Customer Reviews

SteamFast SF-275 SteamMax Steam Cleaner

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I have owned and used steamers for several years. I purchased this to replace my older Delonghi Steam Clean Plus and here and overall found the unit produced consistent steam but lacking in pressure somewhat compared to my older model. I actually purchased the steam cleaner from a warehouse club and it had a very nice selection of accessories including an extension rod hanger that allows you to steam garments on a hanger extending from the top of the extension rod. Basically the steamer is the same as this model 275 in terms of boiler, wattage, basic design.

The unit did warm up fairly quickly and I was impressed with the quality of the accessories, using thick plastic, good quality rubber seals etc. This model I think would work well as doing primary duty as a clothes steamer but its lack of pressure make it not the best choice for blasting nooks and crannies, where a really good steamer excels as a cleaning maching no other device can touch.

Let me explain. I compared this steamer with the Saeco Piccolo steamer and with a high quality thermometer recorded the Saeco at about 190 degrees and the steamFast at about 170-180 degrees. Secondly I put a paper cup on the floor and with both machines heated up with a full tank of water, I pointed the nozzle at the opening of the cup to see which model would blow the cup the farthest. The SteamFast product blew the cup about five feet. The Piccolo blew the cup 15 feet and probably would have kept going if it was not for the wall stopping it. Not even remotely close.

Next I took both steamers out on my deck and pointed the nozzles at a hose that "overwintered" on my deck....complete with black moldy stains hiding the normally greeen hose. The SteamFast product blew steam at the hose but it did not really eliminate the moldy stains.

Next tried the Piccolo...WOW....this sucker blasted those stains down to fresh green hose.

Test over. Note: I also tried the same test with a Euro-Pro Shark Steam Blaster Ultra with similar results to the Chinese made SteamFast product.

I will add some more details in my review of the Saeco Piccolo. Needless to say, I returned the SteamMax.

Let me say, I think the overall positive results for this product are not surprising to me considering most users have not probably used an Italian made steam cleaner which seem to have hotter steam vapor, far more pressure, a longer track record of using similar technology in espresso machine manufacturing, etc. The downside of the Italian products is that it might be a bit harder to find parts and service for since they are not produced for the mass market like the steamFast and shark products. It's too bad as I really wanted the SteamFast or Shark to perform better.

Honestly if you don't make the comparison between the Piccolo or similar italian made steamer and the SteamFast, you may think you are getting a great product as it will produce consistent steam...but you won't be aware of HOW MUCH MORE YOU COULD DO with the serious pressure levels of the Italian steam cleaners. I hope some other people do some comparisons.

It was kind of fun to be my own consumer reports for the last few weeks, but I am a huge fan of these cleaners and their many uses. Most Americans have not caught on to what the Europeans have known for years.

I hesitated to purchase a steam cleaner so I read many reviews including McCulloch MC-1275 steam cleaner reviews. I decided to purchase MC-1275 and then I found SF-275. Both have very similar looks and spec. I think both models are the same one. Anyway, SF-275 was $30 cheaper than MC-1275 so I purchased this one.

I use this for cleaning my shower room. It works! but don't expect magic. It takes time to clean old stains. Steamer is really good on narrow areas (between tiles). It is extremely difficult to clean between tiles with other cleaners but steamer is really good. I tried to clean deck chairs. The chairs have some mildew stains and I didn't expect the steamer can clean it but the stains were disappeared.

The build quality is good. I just wish they improve the switch for continuous steam. It is very small. I recommend to use the distilled water only.

I recommend this steamer to any one looking for high quality steamer.

I've had this steam cleaner for about 6 weeks and have found it to be an excellent addition to my cleaning tool arsenal. It does have its limitations, however.

The positive features is that it's easy to setup and use, and the compact shape makes it easy to find a place to store it when you're not using it. Setup is a snap - just attach the handle using one screw, and the manufacturer is thoughtful enough to provide an extra long, thin screwdriver since the handle screw is recessed. Nice touch. Also comes with a lot of attachments for pretty much anything you'd want to clean (grout lines, counter tops, floors, windows, BBQ grills, etc.).

The biggest plus is the price. I've looked at steam cleaners for years, but was always put off by the steep price tags. Some of the high end European models run $1,500 or more - for that kind of money, I'd rather pay someone to clean for me! So, a low price is a big plus.

