Steam cleaners

[Gemma1]

I'm thinking of buying a steam cleaner mainly for tiled floors and oven cleaning. As I have no previous experience with them, I wonder if anyone had any advice/views they could share. Thanks.

 

[bags]

Hubby's in the process of laying a laminate slate floor to the kitchen/utility.
With Ben our lab loosing his summer coat and muddy paws only going to be more frequent as the winter comes.
I was looking to get a steam mop, have checked out the reviews on QVC and have been really put off.
I've so far used on the part that's down a micro-fibre velcro pad mop, which can be easily wrung out to avoid it being too wet.
Whilst I'd like the floor to be clean, I don't want to damage it with too much wet heat.

Anyone with a good steam mop that would be suitable please?

 

[juzzab]

We bought the polti that was PotD on Ideal World recently, after trying out the H20 steam mop from QVC when that was a TSV.

The Polti isn't a mop, but wipes the floor (pun intended) with the H20. The H20 just sprayed hot steamy water everywhere the first time, spurted hot water the second & I had to unplug it from the wall the 3rd time as it wouldn't turn off!!

Obviously the polti isn't gonna be as easy as the mop if it worked correctly, but I have heard good things about the Shark steam mops & handhelds.

 

[stratobuddy]

They are not as good as made out.

I have a powerful steam cleaner, the sort that sits on the floor with a tube and handle with various attachments. In other words, it looks like a non-upright vacuum cleaner.

It does NOT clean grease off cookers like they show in demos, I think they are only using HP sauce as their "grease" LOL.

I used it to clean some mould off bathroom tiles, it worked but was slow. But it was also unpleasant, as the whole room became filled with steam, you could hardly see what you were doing, and it was therefore hot and sweaty work.

I bought it from QVC about 10 years ago, and have only used it about 3 times, it was a disappointing buy. At that time, I think they had only just come out for domestic use so were rare, now you can get them everywhere.

 

[Vikki]

Yep I have one of those, infact it's gone to the big gadget junk yard in the sky. QVC had a Black and Decker steam mop a few months back but it doesn't seem to be a regular stock item, I too have heard not so good things about the H2O aswell. I had all laminate in my last house, not so keen to use steam on it for fear of it lifting, I'm afraid it only looked really good after a hands and knees job and a polish with floor cleaner

Just flicked to IW theres a Bissell Steam Mop Max on there - don't know if it's any good though

 

[Akimbo]

I have a Polti (big red one), bought from QVC, which I've had for donkey's years. It paid for itself when a lava laamp exploded in the lounge and the polti got all the molton wax off the carpet and armchair, though it didi take a long time to do. With children and a house rabbit I use our H2O mop every other day on the kitchen floor and occasionally on the downstairs carpets for accidents and just to perk up the pile. With the red H2O you can take the tank off to use as a hand held steamer which is easier than getting out the big polti and on the whole does the same sort of cleaning jobs.

I don't like to use chemicals so that's the main plus point in favour of steam cleaners. I'd buy from QVC rather than an infomercial channel simple because returns are easier (in theory). If it doesn't work for you return it; I can never understand the low-rated reviews where the buyer says they should have returned it but didn't!! What's that all about?

Jude xx

 

[Mibbette]

I have the green H20 and I'm really pleased with it. The floors come up beautifully clean and fresh, as do the rugs.

 

[merryone]

I've got the Little Yello steam cleaner from IW. Although I'm not completely convinced by the power of steam to clean things, I would recommend the product..especially for the price. For cleaning floors (It comes with all the necessary attachments and cloths) It's excellent. I also use it a lot to clean the kitchen as the cupboard surfaces look streaky if they're cleaned any other way. It's great for freshening up the bed, the curtains...even ironing! I've had a couple of steam cleaners in the past, and one was a Shark, It was powerful and I was pleased with it, however, after many years of use, it gave up the ghost...I was going to replace it with the same, but they'd changed it, and it was nowhere near as good. The Yello has got the power despite being quite small. It's easy to use and holds a lot of water so the steam lasts for ages.

