strong and sturday

by J. Gaus 2010-03-29, 3 people found this review helpful

The Gruene 2-N-1 Dual Steam Cleaner is exactly what I was looking for in a steam mop. Here are the basics: Cord length is about 19 feet, the pad heats to about 210 degrees F (according to my crummy instant-read thermometer), cleaning time is about 15 minutes between refills (depending on what you're cleaning and how long you leave it in one place), head size is about 6 x 11 inches, pads are interchangeable with almost any household rag (microfiber towels work well, though it's a bit more of a workout to push the machine with them - I also tried cutting up an old towel, which works well), it warms up in about 30 seconds. Overall this is a very sturdy machine, and seems worth the extra money. It really does work as a handheld steamer and as a steam mop, which is great. It has taken off dye stains in my bathtub, paint that had been on my hardwood floor for years, and unidentified goo on the kitchen floor. It gets really hot, and even seemed to melt a bit of the (very old) finish on some of our hardwood floors. The head does not swivel, though the machine does tilt down to get under furniture. You do have to hold a trigger to make the steam come out, but the trigger is very ergonomic and so isn't hard to use. Only complaint is that the hole for refilling the water chamber is tiny - you either need to use the special cup that comes with the machine or a funnel. Other thing of note is that it does use about 1500 watts - I blew a fuse using this and the vacuum cleaner at the same time. A strong and sturdy machine.