BUT, this low of a price means you're not getting the functionality of a high end machine. For example, the steam is pretty wet, and you'll also get a big dribble of water when you start up after pausing for a few moments. The tank is rather small, and you can't add more water without letting it cool down first. The attachments are OK in terms of function, but wear at a fairly fast rate. Build quality is good for the price paid, but you'll need to take care that you don't damage the wands since they are all plastic.

All in all, however, I'm happy with this. It makes it much easier to clean grout lines on my kitchen counters and floors, which is the main reason I got it. Again, it's not magic - you still need to put some work into it, but it's much, much, MUCH easier than using a scrub brush. What works well for me is to spray on some grout and tile cleaner first, let it set for a moment, then hit it with the steam. Wipe up with a clean microfiber towel and move on to the next section. I can do an entire room in the time it used to take me to do a small area with my trusty scrub brush.

I've also have had good results using it to clean soap scum off tiles and shower doors, getting in the nooks/crannies around faucets and toilets, and cleaning drips/spills in the oven and on the range top. Light to moderate dirt/grime comes up with just steam. More intensive messes (or ones that are very greasy) need to be sprayed first with a spray cleaner (409, Fantastic, or whatever brand you like) to help the steam do its work.

And remember, it just sprays steam - it does not suck it back up like a carpet cleaner. Keep a towel handy to wipe up the water and loosened dirt. Microfiber works best, but any absorbent rag will do.

Couple of points to keep in mind:

1) Use distilled water, especially if you have hard water. A build up of scale/mineral deposits will kill a steam cleaner very quickly.

2) Wear ear plugs if you're working in a small room (such as a bathroom). The noise level can really get to you after 20 minutes or so.

3) There's another model made by McCulloch that is exactly the same as this except that it has a slightly longer hose and a different colored casing. Pick whichever one happens to be on sale/best price - they are functionally identical.

I did a lot of research before deciding to buy the SteamFast SF-275. I wanted an all purpose steamer in the $89-125 range. I'm glad I did my homework. There were a few other steamers I might have bought but this one came so highly recommended by nearly everyone who left a review on every site.

Having never used a steamer before I didn't know what to expect. I can tell you now, though, I have not been disappointed! This little guy is great. I've cleaned tough mildewed shower grout, mild rust spots off the bathroom counter, got rid of a mildew odor from the bottom of my couch, steamed all bedroom pillows to get rid of dust mites and other allergins (it really works great), and finally got my 25+ year-old kitch floor looking like new! It really does do just about everything.

You do have to do quite a bit of scrubbing when you clean a dirty area for the first time and this is the ONLY reason why I give it four stars. I suppose that's to be expected, but after the initial elbow grease, keeping it maintained is as easy as "wanding" and wiping. No chemicals!!!

Here's a few tips/recommendations to help you when you use it:
* Buy a pair of heavy latex or rubber gloves. I bought a pair that are used for paint stripping. Be sure that they are comfortable enough to bend your fingers and wear for an extended period of time. This will help prevent accidental steam burns. DO NOT think that because you are wearing gloves that you can expose your gloved hand to the direct steam.

* I have allergies to mold and mildew. When you use steam to clean you are blasting it with hot water and killing it but the spores could become airborne or be released in the steam itself. I find it best to wear a mask that is made for mildew/mold. If you can't afford the $30+ model even the just above basic paper mask, that is thick and has a filter, works very well.

* Be sure to keep the area well ventilated. Steam isn't poisonous like chemicals but the room will start to get humid if you don't.

* Don't ever, EVER use warm or hot water on cat urine. This will set the smell. Avoid using any steamer on carpets that have had kitty accidents. Also, if you have hardwood floors under your carpets, even if you've had no pets, I'd skip this too. Unless the hardwood floor has had several layers of shellack before the carpet was installed pet ordors can still be draw up. Even if there hasn't been an animal in the house for 10-15 years it's possible.

* Be sure to sweep the floors and remove any loose dirt from surfaces before you steam. There's nothing like trying to wipe up extra "gunk."

I hope those help out. I love this steamer and I think you will too!

