Cool Costs Me Money (Polti 2001R)

Member Name: aefra

Product:	Polti 2001R
Date:	22/09/02 (1272 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sterilises as it cleans, Ease of use

Disadvantages: Cost

Dooyoo is cool even if a little tepid at the moment. Our splendid writers produce cool reviews. And, as the guy on the tv advertisement says, "Cool costs me Money!". More than once I have read an opinion on a home appliance which has had me reaching for a credit card and driving down to Comet or diving into a website to use it. I bought my Dyson DC04 that way and it plays havoc with my income/expenditure. When this happens I don't feel I can write an op on it because it has already been done so well. But my enthusiasm for the Polti Home Steamer is still at a high, and time has passed.

My Varoretto 2001R is a neat apple green tank 18" long by 12" at the widest point of it's curved body, and sits on smoothly running, partly inset wheels. The whole thing just slides away under my stairs to wait patiently hidden until needed again. The only flaw I found was that the wheels needed attaching before first use, and I eventually had to push very hard indeed to insert them. All very well, but a little worrying when you have a brand new machine and don't want to be rough on it.

I will interrupt my description to tell you what it does, because I just can't wait to amaze you. The water within the tank heats to 230 degrees and the steam produced not only cleans extraordinarily well any surface, but we are told kills bacteria, allergens, fleas, bed mites and even viruses. The viruses I can't verify, but that is what they say. The good thing is that the vapour dries almost immediately, hence a mattress, upholstery and carpets are not left wet. However if you wish to take the creases from curtains or give your indoor plants a treat, a small knob on the tank will turn to reduce the heat without losing steam. At the lowest temperature I have placed my hand safely in front of the hand-held pistol which directs the steam.

The water is measured into a plastic container which curves at one end i
nto a spout. After placing one finger over the spout, tipping it upside down and then inserting into the tank entrance, the bottle sits on top and glugs away until emptied into the machine. The pressure cap, which is then screwed on the tank, ensures that it cannot be opened until the pressure reduces as it cools. The safety features on the Polti are very good indeed, including a sliding button on the grip which deactivates the steam should you wish to put it down for a while. They do seem to have thought of everything in this direction.

There are 2 oblong buttons which light when the machine is activated. One is a heating indicator, the other concerns the attachments you are using. The Polti is designed for such ease of use that I have never felt the drag of having to put together an appliance before use. Some home machines do great things, but I wonder sometimes if it is worth the effort of getting them ready for use. Not so with the Polti Steamer. A decent length of hose with a pistol grip at one end from which the steam issues and a flat socket at the other, which fits into the end of the steamer and is secured with a large button, is attached. Just hold the pistol grip, depress the trigger beneath your finger and steam gushes out. Direct it over the surface you are cleaning (anything from tiles to fabrics to mirrors to windows) and then, using the other hand, wipe over with a cloth.

You will have 2 flat extensions which click onto the pistol grip and then each other as you add length. Each extension has the same outlet as the pistol grip, so other attachments just clip on as easily or they can be used without the additions. We are talking seconds here for connection. I just wheel out my Polti, place the extensions and attachments to hand and start.

The attachments are a large brush for carpets, a smaller version of this and a marvelous window scraper, through which steam is released and which you then p
ull downwards over a rubber strip which then is followed by the scraper. To be honest I find it as easy to use a cloth to wipe over windows after steaming. With these come a crevice tool for those minute gaps and all are of sturdy quality, but light to handle. A video supplied with the new steamer clearly demostrates it's use. A handy thought that. With the attachments come a large ribbed cloth to use as a wiper or be placed over the brushes, and the carpet brush is used with the cloth clipped on.

That's the techie stuff. Now for the relationship between myself and my Polti. My dislike of housework would be easier to live with if it wasn't that I like things to be clean. My way of dealing with this has always been a quick dust and vacuum, whilst making sure that the important bits are hygienic, and then a binge taking most of a morning or afternoon. Occasionally I would be very good indeed and wash the paintwork. All this has now changed for the better.

My house has a lot of glass. The windows are large and my porch is fully glazed. In the past this meant a bucket of soapy water, a window scraper and a ladder to be hauled through the house and placed precariously on the front doorstep. Added to this some kitchen roll to finish the job, so once more up the stepladder.

Oooh! It's a pleasure now. I wake up my Polti, give it 15 minutes to heat up while I read a few ops, then it obediently follows me outside and sits quietly on the step while I steam away. Move it over a few feet and the front downstairs windows are shining. Back inside the porch and away we go again. That's it. No bucket or ladder, or water running down my upstretched arm.

Although my Dyson does a good job, it still leaves some dog hairs. This I discovered when the Polti left convenient skeins of hair to be easily picked up from the floor. Added to this is the fact that when I clean a room it takes no extra effort
to run the steam over my white paintwork and wipe down. As a smoker, after the first use of the steamer I have yet to pick up nicotine on the cloth. Direct the steam into the top of a radiator and watch the dust disappear; that overlooked chocolate which has marred the new armchair just melts , dissipates and leaves the upholstery as before. I was horrified when I directed the steam at the edges of the kitchen hob. You know, where it is too closely attached to the work surface to expect any grease to collect? Brown liquid oozed out of a space I would have thought was non-existent.

My bathroom and kitchen floors are left sparkling and dry all at once and I am left with a feel good factor which I have not experienced before after housework.

The deodorising effect is pure magic and the steam removes any residual tobacco or doggy smells. I have not been aware of any very often, but am concious of the ozone clean smell once I have used it. Surfaces stay dust free as well for longer, although this could be because I use a micro cloth while steaming.

Although little water is used, it seems to go a long way and needs recharging only once if I am doing most of the house. Since the pressure cap prevents the tank being opened until the Polti has cooled it can take about 20 minutes plus the 15 minutes or so to reheat. By turning off the heat button, leaving on the attachment light and then squeezing the trigger a lot of pressure is released, which will cut down this time. I have no problem with this as I just get back to dooyooing while I wait.

Now for the not so cool bit. This baby is expensive. Advertised for £349, I bought mine for £299 + £3.50 delivery from Comet Online. Since I had earmarked money for a new kitchen at the time, I decided not to bother with the dishwasher. For me this was a wise choice. If I could only have one home cleaning appliance it would be without question the Polti 2001R.
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