The Power of Dry Steam

What is dry steam?

The evaporation process, which everyone has seen when cooking pasta or making tea, is the gradual transformation of water from a liquid state into a gaseous state. Above its boiling point of 100°C, liquid water turns into steam.

When water is heated, the thermal energy supplied causes the liquid water molecules to move more rapidly: this is boiling. Once enough energy has been supplied, some of the water vaporises to form water vapour. This consists of tiny droplets of water dispersed in the air. When this vapour comes into contact with cooler air or a cold surface, it condenses and becomes liquid again.

Beyond 100°C, by continuing to supply energy, the temperature can reach around 135°C, at which point dry steam is obtained. In this state, the density of the gas is more than a thousand times lower than that of liquid water.

What are its benefits?

The main benefit of dry steam is its disinfecting power.

When it reaches a surface at around 135°C, a very fine layer of condensation forms and helps break the chemical bonds that hold dirt to the surface. Dry steam can therefore help dissolve grease by breaking down the molecules that make it up.

In a context where hygiene is especially important, it is all the more essential for the cleaning solution we offer to provide effective disinfecting properties.

Fast and environmentally friendly cleaning

Thanks to its disinfecting power based on high temperature, there is no need for chemical products such as soap, washing-up liquid or surfactants, nor for mechanical action such as sponges, brushes or scrubbing.

Cleaning therefore becomes much faster, simpler and more effective: a single application of steam to a dirty surface can be enough to remove the residue.

In addition, the cleaning process requires only a very small amount of water, helping to reduce water consumption as well. This allows us to use only 15 cl of water per cycle, around five times less than a standard dishwasher.

Because the water is used without detergent, the process also eliminates detergent-related pollutant discharge, making our solution a cleaner alternative.

The Auum solution

Auum’s patented Dual® technology is based on steam disinfection to clean reusable containers quickly, easily and sustainably.

Thanks to steam, an auum glass can be cleaned, disinfected and dried in just a few seconds.

Thermal disinfection has long been used, particularly in hospitals, and remains a genuine alternative to conventional cleaning methods.