I have been looking for a steam Cleaner for quite some time. I have few friends already had different kind. I was not too impressed with what they had only because of the function, and capability. I could not settle for smaller ones only does a job for 5 min. Then, I did some more research on the net, and other various placces. FINALLY, I foud me this exact machine. I got it, tested, and LOVE it. This machine does ALL and more for what I expected. Light to carry around, POWERFUL to do just about any cleaning in no time. Love the design also. If you want a REAL TOP QUALITY Steam Cleaner, GO WITH THIS ONE.

After spending hundreds of dollars and hours upon hours of my time washing my floor with Swiffer type products I got tired of pushing around dirty water and chemicals only to have to go over the floors with towels to sop up the remaining residue. I will admit I did not have high hopes for this $99 unit, though it promises to clean throughly I thought sure, thats what they all say, well I can tell you, this one actually does what it says it will! I washed my floor with the Swiffer mop, I waited till the floor dried and went over it with this unit you can not beleive the dirt that was on the units mop head. What really impressed me was when I lifted the rug next to the exposed tile and both colors matched, which meant the floor was just as clean as tile that had not been exposed to shoes. If this works this good on ceramic tile on high traffic areas I know this will be great for all its other uses.

I have several rooms including my kitchen that have white shiny ceramic tile floors with white grout. No matter what I used to clean the floor I had to dry it as I cleaned and most often within a day or two it looked hazy or smeary. Since using this steam vac I can go well over a week between cleanings and the floor never looked better. The steamer removes surface dirt from the grout, so if you're buying it primarily to clean grout expect to still have to use elbow grease or chemicals. It is too messy to be practical for cleaning windows and it didn't do very well cleaning soap film off the shower door. It did, however, do very well on mold. I also love it for cleaning my jewelry and the silk plants in my freshwater aquarium! No more brown spots on the silk plants. Best part of all the things I've mentioned--NO CHEMICALS to inhale or contaminate the environment. The unit is sturdy, heats up quickly and includes a lot of handy attachments.

Having a whole house (1600 sq ft) of tiled floor with area rugs we spent a lot of time mopping. This little cleaner makes it so much easier and cleans so much better! The first time it was kind of eye-opening seeing the improvement in appearance of the tile and the dirt on the head covers used. It pulls easily and has a fairly long electrical cord.
Be sure to get additional terry cloth covers for the head if you have a large area to cleans or have kids and pets running across your floors. Or it is easy to make head covers from old towels cut to the same size.
The only problem we have had is the button you push to get continuous steam seems to pop out too easily, making it necessary to keep your finger on the switch to keep the steam coming.

I bought this steamer primarily for cleaning grout and it worked!!!! It took a little bit of scrubbing along with the steam but the grout looks like new. However, my grout was only two years old, so it may or may not work as well with older grout. Overall I think this machine is a great value for the price.

Last Saturday (1/19) I bought the Shark Steam Blaster Jr. - Red (S3210R) Spent half the day Saturday steaming! LOL (This is a hand-held model, very similar to the Rainbow Steamer and the Scunci) Overall it worked well. A few minor complaints. The squeegee attachment was useless, water everywhere when I used it on the bathroom mirror.

Many of the complaints I read was the amount of time wasted in refilling/waiting for reheat. I found that you can work out a routine to work around the waiting. The steam lasts for about 15-20 minutes. Then I'd wait 5 min. to cool, let out the steam and refill. I didn't mind the wait.

Bathroom: Overall cleaning the bathroom was a success.

Kitchen- WOW! I was pleasantly surprised that it was strong enough to remove baked on grease on my stove that I've been trying to remove for months! It took a little elbow grease. A little trick I used was to drop very small drops of dish detergent directly on the stain then blast it with the steam! BINGO! Beautifully cleaned the microwave, oven door, granite counters, sink, and tile floor grout!

Unfortunately I could not get baked on grease off the bottom of my pans and I also wanted a floor attachment. - SO... I ordered from Walmart the SteamFast SteamMax Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner. LOL! I receive it today (1/25) and I already used it in my bathroom. BIG DIFFERENCE from the hand held. Much stronger, less water spray, faster work. Way longer use before refilling (in fact, I dumped water out of it after cleaning the entire bathroom). I'll be tackling the pans baked on grease tomorrow and will let you know.

I'm going to return the Shark hand held.

Also check out Sam's Club.com they carry the Monster SC60 Steam Cleaner It seems a little bit more powerful than the SteamFast.