Another new toy...

[vintagehoover]

Anyone else got a Floormate? I LOVE this, it's a revelation! Mopping floors was one of my most hated domestic tasks (it kills my back), and this does it all for me.

It's a little on the loud side, but it leaves the floors sparkling, and it dries them as it goes along. They've been out of production and unavailable in stores for about 3 years, which is such a shame - it's a great product, and I wish I could still recommend them to people.



5 rotating SpinScrub brushes do all the scrubbing for you, and the nozzle squeegees off all the water and leaves the floor dry. And it only dispenses clean water - more hygienic than just dunking a mop in dirty water and spreading it back over the floor!





It even folds up for compact storage!



Look closely at the cut-off valve...see the little Hoover logo?

 

[xraytech]

Jack,
It is a shame that they are no longer offered in the UK, we still have the Floor Mate here.
I really want one even though the kitchen and bathrooms is the only areas with congoleum, so it wouldnt get much use.

Sam

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Jack...

I agree with you... The Floormate actually makes cleaning the floors enjoyable. ((It's like vacuuming)).

I have a first-generation Floormate which was one of the first things I bought when I got my job at Hoover. The second generation like you have were definitely improved. I should be on the lookout for one!

Thanks for posting!

~Fred

 

[seamusuk]

Its still on the Vax website....

Although its cheaper on Amazon ....

http://www.vax.co.uk/shop/utility-vacuum-cleaners

 

[vintagehoover]

That's interesting! I guess maybe production's finished, but they still have stock to sell off...I don't remember having seen any in stores, catalogues etc for a very long time, though! Maybe you can only get it online?

 

[ibaisaic]

Jack,
I have two Vax Floormates, one I use regularly and one BNIB as a spare. I also bought my Mum one when Littlewoods Direct were selling them off cheap. If you want to do a more thorough job on the floors, use it initially without the squeegee head, apply the solution and let the brushes scrub the floor without removing the dirty solution. Then go over the floor with the squeegee and marvel at the filthy water that came off a floor that didn't look dirty. The Vax Floormate was initially available in the U.K. as the Maytag Floor To Floor which is still available at deals4u.co.uk, along with the Maytag Satellite. Hoover U.S. did (or do) a Floormate with a hose and other attachments for getting into nooks and crannies. I'm surprised the Floormate hasn't been more popular in the U.K. but I suppose until you can see it in action, the average consumer would probably think a mop and bucket will suffice. Misguided fools!

Hello everyone, I'm quite new here. I hope to post pictures of my collection very soon. I mainly have Hoover models, but a growing collection of Miele, Sebo and Dyson cleaners, plus the odd Bissell, Vax and Nilfisk.

TTFN

Roger

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Roger,

welcome to the group! It's great to see you on Vacuumland, and it's great to see another UK member - who also shares my interest in modern machines, as well as the vintage ones!

I'd never heard of the Maytag Floor to Floor - back then, my attention was solely on vintage upright vacuums, so it must have slipped under my radar - I've diversified a little since then! Interesting that the cleaning fluid which goes with the Floormate is still called 'Floor to Floor'!

I'm surprised to see deals4u.co.uk are offering the Maytag washer and the Satellite as a package deal - £184 seems like a pretty good price, though. If I didn't already have the Floormate, and I wanted the Satellite, I would be very tempted!

I'll look forward to your imput on the forum, and I'd love to see some pictuees of your collection!

Jack

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Gosh...

That is a great deal on deals4u.co.uk on the Satellite and Floor to Floor.

Jack! How can you not want a Satellite! They're so incredibly fabulous! How often does a company bring back a classic!!? **Buy, buy, buy**

I was given one by the director of International Floor Care at Maytag... before all of that was dissolved. They were sent a whole bunch of "sample" units before the cleaner was actually launched in the UK. I had to get a step-up voltage converter to be able to use it.

Take a look at the pictures in the link below...

http://homepage.mac.com/fredstachnik/PhotoAlbum1.html

 

[kenmore81]

Wow

Fred, I love the pics of the Satellite and the Conne side by side. The color combo on you connie is to dye for=)
Kenny.

 

[vintagehoover]

Hey, Fred!

I know, I know...I SHOULD want one...it's just that it's a 'Maytag Satellite', not a Hoover Constellation! It just doesn't feel right to me! Imagine if, when Volkswagen ressurrected the Beetle, they'd badged it the 'Skoda Insect' or something...when you're selling a product which is trading so heavily on its iconic status, it doesn't work if it doesn't share the name and brand of its predecessor. Its reappearance just won't resonate in the minds of the public in the same way, even if they do recall the original Constellation.

All that I'd be willing to overlook, but as far as I know, the UK version never came with a bleed-valve in the hose handle, so you can't reduce the suction at all. Also, I think that much suction through a stretch-hose is a mistake - I'd prefer a non-stretch, crush-proof hose. My friends who did buy them find those two factors limit their enjoyment of using the machine. I actually prefer the white version to the stainless steel, too - closer to the original!

I'd much rather have spent my money on a 'Maytag Z', if they'd gone ahead with their original plans and launched it over here! Having had the opportunity to try one of those out in my front room now, it makes it even more disappointing! I LOVE the light-up control panel, and all the quirky design details. Maybe not entirely practical, but so much fun!

I may yet end up buying a Satellite, though; it's true what you say - how often do they bring back a classic? I just wish they'd put a little more thought into a few of the fine details, and backed it with better promotion; can you imagine if they'd shot a retro TV ad for it? I'm imagining something similar - but much smaller in scale! - to that wonderful Eatons 'Aubergine' commercial which Pete posted here a few weeks back. And an accompanying magazine campaign with 1950s graphics? Creating something like that would be a dream job for me!

Congratulations on having the matching Constellation/Satellite set, btw - I imagine you're pretty much the only person to have a Satellite in the US, and the only person to have both the Maytag and Hoover variants!

Funny piece of related info - as you know, all new products are destruction-tested during development. When the engineers over-volted the motors in the new Connie/Satellite (a standard test procedure), a ring of blue flames came shooting out all round the hover-skirt!

 

[vacman117]

Floor Mate

I have two of the Gray and Teal ones. The still sell them they have just been out for a while. I'm sure someone like you knows what I am talking about! LOL

 

[louvac]

Jack....I sent you email.....did you get it?

 

[louvac]

Jack....I sent you email.....did you get it?

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Very pretty.... I'm glad you have found it to work well for you!

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Louis, I got your email, and I've just sent a reply