Revisiting Steam: Why Laundromat Owners Should Take a Second Look at Modern Steam Solutions
For years, the laundry industry has been moving away from boilers — citing safety risks, regulatory burdens, and rising maintenance costs. Tankless water heaters, on-demand hot water systems, and fully electric setups have become the standard for most new laundromat builds. Yet, at the upcoming Clean Show 2025 in Orlando (August 23–26), the conversation around steam is shifting.
Modern steam technology is not about returning to the hazards of massive high-pressure boilers—it’s about compact, efficient, on-demand, and safer solutions that can open up new revenue streams, improve quality, and differentiate your laundromat from the competition.
Why Steam Deserves Another Look
Premium Garment Finishing
Steam is unmatched in its ability to relax fibers and remove wrinkles quickly and uniformly. For laundromats that offer—or are considering offering—wash-dry-fold with light finishing services, steam-enabled presses, shirt finishers, and formers deliver a noticeably crisper, higher-end result.
Sanitization and Specialty Services
Live steam can achieve temperatures that destroy bacteria, allergens, and odors more effectively than hot water alone. This capability is especially attractive for:
- Hospitality contracts (linens, uniforms, towels)
- Medical or elder-care accounts
- Allergy- or odor-sensitive customer segments
Faster, Gentler Processing
Steam’s ability to add controlled moisture during finishing can speed pressing while preserving fabric integrity, leading to better results and less wear on garments.
The Boiler Problem—and the Modern Solution
Traditional boilers are costly, space-hungry, and subject to intense regulation. They require frequent inspections, licensed operators in some regions, and significant capital investment. This has driven many laundromats to eliminate steam entirely.
Today’s innovations make it possible to enjoy steam’s benefits without these drawbacks:
- On-demand steam generators that heat in minutes
- Low-pressure systems that avoid many regulatory hurdles
- Electric modular units with small footprints and minimal venting needs
- Integrated steam modules in individual finishing machines
What to Expect at Clean Show 2025
One of the most exciting features in Orlando this year will be the Steam Area, where exhibitors will run live demonstrations of finishing equipment, pressing stations, and on-demand steam generators. Orlando’s facility is uniquely capable of supporting full-scale steam demos—something most venues can’t accommodate—making this a rare opportunity to see and compare systems in action.
In addition, the Innovation Awards Showcase may highlight new steam technologies in categories such as Best New Technology for Sustainability and Best New Technology for Automation. While winners won’t be announced until the first day of the show, booths displaying award signage will be worth a closer look.
Companies Leading Modern Steam Innovation
Several manufacturers are redefining what steam means for today’s laundry operations:
- Miura America – miuraboiler.com
Modular, low-water-content boilers delivering full steam in under five minutes. Designed for scalability, efficiency, and redundancy. - Electro-Steam Generator Corp. – electrosteam.com
Electric steam generators for garment care, from small portable units to high-capacity industrial systems. - Fagor Professional – fagorprofessional.com
Portable and safe electric steam generators for ironing tables, dummies, and form finishers. - Danube – danube-international.com
Industrial steam solutions for finishing, with ergonomic design and adjustable pressure controls. - BTC Laundry – btc-laundry.com
Fully automatic, stainless-steel steam generators with high capacity and integrated safety systems.
Questions to Ask at Steam-Related Booths
When visiting steam equipment booths at Clean Show, come prepared with targeted questions to determine if a system fits your business:
- Integration: Can this system integrate with my existing tankless hot water setup?
- Capacity: What’s the steam output, and can it handle my busiest production periods?
- Startup Time: How quickly can the system produce usable steam from cold start?
- Safety: What pressure level does it operate at, and what safety features are built in?
- Maintenance: What are the daily, weekly, and annual maintenance requirements?
- Space & Installation: What footprint, venting, and utility requirements does it have?
- ROI: Based on my service mix, what revenue potential could this unlock, and what’s the expected payback period?
Strategic Takeaway
If your laundromat is purely self-service, steam may not be necessary. But if you’re building a service-driven, high-margin business—offering finishing, hospitality contracts, or premium garment care—modern steam systems can give you a competitive edge.
Clean Show 2025 offers the perfect environment to explore these options firsthand, compare technologies side-by-side, and speak directly with the innovators shaping steam’s future in the laundry industry.