Amazon.com Review

The principle of the Hoover SteamVac is simple: the machine applies hot tap water and a cleaning agent to soiled carpet, then sucks up the solution, taking ground-in dirt with it. Because the vacuum's suction is so powerful, carpets get clean deep down and dry quickly. This model is built for simple use and efficient floor coverage. It operates in both forward and reverse and has an 11-inch-wide floor nozzle with double agitator brushes and automatic height adjustment. A trigger in the handle controls solution release, and the tanks are translucent so you can see water levels at a glance. The solution and recovery tanks each contain a gallon of liquid and remove from the machine easily for filling and emptying. As a safety mechanism, the SteamVac automatically shuts off when the recovery tank is full. This is especially handy if you're using the vacuum to suck up a spill. You can also use it to rinse carpets without a soap solution. The machine's power switch is operated with a foot pedal, as is the handle release. It comes with quick-release cord hooks, a 20-foot power cord, a built-in measuring cup, and a 16-ounce bottle of Hoover cleaning solution to get you started. --Emily Bedard ... Read more

Features

• Measures 11-1/2 by 16-1/2 by 45 inches
• Deep-cleans carpet fibers with hot water and cleaning solution
• Large translucent tanks make water levels visible
• 2 built-in brushes in floor nozzle
• Easy to fill and empty

Reviews (5)

Raised From The Dead!
I was sure my carpet was beyond all hope. When it was new 16 years ago it was a light tan color, but over the years it gradually turned nearly black with multiple stains of everything from Kool-Aid and soda to wine, tracked in motor oil, grease, grime and a plethera of foods. Add to that a dog with tummy problems and you can imagine the stains!

My precious pooch is still with me at 17 years so I haven't replaced the carpets yet. I've tried every cleaning product and method available, professional and otherwise, and even resorted to scrubbing it with bleach! All to no avail.

I purchased the Hoover F5807 SteamVac despite being convinced I was throwing my money away once again. Wow was I in for a surprise! Due to the extreme condition of the carpet I had to go over it several times but each time the carpet got lighter and lighter as years of abuse vanished before my eyes until once again it is back very close to the original color.

This SteamVac is super easy to use, and it removes nearly all of the water, so drying time is greatly reduced. Just fill the bin with water and cleaner, snap it into place, press the button and prepare to be amazed! It has an auto shut off when the collection bin is full which is quite handy. Just pop it off and dump the bin. Easy, Easy, Easy, and my carpet looks great and smells fresh again!

I was so impressed with the wonderful job it was doing that I couldn't stop, I kept going until I cleaned every carpet and throw rug I could find. This is certainly the best carpet cleaner I have ever encountered.

Long time owner
My dad, myself, 2 sisters and 3 children all use the carpet cleaner my dad owns. It has been in the family for 5 years and is still going strong. It isn't as thorough as a comercial machine and probably takes longer but it does a good job. I spot treat with ispropyl alcohol and a spritz of Shout and then use about 1/2 the recommended soap in the machine. I also preheat the water on the stove so it is very hot. My dad has a wool carpet and I used cool water on it and the waste water was still very dirty. The water comes out in lines so it is important to overlap and go in different directions.

Rejuvenated my carpet!
I bought this product for my heavily stained carpet (2 messy kids in the household) and it effectively cleaned the carpet and made it look almost new. The machine was comparable to the rental machines in its ability to clean the carpet, but it had two small drawbacks:

1) The one gallon tanks (for clean & dirty water)- means it has to be filled or emptied often.
2) The release handle was a bit stiff.

Otherwise, this machine did a wonderful job!

Newly purchased
Well, so far so good. I was amazed at how dirty the water was when I emptied the container. Wow! Can't believe I waited this long. It cleaned well, but it's kind of heavy for me and I had a problem with the handle release. It seems stiff. Still has nothing to do with the cleaning job though. It's easy to fill and empty.

Gets out the smells and stains
The Hoover SteamVac worked really well in getting out old stains. I have a dog, and it got rid of old stains that no amount of hand scrubbing could get rid of. The carpet smells fresh now, and did a terrific job of removing old pet odors. It is very easy to use, and not bulky at all. However, if you think you want to clean your stairs or upholstry you might be better off getting a more expensive model that includes a hose attachment. This machine is great if you already have one of the portable units to do your furniture and stairs, and you just want something to clean large portions of your carpet. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Designed for pet owners and active households, this hot-watervacuum cleans carpets after they've been dry-vacuumed and scrubs barefloors. The 1,440-watt vacuum applies hot tap water and cleaningsolution (a 16-ounce bottle is included) into carpet fibers or ontobare floors with five rotating brushes at two speeds, and then itvacuums up the dirty water. No faucet hookup is required. Both theclean-water and dirty-water tanks detach for filling and emptying, andthe vacuum shuts off automatically when the dirty-water tank is full.

