Reliable Steamboy T1 Steam Floor Mop

Comment: Before purchasing this product I reviewed a few others. Originally I intended to purchase another similar product which has been lately running infomercials on TV. The customer reviews were not very good for that product, so I opted for this one, despite the lack of the steaming unit's ability to be detached and portable.

The Reliable had better consumer ratings so I went with that. I am totally pleased. The product arrived quickly, was very easy to pit together (2 screws) and has worked fine ever since. The micro-pads are easily hand-washed until a machine wash is necessary. Extra points for Reliable for including extra grommets for the steam tank (where it snaps in) and an additional micro pad. Laso, kudos for having a handle on the face of the unit for easy pick-up and regulation... also great to see ties available for the rather long (thankfully) AC cord.

Overall, and excellent product that does what it claims to do!

Comment: After researching steam mops on the internet I decided on the steamboy, (ya never know whats good out there because of so many positive & negative remarks on the same product) Well I just got my steamboy, couldn't wait to use it. So after putting it together which was easy, I filled it up and started cleaning my kitchen floor. I found that it was quite hard to push around, whenever I pulled it backwards towards me, the front end kept lifting off of the floor, so I ended up having to use it with the head swiveled to the side. Also I kept waiting to see some steam coming out, never did see it but I could hear it, and the floor did come clean, but it left it quite wet. The covers do not fit tight enough as it kept moving back & fourth as I moped, and I pulled the string to tighten it as hard as I could get it to go. I ended up using 2 covers to steam my floor and 1 cover to wipe up most of the water it left. All in all I ended up with a clean floor & a bad back ache. Think I'll send this back and try the shark.

Comment: This thing is nothing but a toy. Steam cleaning is a good idea but this product leaks water all over. Dont recommend this product to anyone. Maybe good gift for neighbors you hate.lol.

Comment: I initially gave this a positive review on Amazon but I must retract it. I purchased the Steamboy in June of '07 and several months ago it broke. The bottom plastic triangle part where the screws attach shattered. I don't think that the plastic was made to withstand the heat that the mop produces and broke after about 2 1/2 years of using it. I don't think this is acceptable for the price of the product! Also I found the length of the cord to be an annoyance. I wasn't able to get very far in cleaning until I had to unplug and move it and then wait for it to be ready to steam again. I recently bought the Shark steam mop and have been happy with it. I would never buy another Steamboy, the concept was a good one but the product quality is shabby and there are better products out there. This one is not Reliable like the name says! Please don't waste your money.

Comment: Not So "Reliable".

My wife and I have enjoyed steamy floors for about 2 1/2 years, when suddenly about 2 weeks ago (Jan/2010) the lower housing of the mop cracked and a chunk of it fell free. This is the part that is covered by the cloth triangle, that directs the steam.

Upon investigating I found that the plastic had become so eggshell brittle, I could put my thumb right through it. What the.... !! Well, this is just awful, and there goes my $100 mop, plus $25 in additional floor pads. I'm terribly disappointed. Didn't they consider that the plastic should withstand heat up to 210 degrees Fahrenheit?

I'm going to try and see if I can get from them a replacement lower housing. 5 screws plus re-install the steam vent on the bottom should do it, phillips screwdriver being the only required tool. I hope, otherwise it's back to the mop-bucket.

Update 4/23/2010
Well, the lower housing unit plus shipping was going to be about $30 + dollars, so it didn't seem to be worth while. We've been un-steamy and un-happy since.