Thursday Chatter

cakana

The reviews said that the Eureka gets hotter (220 degrees?) than any of the others and in some case, twice as hot as others.

Weird, I always thought you need boiling water to get steam , so wonder how those low temps ones do anything?  Unless it's somehow a pressure things since water boils at lower temps under higher pressure?

NicoleS

Weird, I always thought you need boiling water to get steam

Doesn't water boil at 212 degrees Farenheit?

I just checked the reviews again and here's what they said (they use letters for the products but E is for the Eureka and S is for Shark, H is for Haan, M is for Monster....and you get the idea)

S 110 degrees. lame
E 220 degrees. very hot
H 212 degrees. very hot
M 266 degrees. hottest...although the envirosteamer and haan seemed plenty hot enough. The shark didn't clean nearly as well and this was one reason. 110 degrees just isn't going to melt off stuck on grime.
B 125 degrees. Note that, because of this low steam temperature the manual said that if I wanted to sanitize the floor or pick up caked on spills, I had to hold the steamer on the spot for 15 seconds but no more than 20 because that could damage some floors. Now I don't know about you, but if I can sanitize with one swipe of the other steamers because of their sanitizing temps my floor will be done WAY faster but I don't have a timer to worry about the extra 5 secons where my wood floors could get damaged. My sink water is hotter than this so it would take less time to use a regular mop if I have to hold the steamer on every spot of my floor for 15 seconds to santize. Just sayin
SF: 137 degrees. Not hot enough to clean well nor sanitize.
SB: 120 degrees. Not hot enough to clean well nor sanitize

If anyone is intersted in the full, thorough review, it's the 1st one on this link:

http://www.amazon.com/Eureka-313A-Enviro-Hard-Surface-Steamer/dp/B001LYFBHG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304013784&sr=8-1

I don't have ceramic or porcelain tiles, but I do have a lot of oak and I think the swiffer wet jet does a great job on it. I don't worry a whole lot about sanitizing anything other than the kitchen counters.

Cathy, I found the dyson carpet cleaning powder on sale at Macy's for $12.99.  There was an $8 shipping charge but with the price of gas I figure I'm better off paying that than driving around to various home improvement stores looking for it.

Joyce

sharismom

NicoleS

Weird, I always thought you need boiling water to get steam

Doesn't water boil at 212 degrees Farenheit?

Yes, that was my point -- some of those that don't get up to 212, can't possibly steam very well!

Cathy, thanks for that review!  I know it says Shark only gets to 110, but that pad gets HOT enough to burn me, let alone for steam to come out.  I wonder if it's some sort of high/low pressure system like some coffee makers use?  If I try to take the pad off before it's cooled long enough, it will definitely hurt.  I wonder how they measure it?  I mean, you can't possibly have steam that's below 212 at normal household conditions (I think if you go in the mountains water boils lower...?)

ETA- OK, I think I'm being dumb.  I'm fairly certain it's in Celcius.  So, Shark barely boils whereas the others REALLY boil.  I read the review and thought about it some more... maybe that's it.  LOL

Whether it's celcius or not, I know with the Eureka at least, it is also pressurized.  You have to screw a top on and it will let out air when you open it if it hasn't already let out all the steam so your pressure theory could also be right!

Joyce, I have a wet jet too, but it takes way more elbow grease to get the floors clean, whereas I can literally just push my steam mop over an area a few times and it will clean up whatever spots I am trying to get.

 Can I just quickly say, screw you humidity. I had my hair cut an hour ago, and I wanted it dried straight (yeah, I know, rain, humidity, no guarantees of it lasting). It stopped raining though, so I figured if I didn't go out, it would be ok. Not only is it not going to stay, but it's already starting to curl. Oh well, at least I do have a flat iron, and if it refuses to be straightened, I'll just hop in the shower tomorrow morning, get it wet, and let it curl like it really wants to.

I have a haan and I love love love it!  I bought 2 pads so I can always have one extra (I like using a separate pad for my wood...I dont know why guess I am just weird, lol.  I also have the protective attachment for carpet and furniture.  I have used it only on throw rugs and the mattress.  It doesnt clean like a shampooer does but it does sanitze the fabrics.

shadowsgin

I have a haan and I love love love it!  I bought 2 pads so I can always have one extra (I like using a separate pad for my wood...I dont know why guess I am just weird, lol.  I also have the protective attachment for carpet and furniture.  I have used it only on throw rugs and the mattress.  It doesnt clean like a shampooer does but it does sanitze the fabrics.

They rated the Haan really well too. One thing I also liked about the Eureka is that the reviewer said she was able to just clip on dishtowels instead of the pads it comes with and it worked fine.

Thanks for heads-up about the carpet cleaner Joyce. I hope you find it works as well as I said it did.

Regarding the Swiffer, I got really ticked off when every time I went to use it, the cleaning solution was empty. Now, as I said, I'm not one to mop super often, so perhaps it evaporated but it's pricey and there was no way to refill the bottles. More than anything tho, when I had the floors professionally cleaned the guys told me "do not use anything but hot water!" They said that many of the cleaning solutions leave a residue behind and it just makes the floor get dirtier faster. 

Most places that sell the Dyson vac carry the cleaning powder in our area anyway. I saw it at Bed, Bath and Beyond the other week too.

 Haven't caught up with the rest of the thread but we are back safe and sound and in possession of a new Bugsmobile - I am really and truly done with all this insane weather.  The ride down was horrific, severe storms, insanely  close lightning, thunder, tornado warnings, crazy winds and tons of rain.  It let up for a bit and then on the way back home about 20 miles from the NC border the tornado warnings again - some saying if you are in these areas take cover now! Jiminy cricket mama earth give everyone a break for a bit!

Without further adieu the new Bugsmobile

settling in, love the lip = not LOL

thanking his daddy for the new ride

tons to do tonight so might not be back until tomorrow - hoping everyone is OK

Very nice Karen. I can't wait to hear how you like it and I'm so glad you made it home safe and sound.

cakana

Very nice Karen. I can't wait to hear how you like it and I'm so glad you made it home safe and sound.

Ditto!

Today I think I had a taste of what it feels like to be a lawyer. I had made an unpopular decision (but the right one!) and was called to the table to defend my position. After stating my reasons the other party jumped in with insults then immediately stuck their foot in their mouth and proved my point. It was beautiful. This job is pretty tough sometimes but its nice to know that at the end of the day, you did the right thing.