21 out of 21 people found this review helpful.
I want to throw it out the window.
Date of Review: Sep 30, 2009
The Bottom Line: If you're getting ready to replace your old Hoover SteamVac with a new one, reconsider. You'll be expecting the same excellent quality you had before, only to be severely disappointed.
I have always purchased only Hoover carpet cleaners, and they were wonderful.
I recently purchased the SteamVac SpinScrub and I hate, detest, and loathe it. It isn't a matter of being defective: This model works -- as long as you follow precision directions, spend an inordinate amount of time adjusting, aligning, latching, and hoping.
In previous models, it was easy to switch between carpet and upholstery cleaning. You simply plugged in the upholstery hose and presto -- you started cleaning. The machine automatically diverted the solution to the hose.
In this model, you have to pull the handle part and lay it flat on the floor, remove the detergent tank, partially disassemble the recovery tank, pull a fragile plastic wall up, then down (and hope it doesn't break), insert the hose, inspect the connector to make sure the black tags are out (whatever that means), plug it in, reinstall the tank, push the handle upright, and hope that it works. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't -- then you have to do the whole thing over again.
I must admit this model did a good job cleaning carpets. I got three rooms done, so maybe I got my money's worth if I compare it to renting. However, even emptying the recovery tank is no longer as easy as it used to be. On my older Hoovers, you simply popped the recovery tank in and out and pushed the handle down. Period. On this "improved" (HAH) model, you have to release two fragile plastic latches, lift out the tank, and unhinge the lid a certain way or it will break.
Putting the recovery tank back is an adventure in frustration, and that's what made me crazy -- thus my desire to toss the entire thing out the window. The recovery tank must be seated PERFECTLY, whatever that means, in order to suck up the dirty water. Sometimes it seats properly; sometimes it doesn't. I've turned off the machine, taken the tank out, reseated it, and latched it about 20 times and still couldn't get it to work all the time. Now my carpet is soaked, I'm angry, and I contacted Hoover to let them know they just lost a formerly satisfied customer.
I don't know why they redesigned a carpet cleaner that had been, up 'til now, extremely easy to use, did an outstanding job of cleaning, was easy to convert from carpet to upholstery cleaning, easy to clean up, and extremely reliable.
I see I'm in the minority here, but in my opinion they took a great product and made it much, much worse.
