recommendations for steamers under/around $100

[VISITOR]

been wanting one for a while and having the repair man help fix our refrigerator with one yesterday, reminded me that i want one now even more. any good recommendations for one under/around $100 that can be bought locally. he had one that he bought from HD for around $70 that worked well, but am open to other opinions. thanks...

 

[richy]

Al, I bought a 2nd one for the house. I got it on sale for $100 at Canadian Tire. It was this one:
Shark Steam Blaster | Canadian Tire

 

[MDetail]

Lgcm

 

[TLMitchell]

been wanting one for a while and having the repair man help fix our refrigerator with one yesterday, reminded me that i want one now even more. any good recommendations for one under/around $100 that can be bought locally. he had one that he bought from HD for around $70 that worked well, but am open to other opinions. thanks...

I picked up the McCollough on Amazon for 90 bucks delivered a while ago. You'll find it and the Wagner are rebranded manufactured by SteamFast, who also has a comparable model under their own brand. They have slightly different attachments and the ones with the McCollough are what I figured I'd use most. I've seen one or the other at Wally World, some say Sam's and Costco are carrying them as well.

At this price point don't expect endless steam and the pressure and variety of attachments you'll find on the higher priced spread. The McCollough leaves things wetter than many and you're frequently waiting for it to come back up to temp so the heating light goes out. Still, for a hundred bucks it does an adequate job and I keep finding new ways to use it. I really like it for linoleum and tile floors... kind of a pain in the neck to fill and empty it out every time I wanted to clean the floors so I ended up buying a dedicated Haan floor unit. Still, the McCollough is a good way to stick your toe in the water if you're not ready to drop 6 or 700 dollars on a steamer.

TL

 

[matth9]

I got my Wagner steamer at Costco for $40

 

[dad07]

I bought a Stanley At Lowes for $97 works great!

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Al i just got the McCullouch off craigslist (the same one sold at HD) for $75. Used it the same day and worked great. Have used it on 3 or 4 details since and it saves a lot of time and i don't have to use so many chemicals.

I get a good 50 minutes of steam or so if i fill it all the way up...i just fill it and turn it on while im settin up my other detailing stuff or while i clean tires or something..and by the time im done, its ready. The only time it really left a lot of water is if you use it...and then put it down for a few minutes and then go back...then the steam in the hose (which is pretty long) turns back into water...and the first 2 or 3 seconds after you pull the trigger it spurts out water...but the instructions even say to point it away from whatever you're cleaning if you let it sit for a few minutes..so that the water is spit out and then you get straight steam.

At first i thought the steam was weak because i was using it for a while with no attachment...and i just wanted to spray into tight areas..but then i attached the small brush head which narrows the size of the hole the steam comes out of...and then the steam just kept right on comin as long as i needed it. I used it on an engine too the other day...worked great...takes a little longer if you're REALLY getting into a detail...rather than just hit it with degreaser...scrub the bad spots and rinse and dress. BUT even though it took a little longer it came out MUCH cleaner...so much so that even after just cleaning it (spray little degreaser...go over with steamer and then wipe dry) that it LOOKED like i had already dressed it...had a real deep look to it...not super shiney but sort of a 'natural look'

If you clip a terry cloth onto the triangle head attachment then you have yourself a great tool to clean cloth or leather seats or your dash/door panel areas.

For the money, i say it works great.:dblthumb2:

 

[TLMitchell]

If you clip a terry cloth onto the triangle head attachment then you have yourself a great tool to clean cloth or leather seats or your dash/door panel areas.

Exactly how do you attach a cloth to the triangle attachment so it stays put?

TL

 

[matth9]

Exactly how do you attach a cloth to the triangle attachment so it stays put?

TL

You wrap it around the head of the brush attachment and pull it towards the handle and hold it in place

 

[john b]

the bad thing with the wagner is it does not come with the triangle attachment-i got one -i should of got the mcc instead

 

[VISITOR]

thanks for the input thus far. i was looking at this one at HD, but it looks like i may have to order it online...

McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner - MC1275 at The Home Depot

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Exactly how do you attach a cloth to the triangle attachment so it stays put?

TL

You know those cheap plastic clamps you see at lowes or home depot for like a buck...i use one of those to clamp the cloth around the base of the triangle attachment...works pretty good

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

thanks for the input thus far. i was looking at this one at HD, but it looks like i may have to order it online...

McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner - MC1275 at The Home Depot

Yup thats the one ive got

 

[TLMitchell]

You wrap it around the head of the brush attachment and pull it towards the handle and hold it in place

Been there, done that. I have yet to master the technique. I'm thinking this may be another use for the pile of old athletic socks stacked in the garage I use inside out for polishing things. Keeping ones mitts a bit further from the steam wouldn't be a bad thing.

TL

 

[TLMitchell]

You know those cheap plastic clamps you see at lowes or home depot for like a buck...i use one of those to clamp the cloth around the base of the triangle attachment...works pretty good

I try to stay away from those places, they only result in more work.

TL

 

[Showroom Shine]

If you are considering a Steamer for auto detailing,forget about the smaller ones. The Sharks and the HSC home steamers. At least get the McCulloh Steamer. With all steamers it is suggested to spray off and residual water,before cleaning. I usually spray the water on door jams ,or trunk areas to help remove heave dirt and grease.
This steamer also comes with attachments for cloths, diffrent brushes,and a window attachment. Harbor Freight has them, use the 20% off compon. Its well worth the money,until you can afford a more expensive model! The one shown is also the one I have. Fill it all the way,and you are good to go!

 

[TLMitchell]

thanks for the input thus far. i was looking at this one at HD, but it looks like i may have to order it online...

McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner - MC1275 at The Home Depot

Amazon has it a coupla bucks cheaper but no free shipping.

Amazon.com: McCulloch MC-1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner: Home & Garden

The Wagner has free shipping but no triangle head, they give you a wallpaper attachment instead:

Amazon.com: Wagner 905 1,500-Watt On-Demand Power Steamer and Cleaner: Home Improvement

The Steamfast version has free shipping:

Amazon.com: SteamFast SF-275 SteamMax Steam Cleaner: Home & Garden

TL

 

[CrownKote]

I am considering getting one myself and want to just start at the cheap level too... I have been looking at the McCulloch one also.

Show us some pics of it in action!

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

I am considering getting one myself and want to just start at the cheap level too... I have been looking at the McCulloch one also.

Show us some pics of it in action!

Well i can half way grant your wish lol...I dont have any video or actual pictures of it IN action...but i have a few pics of an engine i did and the RESULTS of its actions :dblthumb2:

I was going super slow cause it was a friends van so it probably took me an hour and a 1/2 or so...but it turned out pretty nice. I dont think it had ever been cleaned lol...i know when he bought it it had been setting out on a dirt lot for a full year...so that should tell you something (nice van though).

Heres a before:

All i did was spray a little degreaser on the area i was doing...then steam it and then use a terry to wipe clean the area. After i did the whole engine i just sprayed everything with Hyperdressing 2:1. I'll tell you another AWESOME thing about the steamer...i didn't have to bag up the alternator or air intake or ANY of that...so that saves time AND saves the stress of hoping to God the damn thing starts when you're finished lol...heres the after:

Another Before

And After:

It worked well on the hood area too..just spray a little degreaser on it...and hit it with the steamer (dont scrub since you dont wanna use the brush against the paint) and then wipe it clean:

I hope that helps out some

 

[TLMitchell]

I hope that helps out some

Did you hit the underhood pad with steam? A guy on another Forum turned me on to Armor All Tire Foam for underhood pads after you get any serious grunge off... has some decent cleaning properties and they come out looking like new.

TL