We hope there is a date that you will be free to attend the most comprehensive class available. We are located in Northern NJ and within a short drive from Newark Airport and just over the river from New York City. Our lineup is as follows:

• February 22^nd and 23^rd Wednesday and Thursday
• March 15^th and 16^th Thursday and Friday

We know you have seen other detail training companies that offer classes and also quite a number of “books” or “manuals”. Well, hopefully if you are checking this out, you know that a book or manual is not really the way to be taught the proper way to detail a vehicle. We also feel that keeping you for a week is also not going to accomplish much more than our comprehensive 2 day class. We feel 2 days is sufficient to present the information required, and to give the student enough hands-on time so that he will start to develop the skills needed to become an all-star detailer. You will still need to practice to become proficient and highly skilled, so it’s easier to practice on your time and not spend more money than you have to for the extra days in class. Remember, its not the total time spent in the class, it’s the quality of the instruction that truly makes a difference.

This is why we feel we have the most comprehensive and best detail training class available:

Its not just about putting a buffer in your hands and letting you go to town and calling that a “hands-on” class. There needs to be many other subjects covered in full detail before you ever should put a buffer in your hands. The problem is many detailers, novices, and car enthusiasts do not understand the whole package. What we do at Kleen Car is tie everything together with the subjects we cover and the way we teach each subject. We make sense out of detailing and simplify it, but with an extremely comprehensive and technical presentation that leaves no stone unturned.

You may see that other companies claim to cover the same subjects that we cover, which can make your decision more difficult. By seeing this, you may think you are comparing apples to apples. However, we get into the science of the subjects and all the technical points and explain in detail why it’s important to know this information. For example if you look at our class outline page, we go more in depth on every single subject, and every little item, than any other detail training company.

We won't just tell you about base coat/clear coat paint systems, we tell you the chemistry behind them and explain each one that is on the market today. We tell you how each one will may react to buffing and why it’s important not to treat every car the exact same way with regards to buffing. The different varieties of clear coat are a main reason why some detailers have trouble buffing some vehicles. No other class gets as involved in paint technology as we do.

We won't just show you chemicals and what they are used for, we will explain their chemical makeup as well and what the PH scale means and how they are formulated. Of course we teach safety and simplicity in using each one as well. We show you how to save money with chemicals and not be confused by the bombardment of all the different products and fancy names out there.

We won't just show you buffing pads. We know you can see the difference between a wool buffing pad and a foam buffing pad. We show and explain how they are made, how they are graded and when you should use a certain pad. We show you the gimmicks and the hypes, and then simplify it, and show you what you really need. By the way, we also are the sole tester and technical advisor for the buffing pad company we deal with. We know what you need and what you don’t and will save you money and clear up the confusion in the process.

We don't just tell you about buffing products. We explain their formulation and what goes into them to determine what they are. We erase the confusion on this subject as well. We are the co- creator of a line of buffing products and we have revolutionized and helped detailers produce far better looking vehicles in far less time, with far less effort. We explain our 13 point criteria on what makes a great buffing product, and why all 13 need to be met to create the perfect product. You will only get this in the Kleen Car detail training class.

Before we even get into the buffing of a vehicle we teach you wet sanding. This is a huge money maker and a very important skill to learn. We give you the confidence to tackle any scratch on any vehicle and repair a scratch the correct way (without paint touch up brush) and make extra money and show your customer what kind of advanced skills you really have. Again, we don’t just do a demo, we let you do it and see what can be done on what seems like the nastiest scratches. We even let the confident students wet sand the demo vehicles in a real life situation. Of course we explain the science and technical aspects of wet sanding, as well as in an in depth presentation that no other company does.

And of course, everyone wants to learn how to buff. With the information that will have already been learned in the class, it gives the student much more confidence to buff the vehicle the correct way. Not only will they not damage the paint finish, but they will now have the knowledge on what needs to be done to correctly buff the car and produce a flawless finish. We not only show students how to buff, but how to do it correctly from the start. We have had total novices in our classes, who have never used a high speed buffer before, and have picked up the skill incredibly fast because of our unique training and coaching.

Of course we tie everything together at the end of the class as well. We show you how to finish the detail and check to make sure each and every job is done to perfection. We teach time saving methods in every section that we cover, but these methods only ADD to the quality of the detail. They are not shortcuts. So what better way is there to be more efficient, more skilled, save money, make more money and become an all-star detailer, than by attending the Kleen Car detail training class? We hope you will make the decision to come to us!

Even if you decide to attend one of our competitor’s classes, you will still learn. Those classes are good. However, we feel we are the BEST! We know this is a financial decision you do not want to be wrong about. We want you to attend the class where you will learn the most. You will not walk away from our class thinking that you were missing out on something. Please feel free to call us anytime to discuss the class or any questions you may have. We want you to become successful and help bring the detailing industry to an even higher level. Thanks for taking a look. Good luck.

