Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge, F5914-900
by Hoover
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List Price: Our Price: $139.83 You Save: $40.16 (22%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Home See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge, F5914-900
Customer Review: I have CLEAN Carpets again thanks to Hoover SteamVac w. Clean Surge
Summary: 4 Stars
Ok I just got the SteamVac yesterday, and today was the first time I used it. I cleaned two bedrooms. This thing really works. The carpet was dry in an hour. I would say deep down completely dry in 2 hours.
Now first let me say I have light beige low pile carpet. It hasn't been clean in 8 years. There were two people who lived here before me one with a dog both for a couple of years a piece. Then the condo was empty for another 3 years til I moved in. When I moved in, I just spot cleaned the carpet. But today, I finally cleaned this horrible carpet, which is now practically brand new. Now I don't have pets, but endless soda & liquor spills have happened, and there has been good amount of drops of dried blood in one of the rooms, when I busted open my hand one day many many months ago. I did not pretreat the carpet before SteamVacuuming it. I did however double up on the cleaning solution, since that's what the instructions said. I used 10oz instead of 5 because I had some seriously bad high traffic areas that look practically black in the doorway (coming in and out of the rooms). Future cleanings will be done with 5oz, but I thought best to double up on the first round of cleaning.
I used the "Deep Cleaning"solution that came with the SteamVac, I also bought & used the "professional deep cleaning solution," and I can't say that I noticed any difference between the two in any regard. I even have the Pet Plus solution cause someone wrote here in their review that it smelled a whole lot better than the others. And I didn't notice a difference in smell at all. They all have a nice clean faint scent that's not too over powering. My carpets/rooms smell clean, not perfumy. I have to also say I liked that the solutions weren't foamy. Which would be a pain in a but I would imagine to rinse out.
Assembly was a little time consuming but well worth the effort to get to this fabu machine. My machine did not leak all over the place like I heard of a few people complaining about. I did not have to "snap" any trigger either. I did push the trigger but there was no snapping any rod into place. But no leaking either. So maybe they pre-did something on the newer machines so this wasn't necessary. who knows.
Now first I did use boiling water for half of the tank, and hot tap water for the other half. I felt this was best for deep cleaning my filthy carpets.
I did have to empty the dirty water tank a LOT and refill the cleaning solution water tank a few times as well. That was a pain and created havoc on my back.
But the nasty black water that came out was very amazing proof how dirty these carpets were. And it was nice seeing the water get lighter as the cleaning went on.
I would recommend that you have a fine strainer to collect all the soot before dumping the dirty water tank down any drain cause it will clog it.
I definitely recommend cleaning the SteamVac thoroughly after each use like the user guide states, cause it was also a bit of a pain, but I can't imagine doing it after stuff dried or mildew set in cause it would be even harder to clean.
The only thing I feel I'm missing on this vac, is the headlights. Live and learn, next time I'll get one with headlights.
Either way, it's a great machine. I have new carpet again, and it feels AMAZING under my feet now. It's soooo incredibly soft now and with out a doubt clean. You can't ask anything more than that, except that it dries fast too, and it definitely did. I use to get my carpets professionally cleaned in my last place and it took a day to dry. So I was very impressed to see how fast the carpet dried with the Hoover.
Best $113 bucks spent on cleaning carpets. Never using professionals again.
Customer Review: Love it!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just picked up this steamvac after reading all the great reviews here and anywhere that they let people review!
I can see why it is highly rated. It works great!
I'll be honest and admit that I did not have high expectations. This Hoover is one of the lower cost units out there, or at least, middle of the road, so I expected middle of the road performance. I also have a hoover steam cleaner that does NOT have the spinscrub or any active scrubber on the front. It actually looks very similar to this unit, but without the active scrubber, and as a result, it was terrible. It took ALOT of effort of me pushing down on the front and trying to scrub with it. Because I had such bad luck with that unit, I was very weary to try any other hoover, but the reviews online were just so good about this unit that I had to try it!
And I'm so glad I did! I was very pleased to find that the unit cleans carpets VERY well. I was continually smiling and showing my girlfriend the comparative steps where I would clean half a stain or dirty area and you could clearly see the difference - like a commercial or something! The beauty is that the machine does all the work. 95% of my stains and dirty areas came clean with just the suggested use of two wet passes and two dry passes. A few I had to use the clean surge and go over an extra time or two, but that was it. I didn't have to hold down the front and scrub or do anything by hand - the machine did everything for me - which was a big plus.
About 9 months ago we had the carpets in our condo professionally cleaned. It cost just under $200 and the guy had some fancy machinery. My girlfriend and I both agreed that this hoover achieved the same, if not better results. Granted, the professional machine was much faster, but the results were the same, with the edge actual going to the hoover. So, basically, the machine paid for itself it's first use.
The only complaint I have, if you could even call it a complaint, is that the clean water runs out fast and the dirty water fills up faster. It would be nice to have bigger tanks on both, but it's understandable for this size model that they are smaller. To combat this point, though, emptying the dirty water, and refilling the cleaning solution couldn't be easier. The dirty water tub comes off SO easy, and goes back in just as easy, and it is easy to dump right into the bath tub (or outside, etc). The cleaning solution tank is also very easy to remove, fill, and install.
