I have had my eye on the Ladybug steamer for months now, drooling over all it could do but it was far out of my price range. I own the Envirosteamer steam floor mop and love it, but I wanted something to get into tight spaces like around the toilet, in the tub, the oven, etc. With some Santa money I got more serious about purchasing a canister steamer in addition to my floor steamer and began some comparative testing and studying. Fortunately, I live in a neighborhood that is all "green built certified" which means, in order to have a green rating, all homes were built with no carpet and lots of people hate chemicals which means it's a neighborhood full of steam mops which makes comparing the models quite easy. That's a good thing because it just saved me over a thousand bucks because I wound up no longer wanting the Ladybug. Here's how they rate...you decide which is best for you:

These are the canister mops I compared:
Vapamore MR-100
Ladybug XL-2300
Haan Canister
Reliable Enviromate

V=Vapamore
L=Ladybug
H=Haan
R=Reliable

NUMBER OF STEAM JETS SPITTING OUT HOT STEAM:
V-10
L-8
H-12
R-5

WATER PRESSURE CONTEST; (1st place being shoots steam the hardest)
V- 2nd PLACE
L-1ST PLACE:
H- 3rd PLACE:
R- 4th PLACE:

CORD LENGTH: (so you don't have to stop, unplug, water cools some, replug in)
V-18 feet
L-15 ft
H-18 feet
R-8 feet
recap: An 8' cord is INSANE. I couldn't even get across my kitchen counter or walk around my bed to steam all of the mattress without using an extension cord!

STEAM TEMPERATURE
V-256 degrees
L-297 degrees
H-212 degrees
R-218 degrees
Note: These temperatures are based upon using the small hose attachments. In every case that we used the long hose attachment included to turn these into a floor mop, the steam had to travel down the long hose so it cooled and wound up only being about 115 degrees by the time it reached the floor. Which results in very poor cleaning. Because of this, if you are wanting this mostly for floor steaming, I would suggest going with a steamer that shoots out hot steam directly onto the floor from its tank rather than through a long hose before reaching the floor as a canister mop does.

TIME TO HEAT UP:
V-10 min
L-8 min
H-3 min
R-5 min

WATER TANK:
V-1.6 liters
L-1.8+1.5 quarts
H-20 oz
R 2 liters

CLEANING:
For a controlled cleaning test, I mixed Dr. Pepper with sugar and spread it evenly across a 4' length of my stained concrete floor and kept the pets away until it dried completely in a gunky mess. I then tested each mop against it in lengthwise strips, moving them at the same pace after a full heat up, as well as testing each on its own strip of bathroom tile & grout. Here's who performed the best:
Tie: Ladybug and Vapamore. These, due to the really hot temps, loosened the gunk on impact and made it VERY easy to clean my floor. Their hot temps and heavier steam also cleaned tile the best but Vapamore actually did a BETTER job on uneven surfaces like tile with grout..but don't expect shiny white grout because it wasn't exactly returned to looking brand new either.
2nd place:Haan...but it wasn't nearly as good as the above two.
Last place: Reliable. Although the steam temp is hotter than the Haan, it doesn't shoot out as strong and only had 5 steam jets so this diminished its effectiveness Didn't come close to the V or L.

All were at temps to kill bacteria and sanitize without using chemicals such as counters and mattresses, unless you tried to turn it into a floor mop which I don't suggest because the steam was too cool to clean as well as a real floor steam mop made for that purpose..


Other notes: The ladybug was the most awkward to carry. It just wasn't made for carrying up stairs, etc.


Conclusion: Considering the Ladybug is over a thousand dollars more than any of the other mops, this was a real eye opener! I tested these with my friends and we all agreed, hands down, that the Vapamore was the best buy. And I love it! It cleaned the best BUT the Ladybug lasted much longer as far as cleaning time. However, Vapamore cleaned for 50 minutes prior to needing a refill which, for me, is all I need. That said, if you want to use this commercially and don't want to have to take time to refill, the Ladybug may be worth the steep price for you. Considering they have the same 3 year warranty though, I'd rather buy 4 Vapamores for the price of one Ladybug and have one in every room. I kid. The Reliable seemed to lack things that were just silly...like having a cord longer than my blow dryer and only having 5 steam jets.

