Mytee Lite II Vs. VX-5000 Steamer

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Alright guys - I know this is asked about quite often so I thought I would toss my 2 cents in real quick :

I now have 2 vx5000 s and 1 Mytee Lite II extractor. I cranked on both for a full interior detail with beige carpet (not horrible but needed some attention). I needed the steam to get those drip stains that are between the seats and the center console (came out great as usual). Pretreated mats and carpets as normal, then used the new MYtee Lite II on them - I was not impressed at all. I used the Mytee Lite II in the mid 2000's as my dedicated carpet and upholstery tool and loved it, but I think that we have realized that with patience and hard work the vx5000 actually out performs the fast and easy to use extractor. I extracted the mats 3 times and did not get close to the end product that I wanted. Of course I poured out some disgusting water - but the stains did not seem to budge. It makes me wonder how well I could've turned around the carpets back in the day :/
 
So what where the results using the steamer and what did you use?
With the steamer I'm guessing you broke down the stains and then extracted them orntowel cleaned them?
Details brah! :D
 
fredcandetail said:
So what where the results using the steamer and what did you use?
With the steamer I'm guessing you broke down the stains and then extracted them orntowel cleaned them?
Details brah! :D
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Folex was used to pretreat all carpets and mats. In the Mytee Lite, used an extractor solution (I think bissel from home depot). Using steamer, we agitate folex without a rag - just brush head and steam, then wipe with MF. If a stain persists after a few passes of the prior step then we attach a terry to the end of the brush head and steam and replace terry until stain is gone. Extractor - made three passes slowly : each pass was accompanied by 2 dry passes to suck up any excess solution or dirt. First pass was up to down, second, down to up, third was diagonal. As detailed as I can get for now - gotta go knock out 2 one step exteriors,2 full interiors, and some Semis :/
 
Im shocked that no one else has responded to this all day?!?!?!
 
What about using a DA carpet brush to agitate before extracting?
 
I have found, in most cases, when I'm doing interiors....first spraying the carpets with an APC, then agitating with the VX and brush attachment, followed by the extraction with the HP60, has been my 1-2-punch approach. Really hard to get stains may require the use of a terry cloth. But I ALWAYS extract after steaming.
 
We have 2 steamers in my shop and no extractor. Steam is the only way we do cloth interiors. With a prespray and proper use of a steamer, it can't be beat.
 
rider9195 said:
What about using a DA carpet brush to agitate before extracting?
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I think of that more as comfort - rather than a necessity. I actually almost ordered a few brushes for the cyclos - but decided to hold back on it for that reason.

Freekin Kleen said:
I have found, in most cases, when I'm doing interiors....first spraying the carpets with an APC, then agitating with the VX and brush attachment, followed by the extraction with the HP60, has been my 1-2-punch approach. Really hard to get stains may require the use of a terry cloth. But I ALWAYS extract after steaming.
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:iagree: I think that may be our next move - seems logical to agitate with steam/heat to activate the folex to its potential then extract to get ALL the grime out. Good to hear that works good for you, do believe I will be trying that method next. Thanks man :dblthumb2:

Midnight1700 said:
We have 2 steamers in my shop and no extractor. Steam is the only way we do cloth interiors. With a prespray and proper use of a steamer, it can't be beat.
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Yeah, starting to feel that way as well man - did you guys ever used an extractor in that shop?
 
Never used a steamer in all the years of detailing believe it or not ... So pardon the ignorance - but isn't steam to hot hot for carpet fibers?
 
fredcandetail said:
Never used a steamer in all the years of detailing believe it or not ... So pardon the ignorance - but isn't steam to hot hot for carpet fibers?
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Doesn't seem to be IMO - I can say I have encountered a couple of cars where steaming was a bit too aggressive on the fibers in certain spots, but again that was only a couple cars out of hundreds of interiors we have done this year. Plus, we keep the wand moving rapidly, not like that of extracting slowly.
 
I use the vx5000 and a Durrmaid extractor in tandem on seriously soiled or stained carpet. Just remember if you pre-treat with a product that foams such as Folex (my favorite), to use a defoamer in the extractor. Foam and a extractor don't mix. I have been looking at some traffic lane cleaners that are extractor safe but not pulled the trigger as of yet. When the steamer is used to heat the carpet that has been pre-treat , the extractor seems IMO to remove deeper stains more quickly. At the carpet cleaning supply vendor , they say cold chemicals are the wave of the future but to me the heated process works just fine.
 
