Customer Reviews

VAPAMORE MR-100 STEAM CLEANER

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I have had my eye on the Ladybug steamer for months now, drooling over all it could do but it was far out of my price range. I own the Envirosteamer steam floor mop and love it, but I wanted something to get into tight spaces like around the toilet, in the tub, the oven, etc. With some Santa money I got more serious about purchasing a canister steamer in addition to my floor steamer and began some comparative testing and studying. Fortunately, I live in a neighborhood that is all "green built certified" which means, in order to have a green rating, all homes were built with no carpet and lots of people hate chemicals which means it's a neighborhood full of steam mops which makes comparing the models quite easy. That's a good thing because it just saved me over a thousand bucks because I wound up no longer wanting the Ladybug. Here's how they rate...you decide which is best for you:

These are the canister mops I compared:
Vapamore MR-100
Ladybug XL-2300
Haan Canister
Reliable Enviromate

V=Vapamore
L=Ladybug
H=Haan
R=Reliable

NUMBER OF STEAM JETS SPITTING OUT HOT STEAM:
V-10
L-8
H-12
R-5

WATER PRESSURE CONTEST; (1st place being shoots steam the hardest)
V- 2nd PLACE
L-1ST PLACE:
H- 3rd PLACE:
R- 4th PLACE:

CORD LENGTH: (so you don't have to stop, unplug, water cools some, replug in)
V-18 feet
L-15 ft
H-18 feet
R-8 feet
recap: An 8' cord is INSANE. I couldn't even get across my kitchen counter or walk around my bed to steam all of the mattress without using an extension cord!

STEAM TEMPERATURE
V-256 degrees
L-297 degrees
H-212 degrees
R-218 degrees
Note: These temperatures are based upon using the small hose attachments. In every case that we used the long hose attachment included to turn these into a floor mop, the steam had to travel down the long hose so it cooled and wound up only being about 115 degrees by the time it reached the floor. Which results in very poor cleaning. Because of this, if you are wanting this mostly for floor steaming, I would suggest going with a steamer that shoots out hot steam directly onto the floor from its tank rather than through a long hose before reaching the floor as a canister mop does.

TIME TO HEAT UP:
V-10 min
L-8 min
H-3 min
R-5 min

WATER TANK:
V-1.6 liters
L-1.8+1.5 quarts
H-20 oz
R 2 liters

CLEANING:
For a controlled cleaning test, I mixed Dr. Pepper with sugar and spread it evenly across a 4' length of my stained concrete floor and kept the pets away until it dried completely in a gunky mess. I then tested each mop against it in lengthwise strips, moving them at the same pace after a full heat up, as well as testing each on its own strip of bathroom tile & grout. Here's who performed the best:
Tie: Ladybug and Vapamore. These, due to the really hot temps, loosened the gunk on impact and made it VERY easy to clean my floor. Their hot temps and heavier steam also cleaned tile the best but Vapamore actually did a BETTER job on uneven surfaces like tile with grout..but don't expect shiny white grout because it wasn't exactly returned to looking brand new either.
2nd place:Haan...but it wasn't nearly as good as the above two.
Last place: Reliable. Although the steam temp is hotter than the Haan, it doesn't shoot out as strong and only had 5 steam jets so this diminished its effectiveness Didn't come close to the V or L.

All were at temps to kill bacteria and sanitize without using chemicals such as counters and mattresses, unless you tried to turn it into a floor mop which I don't suggest because the steam was too cool to clean as well as a real floor steam mop made for that purpose...

Other notes: The ladybug was the most awkward to carry. It just wasn't made for carrying up stairs, etc.


Conclusion: Considering the Ladybug is over a thousand dollars more than any of the other mops, this was a real eye opener! I tested these with my friends and we all agreed, hands down, that the Vapamore was the best buy. And I love it! It cleaned the best BUT the Ladybug lasted much longer as far as cleaning time. However, Vapamore cleaned for 50 minutes prior to needing a refill which, for me, is all I need. That said, if you want to use this commercially and don't want to have to take time to refill, the Ladybug may be worth the steep price for you. Considering they have the same 3 year warranty though, I'd rather buy 4 Vapamores for the price of one Ladybug and have one in every room. I kid. The Reliable seemed to lack things that were just silly...like having a cord longer than my blow dryer and only having 5 steam jets.

