April 10th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
The Bissell company was founded by Melville and Anna Bissell in 1876 in the United States. The couple had owned a small crockery shop in Michigan and it was in this shop that Melville Bissell devised a carpet sweeper machine to help Anna keep the shop clean. Word spread and the carpet sweeper was patented in 1876 when the company was founded and the first Bissell sweepers were then produced by a manufacturing plant that had been set up in Michigan. The company has gone from strength to strength and has developed a large range of cleaning products that are used the world over. One of the company’s most popular cleaner is the Bissell steam mop.
The Bissell steam cleaner is a great cleaning mop which provides a natural, chemical free clean for nearly all surfaces in the house and car. Using steam mops on surfaces such as wood finish to vinyl allows you to safely and easily clean even the dirtiest floors without the need for chemical cleaners that can leave residue even on clean floors.
Water is the only thing that needs to be added to the Bissell cleaner which makes it safe for use around pets and children. Once the steam mop is filled with water it takes under 15 minutes for the steam mop to heat up and be ready for use. The reservoir is quite small but is easy to detach refill and then start mopping again.
As with most steam mops on the market the Bissell steam mop has many features included that make using it and cleaning your house a whole lot easier. It is light weight and has a strain reliever handle which is designed to make the steam mop more ergonomic and easier on the hands when used for a long period of time. It also has an easy carry handle which makes the cleaner easy to carry when not in use.
The Bissell steam mop as has a small storage system on the side which is designed to store the power cord when the mop is packed up and stored. The storage system also has a quick release function which makes it easier to deploy the power cord prior to use.
The Bissell steam mop also has a streamlined design, water filters for the water in the reservoir, a swivel head design as well as removable microfiber mop pads.
April 9th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
Properly cleaned and maintained carpets can help to prolong the life of the carpets which saves money and adds value to the home. There are many options available when it comes to carpet steam cleaners such as using a professional service, hiring equipment and doing the cleaning yourself or purchasing a steam cleaner and using it regularly to keep the carpets in top condition.
Carpets that are cleaned regularly with steam cleaners look and feel like new for much longer than carpets that are only vacuumed. Carpet steam cleaners come in many forms and types depending on what you want the carpet steam cleaner for. The different styles and functions of the steam cleaners are also dependent on the price and the extras included such as attachments for upholstery and blinds.
When purchasing a carpet steam cleaner it is necessary to decide on a few things before you spend your money. They are available in many styles and designs, each with different features and uses. It is important to consider the following so that you purchase cleaning equipment that is right for your house and carpet type.
The first thing to decide on is how much money you have budgeted for the steam cleaner. There are quite a variety of carpet cleaners for all budgets with many of them featuring various attachments and extras for use on more than just carpets. The cleaners at the high end of the market differ from the cheaper models with more attachments and features and a higher temperature of steam produced by the cleaner.
The next decision to make is whether to buy an upright carpet steam cleaner or a smaller canister type cleaner. The upright cleaners are perfect for large areas of carpet so if you have carpets throughout most of your house then an upright steam cleaner would be the most suitable. The only drawback of the upright models is they can be comparatively heavy than other cleaners but they do a great job at cleaning carpets. The smaller canister type carpet cleaners are suitable for houses that have small areas of carpet such as in the bedrooms. Carpet steam cleaners are great for spot cleaning and there small size also makes them handy for cleaning furniture, blinds and also use for the insides of cars and boats.
April 6th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
The Shark brand of cleaning equipment is part of a larger company Euro Pro Operating which is a market leader in the supply of innovative cleaning solutions and cleaning equipment both domestically and commercially. The Shark brand has been around for over a century and has moved from Europe to Canada and then moved to Massachusetts which is where the company resides today. It is recognised around the world as a leader in steam cleaning technology. One of the most popular steam products that Shark produce is the Shark steam cleaner.
The shark steam cleaner or shark steam mop is a light weight steam cleaning system that is perfect for the home. It is built to last and has a great ergonomic feel that allows you to use the cleaner for long periods of time without strain on the arms or shoulders. It also features a soft hand grip to make the steam mop easier to manoeuvre around the furniture.
It is designed especially for sealed hard floors especially wooden and vinyl floors. This particular model is also able to be used on carpets and rugs when the plastic carpet guide is attached to the microfiber pad.
Other features of the Shark steam cleaner is a quick release cord that allows a fast deployment of the power cord before use and a full 8 meters of power cord provides the cleaner with great reach. The microfiber pads provided with the steam cleaner are triple layered and steam activated to lit and remove the dirt. These microfiber pads are durable and reusable needing only a machine wash before being used again.
Using steam for cleaning is also a safer choice when cleaning areas that are occupied by children or pets. The steam mop uses only water to clean which is much safer for children and pets than the chemicals used in cleaning products.
