Hoover Floor Washer Fun!!

[hooverwheelaway]

I posted this on VacuumLand, but thought a dual post would be fun..

**********

So, the kitchen floor needed to be cleaned.

Hmm... which floor cleaning machine should I use?

I'm gonna go with my Hoover Floor Washer (the predecessor to the Floor A Matic), from 1963/1964ish. The blue model was the second, as the first was yellow.

It's a very neat machine - again, way ahead of its time for when it was introduced and sold. I don't think they sold very well - they were viewed as somewhat gimmicky - as there are not many in existence anymore.

I've had this for probably 6 or so years (thanks, Mike!) and have used it here and there, just to play with. But I have never really had a large enough area of linoleum to make it worth actually using to clean. Until now!

Enjoy the photos and video!

~Fred

Flip this lever up to unlock the tank.

Remove the tank.

Remove the dirty water "bladder".

I'll use powdered Spic and Span... I believe that's what came with the machine in a little trial box.

Spic and Span added... Fill with hot water.

Fold up the dirty water "bladder" to rest on top of the clean water. As the clean water is dispensed, the water level lowers.
When the dirty water comes into the machine, it will go into the bladder and fill up the space once occupied by the clean water.
I think modern Bissell carpet cleaners use this same system.

Ready to clean!!
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All done! Look at that filthy water! Ick!

Yay! For clean floors!!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Love the Creativity

Yay Fred, great pictures and video, I'm totally impressed! I love all the fancy transitions you made in the video. The Hoover Floor Washer is pretty cool and I love the baby blue color with the huge Hoover logo on the machine, although after seeing the Floor-a-Matic in action I think that later machine is still my favorite.

And since when did Spic ‘n Span become Spic and Span?????

 

[laundryshark]

The Cleaning Twins!...

Double-duty on the drudgery!--Laundry Shark

 

[buffster]

Marvelous...

Fred,

Thanks for the demonstration. It's amazing how much technology has been around for ages and goes, largely, unused.

 

[whirlcool]

When we wash floors we hate to deal with the wet mop. We usually use one of those easy to squeeze sponge mops.
This looks like a no muss, no fuss way to clean the floors. Do you have to rinse out the dirty water bag after each use?

 

[fa_f3_20]

That dirty water bladder that takes up the volume as the supply water is used is a great idea. I've got the modern Hoover Floor Mate, and the one thing I don't like about it is that the supply water tank isn't nearly big enough. I'm always having to stop and refill the darn thing.

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Do you have to rinse out the dirty water bag after each use?

Nope, probably not... but I do.

 

[abcomatic]

Wow, My mom had one similar to that one. Her's was from 1958 i think and was gold colored. She took it back after a week and got her money back. My mom was not very mechanically minded and may not have know what to do with it totally? Gary

 

[washerboy]

powdered spic-n-span???

Where did you find it?

 

[hooverwheelaway]

I didn't...

Jeff got some for me a while back... I had mentioned that I was looking for the powder, and I think he got it at a local grocery store or hardware store.

I haven't seen it very readily myself..

And it's funny, the website is www.spicnspan.com - yet on the product itself, it's Spic And Span. **Scratches head**

But here's the website:

http://www.spicnspan.com/spic-n-span.htm

 

[hoover1060]

powder Spic N Span

came from Dominiks, local grocery chain. That was the last box on the shelf!

 

[andyelectrolux]

Fred, that is SO COOL! You are a photography genius too!

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Hey Andy,

Thanks!

I'm trying to decide which product to demo next...

Jeff - Have you seen any more of it since?

 

[hoover1060]

Veda dear,

I have not been back in that store in a while, I'll have to stop in sometime...

You can demo whatever product you want, but please not any of those battery powered things you have

{{ducks and runs}}

 

[tlee618]

They had the powder Spic&Span this summer at the Ace Hardware in Omaha.

 

[alexb1186]

very nice

I saw the video and I'm impressed. I have the deluxe headlight Floor-A-Matic and for some reason the Floor Washer looks a whole lot simpler to use than that.

~Al (Less than 18 hours till age 21 at long last)

 

[wringer_clean]

Had to have a hardware store fix over my lunch hour so I went to Eliott's Ace Hardware in Elm Grove, WI. This is one of the most comprehesive/complete hardware stores I've ever been in (and I grew up with my dad owning a hardware store). They have everything you can possibly imagine. And yes, in the cleaning products isle they had "Spic and Span". Seems almost sacreligious to have the word "and" in the product name. I think Spic and Span is one of the best cleaners on the market. I grew up using it and continue to use it for serious cleaning projects. Simple Green is another favorite. If I'm dealing with an incredibly dirty cleaning challenge, I like to through a little ammonia in the water - dirt almost flies off any surface. Does anyone else use ammonia once in a while?? A cleaning tip for the day ...

Pat

 

[tlee618]

I have to agree Pat, I think that ammonia is one of the best cleaners out there. It really cuts through the dirt and grease. Also works great with really dirty rags when you wash them.

 

[abcomatic]

HI Fred, Looks like a great floor scrubber. When did you move to Durham? I'll look around here and see if I can get some powdered Spic and Span for you. Have a great Thanksgiving. Gary

 

[hooverwheelaway]

You can demo whatever product you want, but please not any of those battery powered things you have
{{ducks and runs}}

Dustbusters aren't really my thing. I'm SURE that's what you were talking about... right?

I have the deluxe headlight Floor-A-Matic and for some reason the Floor Washer looks a whole lot simpler to use than that.

It is a bit easier to use, but because there's no scrubbing action, it doesn't do quite as good of a job. It also doesn't leave the floor quite as dry; probably because of the lack of a rubber squeegee.

Elliott's Ace... And yes, in the cleaning products isle they had "Spic and Span"

I loved going to Elliott's Ace! I could just wander for hours in that place. And they have at least 3 locations! We sold them all of the Hoover detergent/bags/attachments through our store. I seem to recall seeing Spic and Span there on one of my last visits.

When did you move to Durham? I'll look around here and see if I can get some powdered Spic and Span for you. Have a great Thanksgiving.

I moved down here at the beginning of July; we moved for Joe's job! I appreciate you going out to look for some powdered Spic and Span! I'll take all of it I can get, while I still can! (Spic and Span, that is.)

Thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes! Same to you!

~Fred

 

[wringer_clean]

Hey Fred,

Sorry I didn't offer the first time I chimed in on this thread but if you want some boxed of Spin and Span, I'd be glad to buy however many you want and ship them out. Just let me know. Also, if there are any other products you'd want from Elliott's, I can throw them in as well. I'm always looking for an excuse to go to that store and wander around so it's really no bother. Really!! I can ship packages from work so that's not an issue either.

In the meantime, if I don't talk with you before T-day, you and Joe have a great one. I'm sure that given Joe's incredible culinary skill, it'll be a very yummy meal. That's a feast where I'd like to see some pics!!

Take Care!

Pat

 

[hooverwheelaway]

I forgot about this...

Here's a video of the Floor Washer in action--put out by the Hoover Company. I found this a while back on YouTube. (Yay! for YouTube!)

This is the first version of the Floor Washer.

The video is best viewed without the sound, as the video doesn't have any sound with it... so whoever posted the video just added a cheezy soundtrack.

Take a look:
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