I've had good luck with Bissell products, so, given conflicting reviews for other devices an insufficient reviews for the Steam Shot, I purchased one.
OK--it's true. Infomercials for such products are deceptive. Using chemical cleaners is a great deal faster and "easier" than this. Tortoise vs. the hare: This trudges very slowly compared to traditional cleaning. It requires patience.
My concerns with chemical cleaners include the residues left over that attract dirt and dust again, the unpleasantness of using and then worrying about chemicals, and, the concerns about using them near foodstuffs, utensils, prep and cooking surfaces, and, pots and pans.
The advantage of the Steam Shot (and, likely other similar "electric kettle" hand held colleague devices) is, that once a surface or item is clean, it really "is" clean. I don't have any fear or qualms even about using this on kitchen utensils, bread makers, microwaves, and, oven windows. It's also very good at cleaning kitchen cabinet fronts and vertical surfaces such as the outside of the dishwasher, trash compactor, and the fridge. One thing this is extraordinary at is getting at dirt between a metal (or porcelain) surface (say, a sink or stove) and counter tops (Formica, etc.). It's amazing at "rooting" out such dirt! This is also true of the "line" between back splashes and counter tops. I think that "touch-up" cleaning later on will be faster and easier....
Candle wax on the brick of the hearth? (Or a wall?--I'll need now to patch-paint!) The wax is tedious to remove in any case, yet, this is the best solution I've found--the unit definitely will melt wax so that it's easier to remove--absolutely!
As for waiting on the steam, I'm simply busy with scrubbing with a cloth or noting where to clean next--this is not a big problem for me; it seems that, as time goes on, heating up again is pretty fast. I've heard the item's boiling water while heating up. Although it's not always so hot, the steam can become really hot--I certainly believe it becomes hot enough to kill pathogens! It may certainly burn fingers, also, so precautions are smart. Despite what other reviewers think, my Steam Shot becomes very hot: It works! I'm not absolutely certain, but the "kettle" inside appears to be comprised of metal. The plastic of the unit and of the accessories appears to be high quality, also.
(When finished with the Steam Shot--allow it to cool sufficiently, then, slowly open the knob until it's removed (steam may slowly vent while opening). Then, before dumping the water, turn the unit slowly on its side over your sink and dump the water out--away from you--hopefully, the water won't "jet" out into your sink really quickly or explosively. (If so, this indicates that the water still is super-heated and dangerous (after all, it was both heated and pressurized): You don't want it ever to "jet" out at you or anyone else. Let the unit cool sufficiently longer next time!)
Conclusion:
This is nifty, and I enjoy cleaning with it. For heavy cleaning, this requires patience, but, I believe patience is rewarded and saves money! For certain unique household cleaning needs, this fits the bill really well! I haven't tried it, but, a dirty bar-b-q grate likely is too heavy a cleaning task for this. That always has been a pain.... Bissell Steam Shot Hard-Surface Cleaner, 39N7A
I just used mine for the first time (bought it elsewhere). I used it to clean the stained grout on the kitchen floor. The dog had gotten into the trash several times, so the grout was stained dark brown from coffee grinds. This little steamer did a good job of removing most of the stain. Looking at two sections - steamed and unsteamed - there is an incredible difference, enough so that my floor will not be embarrassing when I am finished.
I used the grout attachment at first, but then switched to the round brush attachment because it is stiffer. Both did a good job, the round brush a little more so. You get three different colored brushes for different uses, for instance, if you want to keep one for the floor and use another on the kitchen counter or in the bathroom. I will be looking to buy more of these brushes, as I can see that they will not last indefinitely, but nothing does!
I timed my cleaning. Each session lasted about 20 minutes before I needed to refill. I unplugged first, waited about 10 seconds, and then slowly unscrewed the cap from the reservoir. There was a little hiss but no sputtering. In other words, waiting just a few seconds made it safe to open. While I refilled the measuring cup that comes with it, the unit cooled down enough that I was able to refill immediately. Put the cap back on, plug it in, wait about a minute or two, and I was good to go again for about another 20 minutes of steam. The key to the refilling process is to unplug first so you don't get burned.
I used the window attachment to clean dog drool (easily!) off the kitchen sliding doors. There are other attachments that I haven't tried yet, but I'm sure I'll find uses for them. The cord is extra long and heavy duty. This is a handy little cleaner that does have its limitations because of its size. However, the size it an advantage if you just want to clean up something easily and effectively. I bought it because I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a big steamer. I wanted to test try something smaller to see if steam cleaning stands up to its good reputation. It does! - Electric Steam Cleaner - Portable Steamer - Kitchen Cleaner - Bathroom Cleaner'
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