I think for our ~1100sqft condo I went through ~13 gallons of cleaning solution. I did mix 10oz of soap per gallon, though, because the carpets were pretty dirty, and I didn't have anything to pre-treat with. Also, I picked up the Zep Carpet Extractor Shampoo, which worked, IMO, just as well as the Hoover soap that came with it, and it was very cheap too. Plus, it smelled better. Like a "professional" smell, if that makes sense.
Just to note, I have not tried any of the tools yet, but I intend to try them soon. I can note that they appear to be pretty solidly made and I like the way they connect. They look like they'll do a nice job.
I'm a VERY picky consumer, especially since I've been burned in the vacuum and steam cleaner department in the past. I'd gladly speak my mind and bash any deserving vacuum or steam cleaner product by giving it a bad review and less than 5 stars, but this Hoover does not deserve this in any way shape or form. I would highly recommend it to a friend, and I can't imagine finding a better unit for the price (or even anything outside of a professional model).
Customer Review: Custom Cleaning -- BUT it'll cost you convenience!
Summary: 4 Stars
Ok, first off I'll admit I'm a carpet cleaning addict. I've got 4 kids and a husband with seriously dirty shoes, so I'm the kind of person that cleans my carpets and couches every 2 to 3 weeks. Because of that, the average steam cleaner doesn't last very long for us. We previously had a Bissell pro-heat and we finally had a non-replaceable part break - I researched and researched and decided the Hoover was the right machine for me! (Ok, so one of the biggest reasons it was right is because it was right in my price range!)
Overall, I like this machine. It does it's job. I love the round rotating scrubbers -- works much better than the rolling brush approach. This thing scrubs out dirt great! Granted, it's not much on stains -- but a carpet machine really isn't going to get out red kool-aid! It has a "clean surge" feature that works much better than I thought it would. When you reach a tough to clean spot, just hold down the clean surge buttom for a moment, run the scrubbing brushes over it and it makes a world of difference!
I absolutely hate that the attachment hose is very complicated to set up. Don't be fooled by the picture, it looks like the attachment hose is actually "attached" -- BUT IT'S NOT!! In order to use the hose, you have to shut off the machine, remove the top bucket, remove the lid off the dirty water bucket, slide the hose into a special grove on the dirty water bucket, and then plug a part on the hose into the actual machine, then put the top water bucket back on. Seriously -- that's a lot of work! If you're like me and happen by a tough spot, or decide you're going to clean a certain piece of furniture while you're near that spot - you enjoy the convenice of just being able to flip a switch and use the attatchment hose without being bothered with complicated steps. The hose works ok, but it could really be easier to use!
I like that the bottom tank (that holds dirty water) is translucent. It really gives you the opportunity to see how dirty the area you are cleaning is. That's a plus. BUT it's a big ol' pain to empty. The older Hoover model we had years ago had a handle for the dirty water bucket -- this model does not! What's the big deal about a handle? Oh, it's a big deal alright! Carrying that heavy dirty water bucket to empty in your sink or toilet without a handle means holding it against your body and I hope you don't wear white the day you clean your carpets! Granted - the bucket has a tight sealing lid, almost too tight, but it does splash a bit.
My other problem with the lower bucket is that it just doesn't hold enough. When I clean my living room carpet, I have to empty the bucket no less than 3x and I really don't think my living room is that big!
The top bucket, where you mix the clean water and solution, is pretty standard and easy to use. Just make sure you set it in the machine right, or the water will start leaking out the bottom of the bucket all over the place!
Despite all my petty complaints, I really do like it. It works great, but definately not the most convenient on the market. It runs much louder than our previous Bissell Pro-heat, but cleans better, the hose and dirty water buckets aren't nearly as convenient as I'd like, but again, it cleans great. It's moderately priced, so affordability is a big "likeability" factor! Overall, off the 4 carpet cleaning machines I've had, this one is my second favorite - my favorite being the older Hoover model, that had a handle on the lower bucket and the hose was actually attached - hopefully they'll bring those features back in the near future!
Customer Review: Cleans carpets well
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this at amazon.com using an accumulation of amazon.com visa card certificates and an online promotion. My purchase price was a deal I couldn't refuse.
I've rented carpet cleaners in the past, and I wasn't expecting the carpets to come out brand new, just cleaner. I wasn't disappointed. The manual for assembly is simple and straight forward. With a couple basic tools it was assembled in a matter of less than a half hour. The machine comes with a hand tool for upholstery (more on this later) and a sample of carpet cleaner, which was enough to get me started my cleaning job the next morning. While the machine can clean hard floors, it doesn't come with the hard floor cleaning attachment.
