Hoover TwinTank Steam Mop Review
This Hoover TwinTank steam mop review comes after several days of use, some trial and error, and a much better understanding of what one needs to know before they buy.
The product enjoys a huge number of strong ratings from other consumers which first encouraged me to choose it and, secondly, surprised me after I’d had a chance to try it out for myself.
That’s not to say I don’t like it – I do find it to be very effective and very easy to use. However, there are a few, little things that annoyed me.
I purchased the model #WH20200 and it’s called a twin tank because it literally has two tanks – one for water and one for the cleaning solution. The purpose of the two tanks is to allow the
user to switch between cleaning and disinfecting with steam only or cleaning with steam plus cleaning solution by simply adjusting a dial on the front of the mop.
Many other steam mops have only one tank which means you can’t switch between the two types of cleaning without emptying the tank and refilling it.
I’ll cover what I thought about using the Hoover, explain the features and their purpose, and then get into some pros and cons to think about if you’re in the market for a steam mop.
| Table of Contents |
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Floor Types & Carpets / Mop Head Type / Water Tank & Steam / Controls / Attachments & Accessories / Cleaning Solution Options / Dimensions / Consumer Reviews & Ratings / Pros / Cons / Price / My Overall Review
My Experience
I bought mine through the lowest priced listing I could find on Amazon (there were multiple listings and some were almost twice the price that I paid!) and while I selected regular shipping and was told it would be a week or so before it arrived it showed up within a couple of days. That was a plus because for some reason I was anxious to get my hands on it. I’d already held off on doing the floors so there would be more dirt than normal with which to test. (That’s what I told myself, anyway.)
This model is no longer available but you can find a newer model here:
Hoover WH22100 Steam Mop on Amazon
The box was in decent condition – there was one slight crinkle at the top but the mop itself was well protected by Styrofoam so there was no damage to it at all. I had it out of the box and set up in just a few minutes. You don’t need any tools to assemble the two pieces. The tanks are easy to remove, fill and replace. Then it was just a matter of plugging it in and letting it heat up.
The manufacturer claims it heats up in 30 seconds and it DOES! I had poured the entire trial size container of cleaning solution into the right tank and set the mop to General cleaning. The floors hadn’t been done in awhile so using cleaning solution seemed the right thing to do. I also wanted to know how the solution smelled and check the difference between cleaning with it and without.
I started with the multi-surface pad but that left the floor pretty damp afterwards. Switching to the hard surface pad made a big difference and the floors dried very quickly.
The first stroke or two are were a little stuttering as the mop pad was dry but once the steam starting coming through the mop slid easily across the floor.
Dirt came up without a problem. Some especially sticky spots (like some grease from cooking hamburgers that spilled onto the floor in front of the stove) took an extra stroke or two to completely remove but nothing strenuous.
Corners were a breeze – even under my kitchen cabinets – thanks to the triangular mop head. It gets right up against the baseboard because of how the mop pad has a surface size larger than the head itself. When you press up against anything that extra bit of mop pad sticking out pushes up to get right into the floor edge.
I’d read in other reviews that the steam trigger was an issue because it has to be constantly pressed. I have decent hand strength so I thought that wouldn’t be an issue for me. I was wrong. Within a couple of minutes my hand was cramping from holding that trigger. It requires some pressure. When I read those initial comments I thought I’d just put a rubber band around the trigger while using it but the handle is a circular loop so you can’t get a band around the trigger. I solved the issue by stuffing a kitchen towel into that loop so that it held the trigger in place. MUCH better.
The water lasted a lot longer than I expected and I completed three rooms without running out. However, the floors were noticeably tacky afterwards because of the cleaning solution and that was just on the General cleaning level. I knew that would bug my husband – it’s a pet peeve of his. Sure enough, when he walked across them the next morning it was the first thing he mentioned to me. “Why are the floors so sticky?”, he said, as his shoes tick, tick, ticked across the floor.
