Steam Cleaner - is it worth getting one?

Mrs_Thrify

Hiya, I bought a hand held steam cleaner from QVC when they became the rage. I found out that as soon as you started to clean with it the water ran out due to a small water tank. You then have to wait for it to cool so you can refill with water.A lot of time is wasted so I gave up with it and now think it went in the bin like a lot of usless other things.
I now use micro fibre clothes (washable) and white viniger or sometimes stardrops.

jackieb

My parents have a Polti and it's brilliant. When I moved into my present house the oven was manky. I sat and cleaned it for 3 hours the day we moved in. Nothing would have shifted that muck (it was horrendous), but the Polti did. Also great for cleaning tiles and showers. Mum used to have a dralon (?) suite and steam cleaned that. That's not to to be recommended though!

count_rostov

I was given a steam cleaner as a wedding present and I use it so much. It's a compact trundle-around-on-wheels one, about half the size of a Henry vacuum cleaner. It's brilliant for floors, soft furnishings, windows, oven, bathroom, tiles, dusting, it removes spilt candle wax, kills weeds ... everything sparkles. BUT, I lent it to my mother and she didn't like it at all. So do borrow one before you buy one.

Mags_cat

I've got one of the little hand held ones. Think it was from Argos (about £25). I use it every so often (like the other posters have said) for cleaning the oven and defrosting the freezer. I've also used it for a proper "deep clean" of the bathroom - getting the calcified gunge off taps and gettiing into every nook and cranny.

Mine runs for a good fifteen/twenty minutes on a tank of water and I find that plenty to get a decent amount of cleaning done.

I wouldn't really miss it if I didn't have it - so that probably says everything

BIZZYIZZY

Thanks for all your replies, A bit of mixed comments about it, So I am going to borrow one (tomorrow) think I will try and defrost freezer and do bathroom, will let you know

Penelope_Penguin

BIZZYIZZY wrote: »

You will think I have been living in the dark ages!!!! But the first I heard about steam cleaners (hand held) was today.
Can any one tell me what they think about them, they sound good, but would like to hear from some one who has used one

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing thread to give more ideas

Penny. x

ajmoney

I bought my mum one about 8 years ago, although I borrow it too. Have used in on bathroom tiles, the oven and for wallpaper stripping - it makes that really easy. I hadn't thought about the carpet so I am going to try that next as I have just borrowed it for a 3 week stint.

competitionscafe

Does anyone get Which? magazine - my subscription ran out but was wondering what their current best buys are on steam cleaners, especially budget models?

Mermaid

Hi there,

Can anyone tell me if a steam cleaner is better at getting car upholstery and carpets clean than a vax or even soap water and a rag?

I've got a nasty problem with mildew in my car seats after a leak, and need to do something about it urgently!

Many thanks,

Mermaid

wssla00

I have two and I love them. They are really easy to use. i have a steam mop which is brill for wooden floors and carpets and a hand held one which does everything else. Think i only paid thirty quid for each of them....http://www.homeshoppingdirect.com/shop/product/details/show.action?pdLpUid=MG550&pdBoUid=9770&lpgUid=11163578#colour:,size: is the mop and cant seem to find the handheld but its the same