Good automotive steam cleaner?

[Bennylava]

Might not be a whole lot of people on this board who would use such a thing. But I'm looking for a decent automotive steam cleaner, on a budget. It will be a somewhat small thing, like most automotive steam cleaners. Something like this one linked below. Not one of the big bad dangerous ones that are prone to seriously injuring people. You can still be scalded but they're relatively safe. Its one I'm considering:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DF0RB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Anyone have any other recommendations? Its duty will be detailing engines and particularly nasty interiors.

 

[AA/FC]

Can you elaborate on these big bad dangerous steam cleaners that are prone to seriously injuring people? Serious question. I've been using big "Hotsy style" steam washers most of my adult life on a regular basis and I've never been hurt by one, nor have I ever heard of soneone else getting hurt by one either.

 

[m.breen]

I've always used hot water or a laundry steamer combined with wet vac.

 

[tjohnsonr10]

HF sells the cleaner you linked in the OP. Its listed for the exact same price so with coupon it comes out to like $120.

I own it and its about as good as you can expect for the $$$.

As far as engines and particularly nasty interiors I would rate it very low. It simply does not get hot enough to do what you want it to.

You will need to spend at least $500 to get a decent steam unit that will do anything on its own. I use mine occasionally to preheat a stain/area before treating it and cleaning it with a carpet extractor.

Check autopia and autogeek forums for steamer recommendations. I own a little car dealership and do all the detailing myself. These are the best forums for questions like you have. GL.

 

[Bennylava]

HF sells the cleaner you linked in the OP. Its listed for the exact same price so with coupon it comes out to like $120.

I own it and its about as good as you can expect for the $$$.

As far as engines and particularly nasty interiors I would rate it very low. It simply does not get hot enough to do what you want it to.

You will need to spend at least $500 to get a decent steam unit that will do anything on its own. I use mine occasionally to preheat a stain/area before treating it and cleaning it with a carpet extractor.

Check autopia and autogeek forums for steamer recommendations. I own a little car dealership and do all the detailing myself. These are the best forums for questions like you have. GL.

It seems we are in the same business. What steamer do you have? Perhaps you have a recommendation. I'd like one that is effective under the hood of a greasy and oily old engine, but can also be used on a new interior and won't harm anything. If I have to spend a thousand bucks, I suppose I can. I was just hoping they'd come a long way and I wouldn't have to. But I like the sound of $500 better than $1,000 lol

 

[kctyphoon]

Question - are the cheaper units like the one the OP linked pressurized, or are they just allowing steam to flow out of the tip?? I have a model with a metal tank, that has an actual pressure gauge on it. You can adjust how much steam come out of the tip, and it has some actual force behind it, rather then just steam "flowing" out of the hose like you would see on a steamer that's used to de-wrinkle clothes. I borrowed mine from my father, and I know it wasn't cheap. Believe he bought it from QVC or HSN a long time ago for close to $1000..

 

[Bennylava]

Can you elaborate on these big bad dangerous steam cleaners that are prone to seriously injuring people? Serious question. I've been using big "Hotsy style" steam washers most of my adult life on a regular basis and I've never been hurt by one, nor have I ever heard of soneone else getting hurt by one either.

I did a search for "steam cleaner" in the keyword field, under "advanced search. Then click "titles only" under that field, so that it will only search threads with the words "steam cleaner" in the title. I read about the larger ones being somewhat dangerous, and feared. On poster in one thread even said that he witnessed a man die using one. It was his father's employee. However since Hotsy does make smaller units, I'm not sure if yours is one of the ones that the other members would be concerned about. From what I could gather, it seemed that the ones that are potentially dangerous, are large, permanent fixtures, or are trailer mounted.

Question - are the cheaper units like the one the OP linked pressurized, or are they just allowing steam to flow out of the tip?? I have a model with a metal tank, that has an actual pressure gauge on it. You can adjust how much steam come out of the tip, and it has some actual force behind it, rather then just steam "flowing" out of the hose like you would see on a steamer that's used to de-wrinkle clothes. I borrowed mine from my father, and I know it wasn't cheap. Believe he bought it from QVC or HSN a long time ago for close to $1000..