I have had problems with this machine ever since I purchased it. The machine didn't seem to be working properly when I received it. Called the company and they said it's just my imagination. Then the problem got worse. Had to send it to Canada at my expense. An element went on it. The repair was under warranty but I just ate the cost of shipping it to Canada to be fixed. Having the same problem again in less then a year and this time the Reliable company wanted me to pay a minimum of $60.00 for the repair and pay for shipping both ways. This was a $400.00 machine and they wanted me to pay (would be another $200.00 by the time the second ordeal would be done)all the expenses on a warranty/defective machine. I am very disappointed with the care they give their customers. Yeah they'll fix it but at your continued expense. Would not recommend a product from them.

After purchasing and trying the 'low end' steamers, I took a big leap and bought the Reliable T630. If you search the net, you'll see all sorts of 'high end' models available. The fact that amazon carries this model was also a part of my decision in getting this unit.

The good:

The steamer/vapor machine is awesome. I have cleaned all sorts of things around the kitchen ranging from tile/grout on the floor, tiled counter tops, stovetops, sinks, around the faucets and bathrooms. So far, the machine has lived upto (and beyond) the expections. Funny, how the 'expecations' change when you see a product that actually works. I tried the cheaply made 'SteamFast' and a couple of the 'bottle' style steamers. None of the low end units did the job. If you don't try the better unit, you'll never know what you are missing. I thought the SteamFast was as good as it was going to get till I finally decided to get the Reliable T630, which is quite a cost jump from $100 to $400. For me, the investment is worth it given what the other devices couldn't do and what the Reliable T630 does, and does it very well. The unit has a large tank so you won't be refilling it every 10 mins. That being said, it all comes down to what your applications are. For example, if you have a very large kitchen, then I can see the need to refill again. The wait for the heating time can take easily upto 15 mins. So what !! Plug it in, turn it on and start doing other stuff while you wait. Its NOT that big of a deal. Tip: If you want less waiting time, use hot water ;-).

The issues:

No machine is fault-free. This machine has its own share. To add to what already has been written for this unit...the AC Cord is short. To fix that, simply go to Home Depot and buy an extension. The maker of this appliance is in Canada. That almost was a deal breaker for me. I can't see myself spending $$$ for shipping (both ways) if this unit fails - BUT - given the performance I've seen, for me, it is still worth it. The owners manual is terrible but it doesn't require a rocket scientist degree to figure it out either. Hopefully, the company will re-write it and put it on their website. If you search the internet, you'll find the manual so you can download it beforehand and decide for yourself...and if you still don't get it, just write an email to the company if you have any questions. Nuff' said regarding the manual ;-). The steam/vapor trigger is very touchy/sensitive so you'll get use to that. I notice the "power on" round knob is rather flimsy. I can see that breaking off if not careful. I was very surprised to see the 'cheapness' from this costly machine. So, I'd recommend to use extra caution when turning the machine on and rotating the knob.

I'll try to remember to update my post after I've used it for 90 days. When I was searching for a good steamer/vapor cleaner, it was difficult to find candid reviews. This is not a dime-a-dozen item found at walmart or target etc. Hopefully, my review will help someone who is on the fence, trying to make a decision towards one of these units.

Accessories for this unit seem sturdy and seem to work as expected. To buy replacement brushes etc, take a look at eurosteam dot com. They are very reasonable and offer a great selection. I couldn't find the accessories cheaper anywhere else. If you need more towels etc, head to your local automotive store or costco, you'll get more bang for your buck buying them at costco. When using the Reliable T630, you'll definitely go through a lot of towels but that's a good thing, right? Your house/dwelling will be a lot cleaner.

Lastly, get the Reliable T630 here at Amazon. As of Jan 8, 2009, it is $100 cheaper when comparing the other website

We knew what we were getting. Our friend has the identical model for over a year and loves it. After using it for 2 weeks, it is really fantastic! My wife will NOT stop using it. She has allergic reactions to chemicals, so this eliminates those problems. Does a really good job in locations that you just can't get to with a cleaning cloth.....i.e. tight corners of bathroom, around toilet seat, even inside dishwasher to get rid of minor stains!

