Cloudy Film left on my hard wood floors.... Does anyone have any advice. Ive used my new steam mop 3 times on my hard wood floors and each time its left a cloudy film all over! My husband is ready to throw it out but Im not ready to give up. Has this happened to anyone and what can I do?Eureka 313A Enviro Hard-Surface Floor Steamer Cloudy Film left on my hard wood floors.... Does anyone have any advice. Ive used my new steam mop 3 times on my hard wood floors and each time its left a cloudy film all over! My husband is ready... » Read More Cloudy Film left on my hard wood floors.... Does anyone have any advice. Ive used my new steam mop 3 times on my hard wood floors and each time its left a cloudy film all over! My husband is ready to throw it out but Im not ready to give up. Has this happened to anyone and what can I do?Eureka 313A Enviro Hard-Surface Floor Steamer « Show Less
1995849
I bought a house that had hard woods and wasn't sure what to use. After googling I tried Bona. It was good for a while but I noticed that they floors were becoming cloudy. I purchased a steam They are still cloudy and now streaked! After surfing the web I decided to try Windex. I have been wiping for hours but it works!!! I am using a brand new micro cloth that I am positive has never been exposed to fabric softener and good ole elbow grease. The Windex has removed the cloudy residue and does not harm my high gloss floor. I am returning the steam mop and the new bottle on Bona that I bought yesterday and buying a Windex refill! I bought a house that had hard woods and wasn't sure what to use. After googling I tried Bona. It was good for a while but I noticed that they floors were becoming cloudy. I purchased a steam They are still cloudy and now streaked! After surfing the web I decided to try Windex. I have been wiping for hours but it works!!! I am using a brand new micro cloth that I am positive has never been exposed to fabric softener and good ole elbow grease. The Windex has removed the cloudy residue and does not harm my high gloss floor. I am returning the steam mop and the new bottle on Bona that I bought... » Read More I bought a house that had hard woods and wasn't sure what to use. After googling I tried Bona. It was good for a while but I noticed that they floors were becoming cloudy. I purchased a steam They are still cloudy and now streaked! After surfing the web I decided to try Windex. I have been wiping for hours but it works!!! I am using a brand new micro cloth that I am positive has never been exposed to fabric softener and good ole elbow grease. The Windex has removed the cloudy residue and does not harm my high gloss floor. I am returning the steam mop and the new bottle on Bona that I bought yesterday and buying a Windex refill! « Show Less
1995850
Same here. My floors look worse now than before I tried this. Previously used a Libman Freedom Mop and Pledge Floor Cleaner followed by Holloway House floor shine. My floors shine and feel so clean I received endless compliments during a recent house party. This steamer has turned my floors, literally, to mud! They have this weird white build-up. Not impressed. Will be returning.
1995851
A late answer to an old question but I need to emphasize DO NOT use a steam mop on any wood flooring that has any wax, floor shine or cleaner applied to it. I only use our steam mop on tile (and no it does NOT clean the grout.)
1995852
Same problem here - I read it is a hardwood floor cleaner buildup. I kept cleaning it more because initially I thought it was dirty. I've been using Orange Glo religiously and now I find out it leaves this nasty film. After doing some reasearch it looks like IFT (Intensive Floor Treatment) product will remove the film. I read a post saying that windex worked well too. I'm about to give windex a try before my guests arrive this weekend to what looks like a very dirty floor.
1995853
Bruce® Half Gallon Hardwood/Laminate Floor Cleaner RefillI use this on my dark espresso stained bamboo floors and I think it's the best - I've tried Bona, Glass Plus, Windex, Water, Diluted Vinegar, dishsoap.... very frustrating. I use this with a microfiber cloth (for cleaning glass) on the end of a swiffer mop. It's a pain but the only thing that works.
1995854
I think that's what caused your filmy floors. A steam cleaner did the same to my floors. In fact in our family room it took the finish off the wood floor completely and we just had to have it refinished to the tune of $775. We immedialely threw the steam cleaner that claimed to have a wood setting into the trash. The best thing we can do, is get the word out about how bad the steam cleaners are for all floors. Usually after the floor dries, I take a clean dust mop, sometimes lightly sprayed with endust, to the floor and this seems to help. I'm also finding that the old fashioned mop and bucket with vinegar work best I think that's what caused your filmy floors. A steam cleaner did the same to my floors. In fact in our family room it took the finish off the wood floor completely and we just had to have it refinished to the tune of $775. We immedialely threw the steam cleaner that claimed to have a wood setting into the trash. The best thing we can do, is get the word out about how bad the steam cleaners are for all floors. Usually after the floor dries, I take a clean dust mop, sometimes lightly sprayed with endust, to the floor and this seems to help. I'm also finding that the old fashioned mop and... » Read More I think that's what caused your filmy floors. A steam cleaner did the same to my floors. In fact in our family room it took the finish off the wood floor completely and we just had to have it refinished to the tune of $775. We immedialely threw the steam cleaner that claimed to have a wood setting into the trash. The best thing we can do, is get the word out about how bad the steam cleaners are for all floors. Usually after the floor dries, I take a clean dust mop, sometimes lightly sprayed with endust, to the floor and this seems to help. I'm also finding that the old fashioned mop and bucket with vinegar work best « Show Less
1995855
My guess is that your floor has wax on it. You can buff the floor to regain the shine.
