Haan USA

A Clean your Animal Can Trust

haan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:15:59 +0000

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Well, we aren’t really talking about those animals. More like the ones you bring into your home as a pet. Whether you have a feline friend or a canine companion, the chore of keeping a clean home can be multiplied by having a pet.

It’s easy to go out to the store and pick up disinfectants, bleaches and detergents to clean up pet messes, but these chemicals can pose a danger to your pet. Imagine this; you’re a kitten walking through your master’s freshly cleaned kitchen. You notice your paws are a little wet and meander off to your bed to start cleaning off. As you’re giving yourself a soothing cat bath, you start licking your paws. Whatever chemical your master just used to clean the floor is now in your mouth and is being absorbed into your body.

Check out this warning from the ASPCA:

“…products that contain bleach can be very effective in safely disinfecting certain household surfaces when used appropriately, but can cause upset stomach, drooling, vomiting or diarrhea (and even severe oral burns) if ingested in a high-enough concentration. Some detergents can produce similar signs in pets, and cats can be particularly sensitive to certain ingredients, such as phenols.”

More details from the ASPCA

When used properly, most cleaning solutions don’t cause harm to your pets, but wouldn’t you like a worry-free way to clean and sanitize your home?

With plain tap water, Haan steamers can remove those pet messes while killing 99.9% of germs and bacteria that your pet may be bringing into your home.

The Haan Agile is a great unit for cleaning pet messes. It’s light weight and is ready to steam in just 20 seconds, so whether you are cleaning your whole house or spot cleaning Fido’s “oops” this is an easy way to make your home a cleaner and safer place to be. The Agile also comes with a carpet tray attachment to help kill odor causing bacteria from your carpets, furniture and even pet beds.

Dogs may be “man’s best friend”, but a steam mop seems to be man’s best cleaner.

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink

haan — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:31:11 +0000

In many households, the kitchen is the hub for daily
activity. Naturally, your kitchen sink takes a beating as a result of being in
the busiest room in your home.

When you think of your sink, you probably think of it as
primarily a place to dump your dirty dishes and get them clean (or at least
give them a pre-wash prior to dumping them into the dishwasher). But think of
all of the other activities you perform in your sink….maybe you defrost frozen
chicken there, wash the kids muddy hands there, or maybe you even bath your
infant in the sink.

It’s clear that getting that sink germ free after those
not-so-pleasant activities is vital before relying on our sink to be a clean
place for us to wash our dishes.

Many sinks are made up of durable materials like stainless
steel or solid porcelain. These materials are prime for steaming. Put away the harsh
chemicals and the foul smelling bleaches and opt for a safer, sanitary way to
clean your sink.

HAAN steam has been meticulously tested and is proven to
kill 99.9% of germs that can make your family really sick (think Staph and
Salmonella). Steamers like the Multi,
Complete and AllPro include specialized attachments that make cleaning areas
like the sink (or your tub) a breeze.

No need to worry about harmful fumes from detergents, no
more wasting paper towel after paper towel, and no more stress over reusing an
old moldy-smelling sponge. Steam gets it clean and germ free, easy.

Do you have great any great tips for keeping your kitchen
clean?

Need Help Removing that Outdated Wallpaper Border?

haan — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:05:42 +0000

Festive fruit trimming your kitchen, antique books surrounding your home office or maybe even seashells in your bathroom…a wallpaper border is a great way to add some design flare. But what happens when it’s time to change up the décor and take down that border that used to put the finishing touches to your favorite room?
In my case, it was the whimsical princesses that previously turned a young girl’s bedroom into a scene right out of a fairy tale. Needless to say, those princesses weren’t a great fit for my new guest room and they had to go.
I had one friend suggest a spray bottle with warm water would melt away the adhesive. When that didn’t work another friend suggest a hot, wet sponge (which worked but only for a few inches at a time).
I was frustrated and on the verge of tears. Of course I went straight to Google for the answer to my problems, but what Google told me is that I already had the answer. Garment steamers are great for softening the paper and loosening the adhesive that binds wallpaper. I thought to myself, “if a garment steamer is good, I bet my HAAN Complete would be even better”.
The HAAN Complete is a pressurized unit that has an attachment for just about anything from tiny scrub brushes to a squeegee for glass and a floor attachment with 13 steam jets. I attached my 2 extension poles, popped on my garment steamer head and went to work.
It proved to be a two step process: 1st I lightly steamed to help separate the two layers of the wall paper. This allowed me to easily peel off the top layer leaving the soft brown paper adhered to the wall. 2nd One smooth stroke over the brown paper made it super easy to wipe it away with a spackling tool.
It left my wall smooth, clean and most importantly princess-free. Doing a whole room’s full of border took me about an hour (of course I had some help from the man around the house). My other methods would have taken days to complete and left my walls a mess. The Complete has some great built in features that made it the perfect tool for my dilemma: long cord, wheels to roll from one spot to another and a flexible hose to allow me to reach high up to the ceiling.
Even though my steamer made this job easier than I thought, there is one thing I know for sure: I won’t be putting up a wallpaper border anytime soon.

