How To Clean A Facial Steamer

Look around any busy salon or spa, and you’ll see facial steamers doing a lot of the heavy lifting -- and for good reason. A facial steamer is an extremely useful device that provides a wide variety of skin care benefits to those undergoing treatment. However, facial skin is among the body’s most sensitive; and if it’s not cleaned and maintained properly, your facial steamer could potentially be harming your clients more than helping them. An unsanitary facial steamer will produce poor results, and word will quickly get out that your facility doesn’t take hygiene seriously.

Just through normal, everyday facial steamer use, bacteria and mineral deposits start to build up. Over time, if the machine is not cleaned properly, these mineral deposits permeate the device, and bacteria forms on both the inside and outside of the steamer. Those mineral deposits and the subsequent bacteria growth has the potential to cause everything from blemishes to severe skin infections. This is why it is required for any facility offering facial steam cleansing to understand how to properly (and regularly) clean and maintain their device.

Regular maintenance on the steamers will:

• Prevents odors from filtering into the system and air.
• Prevents mold from forming and causing skin infections.
• Will increase the lifespan of the facial steam cleaning system by years. 

Essential Oils

One of the biggest problems with people who own facial steamers, besides their cleaning habits, is that they place essential oils directly into the water that is in the jar attached to the device. By doing this, they are negatively impacting both the life and performance of the steamer. Placing essential oils in the jar with boiling water causes the oils to spit out of the hose, clog the hose, and it may even cause the jar to break from all of the pressure that is building up between the oils and the boiling water interacting.

Even so, there are facial steam cleaners that are specifically made for aromatherapy in order to avoid damaging or interfering with the performance of the steamer. These aromatherapy facial steamers tend to be more expensive, but they have additional features that allow essential oils to be used with the steam cleaning system. The facial steamers used for aromatherapy contain a specific apparatus on the nozzle that the essential oils are made to be stored in. But since these cleaners are more expensive, you also have the option of soaking essential oils in a cotton pad and then placing that cotton pad in front of the facial steamer for a similar effect as the ones build for aromatherapy.

Daily & Monthly Care For Cleaning Your Facial Steamer:

As for cleaning your facial steam device, here are some daily and monthly cleaning tips in order to elongate the lifespan of your facial steamer.

Daily Cleaning Tips

• Tip #1: Empty the water out of the jar at the end of the every night to allow the jar to dry completely before using again.
• Tip #2: Clean the rubber rim that’s located around the rim of the jar nightly to ensure no bacteria or mineral deposits have been planted there.
• Tip #3: Refill the steamer with fresh, distilled water before each client or before each use of the steamer. Never use the same water two days in a row; this enforces minerals to build up.
• Tip #5: Turn the steamer on to warm up before each client or before each time you use the steamer.
• Tip #6: Disinfect the body of the facial steamer everyday, especially the controls as well as the steamer arm.

Monthly Cleaning Tips:

• Tip #1: Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice to the glass jar and fill the jar with distilled water. You may need more vinegar if the mineral deposits are noticeable.
• Tip #2: Turn on the steamer and allow it to heat up to steaming temperature, but do not turn on the ozone while doing this.
• Tip #3: Let the steamer run for 4-5 minutes and then turn it off. And then let it cool off for about 30 minutes.
• Tip #4: Wipe down the heating element as well as the exposed metal surfaces with a clean cloth, this is removing the mineral deposits and mineral build-ups.
• Tip #5: Empty the jar and refill it with clean, fresh distilled water. Steam the machine again for 4-5 minutes and then let it soak for about 30 minutes again. 

If the vinegar smell is still lingering, then repeat the steaming process with distilled water until the smell dissipates.

Why Distilled Water?

Notice how you are required only to use distilled water when operating the facial steam cleaning device. This is because distilled water is filtered. It’s a type of purified water that has been boiled into steam and then has been condensed back into liquid using a different container. By condensing the steam back into liquid in a separate container, all of the impurities and chemicals are left behind in the original container. Using tap water can potentially damage the facial steamer because tap water contains minerals, harsh chemicals, and impurities that can accumulate over time and can cause the device to eventually malfunction from too much build-up -- or the hose can become damaged from getting clogged.

Types of Facial Steamers

There are generally 3 main types of facial steamers; they all have the same effect as far as skincare benefits, but they come in different sizes and styles.

The first is a portable facial steamer. These are small and handy, as well as affordable. In addition to these perks, they also just require that you fill the reservoir with warm water and then control the device in the settings.

The second facial steamer is a facial sauna. In a sense, it’s a shortcut to the whole facial steam cleaning system in that it only includes a transparent inhaler mask (which funnels steam onto your face when you wear the mask).

And the last type of facial steamer is a herbal and aroma steamer. This type of facial steamer is compact and saves a great deal of space because it is on a small stand with legs that contain lockable rollers. Additionally, there is a foil covered keypad for the user to control their settings through. The herbal and aroma steamer allows the use of essential oils to be used, which then promotes the medicinal properties that the essential oils release. 

Benefits of Using the Facial Steamer:

• Removes clogged, dead skin that are planted inside your pores.
• Removes dirt, oils, and bacteria that have accumulated in the deep, lower layers of your skin.
• Reduces blackheads and whiteheads that clog your pores and cause breakouts.
• Moisturizes and hydrates your skin to ensure better complexion.
• Regenerates collagen and skin cells, making your face look and feel younger.
• Make your skin sweat, causing small amounts of unwanted toxins in your body to leak out of your pores.
• Heat from the steam increases your blood circulation.
• Unblocks your nasal passages and makes for easier breathing.
• Promotes relaxation, which then generates a calming effect on your nervous system

Although a facial steam cleaning system is an extremely popular service at spa and salon companies, when facial steamers are not cleaned correctly, there can potentially be problems for both clients as well as your business. The negative effects of using an uncleaned steamer can be harmful -- and even painful -- instead of the calming, positive, and relaxing effects your clients expect. After reading these daily and monthly cleaning tips, however, you’ll be providing safe and effective treatment to your customers for years to come!