I followed the suggestion of another helpful reviewer and boiled water in a tea kettle to add to hot tap water which I used to fill the reservoir. I used the supplied Hoover cleaner. There were a couple stain spots on the carpet that I pre-treated. Those were the spots I tried first and was amazed at how clean the carpets became. One of my family members uses an electric wheel chair. The wheels bring dirt onto the carpet at the entry door. I found the hand attachment especially helpful at cleaning the area next to the door threshold. It's a down on the knees job, but not hard considering the positive results.
Others have pointed out that it's helpful to use a second cleaning with clear hot water. I gave this a try after going over the carpet with solution and removing as much moisture as possible. This second treatment I also used boiling water mixed with hot tap water. I couldn't tell much of a difference in the carpet after the second go around, but the water sure was dirty. The carpets were so much better after using the cleaner, that a favorite relative came over and asked if I could do their place as well. I used the same procedure at their house as I used in mine. I had excellent results.
A couple tips to remember:
1. This will not make your carpets brand new, but it does clean them.
2. Use a few extra passes on vacuum to remove excess water from the carpet to reduce drying time considerably. Look at the clear plastic vacuum passage at the front of the machine to give an indication when the water is no longer being removed from the carpet. It helps to continue water removal until you don't see any more water coming up through the clear vacuum passage.
3. I found that the canisters are pretty well matched in size. I filled up the vacuum chamber about the same time I ran out of fluid in the cleaning solution/hot water reserve tank. Don't expect to finish your house on one filling. You might do a small to medium size room per filling, but not the whole house.
4. It really does help to use HOT water. Most hot water heaters heat to 125 F degrees. This machine is intended to use water at 140 degrees F. Heat up some water on the stove, or in the microwave to make your water hot enough to use in this unit.
5. Pre-treat the bad spots. It will help remove the heavily soiled areas.
6. Don't tell too many relatives you have the Hoover SteamVac, or you will be recruited to help clean their carpets too.
A new model of Hoover SteamVac is now available in stores and online. At the time of this writing, it might be possible to obtain a discounted price on this model.
My opinion is a recommendation in favor of this item.
Customer Review: Works great and good value!
Summary: 5 Stars
Allow me to pile on to the mountain of positive reviews. First off, I researched this purchase quite a bit, and was swayed by the number of great reviews on Amazon. Gotta love the Internet! So I give this 5 STARS! It works very well, cleans up a lot of dirt, and it really does pick up LOTS of water so the carpet is just slightly damp, and not wet, when you're done. Do a couple extra dry strokes! The "heated cleaning" feature routes the hot engine exhaust downward into the carpet - I'm sure this helps dry it a little more too than without that feature. Yes, the tank is "small" but it is a tradeoff - if you want a giant water tank then you have to maneuver a heavy beast around. I'd rather have something that is maneuverable and I will change the water a couple extra times. Its not like I'll be cleaning carpets every day or every week.
My spouse was ready to throw away our expensive wool Pottery Barn throw rug that is 10 yrs old because it was "gross". After 2 consecutive lashings with this Hoover Bad Boy (1 night, let dry, then again 2nd night) the carpet looks and feels new. Seriously. Actually better than new because its a little softer now. Hoover just saved me from having the spouse spend another gazillion dollars on a new rug.
I think if you research you'll uncover these points but just keep in mind
1) there are SEVERAL VERSIONS of this machine, slightly different model numbers, at WalMart, Kohls, etc. The F5914-900 is the one with BOTH carpet attachments. (the Walmart one doesnt have the powered hand tool, the Kohls one is older and doesnt have the SpinScrub brushes underneath the machine, etc). I found that BestBuy and Menards carried the "real" 5914-900, but Amazon had the best price.
2) USE REAL carpet extractor shampoo as its low-sudsing and won't leave a sticky residue in the carpet. Don't cheap out and use a dash of Palmolive, and I wouldn't even use Tide etc as some others suggest as I don't think it will rinse out of the carpet in the same way. For me, I'll be washing our carpets a couple times a year at most, so the extra couple bucks to do it right is worth it. Someone else wrote that WalMart Great Value shampoo is just as good - I'll try it next. HD also sells ZEP which is supposed to be good, although the label said "not for WOOL carpets" so I decided not to risk it on my wool carpet....
3) I don't know about the whole "click" thing that the most popular review discusses in terms of not leaking. I didn't have to do a "click" and mine doesn't leak.
4) CLEAN OUT THE DARN THING WHEN YOU'RE DONE! Especially on wool carpets. I popped off the brushes unit and there was a lot of carpet fiber gunk in there. I spent a few extra minutes really rinsing it and picking out the little clumps of gunk. I think its worth it in the long run. Also, do what the manual says and pour some plain clean water on the floor at the very end and suck it up with the machine...it will flush out any gunk from the extraction nozzle.
5) I liked someone else's idea of being barefoot when you use this...then you can easily feel how wet the carpet is and you can do some extra dry strokes where necessary.
Like 99% of the reviewers, I am not really comparing this TO any Bissell or other competitor because I've never used those. That said, this is one of the cheaper units, I KNOW it works WELL, and apparently 1,500 others agree. I think you're safe in choosing this model. Go for it!