The vacuum cleans a 12-inch path going forward and backward andautomatically adjusts for carpet heights. The accompanying upholsterynozzle and bare-floor and car tools have a finger trigger for applyingcleaning mixture (plus an indicator light that shows whether the unit'sin floor or tools mode). The vacuum has a toe-operated on/off switchand comes with a 27-foot cord and an 8-foot hose. Assembly requiresjust two nuts and bolts and one screw (which are included), and theinstruction booklet is easy to follow. The vacuum carries a one-yearwarranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 1440 watts; 12-inch path; 8-foot tool hose; 27-foot power cord
• Deep-cleans carpets, bare floors, upholstery with hot water, cleaning solution
• Cleans both forward and reverse with five rotating brushes, two speeds
• Automatically adjusts for carpet height, upholstery, bare-floor, car tools
• No faucet hookup needed; two tanks separate clean and dirty solutions

Reviews (4)

Excellent Product
this thing works.
end of discussion.
it's an excellent product.

it might be little pricey, for as often as the average person might use it, but the investment is well worth it.

if your home is carpeted, this is something i can't imagine you could do without.
we have oak upstairs, and Pergo downstairs, so we use a lot of
area rugs.
the SteamVac is perfect.
we assemble the parts, add hot water, plug it in, and we're cleaning.
the dirty water, when we're done, tells the whole story.

i can't really think of any meaningful negatives.
it might be a little heavy for a woman, moving it around the house.
it can take a few minutes to assemble each time you decide to use
it, and another few minutes to take it apart and clean it before
you put it away again, but nothing compared to the time it would take to rent one.
and then have to return it.

it's probably not practical for small spills or spots.
but when your rugs and carpets need a good professional-style

cleaning, this SteamVac is definitely the ticket.

March 2002 - Shocked that Hoover didn't
Just purchased the Hoover SteamVac Plus F5878-900. Nice machine, does a good job of cleaning, lightweight and easy to manuver. The 15 ft cord is far too short and a extention must be used for almost any room but that is minor. The machine is sturdy and well built, has a nice wide path, the tanks are easily removed and are easy to clean. The 5 brushes seem easy to remove and clean, and the placement of the water tanks make the machine well balanced and easy to transport.

But I am absolutely amazed that Hoover didn't bother to include the Nozzle Clean-Out Tool, a small piece of plastic (I assume, since tool was missing), this small item IS necessary to clean the debris that gathers between the suction nozzle hood and the housing. This is a very tight area and the booklet tells one 'how' to use clean-out tool (which is NOT supplied). The booklet then goes on about pouring two cups of water on non-carpeted floor and sucking that through the machine several times - a cumbersome and inefficient method plus requiring a surface suitable to pour water onto which in my case requires hauling the cleaner out to the garage.

The price of this little item in the Accessories List is [money]. ... - plus [money] to ship it. This minor item is almost enough to cause me not to purchase from Hoover again. Very shortsighted of Hoover, if I may say so...

I was surprised (pleasantly so) at how much dirt comes up as I am a daily vacuumer, leaves the carpeting fresh and nice smelling, it is just the lack of that clean-out tool that does indeed trouble me.

This is one terrific Steam Cleaner.
I had the little Hoover Steam cleaner and wanted to try the full size one. I could not be more delighted. When I moved in a year ago the three year old carpet was professionally cleaned. I used this machine and the carpets looked better than when the pros cleaned it. It was easy to assemble and use. I haven't used the the bare floor attachment, but that's next on my tile floors. I would highly recommend this machine

Great results and convenience
When it came to finally chosing a steam vac, there were two major brands in the market. Hoover & Bissell. I chosed the Hoover over the Bissell because of it's sturdier build and well thought out design. The plastic housing is rigid and does not give or flap like Bissell. The two separate tanks are well laid out and can be viewed quite easily for the water level in each as well as offer ease of refilling and dispensing. Each tank has a handle which folds away when seated but the nice part is when in use it makes the tank balanced for transport. The 5 rotating brushes were integrated into one assembly and could be easily removed for cleaning. I've found that 5 independent rotating brushes to be a more effective design in aggitating the carpet than the single rod like ones found on Bissell. You can apply quicker strokes and still have direct contact with the carpet than you would with the sweeping rod type.

The one major fault I've found with the Hoover is that it's difficult to clean out the mouth of the suction path. You'll need to clean it to see what's being sucked into the disposal tank. There is little clearance between top and bottom. Hoover offers a tool they sell for $2 in their accessory catalog which I don't understand why they didn't just throw it in. I haven't order it yet because, the shipping may exceed the cost of the tool. There is an automatic mechanism which detects when the disposal tank is full. This is nice feature but when the tank is nearly full, abrupt strokes may cause this feature to trigger prematurely. You can stop and restart the vac afterwards to disengage it.

