Steam cleaners

[tielfan]

I'm thinking about getting a steam cleaner to use on the birdcages. The two models that seem to be talked about the most favorably are the McCulloch MC-1275 and the Euro-Pro Shark Ultra Steam Blaster S3325. Both cost about $100 or so. Reading reviews gets confusing after a while, and for both models there are reviews that say (1) they're fabulous or they don't work as well as a damp rag, (2)they're fast or they're slow, (3) they're excessively loud or they're about as noisy as a vacuum cleaner, (4)they hold up well or they quit working after just a few uses. I've read that the attachment brushes from the McCulloch melt easily and haven't seen similar comments on the Shark.

Does anyone here have either of these models, and how do you like it?

[JavaJoy01]

Originally Posted by tielfan

I'm thinking about getting a steam cleaner to use on the birdcages. The two models that seem to be talked about the most favorably are the McCulloch MC-1275 and the Euro-Pro Shark Ultra Steam Blaster S3325. Both cost about $100 or so. Reading reviews gets confusing after a while, and for both models there are reviews that say (1) they're fabulous or they don't work as well as a damp rag, (2)they're fast or they're slow, (3) they're excessively loud or they're about as noisy as a vacuum cleaner, (4)they hold up well or they quit working after just a few uses. I've read that the attachment brushes from the McCulloch melt easily and haven't seen similar comments on the Shark.

Does anyone here have either of these models, and how do you like it?

I don't have those, but I do have a perfection steamer that I got in walgreens.. It does a good job, in fact it's heating up now so I can clean my Quakers cage. He's a real poop machine and he just poops all over everything.

[tielfan]

Do steams cleaner actually make the poop fall off the cage or do they just loosen it up? I'm wondering how well they do on those hard-to-clean nooks and crannies. I have a few poop machines of my own!

[Savery]

I have a cheap one ($30 or so) from target called a shark. It works very well on just about eveything. It will remove poop, however it runs a bit and just requires a rag to wipe up. It also does a great job on carpet, stoves, counters, windows, metal, porcelain, plastic, tile, wood, hell what doesn't it work on?

[JavaJoy01]

Originally Posted by tielfan

Do steams cleaner actually make the poop fall off the cage or do they just loosen it up? I'm wondering how well they do on those hard-to-clean nooks and crannies. I have a few poop machines of my own!

It kinda loosens it up. I wipe it up with paper towel. I may start using newspaper though for that because I go though paper towel to fast.

[tielfan]

After it's loose, does the gunk wipe off more easily than it would with a damp rag? With the damp-rag approach there are a lot of little nooks that can't be reached with just a casual swipe. In some spots the problem is mostly dust and crumbs rather than poop. I'm guessing that a steamer would be pretty good at knocking those right off.

[Savery]

Originally Posted by tielfan

After it's loose, does the gunk wipe off more easily than it would with a damp rag? With the damp-rag approach there are a lot of little nooks that can't be reached with just a casual swipe. In some spots the problem is mostly dust and crumbs rather than poop. I'm guessing that a steamer would be pretty good at knocking those right off.

Yup. The steam blasts the majority of it into oblivion. however, there is a little bit that ends up dissolving. You can either blast it all off or just wipe it with a paper towel. Works much better than a wet rag, esp. for stuck on poop (where you think the birds have been eating concrete mix)

[Flappuccino]

I'm glad you posted this question because I had responded to a similar one recently. I never got a definitive answer.
Shark cannot tell me if any of the parts contain teflon type materials (I thought they may in case of hard water deposits).
If you all don't have problems near your birds, I guess the one I bought should be ok.
Thanks

[Flappuccino]

GRRRR! I know alot of you have the steam cleaner, but I'm still a little paranoid until I know for sure....
I've heard from some folks that there could be PFTE coatings in attachments and the tank in case of hard water deposits. Shark does use this coating in their irons. The company phone number is somewhere in India using a call center, and the people there either don't understand my question, or can't answer it.
When I email the company, they tell me to phone the call center!!!
The time for returning my cleaner to the store is almost over.
Did you all get a definitive answer before using yours?

[whitewing]

Well if it's a cheap one, I'd just take it apart even if that meant breaking it, and I'd inspect the parts myself to see if they have toxic coating. The more expensive high-end steamers should have better customer service with people able to answer questions.

I'd want to know for sure because my bird's lives would be worth more than the price of a little handheld steam cleaner.

I read something recently that said steam cleaners don't kill germs as well as the manufactures claim, if at all. If I find the link I will edit it into this post.