Kevin Farrell
Kleen Car Auto Appearance

We now have video of this little monster. You may have taken a look and have read what we said about this great little commercial steam cleaner. You may even have not thought it looked “commercial” enough, but we invite you to check out the videos of the Vapore 2800 in action.

We think you will quickly see how great this steamer is. It’s small and compact. It’s light. It’s even pretty…….all things you would not think a great commercial steamer could be. But it has a fantastic boiler, a heavy duty (3 year warranty) heating element, great pressure, and tremendous heat. This is the steamer we have been waiting for. Take a look by clicking here. We also have a great price on this unit as well. Make your life easier and your customers cars cleaner with the Vapore 2800

We really love this machine for what it can do. It’s built extremely well and since it’s built by Vapore, it will last a very long time.

We believe that if you need a 120 volt steamer and you need it to clean both the exterior and interior of a vehicle, this is the machine for you. It combines 2 machines into one little, but powerful 120 volt steam cleaner.

It’s not a pressure washer but you don’t want one if you are looking to clean with steam on the exterior. We think this is the best choice for both exterior and interior car detailing for many reasons. Please watch the videos, read a little more about this great machine ad give us a call for more information at 888-302-6400.

The Vetta Vapore is the heavy duty commercial steamer that will be your exterior and interior machine. Its injection system is the key. There is no longer a need for a gigantic steamer to clean exteriors anymore.

The Vapore 2800 is a commercial grade, continuous fill, super hot, and fast heating steam cleaner that is a perfect interior machine and can be run ALL DAY LONG.

The Vapore D50 is a lighter commercial unit that is still great heat, pressure and of course continuous fill that will still stand up to all day use at an even lower price.

We have a Vapore commercial steam cleaner for any cleaning need you have. Call us today at 888-302-6400 for the special pricing. We are not sure how long we will be allowed to sell these units at the low discount prices.

Sure everyone has a credit card. But many people do not have a great interest rate on their credit cards or they don’t have a huge credit line. You also may have other stuff already purchased on that credit card from holiday purchases or other things that you just have not caught up with. We have a better solution if you need that equipment RIGHT NOW!

What is leasing?

Many people are confused about what leasing really is. A lease can be a termed as “renting of property or equipment” which most people think it really is. Most of us are familiar with leasing an apartment or a shop, or of course a car. This is where you are paying for a “portion” of the value for a period of time and then returning the item with no ownership interest. However the payments are lower. Anyone who has ever been involved in a lease may look at it as strictly a rental. This is true if the lease is structured that way and you have no interest in owning the product outright such as a car, a building or something that is very expensive. Many people will lease very expensive items and simply return them at the end of the lease. This allows the customer to get something that would cost far more per month to purchase outright at a far lower price

Also, many leases of more expensive equipment are structured so that the useful life of the equipment is used during the lease term. If the equipment is deemed outdated or out of warranty at the end of the lease term, the customer is not stuck continuing to pay for it. They simply return it and get the new version. This makes sense for items that are hugely expensive. But in our business there is really nothing that is outrageously expensive. So most people will just buy it

Another type of lease

We have “lease to own” programs where it’s still termed a lease, but the customer own the equipment for either a One dollar buyout or a 10% option. This allows you to have much lower payments but still own the equipment at the end of the term. It does not affect warranty of the equipment or service. It simply means you are paying a leasing   company a monthly payment to “own” it. This type of lease is what all business use to allow themselves to purchase needed equipment with NO MONEY DOWN and still have cash on hand and credit reserves

What if you want to buy a few thousand dollars worth of stuff?

Even a few thousand dollars worth of equipment is a big purchase to many people. Very rarely will I see a guy write me a check or wire me money for a few thousand dollars worth of equipment. They need and want to purchase it on credit. It makes sense. To tie up cash in a struggling economy does not make sense. Also many guys just don’t have that kind of money. Or, you just need to have cash on hand for emergencies and such. But you need the equipment to get the job done. Nobody ever thinks of leasing but you should strongly think of it now, even for $2000 worth of stuff. Here’s why

But I have a credit card

Yes, everybody has a credit card. Maybe you have more than one. But look at 2 things. What is the interest rate and what is your credit limit? A few years ago, before the bank problems and the market crash, when money flowed like a spigot, it was easy to get credit, and loads of it…..at a decent interest rate. Once the banks and the market crashed, credit dried up and banks stopped lending. What they also did was RAISE people’s interest rates and LOWER their credit limits. It still hold true today. Mortgage rates are way down but credit card interest rates are still way up. And even people with great credit and great histories of paying that had large credit limits got hit hard as well.

Now check your rate and your limit. Is the interest over 13 or 14%? I bet it is. Many cards now have interest rates in the 18-20% range. This is not a big deal for a balance of a couple of hundred. But what if the balance is a few thousand? Do you know how much you are really paying in total? And of course, look at what they will do if you are a little late with one payment? Read the fine print. They can jack up the rate at their discretion.

