• "Works as good as the reviews here on Amazon"

Review excerpt:

I owned an older Shark vacuum and had to put it to rest a few months ago. I was happy with its performance, but wanted a more powerful vacuum. Over the last few years I've acquired some dogs who like to ride in my car, but cleaning out the dog hair from cloth seats and floors was a real pain. I did a lot of research and decided on this hand-vac. I'm happy to report that after 4 months of hard vacuuming this product is living up to the good reviews here. I also use it around the office and home, but the car is where it gets its true workout. Would recommend to anyone looking for a strong powerful handvac. Just a warning - be sure that you dont accidentally throw the filter out when you are emptying it out!

(5 Stars)

Relevancy: 100% (out of 26 total votes) thought this review was helpful.

(more reviews for this item)

• "Very functional"

Review excerpt:

I starting using my new Euro-pro as soon as I received it. It was very easy to set up; and it is very easy to operate. It sews the very finest fabrics as well as the thicker fabrics with ease. I am very happy with my purchase.

(5 Stars)

Relevancy: 100% (out of 18 total votes) thought this review was helpful.

(more reviews for this item)

• "A fine machine, as long as you know what you're getting..."

Review excerpt:

This is a useful tool, but it will not replace anything already in your cleaning closet. It may save your manicure.

First, the machine itself: Small and relatively light weight, but seems sturdy. It takes about a cup of water and turns it into moderately hot steam. The instructions were clear, everything worked as promised. The steam runs out after about 15 minutes. Refilling requires letting the machine cool for a few minutes first.

The nozzle attachments are pretty solid -- there is a fine sprayer and a diffuser. The little brush and the terrycloth upholstery pad are useless. Buy a separate scrub brush with a handle (the kind you use to scrub out pots and pans). Then you hold the steamer in one hand, the brush in the other -- the combination is quite effective.

Washing tile and grout: Very good job, but slow.
The machine does what I bought it to do -- wash dirt and dog pee off of my quarry tile kitchen floor. (I have an 18 year old dog, and he leaks.) Mops were hopeless. Even floor cleaner and a scrub brush did not get it all up, especially did not clean the grout lines very well. The Europro Shark Steamer alone did not do much, either. But the Steamer PLUS spray-on cleaner PLUS scrub brush PLUS sponge and pail of water did an excellent job, although slow. I bought a pot cleaning brush, with a handle, so I could scrub without scalding myself. I sprayed cleaner on the floor (just about any spray cleaner seems to work), then scrubbed while directing a jet of steam at the floor. The dirt really did come out. I can watch the little stream of dirty brown water get blown out of the grout lines. Gross, but impressive. Of course, I then had to mop the dirty water up with a sponge.

So overall, I am pleased with my purchase. However, the cleaner does not replace your closet full of mops and sponges. Let me try to explain what the machine can, and cannot, do.

Cleaning out your cracks: What this machine does best.
Basically, this machine is designed to get crud out of cracks. It sprays steam, which melts the crud and forces it out of the crack. But it doesn't move the crud very far and it doesn't pick it up. You need a sponge or towel or pile of paper towels to pick up the dirty, crud filled water that is created.

The process is effective, but slow. I don't plan to do my whole kitchen floor more than once or twice a year.

What the machine doesn't do:
Wash large surfaces
Pick up the dirt

More Detail:
Washing flat surfaces: slow and not a big improvement.
The machine does include a steam diffuser to wash flat surfaces. It seems to work fine, but it isn't a big improvement over a bottle of Fantastick and sponge.

Washing upholstery: A failure.
The steam diffuser also comes with a little terry cloth for washing upholstery. I tried it on a perfectly filthy wing chair. I couldn't see any improvement and the heat damaged the upholstery (check first -- I didn't care because I am having the chair recoverd.)

Washing Pots: Better and Easier than Brillo.
This was a pleasant surprise. The steamer cleans dirty frying pans without scrubbing.

Cleaning dirty appliances: Works well.
As long as the surface can take the heat, the steamer is quite effective at getting baked on grease and crud off of things like crockpots and the outsides toasters and fryers. Also gets crud that is stuck under faucet handles and stuff.

Cleaning the bathroom: Effective, but slow.
Works pretty well, but slow. Does not clean grout that is very badly stained with mildew, you will still need bleach. But it does get the crud out.

As a clothes steamer: Decent
Steam works okay, but not great. The steam is not hot enough, and it is too energetic. A real steam cleaner produces hot but gentle steam. Also the machine spits a little water. Use the little terry cloth boot (the one that is useless on upholstery) to prevent spitting when steaming clothes.

Carpet:
I have not tried, but I don't think it would do much.

Bottom line:
This tool gets greasy crud out of cracks and melts it off of small, hard surfaces.

It does not replace any of the tools you already own. You will still need surfactant (like Fantastick) and a scrub brush with a handle. (A toothbrush is be useful for small cracks.) But it makes your brush and Fantastick about ten times as effective, and about 1/10 the work. And you won't scratch the surfaces.

I hope this review has been useful.

(4 Stars)

Relevancy: 99% (out of 700 total votes) thought this review was helpful.

(more reviews for this item)