Prior to finding and ordering the Hoover FloorMate H3060, I cleaned the 2,000 square feet of tile in my house on my hands and knees as I felt that was the only way to get the floors really clean. After months and months of this painstaking work, with wounded knees, a severely arthritic back and my entire day and weekend being spent trying to recovering I was determined to find another method before I was crippled and I'm only 40.
While scouring Amazon one day I came across the 3060, read the reviews, some good, some great, some not so good but I was desperate so I decided to take the plunge and risk it. Boy am I glad I did! This machine, which is light as it could is not perfect by any means but it is pretty darn close.
The Way it Works:
There is one compartment for the cleanser and one compartment for the pick up (dirty water), you fill the cleanser compartment with cleanser (how much I will go into in the next section) and very hot water. You turn the knob on the side to wash/clean, step on the "recline" button, press power and off you go. There is also a trigger on the handle to shoot out extra cleanser for dirtier or stained areas.
Tips for Best Performance:
In this section I would like to discuss how this machine works best, for me and hopefully this will also help you!
**** Prior to doing anything I run my dyson vaccum over all the floors to pick up all dust etc. The wet cleaning will work best if you do this otherwise it will basically be pushing dust bunnies around.****
First I will start the cleaners....
I believe the instructions tell you to put a capful or a capful (using the cap of the cleanser compartment) and a half of the Hoover Floormate cleanser then fill to the line with very hot water. I have tried using MANY different cleansers from Mr. Clean to you name it, I've tried it. I can guarantee you that they do not leave your floors "looking" as good as the Hoover Floormate Hard Floor Cleaner. Here is why: All the other cleansers will leave a film with this machine unless you go over it extensively with the rinse cycle which is now turning about 20 minutes for 1,000 square foot job into 40 minutes and not much return. Secondly, for our house the intense smell that is left from any type of amonia cleanser is enough to put the entire family on respirators - it's a good form of torture if you are having some house guests you want to leave quickly - it will leave their lungs and nose burning. As I mentioned I've tried them all with this machine and have always gone back to the Hoover Floor Mate Hard Floor Cleanser as it cleans very well and does not ever leave a film. But, I use a lot more cleanser than they recommend, about 3 capfuls (which when you see the capful is not much). I should also mention I am cleaning a grooved tile that looks exactly like hardwood with a fairly thick grout line and a polished porcelin tile that looks like marble with a very very thin grout line.
The "pick up" compartment...
In various reviews you will read some people mentioning that the "pick up or dirty water" compartment needs to be emtpied often, this is true. I typically have to empty it twice while cleaning 1000 square feet. To me, this is no big deal. You look at the large compartment thinking that you would have to empty it when it's full, not so. This machine will fill the compartment less than half and then it will make a very loud continuous noise, the brushes will stop spinning and this is your clue...it's basically screaming "EMPTY ME"! I VERY carefully take the compartment out, carrying with two hands (one underneath) and dump it in the toilet and then flush, simple as that. *TIP make sure you pracitice taking it out when it's empty so you are very clear how to do it and where to hold onto it because you don't want to do what I did my first time and spill the filthy contents all over the floor (which you can easily do if you don't hold it tight and know how to take it out).
The pickup...
I also own a Hoover Steam Cleaner for carpet and by owning that which is great (though with limitations), I can confidently say that this machine does an excellent job of picking up the water/dirt BUT I have a 4 year old and polished tile which is very slippery when wet so to be safe I scoot along the floor on a towel to make sure the floor is extra dry. For very wet area's I will also turn the dial to wet pick for just that particular area. But, in general you push forward for clean and back for pick up though it pretty much picks up even when not pulling back, it's that good. *** Please note, I did read a few reviews saying that during pickup the suction is so strong it's hard to move the machine. There is a reason for that...Once the floor is dry there's nothing to suction up - this is normal. If you experience this, it's because the area is dry already OR if you are just beginning to clean it and this happens make sure you've got both compartments in securely AND that you have the dial switched to clean/wash. Otherwise, again this machine is EXTREMELY light.
The brushes, grout cleaning, and the "portable detail kit"...
It comes with two sets of brushes, one regular one that supposedly gets deeper into the grout. If there is any flaw to this machine it is that it does not really clean STAINS out of the GROUT very well, everyday dirt yes, ground in stains no. But, if you clean your floors regularly with this machine, it will keep your grout very clean (I have white grout and it looks just like the day it was put in). The main brush set is excellent, the brushes that are supposed to work on the grout are not great, I never use them anymore. In regard to the brushes you really should clean them after each use for best results. I just throw them in a clean bucket with bleach and very hot water and they are like new. In regard to the portable detail kit, my advice is throw it out or store it somewhere because you will try it once out of curiosity thinking it's going to be great but it's terrible, it does not have enough power to work at all and will be a lot more trouble than it's worth.
Dry Pickup/vacuum:
This machine is also equipped to work as a regular vacuum and it actually works very well. I do not use it as a main house vacuum, I use my Dyson for that. Prior to cleaning the floors with this machine I will run my Dyson over them and use the attachment in all corners and on baseboards, as it makes the wet cleaner function much better. As I am "wet cleaning" I also find area's that I missed and use this machine in dry vacuum mode to pick up and then switch right back over to wet to continue on.
As I said before it takes me about 20 minutes tops to do 1000 square feet and I am very meticulous (this time also includes emptying the container and possibly refilling the cleanser should need be). This machine is so great, I can't get over how well it works. I have had no problems with it at all and have had it for about a year and a half. Again, if you don't expect perfection rather a great product that will make your life a lot easier, you will be very happy with this purchase!
Get more detail about Hoover H3060 Floormate Spinscrub 800 Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner with Tools.
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