Anyone use a Steam Mop? Recs?

[ame]

My mom has asked for a Steam Mop for Xmas. Since it would be hilarious for ME (a not so good housewife) to give it to her, I started doing research. Consumer Reports ranks a couple "ok" and the reviews by users were HORRIBLE on almost all of them, so I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and a few other sites and so far not many have great reviews across the board. I do plan to go to Bed Bath and Beyond and use a coupon for it, in part bec when and if it fails to impress or it dies, we can return it even if it's in a year.

 

[movie zombie]

better: buy from costco as there is no time limit for a return. not a member? get a friend who is to buy it for you.

 

[manderz]

I have a shark steam mop, and have been less than impressed. Thankfully, it didn't cost me anything (inherited it used after my grandmother moved to assisted living) because otherwise, I'd be upset. It leaves my floor kind of murky, and it doesn't ever look cleaner after I use it. However, it is really good for spot cleaning tough stains I don't want to do the hands and knees scrubbing for.

 

[monarch64]

We have the H2O Mop Ultra, it's one of those As Seen On TV products. I love it, and it's been a very useful tool for the past couple years. The hand-held attachment is the best.

 

[asscher_girl]

I have this Shark steam mop from BB&B and I love it! It has 3 settings, I use the dust setting on my dark brown hickory hardwood floors and they are always gorgeous after mopping. It's a gentle steam on the dust setting and fine w/ hardwoods. I crank it up to high for our ceramic tile floors and it does a great job. I've only had it for 6 weeks or so and use it every weekend. I love it. If you have any BBB coupons you could use those towards it.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=130003

 

[tuffyluvr]

I have the Eureka Enviro-Steamer and I love it!! I bought it from BestBuy.com, and they shipped it to my local store for pickup free of charge. It was about $80, and we have had it for about 1.5 yrs with no problems. It doesn't make me *love* cleaning the floors or anything, but it does make them feel super clean.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

We have the same one as Asscher and LOVE it! I know there was another thread (last year maybe?) about steam mops. Several people loved their Envirosteams as well...

 

[April20]

I can't remember if I have the Eureka or a Bissel (I'm not at home), but I LOVE IT. It cleans all my tile better than anything. I get hairspray film on the tile floor in my bathroom from doing my hair and it really, really cuts thru the film. I used to have to scrub with a brush and windex, but not anymore!

I got mine from Amazon.

 

[stephbolt]

I have the Eureka Enviro-Steamer and I love it!! I bought it from BestBuy.com, and they shipped it to my local store for pickup free of charge. It was about $80, and we have had it for about 1.5 yrs with no problems. It doesn't make me *love* cleaning the floors or anything, but it does make them feel super clean.

I have this one as well and love it. There's a great customer review on Amazon that compares the six or seven major brands of steam mops and this one came out on top when you look at everything. If you search for the envirosteamer it should be the first review.

 

[ame]

Thanks everyone!

 

[packrat]

I've had three and hated them all. If I could find one I liked I'd have to make or try find extra pads for it, b/c having two pads and not being able to wash them in w/my regular laundry? No way. I'm not doing a load for 2 little cleaning pads. I like the idea of steam cleaning tho, so I keep trying them. Will have to try the Enviro steamer.

 

[luv2sparkle]

I have a Haan steamer and I like it. I wish that it had a burst of steam feature, like an iron. It works fine though. I bought it from QVC
and ordered extra pads for it. I have three. I will use one for each bathroom, wash them and then do my kitchen and entry. Usually, I use
my Bissell floormate first on the kitchen and then use the steamer. In the baths, I just vacuum and then steam.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I steam my floors every week and have owned two steam mops. For me, the most important feature was that the mop was hot enough to sanitize the floor instantly. Some mops aren't hot enough to sanitize the floor unless you hold the mop on the spot you want sanitized for 10+ seconds. I bought these both on Amazon and both were around $100.