The only thing that the new credit card law does for consumers is that they can’t jack up the rates on existing balances. They must clearly disclose the terms of payment, fees, penalties and terms. And they must give at least 45 days notice of changes in the agreement….of course at their discretion…..most notably of an interest rate increase. In addition, they must state how long it would take a consumer to pay the balance if they only paid the monthly minimum each month.

Now don’t get me wrong, you still need a credit card, and if you do not over extend yourself a credit card is extremely useful. But in making larger purchases, there really is a better way.

Leasing vs. paying with a credit card

For arguments sake we will assume that you either don’t have the cash outlay, or do not want to lay out the cash for an equipment purchase. So there will be interest paid on both sides. You can’t just look at interest vs. a no interest straight buy. Obviously paying cash will always be the least expensive option. So there will be interest no matter which one you choose

Paying with a credit card

It’s easy. It right in your wallet. You can buy online, purchase over the phone. You hold on to your cash. Just input the number and you have bought what you need. You can take as long as you want to pay it off. There is no set term. You can pay a monthly minimum or pay as much as you want. There is no credit check and nobody looking into your business and “checking” on you. It’s so convenient we forget that there may be a better way.

Now of course if your interest rate is in the 18-20% range or higher, and if you have a fairly low limit, you will be paying much more for the use of the banks money. Also, the more of your available credit you use, the lower your credit rating will be, regardless of how well you pay and how on time you are.

Leasing the purchase

With both options there are pros and cons. We went over that with a credit card and a lease has both as well. The pros are as follows

Leasing allows you to conserve cash reserves as a credit card does. Leasing can offer 100% financing or you can finance 90% with a lower payment and ”buyout” the remaining 10% at lease end. Leasing is generally 100% tax deductible and does not need to be depreciated as you would with a credit card purchase (but check with your accountant). Leasing will NOT affect your personal credit score. The accrued debt of the lease will NOT be reported to credit bureaus. Leasing will not alert a high balance to other lenders if you need to purchase something personal such as a car or a home loan or refinance. More items can generally be added to an existing lease at a later date with just the payment being affected. No new loan needs to be opened up. The payments can be accelerated just like a credit card or paid in full with NO penalty. And the most important aspect……..In most cases a Lease is CHEAPER for the same term than a credit card.

Sure a leasing company will run your credit and want more information. But the process is generally easy. If you have good credit the lease payment will be far lower than a credit card purchase. If you have poor credit, the lease company can still get you financed but at a higher rate. But if you have poor credit it means you should probably stay away from a credit card purchase entirely. But without leasing, how do you get your needed equipment?

If you are not quite convinced lets run some numbers based on a person with good credit. We will lease equipment totaling $3000

The lease- 36 months with a $1 buyout- no money down, no advanced payments $99 per month

You pay a total of $3564 with a total interest of $564. Of course you still need to send that $1 at the end to fully OWN it. But now it’s yours and you had the benefits of leasing during the 36 month term.

A credit card purchase- yearly interest rate of 18%. To still pay it off in that 36 month period (with no additional purchases on that same card) your monthly payment is $108.46

The total is $3904.56 with a total interest of $904.56. Also if you keep using that card the interest keeps accruing even higher and you get closer to your limit which will affect your credit score and not allow you to have as much buying power. Now if you want to keep your monthly payments at the lease payment of $99 per month, it will take an extra 5 months to pay it off and the interest paid jumps to $1030.58

If you wanted to lease $4800 worth of equipment here is the breakdown

Lease- 36 month $1 buyout $159 per month total interest $924

Credit card- 18% interest rate, 36 month payoff (no additional purchases) $173.53 with a total interest of $1447.08

Numbers can be run in so many ways and your own personal situation will determine what may be better for you. But keep an open mind to leasing. It may very well save you money both in taxes and in total payments. We work with 3 different leasing companies to get you financed and we can discuss more of what you need if you call us. We can give you an exact payment but we can get the ball rolling and give you options. Call us today at 888-302-6400 to discuss the options of what you need and how to get it financed. Click here to view our lease program and form

This is something you cannot see or judge from a picture. We originally saw the Vapore 2800 in a stainless steel version, which of course looks like a much “tougher”, and “meaner” machine. But we found that although the stainless version was a more commercial “looking” machine, the ABS body version that we brought in was $700 cheaper and it had the exact same components! So we thought it was a no brainer to bring in the ABS Vapore 2800. Now before you think that it can’t be commercial because of its ABS body, let us tell you this again. Stainless is much more expensive and much heavier. This makes a machine more expensive. The Vapore 2800 in the ABS body is $700 cheaper than the stainless version and it’s the exact same machine.

Why is stainless better?

Quite frankly, stainless does NOT make the actual “machine” better. It does mean it can take a little more of a beating. But why are you beating up the outside of a machine anyway? Do you need to kick it? Do you need to drop it? Do you need to play bumper cars with it? This ABS body is the same material they make out of NFL helmets so it’s still pretty tough. So don’t dismiss this unit based on what a “pretty” machine it is. The reason why some steamers need to be stainless is the industry they are being used in. Any kind of food manufacturing plant, hospitals, or restaurant needs a stainless body steamer because stainless will not promote the growth of bacteria in the cleaning process if something gets on the outside of the unit. Stainless itself is easier to clean and keep sanitary. So having a stainless steel body steamer makes the unit compliant in these industries.