Confused about Carpet Steaming?

haan — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:53:17 +0000

Everyone’s heard of steam cleaners for carpets, but is what you’re hearing really about steam? Many products that are marketed towards being steam cleaners for carpets actually fall into another category of floor care. Carpet extractors and shampooers are what people typically buy and refer to when they say they want to steam clean their carpets and rugs.

While these machines can be great for to spot treat stains and remove surface grime, they rely on a cleaning chemical and saturating moisture to get the job done. Some units include built in heating systems that warm the chemical and water solution dispensed onto your carpets which can help to loosen certain types of stains. Extraction carpet cleaners also suck some of the water and dirt that is stirred up during the cleaning process; however your floors stay wet for a couple hours afterwards so don’t even think about walking across those floors in your nice white socks.

So now you might be thinking “if traditional carpet steamers aren’t really steamers at all, what can steam actually do for my carpet?”

The effect of steam on hard flooring is obvious to the naked eye but on your soft surfaces, sometimes what you CAN’T see might be a pretty big deal. Think of the nasty odors that can come emanating from your carpet long after a nasty spill or a pet accident. The bacteria killing power of 212⁰ steam helps to get rid of odors that can cause those musty, unpleasant smells.

HAAN has also ensured that our steam kills up to 99.9% of dust mites that live in all of your homes soft surfaces, and it only takes 1 second. Not sure what a dust mite is? Microscopic bugs that move into your furniture, pillows and rugs and feed off of your dead skin cells. Not only are they disgusting, but they are very unhealthy too. People with disorders like Asthma are greatly impacted by indoor air quality. Dust mites, and all the filth that can come along with them, act as an allergens that damage that quality of the air in your own home.

So, you want your carpets to smell great, be healthy AND of course you want them to look great. Steaming your carpets can also help to rejuvenate their look and make them look fresh as the day you bought them. Infusing your carpet fibers with steam can make them look softer and more vibrant. You can also use your HAAN steamer to assist in spot-treating stains. Steam your trouble spot for several seconds, and then blot stains with your ultra-microfiber HAAN pads. Steam gets deep down into the soft fibers to help release those imperfections while microfibers absorb the moisture.

We hope that helps to clean up the confusion between extractors and steamers.

Protect Yourself During Cold and Flu Season

haan — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:44:12 +0000

Many people think that cold and flu season starts in the winter. My stuffed up nose and scratchy throat however indicates that it started right around the time the kids go back to school. As the weather gets cooler we are all forced to spend more time cooped up inside in around those fresh from the schoolyard germs.
So how do we eliminate cold and flu germs around the house? Use your hand-held steam cleaner to sanitize door knobs, light switches, faucets, counters and all the other common surfaces that are touched by everyone in the family. Attach your steam mop’s Carpet Glide to sanitize throw pillows and cushions in living areas.
Don’t forget to sanitize electronics that the family shares—remotes, cell phones, iPods. Don’t use steam for this job. A lint-free cloth or cotton swab moistened with rubbing alcohol will help keep germs at bay.
Consumer Reports published a good article on cleaning electronics. Check it out here.
Here at HAAN, we love steam but we know it can’t fix all of your household messes. We use our blog to help educate our valued customers on a variety of issues that impact everyday life. If you have useful tips for staying healthy during cold and flu season, let us know! We love your comments.