I redid the floors using the steam only function and all the stickiness was gone. Thank goodness mopping goes quickly with this thing because doing my floors twice in two days would usually make me quite cranky.
The next day I tested it out on our master bathroom. I loved how it got around the base of the toilet! That’s such a nasty spot to clean and many regular mops won’t get right up to the base like this one did.
Then I had a brilliant idea. I have a snail shower – a large shower with a surrounding wall that curves around to the entry. My husband started working for a mechanic a month or two ago and he comes home covered in the most amazing layers of engine grime. He immediately jumps in the shower after work and now my shower floor is often covered with the layers of grime he’s washed off of himself mixed with soap scum. Not a pretty sight.
I would normally do the shower floor on my hands and knees which is an absolutely miserable job. But what if I could use the steam mop in there? Could it cut through that junk?
The answer was a very happy yes!
It wasn’t completely effortless and each section took several strokes in order to cut through the scum but it was still ten times easier than having to scrub it with a sponge and a lot less dangerous than sniffing all the fumes from the cleaners I’ve had to use to dissolve that soap scum. I also felt much more confident that the shower floor was truly sanitized because of the steam.
There were two trouble spots that the Hoover TwinTank didn’t handle well but I’m not surprised. The first was the grout in my tile floors. It didn’t make a dent in the grout color at all but I didn’t expect it to. I’d already planned on getting a second piece of equipment for other types of steam cleaning.
The other trouble spot was a hard water stain in front of my refrigerator that has built up over time from the water dispenser in my fridge. Each family member must be sending a drop or two to that same spot each time we fill our glasses and over the years that’s turned into a dark, circular spot on the tile.
When the steam mop didn’t cut it, I pulled out one of those magic eraser sponges. That removed maybe a fifth of the stain but couldn’t budge the rest. That’s when you know something’s pretty bad as those sponges cut through almost anything. I then laid a paper towel over the spot and poured CLR on it and let that sit for about 10 minutes. That removed the rest of the stain.
For the most part, I really like this steam mop but there are a few things that bug me. First, the power button is located on the lower part of the main body so you have to bend down to turn it on. Intuitively, it seems that power button should be on the handle where you could reach it more easily.
Second, the cap on the cleaning solution tank is a little closer to the inner edge than the cap on the water tank. There’s no way to get your fingers on one side of the cap so you have to make a few small turns to take it off.
Third, the mop sits decently in the cooling tray but the handle wobbles a bit and if you bump it the whole thing falls over. It fell over at least three times in three days and that was starting to really bug me. It didn’t help that I’d left it sitting out in the kitchen so I could continue playing with it, though. Storing it in the closet should help. I have a large cleaning closet where this will fit and will have a support on each side so it’s not likely to tip over when not in use.
Floor Types and Carpets
The Hoover TwinTank steam mop will handle hard floor steam cleaning and carpet refreshing. It’s safe to use on:
- Sealed hardwood
- Laminate (check with your manufacturer or read your flooring warranty first – they probably recommend you do not use this on laminate even though Hoover says it is safe to do so)
- Tile
- Vinyl
- Linoleum
- Sealed stone
- DON’T use it on unsealed or waxed flooring
There’s no suction so you need to sweep or vacuum your floors before cleaning. Otherwise you’ll end up with the larger bits of dirt and dust bunnies shoved into little, damp piles on your floor that you’ll have to pick up after.
Accessories include a carpet refresher triangle. When you attach a pad and place the mop in the triangle you can lightly steam your carpets to remove built up odors. It is NOT a carpet cleaner as there’s no extraction of liquid.
The steam perks up the carpet pile a bit, too. If you have pets and your carpet picks up their scent or if you smoke in your home, you can help eliminate those odors with the refresher tool. You’ll need to let the carpet dry after use.