I like the look of stainless and I used to think it made the steamer a better or more commercial machine myself. I was sucked into the hype. But it’s just not true. Some of the cheaper steamers now come in a stainless body to make them look more heavy duty. Of course the grade of stainless is cheap as well. But they are billed as commercial grade just because of the stainless steel body. This has been a huge marketing ploy for years and it’s just not true.

So get over the myth that you need a stainless body to make it a commercial grade steamer. Why not save some money, have a lighter weight unit that you can take anywhere, and judge the steamer by how it’s built. We brought in the Vapore 2800 in ABS to save people money and still give them a commercial grade machine. And we are amazed at how lightweight it is and easy to move around. We decided to save everyone money with this machine and we were more than happy it was available in non stainless steel.

The features, what it does, and what sold us on Vapore

So we had to be sold that this machine would work for car detailing use and be a commercial grade unit that we are accustomed to using. First off, it was continuous fill. That is a huge help if the continuous system is very good. The problem with many continuous fill steam cleaners is that you need pump to pump water from the holding tank into the boiler. If the pump is cheap and the delivery of water is either too fast or too slow, you can lose a lot of heat and pressure. Also if a pump breaks the machine goes down and cannot work. We were assured that these Italian pumps which are also used for high end Espresso machines would last upwards of 10,000 hours of use. And since the pump is not working nearly as much as the time you are using the steamer, it’s basically bulletproof.

We liked how fast it heats with a very efficient 1550 watt heat and a smaller boiler size; this unit will heat in about 7 minutes to a great pressure of 85 PSI. It also recovers extremely quickly and of course you will never run out of water in the boiler.

We also love the vertical mounting of the heater and the boiler. This new and innovative design means that since its vertical, the water will run off the heating coils and not settle on the heater. This drastically cuts down on the amount of sediments and calcium build up on the heater itself which is the #1 cause of failures in a steamer. Because of this unique design there is an unheard of 3 year warranty on the heating element

The 304 grade stainless steel boiler is super heavy duty and is warranty for life. We like that as well.

This steam cleaner is also the only one with a feature that turns the machine OFF if you do not clean it once in awhile. As much as you tell someone to drain and flush a steam cleaner (if you even can. Some models you cannot) most just won’t do it. Then what happens is the scale and calcium builds up and clogs passage ways and corrodes parts and ruins heaters. The Vapore 2800 has a “calcium build up” detector and will shut the machine off if too much calcium has built up. This feature allows you to clean and maintain the steamer before it goes too far and ruins the machine.

We also love the heat! This machine, as all Vapore steamers do has the hottest and driest steam we have ever seen! And believe me, this sure helps in the cleaning process. Drier steam is better and hotter steam is better to clean a dirty car. There may be steamers with a little more pressure out there that put on a good show but they have wetter steam and colder steam. While putting on a good show and being a little more visual, it’s NOT better for cleaning. You would rather have less water vapor to clean and a cleaner panel, than more wetness to wipe off and possibly having to go over and over a panel to get it clean. The heat from the Vapore 2800 is amazing and it helps clean a surface much faster with an easier wipe up.

These machines were built and engineered especially for North American use. They were not just downgraded from 220 volt electric to be sold here. Many Italian steamers that are sold in 220 volt in Europe are poor performers once they reach the states as our electricity is half of what they are. This severely hampers the steamer and causes the common poor performance issues that many people complain about. The Vapore 2800, along with the entire line has been engineered for use here.

We were able to be “LISTENED” to so we could bring the best units to you. In meeting with the President of Vapore, we were able to inform him about how detailers used their steamers, what they needed and what they expected. We were able to get machines that are geared for detail use. We could have set this machine up with a very long 15 foot hose. We chose NOT to. It would have looked really good on the spec sheet but we felt an 11 foot hose works the best in holding heat, holding pressure, having less water condensation build up in the line, and keeping costs down a little. We also could have artificially had the pressure bumped up more. Again, this would have looked great on the specs sheet, but we knew you can’t hold high pressure on a smaller sized boiler. This is just being honest. But it does hold pressure very well at 85 PSI and we found that with the vast heat of this commercial steamer you don’t need high pressure to clean anyway.

We think you will love this steamer and find as we did, that the Vapore 2800 truly is a commercial grade steam cleaner at a very affordable price. Please call us for more details at 888-302-6400

All of the commercial models will be given this discount for this time frame. Vapore wants everyone to know that if you buy a Vapore commercial steam cleaner you will own the BEST. We only sell high quality commercial steamers so if we are selling it, then you know it is a good one.