There’s a HAAN for Everyone!

haan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:43:50 +0000

Is steam cleaning right for me?
That’s a pretty loaded question. To put it simply, anyone can benefit from owning a steam cleaner. It’s an easy solution to one of your homes biggest problems, staying clean. Whether you hope to tackle everyday dusting, messy muddy foot prints, or stuck-on greasy stains, steam can clean and sanitize your floors, counters and even your furniture. And better yet, steam cleaning reduces the amount of chemicals that you’ll need to clean your home so it’s a great way to reduce your environmental impact.
So, now you might be thinking that you’re not a green cleaning aficionada so maybe steam isn’t your perfect cleaning solution. Truth is, steam isn’t just for people riding the Earth-friendly green wave. Because of the wide variety of uses, steam cleaning can be very helpful to an even wider variety of people.
Animal Lover?
Anyone that owns a pet knows of the fun little messes that come along with their furry best friend. But not every pet owner is aware of the dangers of chemical cleaning solutions. Whether you need to remove a gross brown stain or a stinky mystery wet spot, your first instinct is to reach for a disinfecting or odor removing spray.
Think about this, the detergents that you just put on your floor are front and center for your pets. Not only do they get a nose full of potentially harmful fumes, but those chemicals often find their way onto puppy and kitty paws and eventually into their mouths. Various chemicals can make your pets sick, and can even cause death if they are over exposed.
HAAN steam mops help to reduce the frequency of needing to use those chemical based detergents because they sanitize using plain tap water. Great for cleaning up wet paw prints off of your hardwood and tile; plus HAAN steam mops are great for deodorizing pet beds. Steam also helps to remove pet hair from your carpet. The heat of the steam reduces the static cling charge that helps pet hair get stuck in the fibers of rugs and upholstery. This will make it super easy to vacuum up all that shedding.
Baby in the House?
So man’s best friend isn’t your biggest cleaning nightmare? Then maybe you have the baby blues. Feeding-time spills and potty training disasters are both perfect reasons to clean with steam.
Steam works hard to quickly break down stuck-on food messes, especially the sugary types that toddlers love. It’s also great for sanitizing high chairs so that you can ensure your baby has a clean, healthy place to eat.
Steam is also great for sanitizing changing tables, bedding and any other soft surfaces that might have fallen victim to a leaky diaper. HAAN steam cleaning machines kill up to 99.9% germs that can be left behind by your baby’s behind.
The biggest perk, HAAN makes it easy to achieve the clean you need in your home to make it safe for your baby without chemicals that could be bad for your baby.
Hate Mopping?
If you’re anything like me, mopping is one of your least favorite chores. Well throw away your old gross mop and your sloppy bucket, because HAAN has made it so much easy. Steam mops give you an almost effortless way to get a super clean floor.
It couldn’t be much easier. Fill up your tank at the sink; turn your machine on, and 20 seconds later you’re ready to rock n’ roll. Using a steam mop is so easy that practically anyone can do it; from your pre-teens looking to earn some allowance, to your grandparents that need to stick to low impact household duties.
HAAN steamers reduce the time it takes you to clean so you can increase the time you have for fun. Unless you think that steam cleaning is fun, then take all the time you want.
Change Your Mind Yet?
So you’ve got a specific cleaning job in mind, or let’s say you are looking for a total home cleaning machine. HAAN has a steamer that’s right for you.
Scope out our blog posts or “like” us on Facebook to learn more about us and our area of expertise, steam.
If you’re still not sure that steam cleaning is right for you, check out our home page to sign up for our email exclusive promotions. We love to reward our followers with coupons for clean.

Save Green by Going Green

haan — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:52:26 +0000

Being green is quickly becoming a part of culture. Thinking of all the things that
can be done can be overwhelming. Luckily, many communities recycle paper,
plastics, glass and metals and have yard-waste programs.

Having a steam cleaner is a good start to going green since it uses a small amount of
water and takes the place of chemical cleaners that have a hefty environmental
footprint. Steam cleaning pads are also
washable and reusable, which means less waste when you’re done cleaning.

Going green not only reduces the impact on the environment, but reduces the impact on
your wallet as well.

Here are five simple ways to help reduce your own footprint while saving a couple
bucks in the long-run:

1. Fixing leaky faucets is easy and greatly reduces waste

2. Keep a basket full of wash clothes in the kitchen to clean up spills and messes
instead of using paper towels

3. Buy local fruits and veggies, especially in the summer

4. Keep an errand and shopping list to combine trips and save gas

5. Replace your regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, it’s easy and these
bulbs last up to 6 times longer than the old ones

These are just some really easy tips to help you be greener. The best part about
going green is that it can also mean adding green to your wallet. Many energy
saving tactics also help to reduce the amount of money you spend on cleaning
supplies, gas, food and utility bills.