We agree with other reviews. Manual is ridiculous. Very poorly written for a product made in USA....or was it? However, it was easy enough to "figure out" how to use it. Cord is short, but just get extension cord and keep it with the unit. The trigger is extremely sensitive, but you get used to it....and it gets hot after a while. Again, nothing serious, but just FYI.

Overall, we love it. A great product.

I've had the T630 for about 2 weeks & I use it a few times a week.

The good:
It does an amazing job on tiles. My grout went from black back to the original gray.

The bad:
Not so good on soap scum & mold. It couldn't get either off the bathroom tiles, but mine were extremely dirty. On medium high setting, it melted my paint off the walls. Cord too short & have to move it around each outlet to clean. I put tap in my boiler & the steam smells a little.

The worst:
The attachments have started coming apart within 2 weeks. Most the buttons & snaps use a spring system. First it was the button on my extension attachment. Now it's the snap bar on the floor attachment.

Given the price & very few attachments provided compared to the whitewing model, I would expect the quality of the attachments to be better. I am sadly disappointed that I have to once again contact customer service from allergy buyers club. hopefully, they will help me out again. I will give you an update on their customer service & the T630 through it's lifecycle. For the amount you pay, it should last more than 1 year.

If this machine breaks down & I have to bring it to a dealer within the yr, I will post another update on their warranty services. so far, koodles to allergy buyers club on their so far responsible & prompt manner in which they have been addressing my concerns. Now if only they shipped more than twice a week & didn't take so long to get my purchases or replacements from them, which I'm still waiting on.

Reliable T630 Home Steam Cleaner

My daughter lived in Las Vegas in a hotel type of situation and contracted bed bugs. A year later when she moved to the East Coast she thought the little devils would die in the extreme heat of crossing the desert. Well they did not die. And she did not bring any mattresses or any furniture with her.

The probelem got really bad. Tried all sorts of things. Finally I found out that vapor steamers supposedly kill the things. Most of these steamers are very very expensive. The heat needs to be high and the pressure of the spray needs to be high.

This little guy has done an awesome job. For the first time in months she is able to sleep without getting bit. She has maintained a system of resteaming every 3-5 days till all the eggs and babies are dead dead dead.

I highly recommend this if you have a problem with bed bugs. But you do have to be consistent in the steaming to break the cycle and kill off every single one of em. Will probably take a couple of months or so to fully eradicate them.

Good luck!

The cord is much too short. It takes about 14 minutes to heat water and build up pressure which allows time to sweep and prepare for steam cleaning. The pictures in the instruction manual make it difficult to locate the pressure nozzle. The concept is good, cleans well but design could be changed. Instruction manual should be re-written.

I love this steam cleaner! I use it to clean my entire kitchen (my stainless steel appliances never looked better), bathroom and floors (hardwood, too). I love the fact that it cleans really well without chemicals. The other reviewers are right...the cord is short, but I just add an extension cord to it so it's not a problem. And yes, it only comes with one towel, but I bought a big pack of microfiber towels from Costco that work great with it. I highly recommend it to everyone. I am letting my sister borrow it so she can take down old wallpaper. It helps with that too!

I bought this unit after someone was raving about how wonderful it was on a message board. I have never been happy with it.

First I tried using it to loosen up wallpaper for removal. The vapor wasn't hot enough to melt the glue nor moist enough to soften the paper.

Tried it on tile grout..sure it cleans..if you scrub hard with the wire brush (which was trashed after using once cleaning grout)....but I can use a scrub brush and hot water for free.

I felt the vapor coming from the unit was not nearly as hot as the description stated.

Being unsatisfied, I called the company, I could pay shipping and repair charges if I wanted them to look at it. No thanks..they have enough of my money.

So did I just get stuck with a defective unit? How can the other reviewers be so happy with theirs? The company needs to stand behind their product and be sure all units shipped are in proper working order.

bad: short cord, hose likes to twist itself all up like a telephone cord because there is no swivel coming from the base. Keep the cord straight until it is completely cooled or you will block all the steam next time you go to use the machine. any repairs require you to ship to Canada-shipping is not cheap. Customer service is not as good as I expect from a company.
Good: more affordable than other systems, works ok if you can keep the hose from tangling up. I would give this item 2.5 stars, but can't seem to give more than 1 in the system.