Any one own a steam cleaner? Think this house cleaning craze may catch on...it does look better cle

[door knob solitaire]

We are always joking how PS takes up all of our time...well it is obvious to all my house is amess. Didn''t really want to reveal that FACT about me. But alias...it is true. But I seem to be on a roll...things are sparkling and shiny. Woo Hoo!

Kitchen floor was newly installed when we bought this house. Ceramic tile, white grout...well I think it was white at one time. We spent over a year on yard work before we moved in...tracked every in on our shoes...across the non sealed grout...

And then last week my bottle of organic cranberry juice hit the floor and the color of my grout is coming along quite nicely actually.

Kaleiscope of colors. Oh pretty!!! Suppose though most women including my MIL won''t find the beauty in all things that I can.

Steam cleaner idea popped into my noggin and was hoping one of you have some advice, or experience that I could use on which kind or what ever. I would like it to be something I can use in the shower, or maybe window cleaning, and even car detailing.

Any thoughts you little homemakers?

 

[fisherofmengirly]

I thought this post was going to be about carpet steam cleaners, and I was *so* excited to be helpful. But sadly, I know nothing about the steam cleaners you''re looking for information on.

Good luck finding the best one for your needs. But I have to say, I do think that cranberry is a very pretty color for interior decorating!

 

[onvacation]

I must be PSing too much, because I thought this thread would be about jewelry steam cleaners!

DKS, I know nothing about steam cleaners, except for the crap penguin one that my mom and I got sucked into buying and returned immediately. But I have a little trick I use instead of proper steam cleaners, and that''s my iron. Yes, the iron you use for clothes... For example, say I wanted to get icky grease and gunk off my FI''s glass coffee table after a wild guy''s night of pizza and pokey sticks. I put a wet paper towel on top of the area I want to clean, put the iron on top for a very short while, just enough to get some steam action going, and wipe with the paper towel. It works wonders without taking up space to store an extra appliance. I was thinking it would work nicely on your grouts, until I reread your post and realized you wanted to do the entire kitchen floor! Well, it might strain your back somewhat, but done in small areas I don''t think it''ll be too hard. I usually use it on the glass coffee table which is quite a bit smaller, but it''s a quick job if you want to try.

 

[door knob solitaire]

Oh thanks and sorry for the confusion.

Yes Vacation babe...I should try that! That is brilliant! Poor little iron gets no use here anyway. We are so not into ironing anymore. Have no social life...and the yard work doesn''t require a collar. The dog walk is best done in sweats...so that little iron is going to thank you!

I can at least see if the steam will go the distance I was told it would on grout! You are brilliant! Thanks. kiss kiss

 

[lyra]

Maybe you can use your Jewel Jet if you have one! LOL!

I''ve read on Consumer reports that those handheld steamer things are just not that great, you end up using brute force anyway.

 

[door knob solitaire]

OH Lyra...you burst my bubble. I was so into the Shark steamer as...my girlfriend just emailed me as Tuesday morning just emailed her! I mean as soon as my email hit with the question I posed to her, the TM email hit...freaky!

 

[onvacation]

Haha V-babe! I like that

I learned a new word today, supposedly coined by Oprah: schlumpadinka. It means "a woman who dresses like she has completely given up on herself - and it shows."

This is what it says on the first page of webster.com :

Do you run errands in your pajamas? -> Yes. Check.

Are sweats a staple in your wardrobe? -> Of course! Check check.

Then you may be a schlumpadinka!

Yeah. Whatever. Schlump or no schlump, I love my sweats and jeans I've had since the 6th grade and a got sexy back to match that doesn't need the Monistat gel! So there. ha.

Lemme know how the grout project goes! I've never tried it on grout, cuz.. I live in a cheap ass apartment with no tiles But I guarantee the tiles will sparkle like diamonds!


-----------------------------------------------------

Are you a shlumpadinka? On a special broadcast of her nationally syndicated talk show, Oprah Winfrey defines this evocative word as "a woman who dresses like she has completely given up on herself - and it shows." If you've got your own neologism you'd like to share with the world, you'll want to check out Merriam-Webster's Open Dictionary. In the meantime, you can read more about Oprah's own Word of the Day here.

 

[door knob solitaire]

Hubby wants me to be a schlumpadinka as he is always saying;

just screw on a hat...(as I am wrestling with my hair)

Or toss on a jacket...( as I am screaming my pants wont fit)

Just wear jeans and tennis shoes...(all of my denim is long, wide legged or trouser style. You have to wear heels!)

Or just wear what you have on...no one is going to see you (as I am storming around frantic about what to wear) I usually say then why are we going...I can look at you anytime! ar ar ar.

You and your Oprah can call me a schlumpadinka. But I am still pouting because I can''t find the right thing to wear.

 

[Angel7]

DKS - I have the Scunci Steamer and I use it for "ironing" out wrinkles (works like a charm!) and I use the hose for tight corners that I can't get stuff out of and it just blows the crap outta there!