The Vapamore MR100 is split into two different links on Amazon. I posted this review under the other link, but it is relavant here too:

Steams grout and other things really really well. Better temp and pressure than the McCullogh and Wagner units. This unit develops a temp of 250 degrees and up to 58 psi (and has a flow adjustment). The unit itself and the hose seem well made, but the handle grip and all the attachments (and wheels) are somewhat cheap and flimsy, especially for a $300 appliance. I practically wore out the grout brush on first use, (although it was a lot of tile - - about 200 sq ft), and now I need to buy another grout brush attachment. The bristles on the large floor attachment were partially laid down after my first use also. Here's the kicker, you can find 2 identical cleaners (with identical attachment sets)... the Steam Extreme 3000 and Steampal Turbo which both sell for about $200, which is $100 cheaper than the Vapamore. Vapamore literature says that their engineers designed the product... either they're lying or stupid because the Chinese factory is obviously selling it under other brand names. If I have some time, I will upload some video of this thing working. I'm really happy with the cleaning results, but I think the attachment set fits the cheaper $200 price point, and I would certainly recommend either the Steampal Turbo or the Steam Extreme 3000. You'll have to go over to eBay to find them though. [...]

PS - regarding that the handle hurt somebody's hand... the handle has little ridges on the back and after awhile it is a little rough on the palm, I just wrapped it with a washrag, or switch hands after doing a lot of steam cleaning. I thought it was a small thing, but the engineers should have studied that closer and done a better job. Regarding that it was wet... when you stop for a few minutes to wipe up, upon resuming, your first shot out of the hose will be condensate. Point the attachment into a bucket or a rag and spray for about 3-4 seconds whenever restarting. It will spit a tablespoon of condensate, after which you'll get dry steam. The mop head will eventually become wet, an indication that it's time to change the mop head.

Steams grout and other things really really well. Better temp and pressure than the McCullogh and Wagner units. This unit develops a temp of 250 degrees and up to 58 psi (and has a flow adjustment). The unit itself and the hose seem well made, but the handle grip and all the attachments (and wheels) are somewhat cheap and flimsy, especially for a $300 appliance. I practically wore out the grout brush on first use, (although it was a lot of tile - - about 300 sq ft), and now I need to buy another grout brush attachment. The bristles on the large floor attachment were partially laid down after my first use also. Here's the kicker, you can find 2 identical cleaners (with identical attachment sets)... the Steam Extreme 3000 and Steampal Turbo which both sell for about $200, which is $100 cheaper than the Vapamore. Vapamore literature says that their engineers designed the product... either they're lying or stupid because the Chinese factory is obviously selling it under other brand names. If I have some time, I will upload some video of this thing working. I'm really happy with the cleaning results, but I think the attachment set fits the cheaper $200 price point, and I would certainly recommend either the Steampal Turbo or the Steam Extreme 3000. You'll have to go over to eBay to find them though.

I read several reviews and since only one had one star I chalked it up to "she had a bad day". Wrong. She was correct. The day I received the Vapamore MR-100 Dry Steam Vapor Cleaner I tried it out. After a small kitchen, my palm was bright red and felt burned from the rough plastic handle. I had a Eureka previously and hated it because the steam left water all over my floor that took quite a while to dry. This did the same thing. Even Vapamore's own website said that this is not steam but 'vapor' (hence the name "dry steam vapor cleaner" and that there is only 5% water that comes out. Again, wrong. Also, the plastic is very cheap; the storage compartment door feels like you are going to break it and the hinge where you attach the hose is so cheap I wondered it if would still be on there in a month. The cloth that comes with it for the floor attachment is not at all absorbable and it's too large so you can't even tightly attach it and the teeth that are supposed to hold it in place chew up the fabric. I was very disappointed (an understatement) in this product and shame on you person from Austin who had the very LONG "I put it to the test" review. I believed you because you went into such great detail I was sure you were telling the truth. You could never use this on your mattress or pillows and think you would be using them that night. I hate to think I will have to spend $1400 to get a good "vapor" cleaner but I will make sure, when I do, that it's returnable if it does not live up to the hype.

