So I've been starting some research to purchase a steamer for my kitchen floors mostly. The SHARK had caught my eye but wonder if it just looks kinda pretty. My 1 year old is all about dumping most of his meal on the floor these days and the dog is more than happy to pick it up, but as a working mom I just don't find the time to get on my hands and knees and clean my floors. I'm looking for a steamer that will serve as a decent mop, (better than the swiffers, or sponge mops) so that hopefully i'll be more likely to clean my floors a bit more often. favorites??? thanks moms!
My mother and I each bought a Shark at Big Lots last fall and we love it. Cleans up the floors nicely and even works on my hardwood floors without leaving standing water on them. If not doing laundry right away you do need to scrub out the pads by hand to get most of the dirt off of them before they dry out though, otherwise they don't totally come clean (dirt stained).
I've been using the Bissel Steam Mop. I love that there's no chemicals, and it gets the floors shining.
I also have the eureka envirosteamer and love it -- there is no button to hold down and it cleans really well. I did a lot of research before getting one and I'm happy with my choice. I have heard the Sharks don't clean as well and are more flimsy in design. My friend has the Bissel and likes it but doesn't like holding down the button.
I had an old Shark steam cleaner and it was ok, but I got rid of it because it doesn't heat the water too much and you have to pump it to get steam out. I just bought a Eureka Envirosteamer a few months ago and I LOVE IT! Its so nice, the pads that come with it are super thick and nice, and it has numerous steamer heads on it so it steams all theway across the cleaner and the best part is NO PUMPING for steam, it comes out continuously. I love this thing, my floors have never been cleaner, and it so nice tobe able to clean them up quickly and easily more often.
Although about once a month I do take a rag and bucket to the corners and around the baseboards. Whle the Eureka Envirocleaner cleans amazingly, it doesn't get all the way to the edge, and after a while there is about 1/4" around the edge of the baseboards that needs a hand cleaning. But I'll take that any day over cleaning on my hands and knees, and plus with a steamer you avoid ALL toxic chemicals and any residue on the floor, which is ideal for kdis and pets. I'm not worried anymore about our kids playing on the floor, or our animals feet on teh floor picking up chemicals.
Just got the shark pocket steamer for Christmas last weekend. Just got done using it. The first time I did the kitchen I wasn't too impressed but I wasn't pumping it to make the steam come out enough. I did my bathroom today and realized the right way to work it and love it much more! I am so happy that when my baby starts crawling it will be cleaner for a little bit anyways. I agree with the need to sweep up pet hair (yuck!) and crumbs b/c it pushes them around, just like a swiffer. Not sure if I would spend the money on it, but for a present its GREAT! I broke our swiffer in half trying to buff out a spot, not needed with this one.
Steam mops are so much healthier then using the chemicals that swifers and other products have in them! If you are like me and your family's health and safety are at the top of you priority list, you should visit this website and request to get more information on how to get rid of the other chemicals you are using in your home. The seminar is free and well worth it! http://www.gogreenwebcast.com/gagreen Enjoy your steam mop! You will love it!
I have been wondering the same thing. If you have a Big Lots near you they have the Shark on special for $50.00. I'm debating it myself, but now the Eureka the other mom mentioned sounds better.
I have the shark pocket mop and I paid full retail for the 60 return policy. So far I've only used it twice. This is what I've noticed and please, if anyone has a different experience with a different steam mop, let me know too!
Ok:
IT cleans well, not great. Sticky messes I haven't had too much success with
You need to vacuum or sweep first. Too much dust or crumbs will just be pushed around and to the edges.
The handle makes it primarily a floor cleaner and nothing else. If you'd like to steam countertops, bathroom tile or kitchen chairs, it is not manuverable.
After having purchased this mop, I saw an infomercial about the Haan steamer but did not order that....yet....
please keep me posted as to your decision and if you like it!
We just got the Shark pocket mop. Love it, love it, love it. We just moved into a new house and the hardwood installer told us the best thing to use was water with a small amt of vinegar in it. That's all well and good but I don't have the time (or energy) to use an old fashioned mop and bucket. So we got the Shark about 2 months ago and I cannot be happier. The cord is long enough for me to do my whole first floor at one time (about 1400sq ft but a small portion is carpet). It really does take up all the goo - including grease in the kitchen, and the dogs tracks from the muddy snow by the patio door. And you can walk behind it since it dries almost immediately. I also love that its green, it disinfects, and there is nothing more to buy since it runs on water and the pads are washable. If I had one tiny gripe its that, if the floor is really dusty or if you have pet hair, you will have to sweep first or it will just steam the icky clumps onto the floor... but that's really no different than mopping. :)
Edited to add: Just read the review that said it didn't steam enough. I'm wondering if she got a dud as mine steams IRON hot and is so hot it dries almost instantly. Also, I don't wash my pads each time and they come out fine in our wash.