Currently, you will not find these steamers out there in the workplace in the USA. They have just started selling in the US to the janitorial industry, hospitals, hotels, food manufacturing plants, restaurants, and other industries where they need high end and commercial grade steam cleaners. This line has been a very well kept secret unfortunately…..until now.

We met the President of Vapore steam cleaners at the International Hotel/Motel and restaurant Show back in November at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. I knew steam cleaner companies would be there and I wanted to see what possibly was new and better than what is presently available. I told him what I did and he told me that he wanted to get his Vapore steam cleaners into the car detailing, car dealer, and car wash market. After seeing the steamers there and meeting back at my facility and using the steamers on cars, I loved all of them and he was happy to have me on board.

We will also be selling these machines to these other industries in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, and the interest from all of these industries has been incredible as the heat that is produced and the fast way they clean, sanitize and disinfect gives them a huge advantage over other steam cleaners. I compared the Vapore units with other demo units and other machines I presently have here. I could not keep my hand close to the steam without it burning very quickly. Most other steamers you can actually hold your hand fairly close to the steam without it bothering you. Sure it’s hot but not “scalding” hot like the Vapore machines. This is just one of the many things I loved about this steamer. But it can truly kill harmful bacteria and viruses that other industries absolutely have to take care of. But in detailing we should also be selling sanitation and complete cleanliness as well.

What we have found is that the extreme and dry heat put out by all of the Vapore steam cleaners does actually clean a little faster with less moisture wipe up than the other steamers. We want you to see this as well so this is why we are offering this limited time discount to get our steam cleaners out there.

This discount WILL NOT be posted on our website. You will need to mention that you read the press release here to receive the special 10% discount. We can only discount the first batch of Vapore Commercial steam cleaners until February 16^th, 2012. Be one of the first to get these incredible machines and make your life easier. We have many price points, even in the commercial level. Please call us today at 888-302-6400 or visit our commercial steamer cleaner page on our website

After reading this article we think you will also see why the Vetta Vapore is the best choice for an interior and exterior steam cleaner if you need your commercial steam machien to also wash cars. Please read on

New ways to clean a car- first there was waterless products

In our research and development over the last few years we have tried a few different things to aid in cleaning the exterior of a vehicle. We know it’s becoming almost necessary to clean a car with the least amount of water possible. This is a fact. More and more detailers have gone to waterless or polymer type of products to wash the car not only for water savings, but for effectiveness. This is a fact. Just a few short years ago, many detailers and consumers alike, would cringe at the idea of washing a car in this fashion. But is not only accepted now, it’s almost commonplace!

We have used Optimum No Rinse for over 6 years now and is a fantastic product. However, this waterless product as well as all the others cannot really clean an exterior on its own. We figured this out a long time ago as New Jersey weather can be unforgiving sometimes and cars can get pretty dirty. We know, and I am sure you have found out as well the same thing. So in cleaning the exterior of a vehicle with the least amount of water possible will involve a waterless product. But you really need a little more wetness and pressure and some rinsing ability to aid in getting the car clean and keeping the time frame to do it in, as short as possible.

Waterless combined with steam to clean the exterior of a car

So we all hopefully agree that combining a steam cleaner with a waterless product is the best way to go to accomplish this. But what kind of steam cleaner can do this? Years and years ago, even before I had a good commercial steam cleaner, I quickly figured out that a cheap little steam had no place anywhere near the exterior of a car. It just won’t work. I am sure you may have figured that out by now. I still always laugh at videos where guys to show a little bitty steamer trying to get a car clean. So if we agree that won’t work, we need a better steamer to clean the exterior. But what kind of steamer is the best at doing this? Also many detailers want, and demand that the steamer be able to clean the exterior as well as the interior. And…….as most Americans do….we want the steamer to work on 120 volt electricity.  This is where it gets interesting.

Which steamer to buy to clean the exterior as well as the interior?

We have tried so many steamers on the outside. We have helped develop a couple as well for exterior/interior cleaning. While we really though we had it nailed with the machines we developed, we still saw some issues that needed fixing. But it seems that what I wanted and what you want in a steamer either makes it extremely expensive, or it’s just not as perfect as we had hoped.

My thinking was always high pressure is always better. It sure helps but just having what amounts to steam as compressed air will not get a car clean any better or faster. You can have a huge pressure steamer that is still dry vapor (as a steamer should be) but it is still not a perfect exterior machine. You need some wetness and water volume to help do a little rinsing on the exterior

So many detailers have bought into the diesel fired machines or even propane to clean the exterior. They sure look good in videos. The steam looks like it’s coming out of a fire hose and the guy in the video is just wiping the car with a micro fiber towel and the car looks great. Don’t get me wrong. These steamers are impressive but they have drawbacks. Propane and diesel cannot be used indoors. Fire inspectors just won’t allow it. It’s happened in my shop. Propane is far too wet to be used on the interior and these steamers have no brush attachments and a wand that cannot even come close to being used inside a car. The diesel machine is a little drier steam but still very wet. Even though the volume of steam is adjustable, it is still very wet and not a great interior unit, although it still can be used that way. This machine also does not have brushes to help clean the inside which we know we really need. But it’s a very nice machine but still has limitations on what it can do and it’s not a perfect option. If you are doing more car washing than detailing and need to actually wash many cars per day, this is an excellent choice. Both a propane steamer and a diesel steamer are fairly big and very heavy. Getting them on and off your truck or van will need a ramp. If you have a shop, you probably cannot use one of these

