Hoover FloorMate, anybody?

[ironrite]

Afer tiling the whole house here, I've had my Floormate for two years and wouldn't be without it. It's done a great job, though I'd be very curious if the new one, with the grout brushes actually cleans the grout lines. That is one drawback to tile.

Also, I only used the Hoover solution for cleaning, in the recommended amounts. The machine though wouldn't dispense the cleaning solution. I took the machine apart, not an easy task, and found the solution had crystalized in the dispensing tube. I used some heavy wire and cleaned that out. Also, with having a dog, the pickup tube was badly clogged with dog hair. More digging and cleaning. Now it runs again like new.

 

[scott55405]

Say Fred I meant to ask you, and I thought of this because I just shampooed my carpet with my Floor a Matic the other day, with beautiful results of course! Anyway, what is the official purpose of that plastic thing you snap onto the bottom, when you use it as a shampooer? Unless I am completely offbase, I don't think pre-FAM shampoo/polishers had such an addendum for that purpose. Thanks!

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Shampoo Tray

Hi Scott,

Not 100% sure what the tray is for... I think it has something to do with blocking off the squeegee, so either foam doesnt get sucked up, or blown around. Also, think Kirby Rug Renovator... if I recall correctly, there's a tray of sort on the front. Perhaps it does something similar on the Hoover.

Fred

 

[scott55405]

oh ok, that would make sense. Sure works great!

 

[compactc9]

The Kirby does have a tray, but what it does is collect the suds, the brush ascts kind of like a carpet sweeper. It scrubs the suds into the carpet, and then sweeps them into the tray.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Scott-the tray is to keep the brushes from digging too deeply into the carpet. The instruction manual puts it a lot better than that, but that's the upshot.

I use mine to store the machine minus brushes. If you don't snap the base on (just rest the machine on top), the squeegee doesn't get squished.

veg

 

[sikiguya]

H3000

I have wanted a FM forever!! I looked for the one on sale at Target but mine was out (except for the model which had no solution cup).

I then went to my favorite thrift store and found an old H3000 in perfect condition for $10. I read the online instruction manual and it said to only use certain cleaners. At the store they had the Hoover FM solution that is supposed to be for the new machines. Can I use this in the old machine?

Thanks!

 

[veg-o-matic]

When I had my Floor Mate (pre Floor-A-Matic), I used Mr. Clean and liquid Spic & Span with good results. The only thing to be careful of is to not use any solvent-type cleaner: no Pine-Sol, any kind of pine cleaner, Lestoil, etc. If the label says "flammable", don't use it.

veg

 

[sikiguya]

Thanks!!

I figured if it was made by Hoover it would be OK but thought I should ask the experts.

 

[scott55405]

Great idea Veg! I will have to do that.

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Detergents

I'm sure that some different types of cleaners on the market would work fine. I just stick with the Hoover stuff, as it's easier and cheaper for me to get. Seeing machines come in for service, definitely stay away from vinegar, pine sol, and as Veg mentioned anything flammable. I also tell people not to use bleach or ammonia. Different detergents play differently with the plastic and rubber gaskets/seals/hoses. Some will make the clean water tank leak (vinegar in particular), and some make the vinyl hose that the dirty water gets sucked up through extremely brittle, and it then cracks.

Also, it is important to rinse everything out when you're done using the FloorMate.

Fred