Reliable T630 Enviromate Steam Cleaner with 11-Piece Accessory Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had my eye on the Ladybug steamer for months now, drooling over all it could do but it was far out of my price range. I own the Envirosteamer steam floor mop and love it, but I wanted something to get into tight spaces like around the toilet, in the tub, the oven, etc. With some Santa money I got more serious about purchasing a canister steamer in addition to my floor steamer and began some comparative testing and studying. Fortunately, I live in a neighborhood that is all "green built certified" which means, in order to have a green rating, all homes were built with no carpet and lots of people hate chemicals which means it's a neighborhood full of steam mops which makes comparing the models quite easy. That's a good thing because it just saved me over a thousand bucks because I wound up no longer wanting the Ladybug. Here's how they rate...you decide which is best for you:
These are the canister mops I compared:
Vapamore MR-100
Ladybug XL-2300
Haan Canister
Reliable Enviromate
V=Vapamore
L=Ladybug
H=Haan
R=Reliable
NUMBER OF STEAM JETS SPITTING OUT HOT STEAM:
V-10
L-8
H-12
R-5
WATER PRESSURE CONTEST; (1st place being shoots steam the hardest)
V- 2nd PLACE
L-1ST PLACE:
H- 3rd PLACE:
R- 4th PLACE:
CORD LENGTH: (so you don't have to stop, unplug, water cools some, replug in)
V-18 feet
L-15 ft
H-18 feet
R-8 feet
recap: An 8' cord is INSANE. I couldn't even get across my kitchen counter or walk around my bed to steam all of the mattress without using an extension cord!
STEAM TEMPERATURE
V-256 degrees
L-297 degrees
H-212 degrees
R-218 degrees
Note: These temperatures are based upon using the small hose attachments. In every case that we used the long hose attachment included to turn these into a floor mop, the steam had to travel down the long hose so it cooled and wound up only being about 115 degrees by the time it reached the floor. Which results in very poor cleaning. Because of this, if you are wanting this mostly for floor steaming, I would suggest going with a steamer that shoots out hot steam directly onto the floor from its tank rather than through a long hose before reaching the floor as a canister mop does.
TIME TO HEAT UP:
V-10 min
L-8 min
H-3 min
R-5 min
WATER TANK:
V-1.6 liters
L-1.8+1.5 quarts
H-20 oz
R 2 liters
CLEANING:
For a controlled cleaning test, I mixed Dr. Pepper with sugar and spread it evenly across a 4' length of my stained concrete floor and kept the pets away until it dried completely in a gunky mess. I then tested each mop against it in lengthwise strips, moving them at the same pace after a full heat up, as well as testing each on its own strip of bathroom tile & grout. Here's who performed the best:
Tie: Ladybug and Vapamore. These, due to the really hot temps, loosened the gunk on impact and made it VERY easy to clean my floor. Their hot temps and heavier steam also cleaned tile the best but Vapamore actually did a BETTER job on uneven surfaces like tile with grout..but don't expect shiny white grout because it wasn't exactly returned to looking brand new either.
2nd place:Haan...but it wasn't nearly as good as the above two.
Last place: Reliable. Although the steam temp is hotter than the Haan, it doesn't shoot out as strong and only had 5 steam jets so this diminished its effectiveness Didn't come close to the V or L.
All were at temps to kill bacteria and sanitize without using chemicals such as counters and mattresses, unless you tried to turn it into a floor mop which I don't suggest because the steam was too cool to clean as well as a real floor steam mop made for that purpose.. Other notes: The ladybug was the most awkward to carry. It just wasn't made for carrying up stairs, etc. Conclusion: Considering the Ladybug is over a thousand dollars more than any of the other mops, this was a real eye opener! I tested these with my friends and we all agreed, hands down, that the Vapamore was the best buy. And I love it! It cleaned the best BUT the Ladybug lasted much longer as far as cleaning time. However, Vapamore cleaned for 50 minutes prior to needing a refill which, for me, is all I need. That said, if you want to use this commercially and don't want to have to take time to refill, the Ladybug may be worth the steep price for you. Considering they have the same 3 year warranty though, I'd rather buy 4 Vapamores for the price of one Ladybug and have one in every room. I kid. The Reliable seemed to lack things that were just silly...like having a cord longer than my blow dryer and only having 5 steam jets.