By the way, don’t try to use the TwinTank on walls, windows, mirrors, or other vertical surfaces. I tried it in the shower to see what would happen and water just pours from the bottom edge of the mop head including the dirty water absorbed by the map pads. Messy, messy, messy. Get a different tool for that kind of work.
Mop Head Type
The Hoover TwinTank steam mop has a swivel head with triangular shape to reach into corners. I don’t think it gets RIGHT into the corner because it’s not exactly a 90 degree angle on the front but a slightly rounded corner. It did do better than my regular mop, though.
The mop head needs to be protected by one of the three included mop pads during use. These are held in place with pointy, plastic strips on the bottom of the mop head. You simply put the mop pad on the floor and place the mop head on the pad and they’re attached.
Steam is not disbursed through those strips. Instead, it comes out of three small holes in the bottom of the mop head.
To remove the pad, step on the excess material on the back of the mop head and pull the mop up. Then pick up the mop pad and rinse it by hand or throw it in the washing machine.
The pads are made of microfiber, are very absorbent, and dry pretty quickly.
One pad has three holes in it and is called the multi-surface pad because it can be used on hard floors AND on carpets. The other two do not have holes and are called the hard floor pads.
Water Tank & Steam
The two tanks both have clear, see-through covers so you know how much liquid is left in each. The water tank holds 16.9 ounces of water which should provide 20-25 minutes of steam, according to the manufacturer. That’s just .13 of a gallon which is really a small amount of water. It did last a lot longer than I expected and I was very pleased that I didn’t have to constantly refill the tank just to do a couple of rooms.
The tanks are very easy to remove yet still very sturdy when attached. To remove, just grip the sides or pull up on the top lip. On the bottom of each is a twist off cap. The tanks are small enough to put under the tap to fill and will fit under any kitchen sink nozzle.
The steam pressure is constant and cannot be changed although you’ll see less steam emitted when the water tank is running low. Yes, you can actually see the steam coming out from under the pad as you clean.
Hoover TwinTank Controls
There are three controls used in the operation of the Hoover TwinTank steam mop. The first is the power button which is located in the middle of the body. It’s operated by pushing it to turn the unit on and pushing again to turn it off.
The second control is the steam knob which is also located on the body and is dial operated to choose one of the cleaning levels which include:
- Steam only
- General cleaning with solution
- Spot cleaning with solution
- Tough stains with solution
Moving that dial simply controls the amount of solution used and not the amount of steam that’s used.
The third control is the steam trigger on the handle. While the handle itself is well shaped and comfortable to hold, the trigger has to be constantly held while cleaning and that’s the part that’s uncomfortable. As I mentioned above, a small towel stuffed into the handle will take care of that. Otherwise, it’s very easy to move the mop around. It doesn’t feel unwieldy and works nicely around furniture legs and baseboards.
Two light indicators on the front of the mop tell you whether or not the power is on and indicate when the steam is sufficiently heated for cleaning.
The steam indicator light stays off until the steam is ready and then it turns green letting you know it’s heated and ready to go. It really does heat up very quickly.
The steam mop is operated by a 12 amp motor and is surprisingly quiet. I was mopping the kitchen area at 2am with a bedroom located off each side of the kitchen. No one woke up and I was able to listen to the TV while working. It’s not silent, by any means, but it’s quieter than my Dyson carpet vacuum.
Attachments & Accessories
There are a total of five accessories that come with the TwinTank:
- 3 microfiber pads (one for multi-surfaces and two for hard floors only)
- 1 carpet refresher triangle
- 1 cooling tray
I found the two mop pads without the cutouts (the hard floor pads) did a better job at mopping up water and left my floors more dry when I was done so total drying time was faster.
Additionally, the box includes an 8 oz trial bottle of Hoover® 2X SteamPlus™ Cleaning Solution. This lasted long enough to do 2 large rooms on the General cleaning setting.
You shouldn’t need to buy any additional mop pads. This is a big savings in comparison to those replacement head style mops. The mop pads are nice and thick and feel like they’ll hold up if cared for according to the instructions.