I didn't have high expectation of a consumer Steam Vac over the commercial grade ones but figured after 4 to 5 uses it would pay for itself over renting supermarket ones. To my surprise this product really works. I have a rubber runner over the heaviest traffic path which I noticed kept the carpet under it in prestine color while the unprotected area was much darker. After I steam Vac the carpet both sides were the same color.

You can vacuum your carpets 5 times a week but you would be surprised what a Steam Vac would pick up that regular vacuuming leaves behind. Shampooing just leaves the water and dirt in the carpet. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

With its two removable tanks and rotating SpinScrub brushes, the Hoover SteamVac Deluxe targets the ground-in dirt that dry vacuums leave behind. Designed for carpet and upholstery, the vacuum combines hot tap water with a cleaning agent, disperses the mix into carpet fibers, and recovers the dirty solution into a separate tank. The 12 amp machine has an 11-inch cleaning path that works in forward and reverse and automatically adjusts for changes in carpet height. A fingertip trigger controls solution dispersal, while a foot pedal controls both power and handle release. The SpinScrub floor brushes can be operated on high or low, turned off for delicate surfaces, and removed for rinsing. You can also use this machine for retrieval of wet spills. Hoover makes the model belt-free to reduce maintenance.

For above-floor tasks, the vacuum includes an 8-foot hose that attaches to a port on the floor nozzle, a bristled attachment, and a powered hand tool with two rotating brushes. Though not instant, the tool conversion process gets easier with a little practice. Handy details on this model include the built-in measuring cup, recovery-tank filter, brush indicator, solution trigger on the hose, and quick-release hooks for the 24-foot power cord. Hoover includes a one-year warranty and a 16-ounce starter bottle of cleaning solution. A bare-floor attachment for this machine is available separately. --Emily Bedard ... Read more

Features

• Measures 11 by 19 by 44-1/2 inches
• Cleans carpet and upholstery with hot water solution
• Multi-speed rotating SpinScrub brushes for deep cleaning
• Includes on-board powered hand tool with two rotating brushes
• Deep cleans in forward and reverse

Reviews (4)

Love it!!!!!!!!!
I have pets and a messy husband, was tired of renting steam cleaners. You never finish before it is time to return them. I tried a canister first, but found it difficult to drag around. So I bought the Hoover Steam vac Deluxe. I love it. I am careful with it as it has many plastic parts, but I am very satisfied with how it cleans, for the money. Now I can take it out whenever I have the time..this will save you time and money. Won't be without one anymore.....

DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT
This is the worst piece of equipment I have ever purchased. Mine is now in pieces at the bottom of our steps. I have only used it 5 times and it has never cleaned anything, gets glogged up when you look at it and I ended up on my hands and knees with my Bissel Little Green Machine trying to soak up the water it spewed all over my carpet. NEVER BUY THIS HOOVER PRODUCT.

Great product and we got a GREAT deal by shopping around!
We took an afternoon and went shopping for steam vacs..... It is easy to use, very easy to clean, and we did a large room with only 3 changes of water. Neither of us had ever used a steam vac before, and we had no problems. From start to finish (including removing the vac from the box, assembling, moving the furniture from the room, and cleaning up afterward) it only took 2 hours to do a large room. We were very impressed with the quality of the cleaning, and couldn't be happier with our purchase. We can highly recommend this product.

Didn't know my carpet could look that good
If you have animals, kids or just like a clean carpet, this machine is a must have. I have a dog and a husband that both make a big mess. Every month I would lug one of the store rental steam cleaners home and just about give myself a hernia cleaning the place. I researched the different brands and finally settled on this one, but witht he wide path option. I couldn't believe how easy it was to set up and get started, maybe 10 minutes tops. If you can work a vacuum then you can use this machine. Only downside is how often you have to refill the cleaning tank. I've seen that on a lot of other reviews so it isn't just this model. The onboard attachments make cleaning the stairs, furniture and "problem spots" a breeze. Thanks Hoover!!! No more supermarket rentals for me. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

With two hand tools stored onboard, this 1,440-watt hot-watervacuum offers plenty of options for cleaning carpets deeply and barefloors thoroughly. It goes to work with five rotating brushes (twospeeds) after you've dry-vacuumed floors or upholstery. One poweredtool brushes upholstery and stairs clean, while a second powered toolscrubs hard surfaces with a tough synthetic pad. The vacuum applies hottap water and cleaning solution (which are included) and then vacuumsup the dirty water. No faucet hookup is required. Both the clean-waterand dirty-water tanks detach for filling and emptying, and the vacuumshuts off automatically when the dirty-water tank is full.

