faqs

Most Popular Questions

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Car Wash & Detailing

How much water is consumed per car wash (sedan)?

There are many factors to determine water consumption such as size or dirtiness of vehicle, user’s skill, climate condition and others. If you hold the steam gun trigger continuously, you will consume 0.6 liters (Max.) of water per minute. When you wash a car, it’s unlikely that you will be holding down the trigger continuously. You spray, you stop and wipe and do other things in-between. We have found that a typical wash consumes about 10-15 liters of water.

How long does it take to wash a car (sedan) using Optima Steamer?

It depends on many factors: level of cleaning (express or detailing, exterior only); how dirty the car is; weather conditions (temperature and humidity); and most importantly how skilled the user is. While there is no right or wrong answer to the question, most of our customers are conducting a business successfully by increasing the productivity and efficiency of their operations with our products.

Is steam car wash effective when cleaning a very dirty car?

The Optima Steamer effectively washes various surfaces using adequate amount of steam pressure with high temperature. The heat of the pressurized steam helps break down caked-on dirt and grime on vehicle surface very quickly and efficiently. Besides, Optima Steamer™ has a moisture control valve enabling users to spray more moisturized steam onto the heavily dirty body surface and save washing time. If you open up the moisture control valve, the Optima Steamer can spray maximum 1.8 liters of water per min

Can I clean vehicle interiors with steam?

The Optima Steamer can easily clean vinyl, leather and upholstery. Remove stains and odors from upholstery in less time and using less water than a cold water carpet extractor. Using steam, interiors are dry within minutes. If you do a lot of upholstery cleaning work, we recommend the Mirage Max extractor to go along with the Optima Steamer.

How long do I have to wait to wash the next car after one wash?

There is absolutely no waiting time in between washing operation. The machine is designed to activate the pump and diesel burner automatically to have enough steam ready for wash at any given time.

What is the operational cost for washing a vehicle with the Optima DMF?

It depends on many factors: Costs of diesel, water and labor differ greatly per country. Typically, washing a sedan consumes about 15-20 liters of water,1 liters of diesel and 30 minutes of manpower.

Will high heat damage vehicle's surface?

When washing a vehicle using the Optima Steamer, the tip of the spray gun is held 10-15cm away from the surface of the vehicle. At this distance the steam temperature is below 65~85℃ and will not cause damage to the vehicle’s body paint. Steam quickly loosens dirt. During normal washing operations, steam will only make contact with a particular surface for fraction of a second, not long enough to cause damage.

What parts of the vehicle do you avoid with steam?

Do not use steam on radios, speakers, dash board displays or on exposed electrical components. Also avoid leaving hot steam hoses on heat sensitive materials such as vinyl for an extended period of time.

Can steam remove brake dust, grease and decals from a vehicle's surface?

Yes, Optima Steamer can quickly and effectively remove brake dust, tough stains, grease, odors and other contaminants from a variety of surfaces without chemicals. Simply hold the steam gun over a particular surface until the contaminants are completely removed.

Products

Is the Optima Steamer certified by any international standards?

Yes, the Optima Steamer is currently CE (Conformité Européenne: European Standards) certified, CSA (Canada & U.S.) certified and SASO (Saudi Arabia National Standards). SJE Corporation is an ISO 9001 (International Organization for Standardization for quality management systems) certified manufacturer and has obtained numerous awards and certificates including a patent for Steam Boiler granted by United States and Rep. of Korea. Please visit Certifications to view images of all the international certifications.

What kind of water is recommended to use with Optima Steamer?

For most countries, tap water is sufficient. Using distilled or deionized water is not recommended. The manufacturer recommends “”soft-water”” that does not contain significant traces of calcium carbonate, iron, and other minerals. If tap water or subterranean water sources in your area contain a high mineral content, you should take special precautions. Using water that contains a high level of mineral content may result in frequent cleaning and scale removal. To prevent scale build-up problems, we recommend following preventive measures for users: Icon Omega Softener Icon Anti-scaling solution

Will Optima Steamer be compatible with electrical power standards in my country?