 

[Pickles]

I have the Little Yello as well. It's good for floors etc and also for defrosting the freezer. I don't think it would touch the oven though (and mine isn't that bad).

 

[madmax]

I have the green H2O and love it , I have recently had a litter of 7 puppies in my dinning room and it made light work of all of their wee and poo!!
I did send the blue coral microfiber heads back as they where completely useless as all of the fingers had been flattened when the velcro was sown on. But I just brought some car washing mitts from Aldi then cut the back off and then used the finger side on the floor they stuck to the mop really well and cost a fraction of QVC's version.
I also use it as a hand held all around the house so a good all round buy.
Karen.

 

[BusyMum]

I bought an Earlex steam cleaner years ago and find it useless for everything but OH loves the wallpaper stripping accessory...he's just working his way round the house now with it so over the years I think we've had our £25 worth out of it. I tried a cheapo mop from Morrisons which blew the lights out the first time I turned it on and wet my laminate floor thru on the second attempt. Back that went! My neighbour has just bought a Polti which she says we can borrow, so think I'll stick with that!

 

[BurlyBeaR]

i sent the H20 back a couple of weeks ago. not the green one but the more expensive red one. hideously heavy, especially when the tank was full and the coral head was wet, and not even effective. i'm over steam. flash and a mop/bucket are less hassle and work better.

 

[silversequin]

I have a Shark steam mop and I love it, I have lino in my kitchen diner and bathroom and this gets them spotlessly clean and dry in record time. I bought mine from QVC but don't think they stock them anymore. Think Lakeland have them and maybe Argos. I was stunned at the filth it picked up. It heats up really fast, has a good selection of cleaning heads which flip over so you can use both sides. I never have to use cleaning liquid anymore and it is actually quite fun to clean my floors. I also have a hand held steam cleaner which I got at Aldi, basic and cheap but very good. I clean my oven and kitchen tiles with it. Again I no longer have to use cleaning products. I also use it to defrost my freezer with. All in all I am a fan of steam cleaning.

 

[Diamond Diva]

I have a Shark steam mop and I love it, I have lino in my kitchen diner and bathroom and this gets them spotlessly clean and dry in record time. I bought mine from QVC but don't think they stock them anymore. Think Lakeland have them and maybe Argos. I was stunned at the filth it picked up. It heats up really fast, has a good selection of cleaning heads which flip over so you can use both sides. I never have to use cleaning liquid anymore and it is actually quite fun to clean my floors. I also have a hand held steam cleaner which I got at Aldi, basic and cheap but very good. I clean my oven and kitchen tiles with it. Again I no longer have to use cleaning products. I also use it to defrost my freezer with. All in all I am a fan of steam cleaning.

I use my Earlex wallpaper stripper to defrost the freezer with the large plate attached it does it in about 10 minutes, brilliant !

 

[loujareth]

Used to have a Karcher full size tank with a steam iron attatchment. As an iron it was amazing, as a steamer it was good but hard work, depending on what you used it for. It was great have though BUT it didn't last very long and just over 3 years later it died, I used to descale it regular so it wasn't that. I DO miss it though and have since replaced it with a decent steam station but miss the cleaning part. Depends on the brand and type to what results you get I reckon.

 

[craftology]

We are getting a Karcher, I was looking at the Shark but like the idea of being able to easily use the Karcher on windows etc., I have very annoying & ancient sash windows with loads of nooks and crannies.

 

[Loveinamist]

Elbow grease and a cake afterwards! Just rewards.

 

[rainbowj63]

I ve got the handheld Vax one they stock on Qvc and maybe im doing it wrong but its a complete pile of crap lol.................. needed it to get some stains out of a carpet before the inspection and sadly failed......... i ll have to splash out on a carpet shampooer, it did nothing for my cooker either useless

 

[BusyMum]

I use my Earlex wallpaper stripper to defrost the freezer with the large plate attached it does it in about 10 minutes, brilliant !

ooh..that might be another use for our Earlex wallpaper stripper then - must tell OH!

 

[BusyMum]

Ahem..passed that snippet about the Earlex to OH, who gave me a look and reminded me that our freezer is frost-free.. pass me one o' them thar memory pills willya...