The vacuum cleans a 12-inch path going forward and backward,automatically adjusts for carpet heights, and has a finger trigger forapplying cleaning mixture. It also has a toe-operated on/off switch andcomes with a 27-foot cord and an 8-foot tool hose. Assembly requiresjust two nuts and bolts and one screw (which are included), and theinstruction booklet is easy to follow. The vacuum carries a one-yearwarranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• No faucet hookup needed; two tanks separate clean and dirty solutions
• Deep-cleans carpets, bare floors, upholstery with hot water, cleaning solution
• Includes powered upholstery/stairs tool, powered hard-surface scrubber
• Cleans both forward and reverse with five rotating brushes, two speeds
• Automatically adjusts for carpet height, upholstery, bare-floor, car tools

Reviews (9)

Excellent machine
I always do a lot of research before I spend money on something like this - and this cleaner came up as a top buy. I have big dogs and cats that come in and out all day in all weather, and when we got new, lighter colored carpet(as opposed to our previous dirt-colored carpet) a cleaner that was easy to use, easy to store, and could handle the pressure of frequent use became a priority instead of a "one of these days" purchase. Now, I was lucky - because my in-laws purchased a similar model a year or so ago, so I got to try it out before buying.
But I still wasn't convinced this was the one until I did some checking, and surprisingly, more expensive *isn't* better. The more expensive models seemed more awkward to use, and I found lots of complaints about leaking, etc.
This machine keeps my light carpet looking great, and I have been very happy with it.

Motor burned out and caught fire on first use.
After reading all the reviews posted here I was excited to give this machine a try. I had only used about two thirds of a gallon of clean water solution when the motor started to smoke. Before I could hit the off switch with my foot sparks flew out, then a small flame, and finally puffs of black smoke out each side of the machine.

Needless to say it's going back in the box and being returned.

To Hoover's credit the water in the dirty water bucket was quite dirty so it was getting dirt up before it blew up.

I also tried calling customer service and had a hard time getting through. They were not very helpful and suggested I take this brand new machine into an authorized service agent. No thanks.

A delightful tool for clean freaks!
Okay, so maybe you're not like me. (Or maybe you are.) An impeccably clean house is just one of those things I take pride in. And while you can vacuum a carpet until you're blue in the face, let's face it: Some types of carpet soiling just does not and cannot disappear with a vacuum cleaner alone. Enter hot water extraction cleaners.

Like others here, I've previously used Bissell cleaners with mixed success. The canister style Bissell that I purchased a few years ago worked more or less. But it had a tendency to leave way too much water in the carpet with its anemic suction power. Plus the inconvenience of hooking the thing up to a faucet to use it (not to mention the clean-up process) meant that it lived in the closet more than it worked, and begged to be replaced with something better.

Despite that, when I began searching for something to replace it, I tended to look first at Bissell, thinking I'd give their self-contained cleaners a try. Thankfully I didn't limit my shopping to retail stores, and dropped by here not only to price the cleaners, but read the reviews. It saved me from making what could have been a mistake: another Bissell purchase.

Based on positive reviews of the Hoover, coupled with great experiences with Hoover vacuums, I decided to purchase one... Great decision. Why?

1. The Hoover has outstanding suction power, leaving the carpets barely damp after cleaning, and quick to dry completely. No waiting and waiting.

2. It works. You'll be amazed at what comes out of your carpets and into the cleaner's tank. (Or you'll just be grossed out.)

3. Clean-up is as easy as possible. None of these cleaners is (or could be) clean-up free. But the Hoover makes it as simple as I could imagine.

4. Hoover's cleaning solution -- unlike Bissell's -- leaves a nice, clean smell that's not too strong to start, but then dissipates as the carpet dries. No room-filling perfume scents that linger long after the cleaning's done (and rapidly become irritating).

I'll be the first to admit I have not tried Bissell's self-contained extraction cleaners, but my older, canister style Bissell extractor was a disappointment. In contrast, I love my Hoover SteamVac, and would highly recommend it for those who, like me, just sleep better at night knowing those floor coverings are as nice and tidy as possible.

Lean Mean Cleaning Machine
This is an excellent carpet-cleaning machine that is easy to use and easy to clean. In a house-hold with a couple of kids and a couple of cats it does not take long for the carpet to get dirty and in the summer with the extra traffic cleaning has become a must. We have rented the industrial strength machines that you see at the grocery store for years but recently we picked up this Hoover and were we surprise at the cleaning power it possess. It is as easy to use as a vacuum cleaner and does not take up much storage space. It has a power hand tool for cleaning carpeted stairs, upholstery, and other hard to reach places.