First, I owned the McCulloch MC-1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner.
Pros:
Large tank
Comes with many attachments--floor sanitizer is one, but I used several of the brushes for my grout, cabinets, etc.
Can regulate when to use steam
Very heavy duty--powerful steam!

Cons:
Heavier than most steam mops
Tank hard to empty
Takes 5+ minutes for water to heat

When the McCulloch stopped working, I ordered the Haan Slim & Light Steam Cleaning Floor Sanitizer and Vapor Steamer
Pros:
Very lightweight
Water heats up quickly (within 2 minutes)

Cons:
Small tank--lasts 15- 20 minutes
Mop is only option--can't use it for any other steam cleaning
Once it's on, it's on--you can't regulate when to use the steam

All in all, I liked the McCulloch better because I could use it for more than just the floor and it just seemed to clean more thoroughly. I have liked them both, though!

 

[April20]

I steam my floors every week and have owned two steam mops. For me, the most important feature was that the mop was hot enough to sanitize the floor instantly. Some mops aren't hot enough to sanitize the floor unless you hold the mop on the spot you want sanitized for 10+ seconds. I bought these both on Amazon and both were around $100.

First, I owned the McCulloch MC-1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner.
Pros:
Large tank
Comes with many attachments--floor sanitizer is one, but I used several of the brushes for my grout, cabinets, etc.
Can regulate when to use steam
Very heavy duty--powerful steam!

Cons:
Heavier than most steam mops
Tank hard to empty
Takes 5+ minutes for water to heat

When the McCulloch stopped working, I ordered the Haan Slim & Light Steam Cleaning Floor Sanitizer and Vapor Steamer
Pros:
Very lightweight
Water heats up quickly (within 2 minutes)

Cons:
Small tank--lasts 15- 20 minutes
Mop is only option--can't use it for any other steam cleaning
Once it's on, it's on--you can't regulate when to use the steam

All in all, I liked the McCulloch better because I could use it for more than just the floor and it just seemed to clean more thoroughly. I have liked them both, though!

I don't have the McCulloch steam mop, but I do have their clothes steamer. It's hands down the best I've ever used. I've had three (not their fault, mine. I broke one, one got stolen with my car, so now on #3). I didn't realize they made a steam mop, or I'd have it! Their product is amazing IMO.

 

[tuffyluvr]

I've had three and hated them all. If I could find one I liked I'd have to make or try find extra pads for it, b/c having two pads and not being able to wash them in w/my regular laundry? No way. I'm not doing a load for 2 little cleaning pads. I like the idea of steam cleaning tho, so I keep trying them. Will have to try the Enviro steamer.

I use a towel (like a small rectangular hand towel) when the pads are dirty and that works well. I bought a pack of cheap little towels from the auto supply store and I use those so I dint ruin good towels. I wash the pads and dirty towels with my bathmat, dog beds, rag rugs and cleaning rags so I have a full load. Sometimes it takes a week or so to get enough stuff together to wash, but using the rag towels works well in the meantime.

 

[Allison D.]

I use the Haan Slim and light, and LOVE it. Of all the reading I did, this one was a clear winner with consistently top-rate reviews. It comes with 4 pads, which can be changed out and thrown in the wash.

The tank is small, but I have a 13 x 22 kitchen and can do the entire floor in one tank. Heats FAST (60 seconds) and sanitizes - LOVE it. Lightweight, easy to use, can be used on carpets too.

I had to order it from Amazon since it wasn't available locally, but it was only a shade over $100 and SO worth it.

 

[ame]

I use the Haan Slim and light, and LOVE it. Of all the reading I did, this one was a clear winner with consistently top-rate reviews. It comes with 4 pads, which can be changed out and thrown in the wash.

The tank is small, but I have a 13 x 22 kitchen and can do the entire floor in one tank. Heats FAST (60 seconds) and sanitizes - LOVE it. Lightweight, easy to use, can be used on carpets too.

I had to order it from Amazon since it wasn't available locally, but it was only a shade over $100 and SO worth it.