While there are replacement parts (like the water filter) available online there are no optional accessories available for this model so there are no attachments for cleaning counters, grout, or glass.
Cleaning Solution Options
You can clean with only steam but if you want to use a cleaning solution it’s suggested that you use the Hoover® 2X SteamPlus™ Cleaning Solution. This solution is biodegradable and the manufacturer claims that is completely safe for your home and family.
They also claim that it leaves no residue but I found it did leave my floors tacky. Mopping a second time with just steam removes the residue.
The cleaner is proprietary to Hoover and they don’t reveal the ingredients but it did not smell like a bottle of chemicals. It had a nice, gentle scent.
Dimensions
Height: 44 inches (from the floor – without pad – to top of handle)
Width: 11 inches (widest point of the mop head)
Depth: 8 ½ inches (from tip of mop head to the back of mop head)
Weight: 6 pounds
Power cord length: 30 feet
Mop head height: 1 inch at the front and 3 inches at the peak no problem fitting under my cabinets)
5 ¼ inches from tip of the mop head to the front of the stick
Lays completely flat to fit under furniture with a 6 inch clearance (very low but not low enough for my buffet cabinet)
Consumer Reviews and Ratings
There are more than one thousand online review ratings on the Hoover TwinTank and the majority are overwhelmingly positive.
I spent hours reading through many to understand the overall feeling for this model and why people either liked it or didn’t like it. Those who were most pleased with the performance bought it for one purpose – steam cleaning their floors. To that extent, this mop does a great job.
Most of those who didn’t like it mentioned one of three things:
- The difficulty of holding the steam trigger the entire time they were mopping – you can resort to my towel trick or a strip of Velcro to hold it in place
- They had a technical issue or defect with the product although this seemed to be a very tiny percent of buyers
- They had used a more expensive steam mop in the past and were comparing the two. It’s important to understand that this is a budget steam mop for the masses and performs a basic function – to steam, clean and disinfect hard floors. It feels sturdy to me and even if it lasts only a year I will have paid about $7/month and saved a lot of time in cleaning my floors. I’m good with that but have nothing to compare it to – that will come with time as I test out other models.
Pros
- Triangle shaped head is great for getting into corners and tight spots
- Ability to clean with or without cleaning solution at the twist of a dial so you can hit tougher stains with cleaner without refilling the tank
- Disinfects and sanitizes your floors if you hold the mop in place for 8 seconds over each spot
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Pads are larger than the mop head so they push up against the very edge of the floor against the floorboards
- Heats up quickly so if a child spills milk on the floor you can get to it before it spreads too far
- Water tank lasts quite awhile and saves you trips to the kitchen sink
- Carpet refresher to reduce carpet odors between deep cleaning
- Replacement parts appear to be readily available online should they be needed
- Replacement mop pads are reasonably priced but the mop pads appear to be long-lasting so you many never need to buy any more
- Saves money over the mops that need constant pad replacement
- Complete set of instructional videos available on the Hoover website for assembly, use, and maintenance
- Easy assembly requires no tools and goes together in seconds
- Built in cord storage for a nice and tidy look in your cleaning closet
- Manufacturer is widely recognized and has a good reputation
- 2 year warranty
Cons
- Power button seems inconveniently placed since you have to reach down to turn it on rather than having it on the handle
- Cramps your hand to hold the steam trigger during use so be prepared to wrap something around it – like a Velcro strap – to hold the trigger for you
- A bit wobbly when standing upright for storage so might not want to keep it sitting out all the time – instead you should store it in a closet
- Only good for floors and not grout, counters, mirrors or glass
Hoover TwinTank Price
The price is very reasonable at less than $100 at most stores. Amazon has the best deal online although you can sometimes find the same price at Walmart. They don’t call it a TwinTank on their site, though – they call it the Hoover Enhanced Clean Disinfecting Steam Mop
. You might be able to get it at the store or do ship to store or home.