disenchanated ceramic tile home owner
Instructions to assemble are inadequate and incorrect. Only 2 bolts and 3 nuts! Insert bolts and securely tighten the nuts, put the clean container on only to find out that you have to remove the container & remove the nuts to install the hose holder! Bare floor cleaning attachment - instructions are vague as to exactly where this attachment is attached! Defined picture would help. I purchsed this unit based on the carton stating "bare floor cleaner", only to find that for... less I could have purchased the "silver" model and it would have done the exact same job! Further, the on board tool holder does not hold all the tools. In the specs, this model has an "edge picker" - so what does that do? Does it work? Heck if I know. After assembling this "piecer", and turning it on the brushes did not immediately rotate, then rotated very slowly. I will return it for the silver model. Wish me luck! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This 1100-watt hot-water vacuum cleans carpets deeply and scrubs bare floors with six rotating brushes (two speeds) that cover a 14-inch path illuminated by dual headlights. With onboard attachments connected to a 10-foot hose, the vacuum accomplishes other chores as well. One powered tool brushes upholstery and stairs clean, a second scrubs hard surfaces, and a crevice tool reaches into tufted upholstery. The vacuum applies hot tap water and cleaning solution (two 16-ounce bottles are included) and then vacuums up the dirty water. Both clean-water and dirty-water tanks detach. Using the finger trigger, you can apply cleaning mixture as needed, and a thumb-activated button boosts the mixture's output by 50 percent for heavy soil. Made of plastic, the vacuum weighs 27 pounds, stands 45 inches high, has a toe-operated on/off switch, and comes with a 33-foot cord. Assembly requires just two screws (which are included). Hoover warrants the vacuum against defects for one year. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 27 pounds; 45 inches high; 33-foot cord
• Cleans with hot tap water, cleaning solution; no faucet hookup needed
• Six rotating brushes span 14 inches to clean carpets and scrub bare floors
• Dual headlights and 10-foot hose for onboard attachments
• Powered upholstery/stairs tool, powered hard-surface scrubber, crevice tool

Reviews (19)

It really works, with professional quality results!
I've wondered if these Hoover carpet cleaners were any good. We had the chance to borrow our friend's cleaner to clean our carpets. I am so impressed with the results that I came here looking to find one for myself.

Let me first say that the name "SteamVac" is really misleading. There is no steam whatsoever generated by this product. It does not even heat the water, as it only takes the heated water/soap you put in, and sprays it on the floor.

Despite the misleading name, the product is really good. I cleaned several of our rooms with this machine using no soap, just hot water, and the dirt this machine extracted is amazing. Our carpets look as good as when the professionals clean it. The suction is powerful and leaves very little water in the carpet. With the clear plastic housing, you can watch the amount of water you are vacuuming up.

There are a few minor drawbacks with the product. The water containers are not very large, and I spent a lot of time going back and forth to the sink to dump the waste and refill the hot water tank. I probably averaged about 4-6 minutes per session. I continuously used the Cleansurge feature that squirts extra water on the carpet, and having to depress two triggers continuously, fatigued my fingers. It would have been nice to have a trigger lock for these triggers, or even better, not to have to exert as much force to engage them.

Overall, this is a winner!

I don't know what I would do w/o it!
I have had my SteamVac Widepath LS for approx. 2 months and have already used it 4 times. I have used it for regular carpet cleaning, cleaning car floor mats, and, more importantly, to remove VERY SCARY messes (if you have a child/dog you know what I mean). So far, I have been very satisfied w/ the results. For the scary messes, I have had success using the following approach: first, I use the SteamVac in the upright position to clean and then, when things are less scary/smelly, I get down on the floor and use the tools. I've done this twice now and both times my carpets have come completely clean - no stain or smell!

I have owned both a Bissell Big Green Clean Machine and Little Green Clean Machine - the SteamVac cleans much better and is easier to use and maintain. Also, I was just as happy w/ the results of using the SteamVac as I have been when I've paid to have my carpets professionally cleaned. I have recommended this product to all of my friends.

This cleaner sucks - in a good AND a bad way
The good suction:
I have used this cleaner on my entire house. I must say that both the clean and the dirty tanks are easy to clean and fill. The extraction is so good that the carpets usually are dry in about 1/2 hour. I have successfully removed dried cat vomit, gooey unknown substances left by a 4 year old, as well as standard filth with this cleaner.

The bad suction:
I have had problems getting the dirty tank to remain snapped into place to get a proper vacuum for removal of the solution. The cleaner does NOT like going from carpet to linoleum - I have multiple areas where my carpet is set next to the linoleum with no running strip near it. The solution usually gets sprayed unusually heavy in patches on smooth surfaces, and the machine has a hard time switching from carpet to smooth surface for extraction (i.e. it leaves a puddle on the linoleum). The rotating brush attachment for stairs is a total disappointment. No matter how many times I try to use that thing (at least 10) - it will not pull an adequate vacuum for extraction. The manual says to "purge the air from the system" by holding your hand over the inlet - still doesn't work. I end up using the upholstery tool on the carpets with adequate results - it usually takes a couple of days for them to dry due to excess solution being left behind though. Also, it is VERY hard to clean the extraction part of the cleaner, especially if you have short haired cats. I cannot for the life of me remove all the hair, even with the little flexible tool that is intended for this purpose.