This was on my list. It's on BBB website but I dunno about in store. I might check on that tonight after I leave the hospital (nephew is being evicted today!) I don't have a pricerange on this really, my dad said "cheap" but he's generally not a spendy fella.

 

[rainydaze]

i had the bissell for several years and it always left my floors sopping wet. didn't love it, though it was easy to maneuver into tight spaces.

i recently replaced it with the eureka envirosteam after reading reviews on amazon and other places. i'm happy with it. the head is larger and doesn't get into tight spaces like the bissell did (think behind the toilet and under cabinet overhangs) but it seems like it cleans well and doesn't leave my floor really wet.

part of the reason i chose it was i came across reviews that tested how hot the water gets in different models, and many models don't reach the 'sanitizing' temperature (bissell and shark included). supposedly the enviro does; the idea being that you get a better clean, faster dry time, and true sanitizing for those times when you hold it in place long enough (8 secs on the enviro i think, vs. 12 on other models).

ETA: here's one link i found quickly with a brief discussion. 'course i dunno if it's unbiased or not, but it gives you the idea of what to look for if you want to look into this temperature business some more. http://www.beststeammop.com/which-steam-mops-sanitize-best.html

 

[tyty333]

I have the Eureka Enviro-Steamer and I love it!! I bought it from BestBuy.com, and they shipped it to my local store for pickup free of charge. It was about $80, and we have had it for about 1.5 yrs with no problems. It doesn't make me *love* cleaning the floors or anything, but it does make them feel super clean.

I have this one as well and love it. There's a great customer review on Amazon that compares the six or seven major brands of steam mops and this one came out on top when you look at everything. If you search for the envirosteamer it should be the first review.

Another lover of my Eureka Enviro-Steamer! Once you own one you can never go back!

 

[ericad]

I just bought a Monster on amazon and I love it! I've used it 3 times now and it's pretty great. My dad came over the other day and asked if I had hired a cleaning service because the floors looked so clean!

 

[stargurl78]

I have a Shark vacuum/steam cleaner (not sure which one, I received it at my wedding shower) and it does the job just fine.

 

[starshine]

I have the Eureka Enviro-Steamer and I love it!! I bought it from BestBuy.com, and they shipped it to my local store for pickup free of charge. It was about $80, and we have had it for about 1.5 yrs with no problems. It doesn't make me *love* cleaning the floors or anything, but it does make them feel super clean.

I have this one as well and love it. There's a great customer review on Amazon that compares the six or seven major brands of steam mops and this one came out on top when you look at everything. If you search for the envirosteamer it should be the first review.

Another lover of my Eureka Enviro-Steamer! Once you own one you can never go back!

This is what I have also.....LOVE IT! The price on Amazon was great, too!

 

[beesha77]

I was going to say what Steph said. Go to amazon and look up the eureka steam mop and it reviews several and that was how I decided which one to get. I also have the eureka enviro steamer. I love it!

 

[ame]

Thanks everyone! Im going to start reading more reviews now.

 

[Loves Vintage]

ame - Did you decide? I had the shark, and it has officially died, so I need to get a new one asap. I am getting bogged down in reviews, which is not unusual for me.

I'm tempted to just get the Eureka, but I think you have to hold it over a spot for 10 seconds in order to sanitize. I can't do that for an entire floor.

 

[ame]

I did not. I actually waited bec my dad told me to hold off. We also got a joint gift I contributed to. But we decided him buying her a cleaning item for Xmas was probably going to require him to buy her something else later to fix it lololol

I think I will go with that Eureka one also, and Im going to BBB tonight to look since I have that coupon. I don't have a Sams/Costco so I would not be able to go there.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Ame - I did get the Eureka, and I really like it! I got it from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Eureka-Enviro-Hard-Surface-Steamer-313A/dp/B001LYFBHG. It's $60 there, which may or may not beat the BBB price.

 

[ame]

It does, but I got it from BBB with that 20% off coupon which got it to $58. I needed two other items from there so I just went and got it. I ended up ordering it because the last one they had in the store looked abused. lol