Who uses a steamer for interiors?

The Big Blue is not like regular MF's. It has a slight waffle weave to it and very short if any fibers sticking out. I'm not sure of the content, but the way it sucks the water up, I would think it is at least a 70/30. You don't wipe like a regular MF, you just lay it down on the surface and it's done...move on to the next surface. You won't get the car perfectly dry, but you can finish with one regular MF and be done in about 5 minutes once you get the technique down....



H
 
How does the Neatitems Micro Fiber Towel 24" x 46" comapare to CMA's Big Blue 25" X 36" towel? es one is bigger but how about quality? The Neatitems towel is less expensive (even with the CMA towel on garage sale) and there is free shipping.
 
I'm very pleased with the neatitems large towels. They are the same quality as the smaller towels. One towel will dry my car without having to wring it. I see they now have a 24" x 24" size too so I will try some of them on my next order.
 
The Neatitems towels are an excellent quality MF. But like I said, they work differently. The Neatitems you wipe the car dry. The Big Blue you blot it dry, then follow with the Neatitems MF. I haven't tried the large MF, but I'm sure it's much heavier than Big Blue even when BB is saturated. I don't think you can go wrong with either, but IMHO BB has a slight edge....



H
 
I previously used the absorber up until I bought the p21s drying towel and thought it was much better. Absorbed more water easier and quicker. After hearing so much about the big blue I had to try one and I am 99 percent convinced there is nothing better out there to dry a car. It doesn't drag across the surface, I have never had to wring it out even once, leaves no streaks or spots and I can dry the whole car in about 5 minutes. It truly works awesome!!

Bill
 
Like I said micrfibre thick and buy the wringer from Griots garage it is worth the 200 bucks the car will be dry in 5 minutes. We or I wont use ablade to dry in the Northeast. TOO much dirt and contamination here! They throw sand by the tons on our roads here. The blade may work in Ca. or florida or any GREAT climate. Not where it Snows 3 times a week. A blade and ablack car can spell disaster to me.
 
I love the absorber. Easy to use, maintain, and durable. Get the absorber, the one that is for larger vehicles. It's a little bigger.
 
i am looking into possibly purchasing a steamer for speeding up interior details--having worked at a local shop i did interiors by vacuum. various brushes and microfiber towels only- no blower tips for compressors or steamers--are they worth it? videos of shops using them look interesting for making quik work of interiors. I can get them to look real good my way but it takes alot of time and dont want to sacrifice alot of quality for speed. any input from the guys with home or commercial shops will be greatly appreciated--thnx!
 
I have used the VX5000 Steamer for a few years now and am glad to have invested in it.
It has cut my cleaning chemical usage by probably 80%, and the distilled water I use in it only costs .99/gallon. A gallon on distilled water will easily clean an entire vehicle, including headliner, and all 4 door jambs.
It takes a little experimentation to learn how to use it effectively, and I see there are videos out there that show one how to use it more efficiently.
My particular unit is small, on wheels, and with a couple of hard styrofoam pieces underneath it, it sits just right in the top of a standard detailing cart and the hose is long enough so that you can do any part of the vehicle pretty easy.
Having it in the detailing cart allows you to also carry the towels, brushes, etc., you need to finish the job and not have to go get something else.
There are much bigger machines that are the size of probably some vacuums out there that do more than just supply steam, but I dont need anything like that, since I already have a Mytee HP60 Spyder carpet extractor.
Steam has really helped me to clean leather more effectively, it is amazing what comes out of leather once it is heated up with steam!
I read that steam has a certain amount of sanitizing ability due to the heat, and this also helps make smelly cars smell better.
I just used this steamer to clean out the oven and microwave and it did an incredible job.
This particular model comes with a whole lot of different sized types of brushes, 2 extension poles, and a window washer/squeege attachment, and a video from the man that sells the unit. All those extra brushes, cost extra if you are buying from other sellers of different steamers I believe.
This steamer is made in Italy, which I read, makes the best steamers out there.

Good luck with your research !
Dan F
 
i don't do commercial detailing as i only do my vehicles. so i bought the vc3000 machine which is more than enough for me. cleans quite effectively in the cars and around the house. have even done my engines with it... i find them a superb investment and worth every penny as its uses seem endless.
 
I recently picked up a vx5000 (thank you tax return). I'm very impressed with it. And I'm finding more uses around the home all the time

in 'disaster' type of situations with carpet / upholestry it does not do as well as a HW extractor does. But those occasions are rare (hopefully). and the VX does offer hot water injection. which you could use on tough stains then follow up with a shop vac (basically replicating what a HW extractor does)

also worth mentioning that the vx recently went up $100 in price in the last month. not sure why. currently going for $800
 
Gurge -
Wow it went up???? Blame it on inflation, shipping, the end of the world, etc... :):):)

I agree with your assessment - it will do a lot of things well but cant do everything, unless you go to one of those monster units that they use in the Food Service Industry, etc., but then why would I want that much moisture in a small area anyway? I think that just the heated steam alone goes a long way to loosening and perhaps melting dirt, etc., enough so that you can come back and either wipe it off or vacuum it off with your extractor hose or shop vac.
I really like using this with cheap white towels, so i can readily see the gunk Im removing after steaming, and when it stops coming off on the white towel, i know Im done! :)
Dan F
 
I hate to hijack this thread, but if I could, can I ask a question? I too was in the market for a steamer because they appear so versatile. Most reviews I found show operating pressures and I was wondering if a compressor was necessary. Sorry for the dumb question.
 
Jdonnell - not a dumb question at all.
The pressures you see are developed by the steam pressure built up inside the steamer in the boiler, there are no compressors, motors, etc., that come with this unit.
When water is heated up to 298 degrees in this machine, it creates enough pressure coming out of the tip of the wand to blow a lot of gunk and dirt, stuff in the bottom of those deep plastic bins in doors, etc., out, so you dont have to keep trying to get it out the hard way.

You can also control the amount of pressure to a certain degree with this machine, so its not full on or nothing.

Im trying to find out the pressure specs for you now.

Ok, I cant find my operating manual, but google yielded 60-70 psi - mine runs at 4 bars per the gauge, and I read where it can be adjusted to run higher if you want to take it apart. Hmmmmmm.. :)

Dan F
 
Awesome Detailers Tool

The best feature of the vx5000 is...

Your wife or partner will stop complaining about the cost the first time you do the hardwood floors, sofas and chairs, and especially the stove!

Makes my job much easier on trashed interiors and stubborn hard to get at spot on the exterior.

Go for it!!!!:drool5:
 
steamer

have had a small vapor clean II for a couple years. its ok and does a good job but pulled out the stops and ordered a dupray after seeing my friends in action. figure to save about 1 1/2 hours per total detail and do a better job. sold a truck to get it. should arrive today (christmas for me) feel like the kid in "Christmas Story" waiting for his red ryder bb gun
 
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