For those with homes that do not have carpeted stairs - I think this cleaner would be fine, especially if you do not have unusual levels of filth from pets and kids. If you have stairs, keep looking.

Great cleaner that has paid for itself many times over!
We have saved a lot of money and people can't believe how great our carpet looks. We used to rent the steam cleaners from the grocery store, but now we can clean it well any timw we want and not have to worry about bringing it back to the store. Just watch out because all your relatives and friends will want to borrow it!

Not a happy customer
I had this product for a year (the warranty JUST expired) and after a year of light use, it is now fit for the trash. It leaks cleaning fluid either from the top by the resevoir or the bottom by the floor. When I say "leaks" what I mean is ALL the fluid spills out uncontrollably. I had heard a lot of good things about this unit but my experience with its reliability has been the worst. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This 950-watt, two-speed, hot-water vacuum cleans carpetsdeeply and scrubs bare floors with six rotating brushes that cover a14-inch path illuminated by dual headlights. With onboard attachmentsconnected to a 10-foot hose, the vacuum accomplishes other chores aswell. A power tool brushes upholstery and stairs clean, and there areother tools for bare floors and crevices. The vacuum applies hot tapwater and cleaning solution (one 16-ounce bottle is included) and thenvacuums up the dirty water. Both clean-water and dirty-water tanksdetach. A finger trigger applies cleaning mixture as needed, and athumb-activated button boosts the mixture's output by 50 percent forheavy soil. Made of plastic, the vacuum weighs 28 pounds, stands 45inches high, has a toe-operated on/off switch, and comes with a 27-footpower cord. Assembly requires just two screws (which are included).Hoover warranties the vacuum against defects for one year. --FredBrack ... Read more

Features

• 28 pounds; 45 inches high; 27-foot cord
• Cleans with hot tap water, cleaning solution; no faucet hookup needed
• Six rotating brushes span 14 inches to clean carpets and scrub bare floors
• Dual headlights and 10-foot hose for onboard attachments
• Powered upholstery/stairs tool, plus bare-floor and crevice tools

Reviews (9)

FABULOUS! Has already paid for iteself tenfold!!!
This is probably the best home product purchase I have ever made! I have two dogs and a 7-year-old house, yet my carpets looks great! This rug cleaner has rotating heads that scrub the cleaning solution lightly into your rug, and powerful suction that sucks the solution and dirt right out -- keeping the rugs immaculate and the pile of the carpeting straight. Yes, it does leave a little moisture behind, but if you use hot water with your cleaning solution, the carpet dries fast. My Hoover Steam Vac is a few years old and still going strong. If it ever died, I would gladly purchase a new one and know that I was making a wise purchase. Buy it, you'll love it too!

Had it for 4 years now and only one thing went wrong...
We bought our widepath 4 years ago when we purchased our house. Cleaning companies charged more than the cleaner cost to clean the entire house. We were very happy with it, and still are as the hard floor attachment is great on our hardwood. After having a puppy that is now a 3 yr. old dog, it has been a great asset to have. Most of the messes have come up although there have been a few stains that just won't come out.

I'm only giving this four stars, even though it has been a great product. The reason being is that we have noticed that the hose attachment has cracked all the way through on the interior part of the machine. You pretty much have to lay the thing flat to put in the water take-up tank and at the bottom where you see the hose is where it has cracked.

The spin brush attachment was excellent on stairs, as our carpeting is around 12 years old and still in good condition. It brought the nap back up and has helped us put off replacing carpeting.

I will probably invest in a smaller carry around unit, like a Little Green Machine for the stairs as I think this will also be good for the car as well. As long as the hose on it works, I wouldn't buy another cleaner, but since mine failed, I think it might not be worth it to have it repaired as I think it will eventually crack again.

Love this thing!!!
I got one of these for Chistmas 2001 and Have been using it atleast once a month since then. My carpets have never been cleaner to say the least. I am a renter and you never know what the person that lived here before spilt on the floor and all I can say is that whatever it was is gone. You'll never know how truly nasty your carpets and for that matter upholstry are until you use this thing. It sucks everything out so well. I used it in my car too on the upholstery, floor and even the floormats and my 12 yr old car looks brand new. I am now the envy of both sides of my husband and I's families or atleast my carpets are. Every time we call and say we are going to visit they ask me to bring my Steam Vac. This is so much easier to handle then renting a rug doctor and does't hurt your back and much more convienient too so you use it more, OK alot more. Not only that, it works a [heck] of a lot better too and the attachments are great!! It even fluffs up your carpet and once totally flattened old carpet looks so much better. My husband works in the oil field and always gets very dirty with sand and oil ect.. and I only let him sit in his recliner when he gets home because it's gross and his chair , if it was'nt for this Steam vac would be in the [garbage] by now. It gets every filth and grime you can imagine out and makes the upholstery look brand new. I highly highly highly recommend this product !! I honestly could not be happier . Hoover has truly put out a great product in this Baby!