Electric 120 or 220 volt exterior steam cleaners

Here is where it gets difficult. We all would rather have an electric steamer in 120 volts. It’s just so much easier. But……making one with enough power is almost impossible. I know it, as the development of an electric unit to clean the exterior of a car is a very tough task. You just have limited amps and voltage to get a 120 volt heater to produce a huge amount of steam. You can get close but still its limited and then the huge electric draw means you need dedicated circuits or a huge generator to operate them. And they still are not perfect. These steamers need a gun and a bigger and heavier wand to hold the bigger pressure and higher heat output. This makes it a little more difficult to clean the interior with bulkier brushes and a heavier gun set up. But it’s the only way to do it. Regular plastic wands on most steamers would melt under these conditions.

Of course there are 220 volt units out there that have more amps so the steam output is much greater. The problem is that most shops will need a 220 outlet which will cost more money. Also a mobile detailer CANNOT use a 220 volt steamer. Although most good generators have a 220 volt outlet, they are not the same as what the plug will be on the 220 volt steamer. You can’t plug it in so it will never work.

What is the most logical option?

So if you can’t really make a propane unit or a diesel unit work for you. Or they are too big for you, or they are not really good interior steamer, you still want and need a 120 volt steamer. But we already talked about how difficult it is to produce huge volumes of steam with great pressure in a 120 volt steamer. So what do you do???

You think a little out of the box! Here is what we have found

To correctly clean the exterior of a car with steam you don’t need that much steam or pressure. Don’t get me wrong, a little bitty steamer still won’t work but you don’t need propane or a diesel in most cases. If you are detailing cars and NOT trying to run a car wash, the biggies are not needed. I can clean an average dirty car, even with some salt or heavy dirt with a Vapor Chief. I use the steam and pressure to blow dirt out of cracks and crevices first. I blow the steam under maximum pressure out of door moldings, door handles, mirrors, emblems. Between lights and the body, etc. What you really want, and need, the steam and pressure to do is get the dirt from a tight area and move it and disperse it into a flat body area where your waterless product can do the rest. This is why many guys still insist that a waterless product alone will get a car clean. Now, on a fairly clean car this may be true. On a dirty car it will be “cleaner” but not perfect. We all have seen this. The body looks good but the cracks and crevices look like crap and look as if they were not touched. This is where I thought that if the steamer had more pressure, it would solve the issues. But it does not. The same is true with more volume. It sure helps to have wetter and higher volume steam, but it just means more wipe up and drying you have to do. And again, a steamer with more pressure and volume in 120 volts is a huge task to create

But don’t you still need volume or a little “rinsing” action?

Sure you do! There is no doubt about it. A total dry steamer won’t rinse a dirty wheel after you spray cleaner on it and brush it (which is still the correct and ONLY way to clean a dirty wheel). The same is true for a wheel well, a trunk sill, an engine or other really grimy area. Dry steam, even at high pressure can’t really do the job. As well, the dry steamers will lose too much pressure too quickly and run out of steam, and water in the boiler. This leaves you with an empty steamer and the need to refill it and wait for it to heat up. We all have been there. So…….you at least need a continuous fill model. But if it’s a dry steamer it still does not solve the “rinsing” issues. It just means you can keep adding water and keep producing dry steam

How do we rinse with steam?

The best answer to that question is…..we “DON’T” rinse with steam. For the majority of the car we don’t really need to rinse. If we understand my previous explanation, we see we can get most of the car clean with good pressure and dry steam. But the wheels, wheel wells, trunk sills, etc. we do need some kind of rinsing action. But the steamer cannot do it.

Hold on, I have seen steamers with “hot water injection”! Yes, that is correct. There are a few 120 volt steamers with hot water injection that will give some rinsing action to the process. But…….these systems rob hot water from a very small boiler to do this. It’s simply running water with the steam and taking the water…..and pressure from the boiler. In no time at all…..and I mean no time, you will have nothing left. Then you wait…..and wait….until it pressurizes again and you can do this again for a very short time. Even if the steamer has continuous fill it can’t catch up fast enough. The injection feature through the boiler is neat don’t get me wrong. However it is not enough to solve our rinsing issue on these tough exterior areas. These steamers will not work

But I still need to rinse

This is why the steamer does indeed need an injection system. However, the injection system “should not” and “cannot” be run through the boiler for maximum effectiveness. The steamer needs an injection system that is basically “separate” from the boiler. By doing this you will get rinsing and NOT rob water or pressure from the boiler.

