mint Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 Time to bite the bullet and get one of these as the last estimate I got for cleaning my rug and uphostery made me rub my eyes in disbelief.So, then, which make and which model: please advise.Also, I live in a very hard water area. Are there any other products I should get to use with the cleaner.If it furs up like my kettle, then it's going to be a lot of hassle using it. Will have to be cleaned after each use and I don't think my domestic goddess credentials stretch that far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadie Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 I doubt that the domestic ones are as good as the professional ones. Is there nowhere near you where you could hire one for the day? We hire one from mr Bricolage and the cost of the cleaning fluid is more than the hire fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissie Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 I had a Vaporetto for many years and loved it. But my overactive helper pulled on the lead and as it is a pressure system - it was too expensive to repair (grrrrrrr Georgia!). Considering buying a steam cleaner again, so looking forward to good advice here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 3, 2010 Author Share Posted August 3, 2010 Sadie, I will enquire. Don't mind hiring till I move house and then, I dare say I will need my own as I will have one house to clean to prepare for selling and one to clean after I have bought!As an aside, you know, I have never bought a house that I didn't need to rope in the help of umpteen friends to clean and yet, when I have sold, I get "thank you" notes from the new owners saying how pleased they are with their lovely clean homes!There just is no justice or equality in this world and I shall have to be fully prepared with steam cleaner and a troupe of friends in tow to clean the house when I find THE one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 We have one in France, can't remember the exact make and model but it is something like this: http://www.domena.fr/nettoyeur-vapeur-cs-4I liked it a lot, and got something similar, but a bit smaller and a lot less expensive for the English maison secondaire.http://www.vax.co.uk/shop/product/utility-cleaners/steam-cleaners/-Vax-V-081The Vax isn't quite as powerful but it is much better made and far more robust. Both work pretty well and I wouldn't want to be without one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 3, 2010 Author Share Posted August 3, 2010 Thank you, Will. Both look pretty good to me.BTW, bisous to Judie.I think I will try to hire and see how I get on. Will have to wait till the autumn, it's too hot to steam anything for a start! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubble Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 I bought one from chez Lidl reduced at the moment to 70 euro and I am very pleased with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 Thanks, Bubble. Will go and have a look. Lidl is my favourite supermarket here in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Hello Sweet17I'm not sure if you really mean a steam cleaner for upholstery? After several years here we found that upholstery and rugs were getting really grubby; it seems to be dustier than in UK.We bought one of these:http://www.equip2clean.co.uk/vacuum-cleaners/aquarius-pro-valet-carpet-upholstery-cleaner-p-390.htmlIt's a powerful vacuum cleaner with a spray attachment. It leaves the upholstery and rugs virtually dry after use. You need to use special non-foaming detergent (available from the same supplier). Our package arrived by couruer within 2 days and the performance of the cleaner is fantastic! Over a period of a couple of days anything with a fabric finish was subjected to a cleaning! Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Well, apart from the upholstery, what else can one steam clean, given that the carpets are Persian and there are currently no curtains? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissie Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Windows, tiles, tiled floors, cookers, ovens, grouting - the great thing is that you do not use any chemicals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 Thank you, Sid, I do like the looks of your machine. In fact, I was thinking of a Bissell.You're so right about things getting really grubby. I know it's the damn woodburners: I hate the bloody things and I am going to buy a house with radiators everywhere and NOT a fireplace in sight. That's how strongly I feel about it.I daresay that perhaps, you can clean lamp shades with it as well?But, nobody's said anything about hard water. Will I have to buy that expensive de-ionised (or whatever it's called) water to use with it?What, you only got Persian, Wools? Mine's Aubusson![:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Sweet, I think the vac might be too powerful for lampshades; I'm not sure.Great for rugs, carpets, 3-piece suites, upholstered dining chairs etc. Our main aim was to get the suite clean again, but once you start it's hard to know where to stop! The colour of the extracted water is unbelievable. Brilliant for the car seats too, which were equally grubby, but that's my fault for repeatedly driving to the builders merchant whilst still wearing the jeans I've been working in!We didn't do anything special about water; just plain old tap water.You can hire of course, but we couldn't find a machine which had both upholstery and carpet attachments, and you have to drive to the hire shop and also finish all of your cleaning within the hire period. At least we've got the machine now and can re-do it anytime.Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Sweet, I have a steam iron with a tank and it specifically warns against using soft water - maybe steam cleaners are the same ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Well, well, I am learning. And to think I always clean by hand, so to speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 Sid, I now hanker after a machine just like yours[:D]Probably buy it in October, when I am back in my house, wondering what to do to keep warm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 Sid, I have ordered it today and I am sooooo excited!Heaven help me, since when have I become a potential domestic goddess who gets all excited at buying a carpet and upholstery cleaner?[:-))]Can someone now please tell me the name of a non-foaming cleaning product to use with it? Didn't want to order it as it would come under separate delivery and I will have to pay another £20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just john Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 and suddenly you'll be even more popular with friends coming out of the woods to borrow your Bright green pleasure machine [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 How much do you reckon I should charge for borrowing it then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just john Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 well I don't know, how much is a couple of brandies[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 Steady on, can't drink TWO at the same sitting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just john Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 That's not the information I have!, anyway no doubt I can offer some assistance in that regard, whatever you've done to the exchange rate is worth more than a brandy. I'm sure they are building it up to come down again, so don't tell them when you intend to exchange, that way you might get the jump on them![:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Sweet, I hope the machine works well for you! Please let me know how you get on.Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 Yes, but Sid, recommend me a non foam cleanser, SVP?Man said don't bother ordering from us because, being a separate package, it will cost you £20 to have it sent over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Oh dear Sweet, we got ours with the cleaner and still have some left for the next round of cleaning. I've no idea what to suggest. I don't remember paying £20 for the postage though, I'm sure that would have hurt!I'll see what I can Google, but I'm sure you've already looked?Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now