I just purchased this steam cleaner a few weeks ago (and it is my first steam cleaner) - and thus far I absolutely love it. Admittedly I haven't been excited about cleaning tool purchases in the past, but I was very eager to receive this steamer after I ordered it. I put it to work straight away on our bathrooms, hardwoods, baseboards, etc... and am so impressed with the level of clean that you can obtain while using no chemicals. The smell of clean without a chemical smell is amazing. I know that I will continue to be happy with this for it's life, especially in a household with two Boxer dogs and hardwood floors throughout. My only concern is that we have hard water where we live, and I honestly am not eager to purchase water for use in the steamer as it seems like a hassle (or boil it prior to using as per the recommendations provided by the manufacturer) - but I am willing to take the risk and see how it goes (and see how it effects the longevity of the steamer).

I purchased this product and received it 2 working days later...I was excited to get cleaning. I read the manual and proceeded very carefully to give it a try...I steamed for 10 minutes and was satisfied that it was working well. I turned it off and unplugged it with plans to steam clean my whole house with it a little later in the day. It was turned off about 2 hours and I then plugged it in and turned it on. The power lights came on and it heated for about 10 minutes and then cut off. I let it sit 30 minutes (like the manual suggested) After the 30 minutes were up I double checked it to make sure the water tank was full (which in theory I knew it had to be because on my trial run I had only used it for 10 minutes) The tank was still full. I tried it again...no power...I let it sit again and then poured out the water and let it sit over night....I then refilled it the following morning and plugged it in and attempted to turn it on...It was dead.... I called the company and they said it was probably a faulty switch and that they would repair it and send it back...I hate buying something new and having the company tell me they will repair it. For gosh sakes stand behind your product and send me out a new one immediately especially for a product over $200.00. I returned it today and will not be purchasing another one. I have no idea what I will try next as none of the reviews on any steamers are that great unless you spend a lot of money...Another note...it was a bit cheaply made for the amount of money they are charging for it...

Very versatile and compact machine with excellent build quality for the price. I have used it for a variey of different jobs. These include: cleaning bathroom tiles, stripping old vinyl floor tiles, cleaning vinyl floors,sanitizing/cleaning shoes and deodorizing/sanitizing my dog's bed. It also exceeds the minimum temperature requirements for killing bed bugs and dust mites. Therefore, I have utilized it in order to sanitize my mattress, box spring and bedding. (this is useful if you have allergies) It does a pretty good job at a fraction of the price of competing models.

I have owned this procuct for ten months and am very pleased with its performance. Therefore, I can give it my highest recommendation with no reservations.

I do not usually leave product reviews for anything I buy, but I have received excellent customer service from Vapamore, so I feel I owe it to the company.

First of all, I have owned my Vapamore for about a year and a half, and I use it A LOT. I clean everything with it, including bathtubs, toilets, sinks, counters, cabinets, oven, grout, hard floors, and other miscellaneous things. Before I bought the Vapamore I used to use a little hand held steamer made by Eureka. The Vapamore is, without a doubt, a far more versatile product. Steam cleaning is just great for any icky jobs you might come across, and it also takes "elbow grease" out of your cleaning equation, making tasks like scrubbing your bathtub an absolute breeze. Plus, it's great for allergy sufferers, like me, who get sick from almost all harsh chemicals.

But here's why I am writing this review. After using my Vapamore for about a year I had a problem with it. The cord became loose and the power wouldn't turn on. I sent it back to the company and they fixed it without question and even threw in a new set of brushes. Unfortunately, after I got it back it quit working again after about three weeks of use. At first I was really upset and I sent the company a letter telling them how disappointed I was that the machine had failed just after I had spent the money to ship it to Arizona from Ohio and back (the company requires the customer to pay for shipping for repairs covered under warranty.) Well, the customer service guy couldn't have been more pleasant and polite. He agreed to fix the machine and pay for the shipping this time. He even offered to include new accessories upon returning the machine.