I compared the Hoover TwinTank steam mop to other steam mops that had the same triangle head design. Several of them cost less than the Hoover but all had shorter power cords (some were nearly half the length of the TwinTank) and none had the dual tank set up where you could switch between using solution and using just steam.
My Overall Review
After reviewing the Hoover TwinTank in a variety of settings and with and without cleaner, I like how it performs despite its few bothersome traits about the button location and the trigger since they’re not show stoppers. Anyone who wants a steam mop that allows for both steam only and steam and cleaning solution, wants to safely disinfect their hard floors and knows what a pain it is to work with a short power cord will appreciate the features of this model.
I didn’t want a steam mop but you have really got me thinking! That story of how you cleaned around the toilet and in the shower with this steam mop is very compelling. I hate those tasks myself. And I have found that the Hoover name is just so reliable. You would think that the new-fangled brands are so much better, but actually Hoover makes such a quality product.
What an excellent review. I’m thinking of the Hoover Twin Tank steam canister with the 10 attachments. Wish you could review that, too. Do you know you’re the first one to mention how easy it is to get around the toilet? I was specifically looking for that info 🙂
Barbara – I’ll make sure to add the other Hoover TwinTank to my list. It probably won’t happen before you make your decision but hopefully some of the info here will have helped you. Good luck!
Wow, thanks for your very thorough review!
kpgray – you’re very welcome, thanks!
Erica, If I could reach you, I’d hug you. I’ve spent days researching these gizmos and couldn’t find enough info to have all my questions answered. You did it! Bless your sweet little heart. Thanks.
Roberta – I’ll take the virtual hug, thanks! 😉 I’m so glad the info here helped and if you have any other questions that come up in your quest just let me know. Good luck!
When you say ‘hard’ floors do you mean ‘hardwood’ floors? We have ‘engineered hardwood floors’ and I am hesitant to use a steam mop. I am worried about warping the floor – in places that may not be completely sealed and I don’t want to dull the finish on the floor. I have been told to only use the mop when it is ‘steaming’ and this will prevent it from applying too much water on the floor?
Please help, it sure would be easier and take less time,
Rusty
Rusty, by hard floors I mean any non-carpeted surface. However, with engineered hardwood you do want to steer away from a steam mop in most situations for exactly the reasons you mention. If you knew you were going to replace the floors in a couple of years then maybe you’d go for the ease of cleaning over protecting the floors but that doesn’t sound like your situation. To really protect the floors but also get the advantage of easier cleaning I’d look at one of the spray mops like the BonaKemi Hardwood Floor Spray Mop.
Erica, I have a 500 sq ft apt with 2 small dogs. Most cleaning products really upset my asthma. Wondering what you think about something. I am wondering if I could use my own cleaner with the hoover twintank or just put water in both tanks. I really have enjoyed reading your reviews and will base my future puchase of a steam mop on what you think. Thank you for all of your hard work. I really appreciate the advice.
Kristie – Thanks! Glad you like the site. 😉
You could do either. While the manufacturer, of course, suggests you use their cleaner you don’t have to AND you don’t have to use any cleaner at all if you don’t want to. I’ve stopped using cleaner in mine and use only water and I like the job it does. When using only water you don’t put anything in the second tank. Just fill the water tank and go.
You’ve prompted me to get back to this site. I’ve had one review sitting in draft mode for a month now and I bought another mop to review and it’s sitting in the box reminding me every day that I’ve neglected my duties here!
Good luck choosing and let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
Erica,
I am debating between the Sienna Vibe and this hoover model. So your opinions have been very helpful. There are so many many types and models of these steam mops to chose from. It gets overwhelming. Thanks.
I totally agree with you – it does get crazy trying to pick just one. Between the two you mentioned, here’s how I’d look at:
With the Hoover, you’re basically paying an extra $50 for the longer cord, larger tank, the ability to switch between using cleaner or only water on the fly, and the carpet glider.
