Commercial steam vacuums

ShaneB

ShaneB

New member
So I've been doing a lot of looking around now that I'm not detailing so much in my free time (winter really kills the mobile business). I've been looking into ways to improve my processes and continue to find ways to improve my level of service. I've come across some interesting tools, mainly steam vacuums. Now I know the age old way to clean upholstery and car carpeting is with an extractor, but I've learned steamers also have their place within the world of carpet/upholstery cleaning. Also being mobile and using customers power (for now) I'm limited to 15 amp circuits, so full size extractors are out.

Does anyone have any experience using steam vacuums? I'm looking mainly at the Daimer units specifically the kleenjet 500v. A litttle pricey at over $2000, but can combine 2 (in my opinion) must have tools. While also providing a level of steam extraction which potentially could be very very effective. It has roughly 86in of water lift, which i know isnt much from an extractor standpoint, but it wouldnt saturate the fabric like an extractor does so it may be sufficient. Im having some trouble finding 3rd party information about the 500v, so im wonderimg if anyone has some insight on the idea. From what i read, taking the plunge and buying this unit would be a major help to my efficiency as well as the level of work i can provide.
 
Seems like a better option then the 3 in 1 Vapor steamers
If it makes sense to buy one get one
I can purchase 1 or even those Steam car wash units, but wouldn't make sense for me since I don't have a client tel her to make that money back

I noticed that had a 500vp model too and I'd go with that one over the 500v
 
they seem like amazing tools to have, if just feel more comfortable taking the dive having some first hand review of the thing and possibly a semi detailed video of its use. I was originally considering one of the vapor clean desiderios, but saw some poor comments about their customer service as well as build quality that has me second guessing the idea
 
ShaneB said:
they seem like amazing tools to have, if just feel more comfortable taking the dive having some first hand review of the thing and possibly a semi detailed video of its use. I was originally considering one of the vapor clean desiderios, but saw some poor comments about their customer service as well as build quality that has me second guessing the idea
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Yeah that's why I swayed away from them
And the only good 3 in 1 Vapor cleaner is by dupray and its 4 Gs..lol
I'm sure if I get busy like i hope I'll be looking into this at some point
Till then Vapor Chief , DP Dry.wet vac and a bissel
 
I have a carman Dupray and while the steamer is the craziest thing ever, I don't use the vacuum extractor part much as it does not have the power or lift ability of a dedicated mytee. Save your $ and get a dedicated steamer and extractor separately.
 
My Daimer steamer has been fine and their Customer Service is OK. If you go with a combined steamer/vacuum I'd sure check out the electrical requirements.

While I do like the idea of a combined unit, most of the time I only want/need one or the other.
 
The thing that has me interested in this is the 13amp power rating, which means on my mobile jobs using customer power, I wont have any issues. I would LOVE a heated extractor but they have their drawbacks, mainly power requirements and leaving the fabric wet, and when working mobile, the customer gets the car back as soon as im done, so its embarrassing to leave them with a wet car (not to mention the things that can show up when it dries). Being limited to a typical household 15amp circuit, my options are limited. I have a mytee tempo for when I need it but 75% of the time I find myself not using it. Im hoping that this unit could work as somewhat of a steam extractor, where the heat and moisture is there, without the excessive water soaking the fabric or into the foam.

Im coming to find that these types of units aren't very common in the detailing world though. I would love to get my hands on one to see what it can do though.
 
Yeah I'm curious how that works as most shop vacs I know use 11-12 amps, and this has the steamer as well. Not sure if maybe it's a 2 cord setup that I'm not seeing or what but it sounds like a great combo IF it works as advertised.
 
ShaneB said:
The thing that has me interested in this is the 13amp power rating, which means on my mobile jobs using customer power, I wont have any issues.
Click to expand...

In my experience, typically the garage and adjacent outdoor outlets are on the same 15amp circuit.

If the Steamer is plugged in to heat up and you try to use a vacuum or other tool, it can trip the breaker.


Sometimes the outlet just inside the home from the garage is on a separate circuit, so that can be a workaround.
 
I'm not going to ask my customers to plug in all over their house to find a separate circuit. Most homeowners don't even know what's where with electrical circuits anyway.

Tripped a a breaker one time when a guy who was working with me wouldn't listen to me. Embarrassing! So I won't risk it again
 
If you are handy enough, and the owner is ok, and there is room for another single breaker in their power panel, you can bring your own breaker for that panel, a long enough 10 gauge or so cord with a nema plug at one end, and wire in your 20amp breaker into their panel, and they will never be impacted..

When I was painting houses for side jobs, for a few years, this is how I used my really nice Binks airless to paint their house..
Dan F
 
ShaneB said:
I'm not going to ask my customers to plug in all over their house to find a separate circuit. Most homeowners don't even know what's where with electrical circuits anyway.

Tripped a a breaker one time when a guy who was working with me wouldn't listen to me. Embarrassing! So I won't risk it again
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So what is the plan for operating a 13 amp steamer and anything else at the same time on a typical residential 15 amp circuit?
 
allenk4 said:
So what is the plan for operating a 13 amp steamer and anything else at the same time on a typical residential 15 amp circuit?
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I can only use one tool at a time anyway...

