I'm searching for a steam cleaner for my interior carpets.

Any suggestions on a unit that is reasonably priced?

Thanks

 

I'm in the same hunt, but for cloth upholstery. Input from others says don't bother with the baby plug-in ones. Intersring to hear guidance from those who have gone before us.

 

I'm still a big fan of my Daimer model 200S steamer. Mine's more than 10 years old, it's the grandaddy to this unit:


Randy, you're more than welcome to borrow mine if you are ever headed through the OC.

 

I had pretty good luck with a cheap Bissel until it clogged up. But really, a spay bottle with diluted carpet cleaner and a shop vac will do the same thing and last a lot longer.

 

I've done a few different things trying to get the 4Runner cloth seats looking new. Including vrious cleaners and the shopvac. Meanwhile, after seeing the pounds of mung that Rob extracted from his family hauler Odysey, I'm back in the hunt again for a real steam-generating cleaner.

 

Very kind, Rob.

I'm really looking for something to buy to use for my various vehicles - that one is sure pricey!

 

This one has a following. It's plastic, but it is $800 cheaper:

 

I use one of these. Reasonably priced and works great on the cars and around the house.

 

I've had an eye on that 1385, and that would likely be my choice except... the Daimer that Rob has offers a lot more heat/pressure than the 1385. Is it worth 6x cost? Probably not at least for me. The target project is the 4Runner seats, and for the $170 Amazon price I can have a local detail shop do it a few times over. I'll still get a steamer 'cuz there's no such thing as too many tool-toys.

 

I won't disagree that there is very little that's more effective than actual steam,
However, I've gotten some spectacular results (based on appearance of both the cleaned surface and the 'goo' in the tank) by filling my Bissel Green Machine with very hot water. I found it worked best to use a 50/50 mix of hot water from my faucet and boiling water from a kettle on the stove. Put one 'dose' in, let it sit for a minute, dump it and put another in (pre-heats the tank). Only use about 16 oz at a time, otherwise it will cool off before you use it.

 

Not a steam cleaner, but I'm very happy with it.

 

I've tried several similar methods with the Bissel handheld attachments, and as you note keeping things hot enough is a challenge. K drives the 4Runner, often in sleeveless and shorts in SoCal historically, so the seats have assumed a bunch of sunblock content that's turned sections of the light-colored cloth seats darker. The fabric really needs steam rather than detergent to get the sunblock stains out completely. Moving here has pretty much eliminated the cause of the problem. Just need to take car of the symptoms. The SoCal song is over, but the malady lingers on.

 

Steamer vs Tornador discussion:

https://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sh...am-vs-Tornador

 

My new detailer has a Tornador. I have an 80 gallon compressor with plenty of hose.

He's using it on Kevin Wilson's red GTS as I type. Looking forward to a before and after on the carpets, door jambs and engine bay.

 

I bought one of those. It arrived broken and they wouldn't give me a refund!

Not to mention nothing in the ad I saw when I bought it indicated you needed shop air to operate it!