With the Vibe you miss out on those things but you don’t have to hold the trigger down while in use and you can use it on vertical surfaces.
If none of those additional features on the Hoover makes the extra $50 worth it for you then I’d go with the Sienna Vibe. The head shape is the same as is the performance.
Hope that helps!
Hi! I grabbed one of these right after Christmas. I got it at Home Depot and have found they usually have it for like 48 bucks which is what I paid for mine! Score! I love this thing!!!!! I had previously been using a Hoover carpet cleaner with the squeegee attachment and that was a pain! It was so big and bulky and so much work. This little guy sits in my middle room against a wall and if my 4 year old or one of the puppies have an accident I can whip it out, clean it up and put it right back away in under about 3 minutes!!!!
I was wondering though, have you tried any other cleaning solutions in yours? I have resorted to buying mine online because most stores are usually out of the stuff in stock. So if I’m not paying attention and I run out before I buy more I’m stuck.
Hi, Laura! Wow – $48? You got quite the bargain because I just checked Home Depot’s site and it’s now up to $100 which is more than I paid at Amazon. Phew! (Although I’d love to have been able to find it for the price you got.) 😉
I haven’t tested other cleaners. I gave up on using any cleaner at all because the two I tried both left my floors tacky and I just hate that. Now, I did like the results when I first used the cleaner and then went over the floors again with just water to get rid of the stickiness but I hate to mop twice. Blah. However, I might go back to that approach again because I don’t always have time to go slow to make sure the floors are fully sanitized, either.
I’ll add to my to-do list to try some comparisons of different cleaners for this mop, though, and add more to the site about the topic. Thanks!
You guys are so lucky, this contraption is going for $299 in Australia 🙁
Yikes! You need to partner up with some friends and see if you can do a bulk order from the US and save on shipping. 😉
I’m looking at the user manual for the one I just got from Amazon, and it claims the one pad with the cut-outs is the hard floor pad. The two other pads are the mufti surface ones. Just putting it out there. I’ve also read the one with cut-outs cleans tile and wood floors much better as it lets more steam out of the bottom. So far it’s ok but I wouldn’t pay anyway near $100 for this. I will try it with the cut-out pad next because it didn’t seem to do that much with the full pad, just push dirt around and my floor wasn’t even really dirty.
Shelley – True, the pad with the cutouts is the hard floor only pad. It can only be used on hard floors and not with the carpet glider. The pads without the cutouts are the multi-surface pads and only called that because they can be used on hard floors and with the carpet glider. However, I tried the cutout pad on my tile floors and didn’t like the results at all – too much water. For me, the multi-surface pads work better and leave less moisture behind than but you’ve given me an idea for a test between the two where I’d also wipe both areas with a white rag afterwards to see if one does a better job of cleaning than the other despite the amount of water that might be left behind. Thanks!
I bought 1 for myself and 1 for each of my daughters and we all LOVER this machine!
Where was this when I was raising my kids?
I have only used the cleaner once and it left the floor sticky as well. I now only use water – works great!
Thanks for the review!
I’ve had this steam mop for a couple of years now. I use it on hardwood and ceramic tile floors and have also tried it in the shower. I really like it and personally, I like the trigger. For general cleaning, especially on my hardwood, i use the trigger for steam on the forward stroke and release it when pulling back. With this method, the floors are cleaned and dried very well.
Tami, good tip on using the trigger! I’ve found myself doing that at times when I’ve been too lazy to grab the towel to hold it in place. I’ve been testing out several other brands/models (more reviews on their way…) including one that has no trigger at all and I have to say it’s spoiling me. 😉 However, this one is faster to set up and I find it incredibly handy. I thought I’d have a hard time converting the hubby to using this instead of the stick mop but even he has become a big fan.