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ENVIROMATE™ - T630 - Chemical-free cleaning is the safest way to clean your home, keep your family safe and protect our fragile environment.Quality and performance.The T630 has been designed from the ground up to deliver superior quality dry steam, and provide the best possible user experience. It will clean the toughest cleaning chores with its powerful 1780W heating system.Built for the toughest jobs.Reliable™ understands that the quality of a steam cleaner is only as good (no matter how nice it looks) as what is inside it. This is why we use the best components available including a 18/10 gauge stainless steel tank.What comes with?Your T630 comes with a 11 piece accessory kit that will allow you to take care of your entire house - we don’t skimp on features so you get the maximum benefit from your investment.

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Goo Gone Remover Citrus Power Review

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(More customer reviews)"Goo Gone" is a fabulous find. I found the 8oz size while shopping around at Office Depot. I always buy plenty of books for gifts at Christmas time, and thought this might help to get some of those price tags off, without damaging the paperback books or dust jackets on the hard covers. It worked GREAT! Just a tiny bit on a cloth, removed all the labels easily with no sticky residue left behind, and no worn spots on the books! Used book sellers may find it very useful in sprucing up or upgrading the condition of books.
It looks like oil for furniture, but is much lighter and does not leave oily surfaces. It has a nice light citrusy sent. I also used it after Christmas to get rid of all the tape left from decorations around the house. I tried it on some of the other suggested uses, and found it was a great candle wax remover and cleaned up scuffs marks too.Works on all kinds of stickers. The only thing I tried that it didn't work on was some dried Jell-O that found it's way into my carpet during the holidays.I followed the directions(not to pour directly on carpet), but had no luck with that.
The 8oz size has lasted me like forever and Office Depot was the bigger bargain... with no shipping charge.
Say GOOdbye to GOO with GOO GONE!.....Laurie

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Homax GG44 Goo GoneHomax GG44 Goo Gone Features:; Removes crayon, stickers, chewing gum, labels, masking tape residue, grease and tar from carpeting, cars, tile, glass and wood; Safe and effective; Leaves the surface clean; GG44: 4 oz; GG12: 8 oz

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SteamFast SF-246 Portable Canister Steam Cleaner Review

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(More customer reviews)I had such great expectations for this unit after reading the description. And it would be great if the unit I received lived up to the claims made for this product. But it was not to be.
First of all- It states that once the unit heats up "a steam-on-demand trigger with a continuous-steam locking switch.."- therein lies the problem with at least what I received.
First-it's far from a "continuous-stream of steam that is produced- it sputters,and then may have a burst of steam, then sputters again. I tested the temp of the steam during several bursts of steam- it varies- anywhere from 90 degrees to 140 degrees. Anything over 110 degrees-if remains constant while steaming- is good for killing most germs. Being that this was inconsistent- hard to believe the product description-
"Using pure and natural penetrating steam, the unit removes stubborn stains, dirt, and grime from sinks and tubs; sanitizes floors; reduces smoke and other odors from drapes and upholsteries; reduces allergens such as dust mites and pet dander; and saves money on cleaning supplies--no more harsh cleaners or protective rubber gloves needed." HA! Not the unit I received.
The other problem noted quick fast-is that "on-demand" trigger- it sticks- making it very tricky to shut off, considering if your one hand is being used to wipe or scrub down the area you are cleaning, you have to drop that and fumble around with this trigger to get it finally to go off. Poor design.
Of the few areas that I attempted to clean-and none that really impressed me- and this is just a guess is that the problem lies with an inconsistent temp for the steam- as you really have to do a lot of scrubbing on your own to lift even the easiest of grime areas from the tub
.
This is not a unit that I would say would make me throw out my current, unfortunately, chemical cleaners, of which I would be so happy to do -some day.
Needless to say- this product is in the process of being returned.

