Polti Vaporetto 2100R Steam Cleaner > Reviews > cleaning is a blast!

Author's product rating:   

Performance
Ease of use
Durability
Cleaning & Maintenance
Value for money

Advantages:	superb cleaning and sterilising
Disadvantages:	expensive initial outlay

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I now think, after owning my Polti 2100R for about
2 - 3 years, that I could become a saleswoman!
I initially bought this, as I knew from researching
various brands of steam cleaners, that Polti are regarded as the leader in the market and I had got very interested in the concept of steam cleaning and it's supposed versatility and effectiveness.

I looked around carefully, comparing prices and eventually managed to get mine for £ 235 at Makro, and that included the iron, which to my mind, is an essential part of my Polti system.

The unit is quite compact, like a cylinder vacuum cleaner, and comes with a large floor cleaner to which you attach a cloth provided or any old bits of rag you have around. There are also extension handles, a small head to use on fabrics which again can be covered with a terry sockette provided or a bit of old cloth secured with an elastic band, and a window cleaner with squegee, with a large or small blade. There is also a 160 degree nozzle, which I find invaluable. You can attach small round brushes to this , which are again included to reall scrub hard surfaces, or use on it's own to defrost the freezer, clean grouting or blast out stains from carpets etc. All these accesories are attached to the main steam gun, which can be used on it's own - it really just depends on what area you are cleaning. It all comes with an instruction book and a video and a bit of practise!

My set also included the iron which is fantastic! It just cannot be compared to an ordinary steam iron - it can press perfectly 4 layers of denim in one pass of the iron. It certainly cut my ironing time by a third and gives better results. The iron or the steam gun alone can be used to refresh fabrics or clothes, deodirising them, which can be very cost effective for dry clean only items.

Several of my friends have used my machine and enjoyed it, but not being as manic a cleaner as me, haven't bought their own! Or maybe, they just think they'll keep borrowing mine!

However, I kept saying at my work as a Nurse for the elderly, that we should buy one as it would sterilise everything as we cleaned which is obviously a boon in this kind of setting. I think everyone thought I was a bit strange, as steam cleaners are not as popular yet in this country as in the rest of Europe, until one day I took mine in to have a go at the garden furniture which we were setting up for the Summer. Our manager saw it and asked to borrow it to have a go at home. Result? She went and purchased one for the Home.

The initial warm up takes about 10 minutes.The worst aspect for me is that when the unit runs out of water, it takes about half an hour for the pressure to reduce enough to be able to remove the safety cap and refill. This can be annoying when you're doing a really big clean, but it's rare that this happens now to me as you get around 1 and a half hours of cleaning and that's usually plenty to get things done. In my experience, the steam has always lasted to get a weekly session of ironing done: enough clothes and bedding for me and 3 sons. Initial warm up takes about 10 minutes. There is also a control to vary the output of pressure so it can be reduced for very delicate jobs, though in all honesty, I very rarely use this and just blast away on full pressure most of the time.

I use my cleaner all the time for myriad amounts of jobs and it is a pleasure to use. The Polti is well designed and sturdy. It's very satisfying knowing you are not using chemicals and that everywhere cleaned is also sterilised, due to the heat of the steam. In addition, I've found surfaces stay cleaner longer, probably due to a reduction in static and the fact that silicons etc. from cleaners are not building up layers on things.

The Polti can be used for every job around the home, in my experience. With delicate fabrics, or those like leather, velour, tv screens etc. you can apply the steam to a cloth and use that to wipe over, but it's advisable to do a test patch first. The steam is very hot right at the nozzle, but is cool to touch about 3 inches away from the gun. The steam is "dry" as it is so hot and hard floors etc. are dry almost immediately. I have never come across anything better for maintaining vinyl, ceramic tiled or slate flooring, all of which I have in my house. It removes grease like nothing else I've tried.

Stains on carpets are blasted out onto your cloth using the 160 nozzle and carpets can be kept generally clean by giving them a steam about once a month. This also refreshes the pile. If you have pets,it will also kill any fleas , that you may not yet even know you have, in the process.

Overall, I would recommend this cleaner to anyone, but particularly to those with large numbers or families, which have big cleaning demands. It is also particularly good for anyone with asthma or other environmental allergies as it does not use chemicals and kills dustmites. It also helps to humidfy the home, which can have very dry air in these days of central heating.
The only drawback, in my opinion, is that it's not worth setting up the machine for small jobs; I've generally overcome this by doing most of my cleaning in "block" sessions.

I think it is vital to realise that the Polti is not just another gadget, but that it has a real place in the home for doing all the cleaning and ironing jobs you need and it will do them to an exceptional level. It's fun and easy to use and gives outstanding results.