You said this unit does not do so well on grout ? Is there any you recommend for cleaning tile grout ?
Todd – the best steam tool for grout so far is one that has a pressurized spray nozzle but it’s also one of the messiest ways to clean grout. An alternative I’ve been testing is one of the Haan steam mops. I bought the SS-20. It has an added feature most other brands don’t have in a stick steam mop and that is two scrubbing brush heads that rotate. I spray the grout with a tile cleaner and then scrub them with the steam mop. Then I swap the heads out for the regular cloth pads and steam mop the floor. It’s still not as good as a pressurized spray or hand scrubbing with a brush but it takes so much less effort that you can do it every few times you mop without too much work and then it makes a big difference.
The Hoover grout cleaner attachment to the twin-tub model (in fact in all Hoover models) is extremely stiff. I am concerned that cleaning regularly will scour grout from my floor tiles due simply to abrasion. Can anyone offer a constructive comment because from what I have read to most effective solutions seems to be the old scrubbing brush.
Don – I’ve got a several suggestions for you. First, the Haan Multiforce hard floor steam mops have a vibration feature that works on my grout with just the cleaning pads. It takes awhile for each spot, though, but requires no physical exertion other than holding the handle. I have the Haan SS20.
For tougher grout dirt (years of build up), I’ve resorted to using the upholstery nozzle on my Hoover SteamVac with Power Surge. The bristles are softer than the power hand tool and it’s about as wide as a grout line. I spray a grout cleaner, wait about 20-30 seconds and then scrub. The tool sucks up remaining water and I can also run more water over the area, if necessary. This requires a little more physical exertion.
Finally, Black & Decker used to make a handheld, rechargeable power scrubber called a ScumBuster. I probably bought it 10+ years ago and it still works. It came with several brush attachments, at least one of which has soft bristles. I’ve included the link to Amazon but they don’t sell it – it only shows 3rd party sellers with bizarre pricing ($150??!!). I’m sure I didn’t pay more than $30 bucks for that set at the time. The brush is great for grout and does the work for you, although you have to get on your hands and knees and it doesn’t suck up the water like the carpet cleaner does. You might be able to find something similar to the ScumBuster.
Hope that helps!
Thank you for the very comprehensive review. I have just bought mine today, Model 7260 and am looking forward to using it. The demonstrator told me to hold the trigger when going forward and release on the back stroke so I am hoping this will be easier on the hand. I have found your review to be very useful, thank you again.
Good tip – thanks for sharing and so glad you found my review useful! Enjoy the mop – 10 times easier than the old fashioned way. 😉
Hi there! The cleaning solution that came with the machine lists the following directions:
A. For optimal cleaning results, add the solution directly into the solution tank of your Hoover Steam Cleaner.
B. For regular strength, add equal parts warm tap water (not boiled) and cleaning solution to solution tank, based on tank capacity of your specific appliance.
I’ve used the cleaning solution with a 50/50 mix with water and the floor does not end up sticky. Maybe you should give that a try.
Very thorough review though. Thank you!
Lucy – thanks for the tip! I’ll test that out and report the outcome here. That would help because every now and then I prefer to have the “fresh” smell you get from the cleaning solution but not that tacky feeling! 😉
This is an excellently done review and the steam mop sounds like just what I’m looking for except for one major problem. I have arthritis and the thought of holding down a trigger while I try to clean three large rooms of tile makes me quickly back away from this model. Is there anything else on the market that does a comparable cleaning job, has the nice long cord, and a sensible trigger mechanism?
Jean – A couple of options come to mind, at the moment. None have quite the same cord length – they’re both 25 feet long instead of 30 but I haven’t found another that has that same length cord as the Hoover. However, I’ve been testing a couple of models lately with 25 ft cords and that’s not too bad. I have a kitchen, eating area, and an open space between the kitchen and the living room that are good sized and as long as I put the cord in an outlet in the middle of those 3 areas I can get them all without unplugging.
