SteamFast SF-275 SteamMax Steam Cleaner

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

Very useful if you understand its limitations, August 19, 2009

This review is from: SteamFast SF-275 SteamMax Steam Cleaner (Kitchen)

I’ve had this steam cleaner for about 6 weeks and have found it to be an excellent addition to my cleaning tool arsenal. It does have its limitations, however.

The positive features is that it’s easy to setup and use, and the compact shape makes it easy to find a place to store it when you’re not using it. Setup is a snap – just attach the handle using one screw, and the manufacturer is thoughtful enough to provide an extra long, thin screwdriver since the handle screw is recessed. Nice touch. Also comes with a lot of attachments for pretty much anything you’d want to clean (grout lines, counter tops, floors, windows, BBQ grills, etc.).

The biggest plus is the price. I’ve looked at steam cleaners for years, but was always put off by the steep price tags. Some of the high end European models run $1,500 or more – for that kind of money, I’d rather pay someone to clean for me! So, a low price is a big plus.

BUT, this low of a price means you’re not getting the functionality of a high end machine. For example, the steam is pretty wet, and you’ll also get a big dribble of water when you start up after pausing for a few moments. The tank is rather small, and you can’t add more water without letting it cool down first. The attachments are OK in terms of function, but wear at a fairly fast rate. Build quality is good for the price paid, but you’ll need to take care that you don’t damage the wands since they are all plastic.

All in all, however, I’m happy with this. It makes it much easier to clean grout lines on my kitchen counters and floors, which is the main reason I got it. Again, it’s not magic – you still need to put some work into it, but it’s much, much, MUCH easier than using a scrub brush. What works well for me is to spray on some grout and tile cleaner first, let it set for a moment, then hit it with the steam. Wipe up with a clean microfiber towel and move on to the next section. I can do an entire room in the time it used to take me to do a small area with my trusty scrub brush.

I’ve also have had good results using it to clean soap scum off tiles and shower doors, getting in the nooks/crannies around faucets and toilets, and cleaning drips/spills in the oven and on the range top. Light to moderate dirt/grime comes up with just steam. More intensive messes (or ones that are very greasy) need to be sprayed first with a spray cleaner (409, Fantastic, or whatever brand you like) to help the steam do its work.

And remember, it just sprays steam – it does not suck it back up like a carpet cleaner. Keep a towel handy to wipe up the water and loosened dirt. Microfiber works best, but any absorbent rag will do.

Couple of points to keep in mind:

1) Use distilled water, especially if you have hard water. A build up of scale/mineral deposits will kill a steam cleaner very quickly.

2) Wear ear plugs if you’re working in a small room (such as a bathroom). The noise level can really get to you after 20 minutes or so.

3) There’s another model made by McCulloch that is exactly the same as this except that it has a slightly longer hose and a different colored casing. Pick whichever one happens to be on sale/best price – they are functionally identical.

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Comdet October 18, 2011 At 2:06 am

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

Very useful if you understand its limitations, August 19, 2009

By

Comdet –

This review is from: SteamFast SF-275 SteamMax Steam Cleaner (Kitchen)

I’ve had this steam cleaner for about 6 weeks and have found it to be an excellent addition to my cleaning tool arsenal. It does have its limitations, however.

The positive features is that it’s easy to setup and use, and the compact shape makes it easy to find a place to store it when you’re not using it. Setup is a snap – just attach the handle using one screw, and the manufacturer is thoughtful enough to provide an extra long, thin screwdriver since the handle screw is recessed. Nice touch. Also comes with a lot of attachments for pretty much anything you’d want to clean (grout lines, counter tops, floors, windows, BBQ grills, etc.).

The biggest plus is the price. I’ve looked at steam cleaners for years, but was always put off by the steep price tags. Some of the high end European models run $1,500 or more – for that kind of money, I’d rather pay someone to clean for me! So, a low price is a big plus.

BUT, this low of a price means you’re not getting the functionality of a high end machine. For example, the steam is pretty wet, and you’ll also get a big dribble of water when you start up after pausing for a few moments. The tank is rather small, and you can’t add more water without letting it cool down first. The attachments are OK in terms of function, but wear at a fairly fast rate. Build quality is good for the price paid, but you’ll need to take care that you don’t damage the wands since they are all plastic.

All in all, however, I’m happy with this. It makes it much easier to clean grout lines on my kitchen counters and floors, which is the main reason I got it. Again, it’s not magic – you still need to put some work into it, but it’s much, much, MUCH easier than using a scrub brush. What works well for me is to spray on some grout and tile cleaner first, let it set for a moment, then hit it with the steam. Wipe up with a clean microfiber towel and move on to the next section. I can do an entire room in the time it used to take me to do a small area with my trusty scrub brush.

I’ve also have had good results using it to clean soap scum off tiles and shower doors, getting in the nooks/crannies around faucets and toilets, and cleaning drips/spills in the oven and on the range top. Light to moderate dirt/grime comes up with just steam. More intensive messes (or ones that are very greasy) need to be sprayed first with a spray cleaner (409, Fantastic, or whatever brand you like) to help the steam do its work.

And remember, it just sprays steam – it does not suck it back up like a carpet cleaner. Keep a towel handy to wipe up the water and loosened dirt. Microfiber works best, but any absorbent rag will do.

Couple of points to keep in mind:

1) Use distilled water, especially if you have hard water. A build up of scale/mineral deposits will kill a steam cleaner very quickly.

2) Wear ear plugs if you’re working in a small room (such as a bathroom). The noise level can really get to you after 20 minutes or so.

3) There’s another model made by McCulloch that is exactly the same as this except that it has a slightly longer hose and a different colored casing. Pick whichever one happens to be on sale/best price – they are functionally identical.

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H. Choi "hxc3634" October 18, 2011 At 2:05 am

113 of 118 people found the following review helpful:

Good for tough stains, April 13, 2005

By

H. Choi “hxc3634” (MD United States) –

This review is from: SteamFast SF-275 SteamMax Steam Cleaner (Kitchen)

I hesitated to purchase a steam cleaner so I read many reviews including McCulloch MC-1275 steam cleaner reviews. I decided to purchase MC-1275 and then I found SF-275. Both have very similar looks and spec. I think both models are the same one. Anyway, SF-275 was $30 cheaper than MC-1275 so I purchased this one.

I use this for cleaning my shower room. It works! but don’t expect magic. It takes time to clean old stains. Steamer is really good on narrow areas (between tiles). It is extremely difficult to clean between tiles with other cleaners but steamer is really good. I tried to clean deck chairs. The chairs have some mildew stains and I didn’t expect the steamer can clean it but the stains were disappeared.

The build quality is good. I just wish they improve the switch for continuous steam. It is very small. I recommend to use the distilled water only.

I recommend this steamer to any one looking for high quality steamer.

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