Steam Cleaners

[Greg_R]

We bought a Hoover after doing a bunch of research to clean up after our dog and kids. It seems that both Bissell and Hoover -can- have problems. IMO, get the extended warranty and buy from a company that honors their service agreements. I've had good luck with Sears r.e. service.

[Mosin]

I bought a Rug Doctor around twenty years ago, and it still works perfectly. I don't even remember the brand of the cleaner it replaced because the Rug Doctor was so much better. It was $750 well spent, and came with an upholstery tool that cleans at a professional level. You get what you pay for.

[treitz3]

Win, how big is the tank on the Rug Doctor? Mine's only about a gallon to a gallon and a half fo both the supply and the intake. I'm just wondering if the capacity is improved with the Rug Doctor. Also, does the Rug Doctor heat up the water any more than hot water out of the tap?

Tom

[Phelonious Ponk]

I have no business in this thread and nothing to say about steam cleaners...other than with 4 dogs I need one...but I'm thinking there must be some kind of prize when I hit 5,000 posts....

Tim

[amirm]

I have no business in this thread and nothing to say about steam cleaners...other than with 4 dogs I need one...but I'm thinking there must be some kind of prize when I hit 5,000 posts....

Tim

There is a prize. Your next post after that will show up as 5001.

[treitz3]

Hehe....

Tim, I have one dog and a small child who can not understand the concept yet of "keeping" things clean. It sounds to me like you definitely need one. For me? I could not imagine paying a professional company to steam clean the carpets and upholstery as much as I do. I'd go bankrupt and I'd have no excess funds for audio. Two things that are unacceptable to me.

Tom

[Phelonious Ponk]

Hehe....

Tim, I have one dog and a small child who can not understand the concept yet of "keeping" things clean. It sounds to me like you definitely need one. For me? I could not imagine paying a professional company to steam clean the carpets and upholstery as much as I do. I'd go bankrupt and I'd have no excess funds for audio. Two things that are unacceptable to me.

Tom

I rent cleaners as needed. I think they're Rug Doctors. While it wouldn't take all that many rentals to pay for a $200 machine, I've always assumed that a machine at that price point wouldn't be up to heavy-duty work. Your post is causing me to re-consider. I think I paid $30 the last time I rented one...

There is a prize. Your next post after that will show up as 5001.

Amir, this is excellent news. I look forward to it.

Tim

[treitz3]

I've always assumed that a machine at that price point wouldn't be up to heavy-duty work.

I never thought about it like that, Tim. I can say that once you get the hang of how it works [I.E. keep the solution bottle full at all times with either water or cleaning solution], this thing works great. Especially at the price point that it is offered at. One thing that is very convenient about it is when an unexpected "oops" happens, you can grab it and within around 15 minutes or less, the "oops" is gone and the machine is put back into storage. You don't have to put up with the "oops" until the next rental. I will say that it cleans my white carpet so good that when I do have the occasional "oops", I do not have to put up with one clean spot that makes the rest of the carpet look bad. That said, I guess just based on experience with this machine, that it is a capable player of heavy duty work. Just that one incident of the case of dark beer hitting the floor and shattering taught me that but the more I think about it, it has definitely done this household justice. Especially for such an old carpet, a kid, a dog and the fact that the carpet is white.

One word of advice, even if you do not choose to go with this option. Get a carpet rake. It speeds up the drying times, offers a consistent finish [texture] and makes the carpet look like a million bucks when going to market one's house. Apartment complexes sometimes use them to create a consistent finish and then rub the carpet certain ways to create a "welcome" sign that is actually written in the carpet upon entry. Of course, once this is walked on, this disappears but the presentation of a clean carpet tends to make the *wow* factor better for sales. I got mine at Home Depot for around 8 or so dollars a couple of years back. just be prepared for nobody knowing what it is you are trying to find. Not many people even know about such a thing.

Here's one I found at Amazon, just so you know what it looks like...



If you can not find one at Home Depot, here's the link to an Amazon rake, however, you will need to purchase a handle for it >>> http://www.amazon.com/B-W-CARPET-RAK...s=carpet+rakes The two together [steam cleaner and rake] work like clockwork in the maintenance of a carpet that provides excellent results. Even over the long term in my case.

Tom

[Phelonious Ponk]

Does it really make steam, or just water and cleaning fluid? And I see a hose/hand piece -- is that long enough and does it work well? I need it for couches more than rugs.

Tim

[treitz3]

Tim, I don't recall ever actually seeing a "steam cleaner" produce real steam other than the small handheld cleaners. So to answer your question, it's just water and cleaning solution. Basically, you fill the tank up with the hottest water you can get from your tap, turn the machine on for a minute or two and start cleaning. During that minute or two, the built in heater heats the water up even more than the hottest tap water you can produce. I have absolutely no idea what that temperature would be but I know it's hot as I always steam clean the carpet in bare feet.

As far as the hose goes, it reaches about 6 feet from the base unit. It works well for cleaning but as I mentioned, the extraction leaves much to be desired. A little too much, if you ask me. That's why I break out my wet/dry VAC. Let's say if I were to clean a microfiber couch using just this steam cleaner.....while I have never tried it, I would imagine that it would take about 2 to 3 days to dry out enough to sit on. To me, that would introduce a chance for mold or algae to start growing which defeats the entire purpose of cleaning it in the first place. Yeah, it may "look" clean but the smell?....I think you get my drift. When I use the wet/dry VAC and I clean it in the morning? It's ready to sit on by the afternoon with no smell and with it looking pristine, provided the upholstery is in good condition to begin with.

I personally have a microfiber couch and listening chair. I'm sure you have seen situations to where the armrests look like they are not clean"able" or salvageable. From time to time, mine look like this. Especially when my youngin' was younger than he is now. There have been times to where I thought the armrests were shot beyond a point of recovery but every time I use the combo I use, along with minimal scrubbing from a brush [like one would typically use to clean a shower], the end result looks fantastic.

Knowing this, the attachment that hooks up to the hose that I always use is the most basic of attachments. I basically use it to supply the hot water. Then I lightly scrub and extract the water with the wet/dry VAC. All of the other tools for the hose, I have personally found to be useless. With that said, unless you have or are willing to purchase a wet/dry VAC with some vacuum power, I would suggest possibly looking elsewhere for upholstery. Mine gets the job done and done well but with the additional wet/dry VAC I got at Home Depot for around a Benjamin or so. The model I have is the 16 gallon, 6.5HP blower VAC, also found at HD.

I hope this helps in your decision, Tim. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask. I'll be glad to offer you any insight I may have.

Tom