This is why we LOVE the Vetta vapore

The Vetta Vapore has a fabulous injection system. It has another pump that pumps water or anything you decide to put in the tank. It’s not steam but for rinsing you really do not need steam. This is the revelation! The steam is not needed here and the pressure won’t matter. To take a vast amount of time to rinse with dry steam will not aid the process. This slows you down, wastes steam and you will run any boiler out very quickly. This system uses another pump and hose and runs the water through the steam hose but bypasses the boiler. It’s brilliant! And is perfect for doing exteriors. And it’s a perfect interior steamer as well the brushes are excellent. The wand is light (no gun needed). Its pressure is still almost 100 PSI so there is plenty there if needed and its continuous fill! It’s what we have been looking for and hopefully what you have been looking for. It’s small and light at only 33 pounds for this stainless steel little monster.

We think this is the perfect steamer for a detailer that needs to clean cars without water. As we stated in this article there are options for exterior steaming but they are all flawed. We think this is the best option for this purpose and we would love to explain it more to you if you will call us. But in the meantime please look more at the unit here on our site by clicking here to see the Vetta vapore We will have videos of the machine soon enough so hand in there but please call us at 888-302-6400 for more information

Our previous press release will tell you about some of the fantastic features of our new steam cleaners from Vapore. We think these are the best Italian units out there. Their company was one of the first steam producers in Europe and they have been in North America since 1996 focusing on the Canadian market. So they have been virtually invisible here in the USA until now.

The Vapore units are engineered for heavy American use. They know we are hard on our equipment and we need a steamer to work all day but still last. All the units we have tried and tested have worked flawlessly and the performance was outstanding. And you get choices! We have units for every application from homeowner use, to light commercial use, and heavy duty commercial use. Even the homeowner units are built like a commercial machine and have a warranty to prove it.

What do you need or want?

Do you want a cheaper, entry level unit? We have it (The Vapore Gaya or D30)

Do you want a light commercial continuous fill unit with great specs and an affordable price? We have it (The Vapore D50)

Do you want a true commercial grade steamer in continuous fill with specs of a machine priced much higher? We have it (The Vapore 2800)

Do you want a steamer that can do exteriors and car washing but is perfect for the interior? We have a fantastic injection machine for that (The Vetta Vapore)

We invite you to take a look at all these machines and call us for more information. Vapore will soon be the steamer of choice in the USA and we have the entire line. We have a steam cleaner for you no matter what your budget is. Call us at 888-302-6400 for more information

need more units to look at? Visit the vapore site and tell us what you need.

www.vapore.ca

What we have been doing essentially for the last few months is scouring the planet…..yes the planet…..for new steam cleaners for auto detailing use.

What we were looking for were a few things. We needed to…….

1. Bring in more commercial units to go along with our vapor chief steamer
2. Have a commercial grade steamer that was affordably priced
3. Look at a better continuous fill units that will hold up
4. partner with an established steam manufacturer as we always have, to ensure long life and high performance of the steamer
5. More lightweight units that were still commercial that can be used in ALL applications

It certainly wasn’t easy. We spoke with many people from many companies. We were mildly impressed with some units. We were impressed with some prices, but disappointed in performance or quality. We could not find the range across the board that met all of our needed (and ultimately yours) until we found one brand which we feel meets all these requirements

Meet the Vapore line of commercial steam cleaners

Vapore is an Italian line. It’s pronounced Vay-pore-A. We met personally with the president of Vapore and had numerous and enlightening conversations about steam in general. Let me tell you. I thought I knew a whole lot about steamers as I have been using, selling and repairing them for many years now. But what we know now and what we can pass on to you will help greatly in car cleaning and help you make an educated decision on what unit to purchase.

The Vapore line is brand new to the USA. The president of Vapore is of Italian decent himself and has worked with steam technology for over 25 years. He has specialized in development of 120 volt units specifically for North American use. As you know, most steamers do originate in Italy, as they invented the vapor technology. There are many steam manufacturers in Italy and of course in Europe the electrical voltage is 220 volts. Working with higher voltage and amperage makes any steamer better. However when an Italian steam cleaner is manufactured for the USA, they generally just downgrade the electric to meet our needs and do nothing to aid or improve the performance of the steamer itself.

Common frustrations with small steamers

We all know that many small Italian steamers lose pressure quickly. They have low pressure. They have lower heat. They have short hoses to keep pressure and volume raised. They have somewhat cheaper boilers and heaters. They are not durable. Of course there are exceptions. But you pay dearly for that. I have used these steamers. I have sold these steamers and I know first-hand what the limitations are.

So, in our search for a line of excellent machines, we saw plenty of the mid-grade units, but none that wowed us until we met with Vapore and saw these units.

Why is this line better?