Works great, I can't complain! It wasn't that expensive either. Plus if you get it at Linens and Things or Bed Bath, you can use 20% off coupon. If you don't have one, let me know..I'll post one for you! Yes, I'm cheap and love using coupons!

http://www.scunci-steam-cleaner.com/

I've been eyeballing this floor steam cleaner. I have mosty wood and am afraid to use anything on it and thought this would be the best thing..anyone have it?
http://www.lnt.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2850512&cp&sr=1&origkw=steam&kw=steam&parentPage=search

 

[bebe]

I have 2 steamers - both worthless!

I tried like all heck to keep the grout on my travertine all nice and pretty.
It''s in an area that gets tons of foot traffic and just regular mopping wouldn''t cut it.
So I bought one steamer, a handheld, then I bought an upright one, Neither one ever
produced the results that a good ol'' scrubbing, down on hands and knees job did.

In praise of the upright steamer, I once used it to remove a cleaner haze that developed
on my wood floors. Now that was work, steam an area, then work a wet towel over the area
to scrape up the gunk left by using a grocery store wood floor cleaner!

 

[onvacation]

Ahahaha I sooo know that feeling of "what to wear"... and I hate it! I''m going through a bout of that now; I''m meeting my in-laws-to-be for the first time tomorrow, and I''m terrified! I mean, I know they''re great people from talking on the phone, but there''s that whole first impression in person thing, you know?

I kinda have a theory about why most steamers don''t perform like they''re promised to. I think it''s cuz they only blast out steam, and it''s not enough to keep the area warm while you wipe it off. Like the penguin and shark I tried, not only did it give out a meager amount of steam, but what got out of it did melt stuff away, but it started solidifying (ewww, I know, grosss) as soon as I took the steamer away. So while in the commercials it looks like you can steam a large area then wipe effortlessly, in reality it''s steam...... and wipe! steam....... and wipe! On the other hand, the ironing method works for me because it heats up the whole area, and holds the heat while you wipe. Whatever you wanted melted away stays a liquid because of the residual heat so you can really just wipe it up without scrubbing at it.

 

[door knob solitaire]

Thanks gang!

One thing I wanted to address or to share...with Bebe was that one good cleaning is all you should do, then seal the grout with a sealer so you don''t have to do it again. I realize with Travertine that is and should be handled differently. Had you made any inquiries on sealing it once and for all? That is what I hope to accomplish. A thorough cleaning and then seal it while it is clean. Would that work for you?

Angel..I too adore those 20% off coupons or the $5. ones too! My local stores encourage you to any that you have. No expiration! My dental tech uses hers on the Yankee candle flavor of the month. She ends up with twice as much Yankee and is giddy no matter the scent. I find that funny. Thanks for the coupon offer...I''m good!!

You know the general comments are leaning more negative...and it is my theory that the principle is solid...has merit. But as for liability I bet the consumer home versions have to be watered down to a safe level. Sort of like pressure washers. You can add pressure to the flow of water than comes out of your spigot...hard fast high pressure water is good...but what is better is HEATED water. To get that you have to have a water heater on the unit more $$$. So I bet the home version of steamer we are discussing...is similar? Or would you argue steam is steam ?

On vacation...I am sure once you express your personality and they see how you admire their son, it won''t matter what you have on. Sincerity...and be yourself. That is after all what attracted you to your bf. Let them see that too! They more than likely had some smidgen of influence on their son, and what he loves in you, they will recognize and feel the same. Best wishes!

 

[bebe]

Date: 2/21/2008 3:29:41 PM
Author: door knob solitaire
Thanks gang!


One thing I wanted to address or to share...with Bebe was that one good cleaning is all you should do, then seal the grout with a sealer so you don''t have to do it again. I realize with Travertine that is and should be handled differently. Had you made any inquiries on sealing it once and for all? That is what I hope to accomplish. A thorough cleaning and then seal it while it is clean. Would that work for you?


Angel..I too adore those 20% off coupons or the $5. ones too! My local stores encourage you to any that you have. No expiration! My dental tech uses hers on the Yankee candle flavor of the month. She ends up with twice as much Yankee and is giddy no matter the scent. I find that funny. Thanks for the coupon offer...I''m good!!

You know the general comments are leaning more negative...and it is my theory that the principle is solid...has merit. But as for liability I bet the consumer home versions have to be watered down to a safe level. Sort of like pressure washers. You can add pressure to the flow of water than comes out of your spigot...hard fast high pressure water is good...but what is better is HEATED water. To get that you have to have a water heater on the unit more $$$. So I bet the home version of steamer we are discussing...is similar? Or would you argue steam is steam ?


On vacation...I am sure once you express your personality and they see how you admire their son, it won''t matter what you have on. Sincerity...and be yourself. That is after all what attracted you to your bf. Let them see that too! They more than likely had some smidgen of influence on their son, and what he loves in you, they will recognize and feel the same. Best wishes!

****************************************************************************************************************************

dks - yeah, believe me I know all about the travertine! I''ve been involved in home construction for many years. Don''t get me wrong, I love the stuff, but dang it is so porous. It has been my experience that even with sealing it and sealing the grout, eventually the grout looks ucky. My best friend is still trying to get rid of a red wine stain on her "sealed travertine". Regular cleaning really is the only way to keep it up. Some sealers actually attract dirt into the grout.