Feeling Steamy...

(aint she purty?)

Actually it' seems to be common knowledge that steamvacs aren't steamy. They're hot water-y and suck-uppy. That's fine by me, but I wouldn't mind if the manufacturers called the machines what they really are "Carpet washers" that has a nice ring to it don't ya think?
Well I'm not one for steam cleaning...usually. I hardly remember to vacuum, come on if I can't be honest in my own blog where can I?
The carpet gets a little grubby but it's easily ignored, maybe when you don't have kids it's easier to ignore since you're not belly crawling across the floor quite as often.
Well a poor sick kitty plus a bit of accumulated grubbiness equals a desire to try my hand at steam cleaning. I've only tried it twice before with one of them rental machines from the grocery store. They worked good but like I said I'm not Mrs.Neat-nick-clean-freak here. Seriously I've got dirty dishes older then me...(not really I just said that for dramatic effect)
Once I set my mind on the idea of owning a steam cleaner the idea took root, why not? Every one else has one and glories in the wonder of freshly cleaned carpet why can't I? Well truth be told if we didn't rent I wouldn't HAVE wall to Wall carpeting and therefore wouldn't need a steam cleaner. BUT we do rent and until the day I can say good bye forever to permanently affixed floor coverings I'll make do with a steam cleaner.
I didn't search long and hard, I searched quick but smartly. I had a price range in mind already, under 300 so that narrowed my choices down a lot. The other realllly quick way to narrow down choices is by reviews. Mmmmm GOD I lovvvvvve reviews. Hell I can barely buy a t-shirt with out first reading 701 reviews on it. Reviews, especially if they're positive transform every day purchases in to glorified items of distinction. I don't want just ANY steamvac, I want the steamvac of the people. The steamvac every one else already risked their hard earned money on to try out.
*cackles*...then I just sit back while they take all the risk, write all the reviews and I make my decision on their hard work. muaaahhh ah ha
So the steam vac of the people appeared to be the "Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge " In my opinion EVERY thing should come with a clean surge, especially coffee.
What finally tipped me over the edge of *just lookin* to *I want THAT machine* was a cool review by a Vacuum Sensei. Seriously, see now you know how much looking around online at my possible purchase I was doing. The Vacuum Sensei is a vacuum cleaner repair person so I was impressed and thrilled with his unique perspective on cleaning machines. He gave my sweet little Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge a very favorable review and even saved me thirty dollars since I was torn between that and it's slightly pricier sister. If you're in the mood for finding a decent cleaning machine you should check out his site.
I ordered my sweet little cleaning machine online from Amazon, first reason because I couldn't get instant gratification at a nearby store. NO ONE had this beautiful cleaning beast available in store for sale...what the heck? How can an affordable, well reviewed machine by a popular brand NOT be at any of the FOUR DIFFERENT local stores I checked? (I'll tell you why...cause it's all part of their plan to make me crazy with shopper's daze and purchase copious amounts of impulse items like gum and air fresheners-what's with air fresheners at the checkout line, is that where people suddenly are struck by the thought "My car stinks, aunt Geraldine stinks and my breath stinks" weird.)
But ya know what, who cares, who cares if the stores in *real* life won't satisfy my needs. It's just one more nail in the coffin of my hermit life, more and more that middle of the back woods, mail order life style is appealing to me. (did you know you can get ice cream...in the mail...? I'm just sayin...)
The second reason to get Matilda...er...it's still considered *with it* to name your appliances right? Well I got Matilda at Amazon because they were offering FREE shipping.
SOLD!
NO one has been MORE excited about the arrival of their steam cleaner. I mean it, if you think you were excited you're wrong, were you "sleep for only 4 hours, wide eyed at the ceiling in anticipation" excited? Were you "scare the delivery person with over the top unusually desperate tears of joy" excited? HA! I didn't think so.
Don't you love when things work like they should? Every one said this Hoover is a good little machine that does a surprisingly good job on cleaning carpets and I agree.
Like I said our floors weren't super nasty, just a little grubby looking with a few spots in high traffic areas. *hangs head in shame* Look, some of us tend to wave our hands wildly, flailing limbs flinging drops of water or what ever all over the floor as they run their mouth off a million miles an hour.
I should point out we didn't use any of the *approved* Hoover cleaners in Matilda, just our good ol' Miracle 2 soap. And just a drop or two.
So here's the high points:

• Cost me only 159
• Easy to put together-well easy to watch your husband easily put it together while I...er....you foam at the mouth in anticipation.
• Easy to use. Actually easier to roll around then my regular vacuum.
• It didn't soak the carpets like I feared, I was definitely dumping out almost as much dirty water as I was filling it with clean water.
• The carpets dried quickly. Even when they were freshly washed they just felt a little damp.
• and BEST of all, Matilda my new best friend, cleaned the carpets like a charm. They're so sparkly clean I can't stop walking around in a zombie like state of pride. Don't believe me........I took pictures...