Hoover Floormate: Filling The Tanks Isn't Hard

[wstonehocker96]

I hear a lot of people view the Hoover Floormate as a pointless machine due to the embarassment of filling tanks. I am here to point out that filling tanks on the Floormate is very easy. If anyone has difficulty with it, please read the instruction book. So sick of people bashing things that are not hard to do.

 

[panasonicvac]

As an owner of a Floormate which I plan to throw away, I'd rather find the machine pointlass due to lack of time and maintenance that it would require to have. No thanks, I'm sticking to my other mop that I use instead as it's easier to maintain and less time consuming to use.

 

[huskyvacs]

If you mean the silver and blue ones, I bought 4 of them from Direct Tools Factory Outlet some years ago when they had them priced at $9 (tool only, no battery packs). One I never opened, one I opened, and every time I try and use it it refuses to run more than 60 seconds before it just stops. No idea if it is defective or it doesn't like my textured linoleum.

In any case, I just bought a late 60s Hoover Floor-A-Matic with automatic spray and vacuum extraction instead. More power, more weight on the brush and faster scrubbing action and can tolerate heavy duty floor cleaner. Easy as pie.

 

[wstonehocker96]

Even maintaining them isn't hard if one follows the instruction book and knows what they are doing.

 

[panasonicvac]

They aren't hard to use that's for sure. But again time was one of the the disadvantages the machines had that I didn't like about them. Not just for setting them up and putting away afterwards but also using them was what took my interest away from the Floormates. I use a Rubbermaid Commercial Wall Washer to mop my floors with and I can do a much faster, easier, and better job with it than any of the Floormates. Not to mention that the Floormates can leak periodically and they can have a struggle picking up larger debris if you use them on dry vacuuming. I also don't use chemicals for the Rubbermaid pads which is a plus for me. And we've been using the Rubbermaid now for 20+ years and the only thing that we've done honestly was just buying a pack of $20 replacement wall washer pads which can be safely washed in the washing machine. The Floormates on the other hand, $10 for solution that you'd spend ALOT on. And since the machines are not designed to last for very long, it would cost to either buy replacement parts for them (Plus labor and time if you take it in to a warranty center) or buy a whole new machine. Personally, Floormates are just not for me to have. I still would love to collect them but I just wouldn't use them for myself.

 

[wstonehocker96]

$10 on solution isn't bad. Floormates leaking are from old age, although proper maintenance can reduce the risk. I'll agree that they are not the best as a dry vacuum. Replacement parts for a Floormate aren't too hard to find and they can be affordable if one tries.

 

[panasonicvac]

The solution tank that I'm referring to is the smaller one, the bigger one is almost $20 which again you'd expect to spend alot on if you use the machine daily. I'd rather save money and keep using my Rubbermaid. My Floormate started to leak after the first couple of uses out of the box and even my grandfather's Floormate leaked the last time that I've used it. While I do appreciate that it can be used for dry pickup, I'd rather use something else to vacuum with and then later use a Floormate as a mop. And unfortunately parts for the Floormates are not as easy to find as you may think, at least for the ones that've been discontinued. The bearings are dried out on mine and I cannot get a replacement motor for it anymore since the bearings cannot be lubed. And even if I did got a new motor for it, it would've costed just as much as buying another machine.

 

[wstonehocker96]

You convinced me, a regular mop is better.

 

[panasonicvac]

Now I'm not saying that the Floormates are bad. I'll admit that they overall work, there are some people out there that use them and like them. If someone wants to buy one then by all means go for it. But if someone were to ask me if I would recommend them, I would say that there are plenty of other options out there.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have several, but have never used them yet.

I have friends who swear by them. Someday, I'll have to get on out and see.

 

[dysonman1]

They're terrible. Another failure from Hoovrah. Buy a $29 Spin Mop. The Hoovrah takes so long and doesn't scrub well. Holds a coffee cup worth of water. No thank you.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

William, post #1

Yes, reading the manuals help a lot of customers. I thought the rules of VL were no bashing products. There are products (I'd never name) that I'd never give you a dime for. But, those opinions are mine.Of course, we cannot be responsible for others. I'll have to try one of mine when I start my Holiday cleaning. I'll read the manual beforehand. [this post was last edited: 11/16/2021-14:06]

 

[gottahaveahoove]

You're a gentleman,

William.