From what I've seen on youtube, there is some pressure. Search youtube for the model I posted and the greater 1385 model. You can see that there is some pressure. But I have no idea if its enough. Some people seem to think its not all that great for detailing cars. I think its more of a house and carpet thing, which is where it seems to work fine.

 

[tjohnsonr10]

I actually don't own a steam cleaner other than the HF one. I find I don't use them much.

All of my cars are older daily drivers so they need super deep cleans. I find a good chemical degreaser and a carpet extractor to be the best solution.

For degreasing engines I just spray on a degreaser and pressure wash off.

As far as the best steamer on the market... I remember when I was considering buying one everybody seemed to suggest the VX 5000. You can do some google searches and check out youtube.

From what I can tell, steam cleaners are good for touch up jobs, but for really dirty stuff they don't actually remove any of the dirt. Also, they are supposed to be great for headliners.

I recently got a tornador black detail gun which I find excellent. It wont accomplish what you are looking for, but it might be worth your time to check it out and see if it worth adding to your arsenal.

GL.

 

[Bennylava]

I actually don't own a steam cleaner other than the HF one. I find I don't use them much.

All of my cars are older daily drivers so they need super deep cleans. I find a good chemical degreaser and a carpet extractor to be the best solution.

For degreasing engines I just spray on a degreaser and pressure wash off.

As far as the best steamer on the market... I remember when I was considering buying one everybody seemed to suggest the VX 5000. You can do some google searches and check out youtube.

From what I can tell, steam cleaners are good for touch up jobs, but for really dirty stuff they don't actually remove any of the dirt. Also, they are supposed to be great for headliners.

I recently got a tornador black detail gun which I find excellent. It wont accomplish what you are looking for, but it might be worth your time to check it out and see if it worth adding to your arsenal.

GL.

Yeah I've decided to go ahead and buy a Tornador. Seems like an excellent detailing tool.

As for a steamer, I've settled on the VX5000. A lot of youtube vids show it to also be excellent at its job, and its only $750! That's half what I thought I'd end up spending.

http://www.steam-cleaners-direct.com/

 

[BonzoHansen]

I find a bissell mean green machine or whatever its called now workes great on interior carpets, seat belts, etc

 

[theoldwizard1]

Detail Your Car - With Steam! - Jay Leno's Garage


Probably too pricey for a DIYer unless you drive your classic car on the road a lot.

 

[DanInVA]

That's pretty cool. I have used a steamer similar to the one in that video several times, but I don't really do detail work. I use the steamer to remove tint from cars. They also are pretty good for breaking down the adhesive for door applique tape if you ever find yourself needing to remove them. My favorite use for one has to be on battery terminals though. The next time you have a battery cable end that is corroded, try to shoot it with steam, it is amazing.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Bennylava]

Yeah I was thinking keep all that heat away from the battery at all costs.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Yeah I was thinking keep all that heat away from the battery at all costs.

A few minutes of steam on a battery will have no affect ! Hundreds of hours of driving on hot days without a heat shield or proper ventilation WILL kill a battery.

 

[Zeke]

Might not be a whole lot of people on this board who would use such a thing. But I'm looking for a decent automotive steam cleaner, on a budget. It will be a somewhat small thing, like most automotive steam cleaners. Something like this one linked below. Not one of the big bad dangerous ones that are prone to seriously injuring people. You can still be scalded but they're relatively safe. Its one I'm considering:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DF0RB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Anyone have any other recommendations? Its duty will be detailing engines and particularly nasty interiors.

That is not for steam cleaning engine compartments and the like.

 

[Bennylava]

Yeah thats why I settled on those other two from post #9

 

[hsvtoolfool]

Wow. I'll never own another Bissel product just because of that spammy post.