Steam cleaners, including the shark steam cleaner provide a deep down clean which means that the super heated steam works the remove grit and dirt and the high temperature is able to sanitise the surface removing germs. The Shark steam cleaner works great on many hard surfaces and also comes with accessories such as 3 extra microfiber pads, a plastic glider for use when steam cleaning the carpets and a bottle of water softener which is added to the water reservoir of the steam cleaner in areas that have hard or bore water.
April 5th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
The use of steam cleaners as an alternative to conventional mop and bucket cleaning has increased over the years as manufacturers have provided many options for the domestic market. When deciding if one is suitable for a situation it is necessary to first explore how a steam cleaner works and then discuss the pros and cons in relation to purchasing and using this type of cleaner in a domestic situation.
They usually consist of a water reservoir, a heating element, cleaning pad, handle and a power source. The cleaner converts the water to a high temperature to create the steam which is applied to the surface either through or in front of the cleaning pad. Many cleaners which use steam are designed for nearly all floor surfaces with many models featuring an attachment for use on carpets and rugs.
There are a few pros and cons that need to be considered before purchasing or using a steam mop. They include the following.
One of the main advantages of using this type of cleaner is that only hot water is used in the cleaning process instead of chemicals. This is great for households who have children, pets or for people who wish to do their bit for the environment. They also sanitises the surface as well as cleaning it unlike chemical cleaners which you need different types for cleaning and sanitizing a surface.
Using a steam cleaner is one of the most effective ways of cleaning a hard surface. Many hard surfaces have pore like imperfections which can trap small particles of dirt which are not picked up when cleaning with conventional cleaners. When a steam mop is used on these surfaces the steam can penetrate these pores and lift the dirt which can then be removed easily by scrubbing or wiping away.
Steam cleaning can be used on many surfaces in the home making a steam cleaner the most versatile cleaner available. Apart from use on hard floor surfaces it can be used for great effect when cleaning bathroom tiles, in and around the kitchen area and for tackling dirt and smells in houses that have indoor pets.
As with most things steam cleaning does have some considerations that should be noted before purchasing or before use. There are some limitations which include things such as steam cleaning does not remove pet hair as it is not a vacuum which uses suction to lift and remove the hair, surfaces that are really dirty may result in the cleaner just pushing the mess around rather than cleaning it and in regards to the steam cleaner itself the water has to be heated to a relatively high temperature which means the cleaner needs to operate at a high temperature and precautions need to be taken to avoid steam burns.
April 4th, 2010 by Queen of Clean
If your carpets are looking a little worse for wear and have spots that need to be cleaned you will need to do more than just vacuum to rejuvenate your carpet. Over time carpets trap grit and soil deep in the carpet fibres and this makes the carpet (especially light colours) look dull and worn. Looking after your carpet by vacuuming and steam cleaning can extend the life of the carpet as well as keeping the house relatively clean. Many carpet manufacturers recommend that carpets should be steam cleaned at least once a year and more frequently is you have pets such as dogs in the house. Steam cleaning carpets regularly also helps to make spills easier to clean and makes vacuuming more effective.
Carpet steam cleaning can be done one of two ways, there is the do it yourself option using hire equipment or purchasing your own and there is the professional option where a specialized carpet cleaning company comes in an does the work. These options for carpet steam cleaning both have advantages and disadvantages which are discussed below.
The do it yourself option with hire equipment has the advantage of being the cheapest of all the carpet steam cleaning options. Many supermarkets, service stations and hire places have the equipment for hire at a relatively cheap rate depending on how long you have the equipment for. The cost of hiring the equipment and purchasing the cleaners and solutions can be as little as $50 which is very cost effective especially if you have a large area to clean. The other advantage of the DIY with rented equipment is that it is easy to use and is quite good at removing dirt and grit from the carpet. The only disadvantage with this option is that they only do a surface clean and don’t penetrate right into the carpet for what is called a deep clean.
The second option is the do it yourself with purchased carpet steam cleaning equipment. This option can be quite expensive to start with as the purchase price for a domestic carpet steam cleaner can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. These cleaners are great for regular use on the carpets which helps to keep carpet looking newer for longer.
The last option is hiring a professional company to carry out the carpet cleaning. The advantages of a using a professional cleaning company is they move all the furniture for you, the clean is a deep clean and picks up grit and dirt that the DIY options would miss and many companies have a large number of treatments that can act to preserve and prolong the life of your carpet. The only disadvantages of using a professional carpet cleaning company is finding the time to be home while the carpet is cleaned, some companies are better than others and some carpet steam cleaning can be expensive depending on the state of the carpet to be cleaned.
