Steam cleaning - am I missing something?

[HexBramble]

I have the Morphy Richards 9 in 1 (bought during half price sale) and have just tried to use it to get the cooker top clean. I have cooked on oil on my hob so it's gone beyond sticky to like a dark film.

The steam has got a tiny bit off, but I've been at it for about half hour and the piece it has removed has still got a mark.

Am I missing a trick here?!

The Karcher one doesn't use Velcro, it holds the pad on with plastic clips.

Totally disagree that they're only any good if you clean every day - I think they really come into their own for deep cleaning.

The Karcher one has snap shut jaws to hold the cloths, I've never had one come off. I don't think it's great for floors, but it's hard to beat for the edges where the mop doesn't get right up to the plinths and for all sorts of grot spots (fridge door seals etc). Steam with one hand, wipe with an ecloth in the other, easy. Doesn't leave pools of water even if you don't wipe.

I totally disagree with the comment about being for people who clean every day, it's the exact opposite for me. I only use mine once a week max, because it takes a while to get it out, fill it up, heat it up, then wait for it to cool, empty it and put it away again. I use a Vileda squirty mop and ecloths for everyday light cleaning, but the steam cleaner is great for deep cleaning places that are either inaccessible or get properly dirty.

I have a Karcher steam cleaner and I love it for everything- tiled and wooden floors, rugs, marks on carpets, refreshing upholstery and clothes, bathroom tiles.

But even better is the Karcher window cleaner. It is amazing, just fantastic. Our windows are spotless and take aout 30 seconds each. No rubbing or shining needed. We have ceiling to floor windows along two sides of aroom at the back of the house and they are spotless after years of streaks and looking very grubby.

The easiest way to remove burned on gunk is to dunk a dish washer tablet in boiling water and use it like an eraser.

My Mum bought a steam cleaner and said it didn't shift anything. She gave me a demo and she was just waving the steamer at the surface. You have to place the end of the cleaner actually on the surface and really blast the dirt and grease away, then wipe it clean

Lulu-we have the window vac, it's fantastic,we have 3 sets of patio doors,a conservatory and tons off windows and they're sparkling

I have seen Kim and Aggie work wonders on filthy cooktops using hot water with biological washing powder left to soak for a while. The enzymes in the bio powder help to shift the dirt, might be worth a try.

Iggy will this work with bio gel?
I'll give the dishwasher tabs a go today.

I don't see why not, I imagine it has the same enzymes. Please do post back to let us know what works for you.