Love it!
This is a fantastic machine. I couldn't believe how clean it got my well-abused older carpet. It even brought the crushed traffic areas back to life! One tank handled the whole kitchen, landing & stairs - another took care of the dining room and hall. I was concerned that I'd have to keep emptying the tank and adding more solution, but that was not the case. I also found that my carpets dried within a couple of hours - no different than with a professional cleaning service. I suspect the person who had a problem with wet carpets did not use it properly or go back over the cleaned areas as many times as recommended.

Since it normally runs $125 to clean my carpets (and that doesn't include the upstairs bedroom) I can see where this will be a tremendous money saver.

I also have a dog that sheds a great deal, and even though I thought I vacuumed thoroughly before cleaning, this extracted a ton of hair that I couldn't even see.

I can't wait to do my upholstery!

Great, Easy to Use Cleaner
This Steam cleaner is great! I recently purchased it from Amazon.com on their Friday sale, at a price that can't be beat... with free shipping. That's saying a lot since I live in Alaska.
Anyway, I love it. The clean and dirty water tanks are easy to fill and empty. They even have handles. They pop right on and off. You can have it up and running in minutes. Some people complained that the tanks were too small and had to be emptied/filled to often. I didnt see that as a problem, I did my living room ( it's a sort of small room )in 2 and a half tanks. If they made the tanks any bigger though, it would add too much weight, and I would rather empty them than try to drag around the extra weight, it' really easy anyway.
I did my whole downstairs and the carpet looks great, my previous cleaner did an okay job, but nothing compaired to this. It leaves my carpet fluffy and soft, like brand new, and it drys in a few hours. I would highly recommend this product!
Oh and by the way....mine came with a bonus cordless Hoover wet dry dustbuster....Which was a great surprise ...I love it!
Thanks Amazon.com for all the excellenet deals, you're the Greatest!
Tammie ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Designed for pet owners and active households, this hot-watervacuum cleans carpets and scrubs bare floors with an extra-wide,14-inch cleaning path after they've been dry-vacuumed. The vacuumapplies hot tap water and cleaning concentrate (16 ounces ofcarpet/upholstery and bare-floor concentrates included) into carpetfibers or onto bare floors with six rotating brushes at two speeds(plus "off" when brushing isn't needed) and then vacuums up the dirtywater. A powered hand-tool comes along for scrubbing extra-soiledareas, stairs, and auto interiors. This model also has a scrub modulethat fits onto the hand-tool for removing scuff marks and spills onhard floors and a bare-floor attachment. No faucet hookup is required.Both clean-water and dirty-water tanks detach for filling and emptying,and the machine shuts off automatically when the dirty-water tank isfull.The vacuum cleans going forward and backward and automatically adjustsfor carpet heights, bare floors, and an accompanying stair/upholsterynozzle (great for auto interiors). It has a finger-trigger for applyingthe cleaning solution and a surge button to spray more solution onspots and heavy-traffic areas. The on/off switch is toe-operated forconvenience. A 10-foot tool hose and 30-foot power cord provide anextra-wide cleaning reach. Assembly requires just two nuts and boltsand one Phillips-head screw (all included), and the instruction bookletis easy to follow. The vacuum carries a 1-year warranty againstdefects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Extra-wide, 14-inch cleaning path; 10-foot tool hose; 30-foot power cord
• Deep-cleans carpet, bare floor, upholstery with hot water, cleaning concentrate
• Cleans both forward and reverse with six rotating brushes, two speeds
• Powered hand-tool, scrub module, stair/upholstery nozzle, bare-floor attachment
• Surge button for cleaning spots; automatic height adjustment

Reviews (3)

Great for my first shampooer!
In desperate need of a shampooer, totally tired of borrowing all the time, my boyfriend picked this one up. OH MY GOD! It's amazing! It picks up dirt from the carpet with such ease! We have two boys who read the newspaper on the floor, and it's not doing a very good job of picking up the ink off the carpet, but I think we've at least extended the life of the carpet by ordering them off the floor and onto the couch. It turned our dark grey carpet almost white! (The bedroom hadn't been shampooed on years) It's extremely easy to handle, gliding along the roughest carpet with ease. It's not too loud, but, it's a shampooer, of course it's not to be used when someone's sleeping. It's easy to fill with shampoo, and easy to dump. It lets you know when you're running out by significantly changing the sound it makes. All in all, it's a good buy!