That is the first question I wanted answered and I am sure you are thinking the same thing. Here is what we found

Vapore steam cleaners have a 3 year warranty on the heater. That is unheard of. The heater is so good and efficient that it heats a unit in 7 or 8 minutes and recovers its pressure extremely fast after use

On one commercial Vapore steam machine, the heater is mounted VERTICALLY, as well as the boiler. Why is this important? When a heater is mounted vertically, any sediment and calcium deposits from the water run “down” the heater instead of sitting on it. This allows the heater to stay much cleaner and avoid most calcium build up

Vapore steamers have a lifetime warranty on its boilers. While many steam companies have lifetime boiler warranties, these boilers are cylindrical instead of square. A rectangular boiler has many cold spots in the 8 corners. Many of the other steamers have this kind of boiler. This results in decreased heat and pressure quicker pressure loss. A spherical or cylindrical type boiler will handle all your commercial cleaning needs for heavy duty detailing use. The boilers are built of 18/10 stainless steel conform to ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) standards, which is the entity that sets the boiler code for North America. This ASME Standard also dictates the shape of the boiler which is a spherical/ cylindrical shape. Our boiler conforms to the ASME code

Vapore commercial has lightweight units that can be moved around virtually anywhere.

Most Vapore commercial steamers are continuous fill and have pump systems that are second to none and have a life expectancy of 10,000 hours. Now remember that the pump is not working the entire time the steamer is on, so it only pumps when the boiler needs water. So pump life will be a long long time

Vapore steam machines were designed and developed for USA use. They know we are hard on our equipment but still need it to last. So the development was done in Italy, with super duty Italian components, but tested here in North America and out to extreme use.

Vapore is the ONLY and we mean the one and ONLY steam manufacturer to incorporate a “calcium build up detector”. This monitors the amount of calcium building up in the boiler. If you do not clean the machine yourself and flush the calcium out of the boiler, the machine will shut down to help save its life. You them simply clean it and its back to normal operation. Most of the problems with steamers happen because of calcium build up and this shortens the life of a heater and boiler. This machine has this protection built in.

Vapore is also the ONLY steam manufacture to also incorporate an electric economy function within the machine. This system will sense a large amp draw that is too great for the machine to handle such as multiple machines being run on one circuit like a buffer or a vacuum, or lights. If there is too much running, you can put the machine in “economy” mode and draw fewer amps. This keeps wires from getting too hot inside and possibly melting or burning

Vapore steamers produce the most amount of heat at the tip than ANY other steamer line. We believe that many steam manufactures kind of “fib” about the heat they are producing, especially at the tip. Vapore has shown us the tool and the test to prove that they have the most heat. We saw it and most importantly FELT it. Many steamers I have used or demoed, I can get the palm of my hand fairly close to the tip without getting burned. The other steamers also are much wetter. This we were taught is really not that good. While “wet” steam puts on a good show in a video and is shown as a really nice PLUME of steam, it’s not better for cleaning. True steam vapor is extremely hot. And it shows in a temperature test and also by holding the gun up to a light and turning it on. A true hot vapor steam will be mostly GAS. Steam is a gas. Super-heated steam will appear almost blue when help up to a light. Most steamers, the steam plume will appear grey. We are sure you have seen this. The Vapore steamers appear as a blue steam in the light which means they are much hotter than the others. Hotter steam cleans faster and better

Vapore steamers come with a perfect length hose. The commercial units we decided to have an 11 foot hose. Why 11 feet? Long hoses sure look good in a video and on a specs sheet. However, the longer the hose, the more water condensation is stored and the wetter the steam. Longer hoses also lose pressure much faster. We tested many different lengths. We found 7 or 8 feet was just a little too short to get deep into a vehicle. We found 15 feet looked great and still worked well, but we wanted extreme heat and the most pressure, so 15 was just a little too long. 11 feet is long enough to have the steamer parked on the side of a vehicle and still plenty to be able to easily climb in the front and back seats and clean everything very effective without moving the steamer around. Also, these machines are very light and roll so easily, that is moving the unit is needed, it’s a breeze.

ALL Vapore steam cleaners have infinite pressure control from zero to max. This means that there is not just one, two or 3 pressure settings. There is a control knob that allows you to adjust the steam to what you feel is correct for the job at hand, This also eliminates a couple of wire running through the hose which can break at some point if the hose is being aggressively handled by an overzealous worker.

Vapore steamers have excellent and “true” pressure specifications and “true” temperature specifications. Heat cleans; excessive pressure just puts on a show! Be wary of small steamers claiming very high pressures. It may be a deceptive way of getting you to buy a steamer. A steamer can easily be made to have a starting pressure of a higher number. But a lesser boiler and heater will lose pressure very quickly and not recover very fast. This is huge factor in car detailing. We need our machines to work for longer intervals than a homeowner cleaning a sink or toilet. Recovery time is essential and high pressure claims sometimes have to be taken with a grain of salt

We would love to take the time and explain in even more detail what we have pointed out here. We believe Vapore will soon be the brand that will be the mark of excellence here in the USA. We are happy to say that we have the entire line of both heavy duty residential units (which can be used for light commercial) and commercial steamers which will hold up to everyday use for years. Please call us at 888-302-6400 for even more information on these steamers.