Steam cleaners-does anyone have one?

[snowbird]

Are they any good? Would you recommend one?

Umm..yes! But don't get an expensive one, they're no better than the cheap ones. We spent £150 on one, only to try someone else's that cost £50, which was just as good. Afterall, technically its just a glorified kettle!!

Oooh - I saw one of these on the QVC channel when at someone's house once, and nearly picked up the phone there and then. Good job I don't have the shopping channel at home - I'd probably have a heap of diamante and a set of steak knives as well by now

Where do you get them from (Do Robert Dyas do them?)

Do they really clean everything quickly and easily? Can you really do curtain, and iron clothes with them!!! Is it really the answer to all my housekeeping chores?

i had one that we purchased as a wallpaper stripper but it has a variety of attachments, cleaning carpets, steam cleaning windows etc. ( large reservoir for the water.) It was purchased from Homebase and it is great - I use it for cleaning the windows etc ( when we are not decorating and stripping wallpaper). It is brilliant too for cleaning the oven etc.

Thanks everyone, the one I've seen is £60. We are moving house in the next week or so and I thought it would come in handy to clean carpets, oven, bathroom etc.
eidsvold-if you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for yours?

No they are rubbish, take ages to clean even the smallest area and can burn you if you open the top to add more water too soon. We ended up throwing our steam clener away after using it about 4 times and buying a vax instead (gets the carpets beautifully clean with a lot less stress). Ours was £130, about the same as the vax.

i second lou33, i bought an Earlex one for £50 from currys - all it does is moisten the dirt! Perhaps if you get an industrial strength one it'll work well though ...

Think it was about £40 - as I said we bought it primarily for stripping wallpaper ( there is a cheaper on that is just for that) but we also got the one with all the other attachments. Although I have to say for carpets I have hired one of the industrially type shampooers ( in Aus not sure about UK) or looked around for anyone doing a deal and gotten them to steam clean the carpets.

But for me doing the sink, oven, mildewy windows it worked fine.

Never used the vax but have heard brilliant things about them too.

Me and my Vax are in lurve!

No - I wouldn't have one as I'd use it too infrequently and they are too big to store easily. I just hire a really powerful one each time I need it.

Well, I took the plunge and bought it. I am impressed, I'm now hoping ds sleeps all afternoon so I clean. How sad is that?

i have one. Dp bought it for me last year. It was about £70. I love it.