Have any other good tips? Help fill us in!

The Dirty Truth About Potty Training

haan — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:23:32 +0000

Let’s face it, potty training isn’t always easy and it isn’t always clean. Thinking about all the germs on and surrounding that cute little potty is enough to make the toughest parents run for a can of chemical disinfectant! Those disinfectants that kill germs quick are also filing up your potty area with harmful fumes.
If you have a steam cleaner, you don’t need to use chemicals that can be harsh on delicate skin and hazardous to growing lungs. Just use a steam nozzle attachment and kill all the germs and bacteria lurking on your little prince or princess’s throne. If aim is an issue—and it likely is!–Steam mop around the toilet and potty to clean, sanitize and deodorize the area. For the worst kind of stuck on messes in and around your toilet, try using one of the HAAN scrub brush attachments.
After cleaning and disinfecting with steam, make sure to wipe away excess water with a dry cloth or towel.
Do you have a potty training horror story of your own? Leave a comment and share you story with the HAAN community.

Take the Chore Out of Cleaning Your Grill

haan — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:57:37 +0000

As the end of summer quickly approaches, one final cook-out might be in order. So as you go to pull out the grill for a Labor Day celebration, pull out your HAAN to keep your grill at its’ cleanest, your burgers at their tastiest and your guests at their happiest.

Getting the gunk off grill grates is no fun. It takes a lot of scrubbing to loosen charred food and cut through grease. Attach the wire brush attachment to your HAAN AllPro or Complete and the grease and charred chunks will start to fall away. If you have a steam mop, try steaming over the grates to loosen stuck-on residue and following up with a piece of steel wool.

Make sure to do this job outside or in the garage/basement with plenty of newspapers or old towels under the grates. We can make the job easier, but it is still messy!

We can provide some easy tips and tricks to help our customers get the most out of their steam cleaners. How do you use your HAAN? Leave a comment and share your ideas with others.

How do You Clean the Air?

haan — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:14:33 +0000

Sounds like a strange question, we all spend a lot of our time indoors, so air quality is important.

A home is sealed with insulation and vapor barriers, making it easy for allergens, bacteria, mold and chemicals to build up. Especially in winter, we end up breathing stale air that is full of chemicals, bacteria and airborne allergens. Luckily there are plenty of ways to refresh the air in your home.

Can’t I just spray the air clean? You could… but you might just be adding to the pollution. In a 2006 study, the Natural Resources Defense Council assessed the contents of scented sprays, gels, and plug-in air fresheners, as the contents do not have to be disclosed to consumers. Independent lab testing confirmed the presence of phthalates, hormone-disrupting chemicals that may pose a hazard to children and pregnant women and can harm the reproductive system, in 12 of the 14 products tested—including those labeled as all natural and unscented.

Ways to help improve indoor air quality:

1. Open a window
This is the easiest way to exchange the air in the home. Plus, it’s free! For allergy sufferers, this may not be feasible in the spring and fall. There are other things that can be done to increase the quality of indoor air.

2. Change air filters
This is often neglected. When furnace and air-conditioning systems use dirty filters, it isn’t as efficient and, instead of filtering, it circulates dust, mold and allergens throughout the home.

3. Maintain ductwork and HVAC system
Over time, duct work becomes filled with debris that easily can be removed by a professional. Dirty duct work harbors contaminants which can be redistributed throughout a home. Calling a professional to check and maintain the HVAC system will ensure that it is operating at peak efficiency, air exchange and comfort levels are optimal, and no harmful chemicals or fumes are being leaked into the air.

4. Buy houseplants
You can’t get any simpler—or prettier—than this! Houseplants oxygenate the air and pull gasses and chemicals, such as carbon dioxide and formaldehyde, out of the air.

According to NASA (yep, NASA studied this) these are some of the best plants to clean indoor air:

english ivy
spider plant
golden pothos
peace lily
Chinese evergreen
bamboo palm
snake plant
heartleaf philodendron
red-edged dracaena
weeping fig
gerbera daisy
pot mum
rubber plant