen, harmful microbes and other allergens will definitely be significantly less.

Steam treatment does not take place at such a high temperature to ensure complete sterility of the fabric, so it is better to continue treating your baby’s clothes using the children’s wash cycle.

We have sorted out the advantages of the program, all that remains is to identify the disadvantages. There are few of them, but they are very important.

The appearance of scale, which is especially important for populated areas where the water supply has poor-quality hard water. It is because of the hardness of the water that salt deposits appear on the heating elements.Consequently, the more the heating element heats up, the faster scale appears on it and the water heating element responsible for generating steam breaks down. In such conditions, the only solution is to install a filter that allows you to pre-soften the water from the tap.
High price, since this function is considered premium. Because of this relationship, equipment with a steam generation mode often costs twice as much as devices without it. We also note that steam generation spends more resources, which will entail an increase in payments for housing and communal services. Finally, the steam generator increases the load on the power circuit, which increases the chance of the “home assistant” failing, which will also result in additional expenses.

As a result, the steam function in the LG washing machine is really useful, because with its help you can remove unpleasant odors and a number of contaminants from clothes, and also give clothes softness and volume. However, a steam generator is definitely not a necessity, because it is prohibitively expensive, and things can continue to be steamed with an iron or hand steamer.