SJE Corporation can supply Optima Steamer that is compatible with the most of your national electrical voltage and frequency. If you are unsure about your current power source, you should consult a professional electrician to answer the following questions: Icon Do I have 3-Phase power? Icon In what voltage is the power available? Icon What is the “dedicated” amperage (AMP) available for machine use only?

How noisy is Optima Steamer in operation?

Compared to conventional pressure washers, Optima Steamer has very low noise level. The noise decibel at the moment of spraying steam is about 90~95dB.

Is it possible and recommended to add chemicals to the tank?

No, never. Users should not add anything to the steamer other than Anti-scaling solution provided from the manufacturer. It’s simply because any chemicals won’t be able to sustain its natural properties over 90°C according to a testimonial from SONAX GmbH, world top-class chemical supplier. We recommend pre-treating the surface with a spray bottle(optional accessory), allow the chemicals to sit and then steam-clean.

Can I use Optima Steamer where there is no electricity access?

Optima DMF(diesel-driven) is perfectly designed for mobile usability. You can either accompany a portable generator(1Kva) or car batteries(200~300AH) and an inverter(DC12V/1,000W).

How much fuel does Optima DMF consume?

The Optima Steamer is very fuel efficient. The Optima’s diesel burner does not idle and only ignites to maintain operating pressure. In other words, after turning on the Optima, the diesel burner is not always firing or consuming fuel. The boiler burner of Optima DMF consumes 1.1 gallons of diesel per hour only if the burner is continuously firing which is an unlikely scenario. Typically, we can say 2 literes per hour average consumption.

Maintenance

Can I replace parts with ones I can get in my local market?

Yes, but it is always recommended to use the genuine parts or consult with the manufacturer or your local distributor beforehand. We may inform you a specific brand or parts you can obtain in your local market. Using unapproved parts may damage the machine.

What are the precautions to take if used in cold weather?

Freeze Prevention Must be taken under the cold weather circumstances. Remove remaining water from the steam boiler after daily use. Room temperature is perfect for storage. Somehow machine was left outside and turned out frozen unexpectedly, defrost it first before operating. Detailed information is included in the User’s Manual.

Steam Sanitation

How does steam kill harmful bacteria and pathogens?

As stated by the Centers for Disease Control, “Microbes are killed by heat. If food is heated to an internal temperature above 160°F, or 78°C, for even a few seconds, this is sufficient to kill parasites, viruses or bacteria, except for the Clostridum bacteria, which produce a heat-resistant form called a spore.” Heat, in the form of dry steam vapor, has long been used in medical environments (hospitals, dentists, etc.) to sterilize surgical instruments and equipment

Is steam sanitation effective and economical other than hot pressure washer or chemical disinfectants?

In a study by the University of California at Davis, the most reliable method of sanitizing equipment and controlling pathogenic bacteria is with heat. Heat may be applied using hot water or steam. Heated water delivered to the cleaning site via pressure washer is dangerous because the water amounts and high-powered pressure produce an aerosol effect. Also, standing water invites the growth of Listeria monocytogenes as well as other harmful bacteria, not to mention safety concerns. Did you know that disinfectants such as bleaches and even quaternary compounds are effective only if the surface to which they are applied is free of organic compounds, i.e. clean? The effectiveness of disinfectants is measured in terms of germ reduction based on exposure to temperature. For these reasons, dry steam vapor is the optimal method for delivering pathogen killing heat.

Are there any test certificates proving that Optima Steamer is effective in sanitizing?

Optima Steamer was recently put to the test by a third party laboratory, Lebrun Labs LLC – a GLP contract testing laboratory located in Anaheim, CA. The test was designed to determine if the most common foodborne pathogens in 5 different food-like substances (drinking water, chicken broth, beef broth, milk and blood) can be reduced in number or completely eliminated from common food preparation surfaces.