1995856
YES same thing with me. I thought the steam mop would work good,but left my floors looking like there is a film all over. I've tried to use vintage water and tea water,and floor wax, it still has it,so I think the steam mop ruined my floor. My husband is very upset to.He spent many hours refinishing that floor.I'm still looking for a solution and if I find one I will repost.
1995857
i have the same problem but i just use my microfibre mop. it is very annoying and embarassing and stresses me out. i have tried several different cleaners, water, vinegar and water, to no avail. i have never used wax the floor is only a couple months old.
327597
The same here. I know I turned down the level of water added to the air this year becsue I found mold in the attic. Have you changed the pad in the machine as ours was coated with minerals which may inhibit the humidifying action.
568091
That can happen if you press the steam button too long. The trick is to press it and then mop the area, then go to the next. In other words, press as you move the mop forward, then stop pressing as you pull it back. If you continuously press it, it is getting too wet and can streak. Good luck!
326643
Using tap water will eventually crystalize and impair the steam mechanism. Yes, this has happened to me and I now have a useless steamer. Several all night soaks with vinegar and hours of heating the vinegar in the steamer have not adequately removed the crystallization and made the steamer functional again. I'm shopping for another steamer right now, and I will absolutely use distilled water in it.
1924624
I have been having the same problem. Even when the steam is ready, it doesn't get the floor very clean, doesn't get into the corners. Have to manually clean afterwards, including spills.
167953
We have not had the mop that long, but I would say it is NOT normal. We have a steady supply of steam coming from the mop. I can say that it does use A LOT more water than any other steam mop we have purchased in the past. You may just be running low on water when that happens.
1177944
I got rid of mine a long time ago, I found it hard to push and it left my floor really wet. I bought the Shark, it has 2 interchangeable steam heads, and it works great, it doesn't leave my floors soaking wet, and it throws out a lot of steam. It does say to use distilled water with it, but I don't, after about a year and a half it did plug up with calcium deposits, but I just took the steam head apart which was easy and soaked it in Vinegar, then cleaned out the small tube with a paper clip, now it works great again.
523191
Laminate is NOT sealed hardwood. You have small seams that the water vapor will get into. Please, please, please call your manufacture of the flooring and the steam mop and ask what they will do for you if the mop damages your floor. Likely at most replace the mop and the flooring manufacture likely voided your warranty the first time you steam mopped it. Even site finished hardwood a mop is not recommended. Your floor shrinks in low humidity which breaks the bonds between board in your floor. The vapor can and will work it's way into the floor in time and can cause the boards to warp. Please contact the manufacture or a hardwood expert for advice.
1137224
Wow thank u, good to know/keep in mind, i just purchased mine a couple of weeks ago. Maybe try wiping down the surface? Maybe its been de-sensitized?
721753
did you ever get your steamer to work. I have to keep hitting the reset button. It only last a couple of minutes and the steam quits again. Someone said I may need a new thermostat. Just wondering if you found a fix or tossed it!
273586
Wish I could help but my H2O mop quit working and I called the company and they said my model is discontinued (after 2 yrs.) I would not buy another one from them! They should stand behind their product or get out of the business. I called around and found that repair co. do not want to even look at it. Therefore I am out of luck !
1647351
same here- tried cleaning it, no luck- when I first turn it on a lot of mist comes out and then hardly any, then puffs, then nothingedit- just poured out a lot of the water out of the cup and it works beautifully again! I think it requires a lot less water in the cup than you might think...I misplaced the measuring cup that came with mine. Although if yours doesn't mist at all that's probably not the problem....edit again- it ran out of water before the cycle was done...so that doesn't seem right to me either
1410863
I wish I could answer because ours doesn't put out steam either and we only used it about 6 times. No warranty left so no repair or replacement. we're going to try to sell it at a yard sale as a vacuum only.
1017672
I am wondering the same question. This mop is horrible. After I step the foot pedal like 10 times, mop head is still dripping when I squeeze with my hands. It leaves streaks marks and floor takes forever to get dry.
520045
same problem, no suggestions i regret purchasing this mop, I had a steam shark mop but it did not have "solution " to cleam with. I am going to stay with the shark and return this one. what a mess. my tile floor is even sticky. I had to go over it with the steam only to get rid of the sticky tile floor i woud never use this on y hard wood too much water
1209449
I have had the same cloudiness issue. I found by using a damp paper towel, after it has been in the dishwasher, it becomes clear again. I thought is was the fault of my dishwasher or the soap I was using.
739898
Interesting. I'm not having the same experience of many reviewers. My grout is in great shape with the exception of a few places. This steamer didn't do a thing. I haven't gotten it to clean much very well. I suspect I must not be using it correctly? Anyway, you will be well served to mix up a strong solution of water & oxygen bleach (Oxyclean or the like), be sure the crystals of the bleach have fully dissolved. Pour this mix over your moldy grout & let it sit for 30 minutes or so. Scrub & rinse. It should look much better--and is much easier than using this tool.