Many of the Shark steam mops and some of the Haan models (without the CR Motion) have 25 ft cords.
The one I’m testing now is the Shark SM200 Sonic Steam Mop. There’s no trigger and the handle is truly a circle because the mop head itself is reversible. The pads have a scrubber side and a regular cleaning side. You can flip the mop head over and use either side as needed. It’s very easy to use and I like how it cleans BUT since the pads have two sides they’re like a slipcover for the mop head which means more hand work to get them on the mop head vs the kind that have velcro attachable pads. The thing also does NOT stand up on its own well at all.
The other option is the Haan SI-60. The SI line does seem to have some issues with longevity but that’s based only on reviews I’ve read and not on my experience. However, that SI-60 on Amazon is about half the manufacturer’s price while some of their other models are not reduced. That could be a sign they’re accounting for the issue or that the model is going away – I don’t know but while it works it works very well. Haans are very easy to operate and this model has the velcro pads. There’s a button on the handle you can use to set the steam level so no trigger and the mop head has an extremely low profile so it can go further under furniture like a kitchen buffet table.
So, those are two recommendations and if those particular models don’t suit you take a look at the other models put out by those two manufacturers and I’ll help you check the cord lengths if you can’t easily find the information (they hide that sometimes). ; ) Thanks!
I bought this in June 2012. It worked fine until about a month or so ago. Then the steam stopped coming out. I still used it but last week it fell over on the tile floor and the handle snapped. So it’s time to look for a new one. Waiting for my husband to investigate it will take way too long. Any ideas why it stopped making steam? Thanks and I love your reviews. So glad I found your site!
Got this b/f the holidays, still experimenting. I definitely do NOT recommend the ‘hard surface’ pad (with holes) used on Tough Stain mode [Tough Stain uses both steam + cleaner]. There will be a LOT of water on your floor. I had to wipe it up with towels and rags. I did hold the trigger continually, rather than release on the backstroke. I’m still playing with this to see if the floor ends up cleaner if there’s lots of water on the floor. Then, I could use the pad with holes and let the floor get nice and wet on my dirtiest jobs but not regular cleaning.
Were you able to figure that out with the white towel test?
I don’t have dirty grout (on the floors) but I have something that might be worse–vinyl/linoleum with a textured pattern that has little grooves that attract dirt. We moved last fall, and my husband eventually told me he doesn’t think the floor has a speckled pattern. With horror, I realized that he’s right and the speckles (which look uniform as over time dirt has filled in the textured parts of the floor) are actually dirt.
Also, you can buy replacement mop pads for this machine on Amazon by Crucial Vacuum. I haven’t purchased them, but I’ve bought replacement bags/filters for my vacs and they work fine. Crucial Vacuum is the mfr. as well as seller (they do have their own website as well). Has anyone tried Crucial Vacuum’s SCRUBBING mop heads? Hoover doesn’t offer this option. I’m wondering if others have tried Crucial Vac’s scrubbing mop head with good results on embedded crud like I’ve got.
I realize I’m going to have to clean this floor many times to really get this dirt out but I’m looking for the best way.
Erica, surprised you make no mention of the Bissell Powerfresh 1940 or 1940a. 2300 reviews on Amazon. No on/off switch. No resting pad to cool off. But most everyone rates this highly with 1597 5-stars.
Dear Erica, thanks so much for helping me through the complex maze of the many different brands/models of floor steamers. Iv’e spent weeks reading through hundreds of online conflicting reviews. Your efficient, clear & well considered reviews have been invaluable, and have helped me make up my mind. I know there are no certainties when you buy a product (you can always get problems), but at least your reviews seem to give a fair and honest opinion of the advantages and drawbacks of the steamers, so hopefully I have a realistic idea of what to expect from the steamer I have chosen. Great site, well done!
Rose – so glad I could help! Good luck with your steam mop! 🙂