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Equipped with a powerful 1500-watt heating system, this environmentally friendly steam cleaner heats up in about six or seven minutes and offers a chemical-free way to clean throughout the house. Using pure and natural penetrating steam, the unit removes stubborn stains, dirt, and grime from sinks and tubs; sanitizes floors; reduces smoke and other odors from drapes and upholsteries; reduces allergens such as dust mites and pet dander; and saves money on cleaning supplies--no more harsh cleaners or protective rubber gloves needed. The unit works with regular tap water, and its 33-ounce water tank provides approximately 30 minutes of continuous steam. Other highlights include a "heating" indicator light, a steam-on-demand trigger with a continuous-steam locking switch, a flexible 1-2/5-foot steam hose, and a 12-4/5-foot power cord. Best of all, the steam cleaner offers the convenience and portability of a handheld unit with the power and versatility of a full-size machine--its comfortable shoulder strap and lightweight design make it possible to transport the unit from room to room with graceful ease. Accessories include a 16-ounce measuring cup, two extension wands, a jet nozzle, a nozzle tip, a nylon brush for general cleaning, a brass brush for tough areas like barbecue grills, a removable utility head, and a cloth cover to clean and sanitize hard floors. The steam cleaner measures 14 by 6-8/9 by 8-2/3 inches (excluding the hose and handle) and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Flexi-Vac Vacuum Attachment Review

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(More customer reviews)After making the dumb mistake of washing & drying sandy beach towels, I bought this in hopes of cleaning sand out of the lower reaches of the dryer lint trap. What a waste of money. Because it is curled up in the packaging, it is impossible to uncurl. Therefore, the farther down into the crevice you push it, it just curls around & comes back to the top. After about an hour of fighting it, I had to admit my defeat and count buying it as another dumb mistake. Also, though it says it fits most vacuums, it did NOT fit on the attachment hose of my standard vacuum...I had to hold it on with one hand while I tried unsuccessfully to control the other end.

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Slim enough to fit into the tiniest of nooks, long enough to slip deep into those impossible crannies, and flexible enough to turn corners and bend in any direction! FlexiVac is 29" long with detachable detailing brush, and designed to fit all major vacuum cleaners. Great for refrigerators, air conditioners, dryer vents, stoves, ovens, air ducts and vents, washers, radiators, condenser coils, automobiles and much more.

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Eureka 045143 Wonderwand Cleaning Attachment Review

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(More customer reviews)Since 1992 I have worked for a major retailer in the vacuum department. This is the ultimate tool which does not come included with your upright or canister vacuum. I purchased this tool specifically to clean the coils at the bottom of my refrigerator to make it more energy efficient. I also realize this tool will remove ever-present pet fur from the most challenging of locations. Buy it!

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The WonderWand by Jobar International cleans hard to reach spots quickly and easily! With an adjustable length, this wonderful cleaning tool will go under, behind and over those hard to move objects. The attached magnet strip on the cleaning tip allows easy pick up of metal objects. All those nooks and crannies and hard to reach places will never be dusty again!

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Haan HS-20 Deluxe Personal Sanitizing Handheld Steam Cleaner with Attachments Review