2old2change said:
I use the vx5000 and a Durrmaid extractor in tandem on seriously soiled or stained carpet. Just remember if you pre-treat with a product that foams such as Folex (my favorite), to use a defoamer in the extractor. Foam and a extractor don't mix. I have been looking at some traffic lane cleaners that are extractor safe but not pulled the trigger as of yet. When the steamer is used to heat the carpet that has been pre-treat , the extractor seems IMO to remove deeper stains more quickly. At the carpet cleaning supply vendor , they say cold chemicals are the wave of the future but to me the heated process works just fine.
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Good info here.... thanx man - Cold chemicals are the wave of the future?!?! Never heard of that - interesting.
 
I love my Mytee Lite II but now I'm going to have to get the VX5000 too! That'll probably have to wait until around Christmas though
 
While we are on the subject of steam , I have been having trouble keeping a towel folded and on the triangle head brush. Somewhere another forum member mentioned using old socks on this brush so I tried it and it works great. Now I have a use for that plastic bag of old socks the wife threw out. LOL.
 
2old2change said:
While we are on the subject of steam , I have been having trouble keeping a towel folded and on the triangle head brush. Somewhere another forum member mentioned using old socks on this brush so I tried it and it works great. Now I have a use for that plastic bag of old socks the wife threw out. LOL.
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I just wrap it around tight and hold onto the handle - gets hot but I think we are use to it now. The bad thing about steaming is you can smell what you steam - my old socks need to be no where near my steamer lol :bolt:


Correction - If you meant the large triangular brush - we rarely use that (was just attached to the wand in the pic) - that is a pain in the butt to keep a rag on..... I stopped using it after a fish smell transferred into my large brush head from a nasty interior last April or so!
 
Alot of detailers that convert over to the vapor steam route really find the extractor is for really bad soiled carpet fibers. The VX5000 can literally tackle every surface (be careful around leather, weak surfaces). Most of the time its a matter of playing with all the attachments and being patient. Spray, agitate, agitate, wipe. Let dry rapidly!

Love my VX5000. Totally worth the cost.
 
I too have the Mytee Lite II and absolutely love it for extraction. I rarely use my steamer for carpets unless I get those spots of grime that turn rock hard and embed in the carpet. My procedure for carpet is to pre-treat with Folex but sometimes I use a mix of Folex and APC+ for really bad carpet. I let it soak for about 10 minutes then I go to my favorite step. The Drill Brush. I got the brush from Chemical Guys and it just attaches to the end of my drill. This little brush has made a HUGE difference in the quality of my carpet cleaning. Simply press the brush down onto the carpet and drill away. It breaks up stains like you wouldnt believe with back and forth and side to side motions. For tighter areas where the brush doesnt reach I use a tooth brush style brush. After scrubbing with the brush I just use the extractor and looks good as new(99% of the time). I've found that the agitation step plays a huge roll in cleaning carpets.
 
Well i have the DM1600 and just got a VX5000 used. Havent used the VX yet, literally JUST got it yesterday...and i have to do some repair on it because the guy i bought it from was trying to save space in the shipping box and tried to remove the posts for the casters and well...when he went to take one post off, the nut thats on the inside of the steamer fell off into the steamer lol...iiiiiii guess he didn't know thats how it was held it.

I LOOKS like i just have to remove the 6 screws around the edging underneath the rubber gasket, but 2 of the screws are being bit**es and dont want to come off...but i think once they do i can open it up and retrieve the nut, reassemble the caster post and then put the casters back on.

I REALLY HOPE this thing is as bad ass as it looks...not just for interiors but for door hinge areas and for engines too...i hate not being able to get to tight spots like those and am hoping the VX will be able to knock the grime out of them without me having to agitate with a brush...guess we'll see :)
 
Wills.WindowsAndWheels said:
I REALLY HOPE this thing is as bad ass as it looks...not just for interiors but for door hinge areas and for engines too...i hate not being able to get to tight spots like those and am hoping the VX will be able to knock the grime out of them without me having to agitate with a brush...guess we'll see :)
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Yeah I bought my steam cleaner too hoping it would a good way to clean those grimey door/trunk jambs and engines. After doing some research I ended up spending the extra and getting the Dupray Hill Super Inox steam cleaner over the VX-5000 since it was a little more powerful and seemed to be better quality. After using it on my first really grimey engine on full power I wasn't that impressed. I was expecting it to cut through grease and grime which it did only if the nozzle was about 1-3 inches away and it removed a small amount of the grime at a time. It would've taken me probably 2 hours or so to try to clean an entire engine bay this way. I used ARO and various brushes to get it done in about 35 minutes. The steam cleaner did work pretty well on door/trunk jambs and hinges though it can get messy so I would only do it before you've cleaned the interior. The pressure can blast dirt in all kinds of places you've just cleaned(which I learned the hard way lol).
 
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