Pulls up dirt like you won't believe!
Assembly was reasonably easy, with only three screws to turn (provided) and a Phillips wrench required. This machine pulled up so much dirt from our berber carpet that I was really rattled that babies had been crawling on it. We had just shampooed it a week before, and the water was almost black. The 12-amp motor really gets a lot more dirt than your average rental shampooer. The stains (baby spit up and cat "hairball" stains, and one dark pawprint) did not come out, even with a pretreater. They faded considerably, but professionally carpet cleaning knocks these out immediately, which is what I expected with this Hoover (to never have to call a professional again after making the initial ... investment). I did use the hand-held tool, too, for treating the stains. I initially just used the surge cleaner, then tried the pretreater (letting sit for at least 10 minutes) followed by the hand tool, then used the upright again on the same spots. Still have visible spots. Maybe my baby and cat simply have bionic spit up, or it sat too long. But, unquestionably, it pulled up a LOT of dirt. My carpets are cleaner.

Purchase Long Overdue
I'd been looking at SteamVacs for a while now and had used other Hoover models so knew I wanted one by them. With a new puppy, I couldn't put it off any longer. Brought it home today and immediately put it to the test. Easy to assemble and does a great job. The only thing is that you have to expect to dump the dirty water about every two times you fill with clean solution. Takes time and does take some work, but if you want clean carpets without the cost of paying someone to take care of it for you, you should pick this up. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Combining hot water with powerful cleaning solutions, the 12 amp SteamVac from Hoover blasts dirt, dust, and grime right out of the carpet--and the rest of the home as well. It's even handy for picking up wet spills. With a 14-inch cleaning path and six rotating, turbine-powered SpinScrub brushes, the SteamVac doesn't just emit steam, it actually scrubs on contact. Operation is straightforward, too, thanks to the electronic moisture sensor that tells whether you need to continue cleaning, when pickup's complete, and if the recovery tank is full. The quick-release cleaning-solution tank features a built-in carrying handle and a measuring cup stopper. Engineered to shut off automatically when full, the recovery tank lifts out by its locking handle and is easy to empty.

For powerful target cleaning, Hoover includes a Clean Surge button on the handle that triggers 50 percent more solution and side bristles for carpet edges. It also features a foot-pedal power switch with two speeds, a 33-foot cord, a 10-foot hose, and a two-sided headlight. Onboard accessories let you clean with a hand tool, a nozzle, or a crevice attachment on the fly. Additional attachments tackle bare floors, stairs, and upholstery. As you might expect, the SteamVac is less maneuverable than a standard vacuum, but it's a big improvement on towing a tank around the house. Packaged with two 16-ounce bottles of detergent for bare floors and carpet, the vacuum comes with a full one-year warranty. --Emily Bedard ... Read more

Features

• Powered scrub tool
• Six removable, rotating SpinScrub brushes
• Exclusive electronic moisture sensor
• Clean Surge button
• Powered hand tool

Reviews (5)

MY CARPETS ARE CLEAN!!
I'M SO HAPPY WITH THIS MACHINE! IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY. MY CARPETS CAME CLEANER THAN THE WHEN WE HAD THEM DONE PROFESSIONALY BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. EASY TO USE, AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THE DIRT IT SUCKS OUT. THE GREAT PART IS YOU CAN CLEAN ANYTIME YOU WANT. THIS BABY WILL PAY FOR ITSELF IN NO TIME.

UNBELIEVABLY AWSOME!!
This carpet cleaner is unbelievable. I had my house professionally cleaned prior to moving in last year. There were some left over stains that couldn't be removed. Can you believe the Hoover got them out? I used the hand tools with the rotery brushes and now EVERY stain is gone. I am soooo tickled. My carpet looks brand new. I recommend this carpet cleaner to everyone. Tip: I put oxy clean in with the detergent.

Well worth the money!!!!
I purchased this machine and I absolutely love it! It's a very wise investment, especially if you have children. It has saved my carpet on numerous occassions and I could not survive without it now. We used to rent those cheap ones from the local rental place and our carpet never looked or felt this clean. I can not say enough good things about this machine. I highly reccommend that you buy this steamvac if you value your carpeting, it will pay for itself within the first year.

Hoover SteamVac MaxExtract LS
Having managed industrial house cleaning in a large urban hospital I chose this machine to use on my rental units and it does the job well. Clean bare floors and carpets equally well. Easy to setup, use, and clean up, simple straight forward operation, and really gets out the tough dirt, and stands up to heavy work. Great machine for the price, You won't save money by using the less expensive machines, they do not stand up to the work and don't compare to the SteamVac MaxExtract LS.

Leaking water
I just bought this product from my local shopping center. Today I tried to use it. After I filled up the detergent and hot water, then put the tank onto the machine. It begins to leak water, not a little, is alot, make my kitchen floor looks like a pool. I have not yet to start the machine, it leak. I tried many times to reposition the tank, it happen again. I don't know how to correct this problem? Can anyone help me? Otherwise I will return it. Thanks ... Read more