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(More customer reviews)After reading the reviews I wasn't sure what to expect or if I would even be happy my purchase. I think part of the expectations is the buyers motivation for wanting such a device. The only 2 motivations that I can think of is get away from chemicals in your home or a device to ease with cleaning. If you are trying to get away from chemicals, I think you will be happy. If you're motivation is the latter, you may or may be not happy, I think then it boils down to what you're expecting it to do. If you are expecting not to put any effort into cleaning, you may be happier hiring a cleaning service. Otherwise I still think you may be happy with it on certain jobs.
My personal motivation is that I am trying to get away from the use of chemicals in my home. With that said, at the very least I figured I could clean with water, elbow grease, E-clothes (micro fiber clothes), and then go back over to steam what I cleaned to kill any germs or bacteria.
This device is not a miracle worker, but some of the things I have cleaned where much easier and quicker than a traditional way. Other things it did not take off. I myself wasn't expecting a miracle worker. The other thing I would add on this is that once cleaned, I suspect if the Haan steamer is used to maintain, one should not have to put as much effort into cleaning.
Some examples:
I cleaned under my stove. If anyone is like myself and neglect this task or one like it (under the refrigerator), you'll know what I am talking about. It was MUCH quicker and easier with the Haan. I swept first. Then I went over it with the steamer, wiped up the mess with a towel. Then for good measure I went back over one more time, even though, it didn't look like it needed it. It was so quick I wondered why I had neglected it as it was no big deal. Without the Haan that would have taken a bucket of detergent, scrubbing, rinsing, wiping, scrubbing, wiping, wiping... And more time spent doing it.
Mineral deposits that had gotten pretty bad around the water faucet, it didn't' take off. It cleaned the rest of the sink nicely, but I have not been able to get these deposits off without chemicals.
Carpet cleaning. It worked nicely on some spots, by steaming and blotting. One was used immediately and the others were not ones I had worked on so they were newer. On another bigger carpet spot, which I believe is due to carpet cleaning chemical residues, it lifted some but didn't remove completely.
Other types of jobs, were quicker than a traditional way. The stove - all I can say is WOW! I still had to put some elbow grease into it, but it did not take as long as it normally would or as much effort.
I cleaned the shower with clothes, and used the Haan for steaming germs and spots. Again it didn't get the mineral build up spots, but it did get other spots of soap scum, that I didn't get up with the microfiber. I suppose a big job like the shower, one could be disappointed as far a steam running out or if you're expecting a miracle and to put no effort into it.
Finally I have read comments on the steam running out too quickly. I guess if you run a continuous stream of steam, it will run out. But honestly I don't know why you would do this other than maybe a big window job. Because you still have to wipe up what you're steaming, you can get a good amount off, stop wipe (see where you're at with the job), and then start steaming again.


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Equipped with a powerful 1000-watt heating system, this environmentally friendly handheld steam cleaner offers a chemical-free way to clean in and around the home, as well as in the garage or workshop. It removes difficult stains and stubborn dirt and grime using pure and natural penetrating steam, easily taking on the toughest cleaning chores--everything from pet stains, grease, and soap scum to messy grill racks, mud-covered dirt bikes, car wheels, and more. Its high-temperature steam of over 212 degrees F not only removes debris quickly and thoroughly, providing a clean, nontoxic environment for pets and kids, but it also kills germs, bacteria, and dust mites and saves money--no more floor polisher, glass sparkler, oven cleaner, mold buster, tile blaster, or protective rubber gloves needed. The unit works with regular tap water, heats up in less than 3 minutes, and will provide up to 15 minutes of continuous steam on a full 6-3/4-ounce tank of water.
The unit also provides an ergonomic comfort-grip handle, simple fingertip control, a continuous steam lock, a 360-degree swivel head, and handy indicator lights. Other highlights include a pressure locking cap for safety, a stainless-steel water tank, a double-insulated cord, and durable construction to ensure years of use. A full assortment of useful accessories comes included: a copper-tipped nozzle for concentrated steam, a garment/surface attachment, a cleaning sock, a rubber squeegee panel for window cleaning, an extension hose, a MicroCham sponge/towel, a measuring cup and funnel, and an accessory storage bag. The handheld steam cleaner measures 8-4/5 by 5-1/5 by 8-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge, F5914-900 Review