Stokdgs said:
If you are handy enough, and the owner is ok, and there is room for another single breaker in their power panel, you can bring your own breaker for that panel, a long enough 10 gauge or so cord with a nema plug at one end, and wire in your 20amp breaker into their panel, and they will never be impacted..

When I was painting houses for side jobs, for a few years, this is how I used my really nice Binks airless to paint their house..
Dan F
Click to expand...

Im sure its something I could do but territory id rather not get into with clients. Im sure most of them think they are hiring a detailing professional, not an electrician, and id rather just avoid any confusion or discomfort from the clients end, whatever amount it may be.

I know I would be hesitant to have someone who isn't a certified electrician that I don't personally know and trust coming over and getting into my circuit panel
 
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"I can only use one tool at a time anyway..."[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]


My Steamer takes 15 minutes to heat up, and I plug it in right when I get the the Customers home, but the heating element kicks on frequently to maintain


On a typical interior I use the following tools as I work my way thru the vehicle:

- Shop Vac with Tornador Vac attachment

- Tornador

- PC with carpet brush

- LED lights

- Compressor


At any given time the heating element on the Steamer and or the compressor will kick on


What is your process for working around these type of limitations?



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allenk4 said:
"I can only use one tool at a time anyway..."


My Steamer takes 15 minutes to heat up, and I plug it in right when I get the the Customers home, but the heating element kicks on frequently to maintain


On a typical interior I use the following tools as I work my way thru the vehicle:

- Shop Vac with Tornador Vac attachment

- Tornador

- PC with carpet brush

- LED lights

- Compressor


At any given time the heating element on the Steamer and or the compressor will kick on


What is your process for working around these type of limitations?
Click to expand...

Adjust my process around it. I don't use a compressor

Start by vacuuming the interior, using a combination of my shop vac and brushes (PC and hand brushes) one tool at a time. Vac then brush then vac, repeat as needed. Clean the carpet and upholstery during this process using blue coral foaming upholstery cleaner, folex for spots. Or switch to using OPC or CG fabric clean and my mytee tempo IF needed depending on how bad it is. Work a section at a time and move around the vehicle. This process usually leaves me with dry upholstery by the time I move around the vehicle and get back to where I started (unless I extracted, in which Ill put towels down under my a** as needed lol).

Fill and turn on steamer (mytee firebird), takes 10-15 minutes to heat up. Use this time to either clean door jambs or clean windows (no power tools needed for glass).

Steam interior panels/dash starting at driver seat and moving around the vehicle. Use soft interior brushes for intricate areas combined with steam to blow everything out. Follow up with microfiber towels to clean up. Use OPC as needed for the dirtiest areas and rinse with steam. Clean door jambs at this time as I move around the vehicle if not already done (assuming I got lucky and the glass didn't take forever)

Dress all interior surfaces with my favorite Detailers Interior Protectant

Go back over the interior one last time with the vacuum to pickup the stuff blown out by the steamer or may have fallen out when moving things around

Quick final inspection and return the vehicle to the client.

Im very limited by what tools I have available and the power im provided. As well as limited by how much space I physically have in my car (I make this all work out of the back of a 5dr chevy sonic). So im forced to adapt my process to what is available. While it may be more efficient (and possibly wasteful) to have everything going at once, its simply not an option. I have just found a process that works for me with basically zero down time unless I manage to run out of steam, in which ill find other things to wrap up while I wait for that headache to pass. You may think its crazy, but I have been told by multiple clients that I have provided a much higher quality service than the fixed location shops in the area.

Im sure you can see thru my process though, that a unit like that Daimer Kleenjet 500v, could be massively beneficial to my process and quality. To be able to combine the vacuuming and steaming parts, as well as an ability to steam extract on some level, I could potentially save HOURS on a detail. Not to mention the space I could save by needing to carry less equipment. Ill have to share some photos sometime of my car all loaded up. And believe me when I say LOADED up. Yet I found ways to do it neatly and quite organized, as well as being able to go from backs seats folded up with 2 kids car seats in the back, to rear seats down, fully loaded and ready to go detailing within maybe 10 minutes. All about adapting to whats available :)
 
ShaneB said:
I can only use one tool at a time anyway...
Click to expand...

I find that I generally *do* tend to run other devices while I have the steamer "percolating"...I use it, then find a need to use something else, or I'm using something else and find I need the steamer (after all). Sorta surprised me when I realized how often I have more than one thing going, but that's just me.

And I do understand about the whole issue of involving the homeowner when it comes to powering your equipment.


AllenK4- That's a good point about the compressor kicking on! Mine's on a dedicated 220v circuit so I never even thought about that. I *have* had the heater in my extractor kick on at the wrong moment and trip the breaker though....I *tried* to tell my builder's electricians how I wanted it, finally threw them off the job after too many arguments.
 
I'm sure if it was possible I would find myself in that position as well needing more than one tool. But knowing that it's almost a sure thing that I'll pop a breaker, I'm very cautious with what I have turned on
 
All this being said...there are some 15 amp breakers that seem "weak" and some that seem "strong"

I have run a steamer, compressor and vacuum pulling powerat the same time, which should have popped the breaker and didn't

At another house the 15 amp breaker blew repeatedly with the same gear
 
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