At this point, I highly recommend the purchase of a Vapamore steam vapor machine. It might not have the name behind it like the Lady Bug, or the Reliable brand name, but it's a very usable machine for the home consumer, and the company will take of you if you have any problems with it.

Update Edit: I just wanted to add a few quick notes in response to some of the other review I've read here....

About the handle being in uncomfortable: The handle does have ridges on the back of it, where your palm between thumb and index finger rest when holding down the trigger. At first, I found this to be uncomfortable until I realized I really didn't need to grip the handle so tightly to hold down the trigger. If you don't grip so tight, it won't rub uncomfortably. It is a design flaw, and I think that for this kind of money, the company should consider redesigning the handle and hose. If they came out with a new one, I would buy it, because the machine itself works great.

About not being able to scrub showers, tubs, etc.: Use the clothes steamer/2 in one attachment. I use a cheap dish washing type sponge and stuff it in under the cloth cover, so I can push the tool into the curves of the tub, and to get better traction with the cloth against the surface of the area being cleaned. I sprinkle just a very small amount of washing soda (made by arm and hammer, find it next to the Borax in laundry aisle of your grocery store,) and then rub over the entire area being cleaned using the attachment with sponge and cloth. Even very built up soap scum will melt away using this method. The combination of heat, moisture, and washing soda makes this job just about effortless. I'm handy with a sewing machine, so I made dozens of microfiber covers for the two in one attachment, but you can just use a microfiber cloth and wrap it over the attachment and secure with a bit of elastic or a rubber band. Alternatively, you can fish a bit of elastic through the two small holes on the two one in attachment, secure them with a safety pin, and secure a two side scrubbing sponge to the attachment that way, it works just as well. I wish the company would sell microfiber covers for the two in one attachment that allow room for stuffing in a sponge, because this method works really well and makes the machine a lot more versatile. I use the sponge/2 in 1 attachment combo for cleaning tubs/showers, sinks, counter tops, and cabinet doors, woodwork, baseboards, etc.

I wanted this steam cleaner in the worst way! I finally just shelled out the $300 and purchased it. It is a bit of a disappointment and here's why. For $300 the hoses that make up the handle should be sturdier. They kind of bow while using the product. The floor attachment does not have enough holes for the steam to flow out to clean the floors. Also, the piece of material they give for mopping is a waffle-type fabric that is thin and not at all absorbent and the way they attach to the floor cleaner is poor. I use the mop pads from my shark on the Vapamore. Personally, I think the shark is a better floor cleaner and is 1/3 the price, but the shark does only floors & nothing else, so I am only commenting the floor cleaning capability.

I was disappointed by how poorly it removes soap scum from shower walls and doors. I found myself still having to put a lot of scrubbing muscle behind the machine. I really thought this would just melt off the scum, but it doesn't. You still have to scrub. Also, I was so excited that it would steam carpets & pet odors, but really, it doesn't do that great of a job. And partly, I believe, because the attachments are flimsy. The window attachment is a total waste to me, I can't figure out how it works because it seems like it really doesn't do anything. I think the best way to describe this machine is that it is just like a pressure cleaner only for the inside of your house. A pressure cleaner does clean things, but it also leaves you with a different type of mess to clean up after, well, the Vapamore is similar to that.

I really researched this product before buying, but it just does not meet up to my expectation. Maybe my expectations were too high? But for $300 it should be as expected.

Bought this and read over the directions carefully. Was able to only use it for about 15mins before it stopped working. Did everything the instructions told me to do, still didnt turn back on. Come to find out it had to be sent back to the company for repair. Shipped it back for about $20 out of pocket. Waited about 2 wks and just got it back. Again follwed the instructions carefully, added water and turned it on to heat up. After about 5mins the lights went out. Went to use it and, to little surprise, no steam. IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN! Will not be sending this back for repair again, but for refund. This unit is SO not worth the money.