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(More customer reviews)If your new machine LEAKS, see note #2 below. I am just amazed at how many people write that their machine leaked from day one, and they returned it. It will leak if you skip a crucial one-time set-up step.
Paid $170 at Best Buy. This is my first carpet cleaner so I have nothing to compare it to except my own expectations. Even though the name is SteamVac, like all the others in this class of cleaners, there is no Steam to it. That's just false marketing, but all the manufacturers do it, so no particular knock on Hoover.
First, let me say I'm ashamed to admit that our carpet hadn't been cleaned in 4 years, and that we live in the country where lots of dirt gets tracked in from outside. So the carpet was pretty darn dirty. The Hoover F5914-900 did a very nice job the first time I used it - a drastically noticeable difference in the appearance of the carpet. The water in the dirty water receptacle was black. Did it return the carpet to new condition? No, impossible. Did it take another treatment or two to really get it clean? Yes, that is the price I pay for ignoring wet-cleaning the carpet for years. One of this cleaner's best features is the ability to dry the carpet quite thoroughly. Since the front of the machine is made of clear plastic, you can see when you're vacuuming up water. If you want to dry the carpet as much as possible, keep vacuuming until you no longer see water being pulled up. As time has passed, the SteamVac has done an excellent job of maintaining my carpets.
My only gripe is that the dirty water container fills up too quickly and should be a little bigger. Ideally, the dirty water receptacle "should" be full right as you run out of clean water. Then, you shut down, empty the dirty water, refill the clean water and back to work. But this process gets out-of-sync with the dirty water receptacle filling up before you run out of clean water. So this can be a little inconvenient, but not a show-stopper.
The machine is well constructed but it IS plastic, with lots of compartments and latches and hose holders, etc, so one must simply be careful or those things will no doubt break off.A few other notes:
1. If you are not the type to read manuals, do read this one. Assembly and operation are easy if you sit down and read the manual through before starting. It's not like a vacuum cleaner where you just plug it in and go.

2. My machine leaked badly BUT it was my own fault. There is a one-time only setup procedure where you squeeze the trigger and push the Clean-Surge button to lock a rod into place. Push the Clean-Surge button firmly. There may be a loud SNAP which sounds like you broke something, but you didn't. Until you get that snap, the Clean-Surge (which releases extra water-cleaner solution) is on all the time, hence the leaking. I didn't push the button hard enough initially, so I had the leak problem.
EDIT December 2007
Apparently many people are assuming that without a loud snap, the Clean Surge will not work. All that matters is that your machine doesn't leak. If your SteamVac doesn't leak, it is assembled properly and the Clean Surge will work!!! The only reason I emphasized the "snap" was because so many people were having leak problems, which are easily solved. And it's possible that Hoover has changed the design after getting so many returns from people who didn't read the instructions in the manual. So don't get hung up on the snap. If your machine does leak after assembly, you know what to do.
3. ANY time it seems like there is no suction, the problem is that something is not seated properly. It is easy to snap the lid onto the dirty water container without lining it up properly, which causes a vacuum leak. If there is a vacuum leak, there is no suction at the bottom of the machine, where it is needed to suck up water from the carpet. Plus you'll see that the brushes aren't turning, as they're driven by vacuum. So recheck the dirty water lid. Carefully line up the hinges at the back. The front should snap closed very easily. If you have to force it a little to snap it closed, it means the back is not aligned properly and you'll get no suction.
4. If you have velvet or velvetine furniture, do NOT use the powered tool, use the utility tool. The powered tool is too strong for delicate fabric.
5. Like others have suggested, find a cheap alternative to the Hoover brand carpet detergent. One gallon of water doesn't clean a lot of carpet, and at 5 oz of soap per gallon, you go thru it fast.
6. Always be sure to dry vacuum your carpet with a regular vacuum cleaner first before using this machine to wash it. Be sure to remove and clean the brushes when you're done using this machine. Otherwise hair, thread, and balled up carpet fibers will dry on them and between them. Then the brushes won't turn. These are not "use and put away" machines like vacuum cleaners, they're "use, clean, and put away".
7. Here's something I do which you *might* want to try. For a very dirty carpet, I fill a cheap plastic 2 gallon watering can (or smaller for a smaller carpet) with hot water and a tablespoon or 2 of Oxy Clean. I then sprinkle the carpet heavily, being careful not to soak it. Then use the Hoover normally. Of course, this fills up the waste water receptacle long before the soapy water container is empty, but it still saves trips to the sink to load up on clean, soapy water.
8. Others have suggested using boiling water. Not for me, thanks. Too dangerous to handle and unnecessary, unless you've spilled or tracked in grease.
After reading countless reviews here, I have concluded that the problems people have encountered are from failing to properly set up the machine initially, failing to seat the dirty water lid properly, or failing to clean the machine after use. I recommend this Hoover. It won't perform miracles, but I think if it is not abused it will last a long time and do an excellent job of maintaining a carpet.

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SteamVac features SpinScrub-- the Multiple Brush System with 5self-adjusting brushes for outstanding cleaning performance.

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