Hoover TwinTank Disinfecting Steam Mop

Click to see on Amazon

Avg. consumer rating = 88/100 

The Hoover TwinTank Disinfecting Steam Mop - model WH20200 - works well on hard floors, although you should keep it away from unsealed hardwood.  The unit is lightweight and includes a carpet glider apparatus that helps to freshen carpet.  It can be run solely on water or with a combination of water and cleaning solution.  The WH20200 also carries a 2-year limited warranty and can be found for under $100 at some retail outlets.

This is a very popular steam mop and there are many good owner reviews and ratings.  However in our overview of consumer comments we noticed a large number of reviews and ratings from owners who had received the product for free.  Manufacturers will sometimes provide products for review purposes to folks with an online presence.  It is possible – in our opinion – that this may result in higher ratings for a product, and this could be the case here.

Consumer ratings have been collected and are shown in the table below.

If you wish you can check out the consumer comments on Amazon here.

Owners have also written a tremendous amount about what they like and dislike regarding their Hoover steam mop.  The more common pros and cons are recorded below:
 
PROS
- Easy to assemble and to use
- Long power cord
- Lightweight
- Heats up quickly
- Leaves floor smelling fresh
- Works on hard floors and freshens carpet
- Includes 3 microfiber pads that are washable and reusable

CONS
- Small tank
- Several comments indicating the unit stopped producing steam and needed to be replaced
- Handle length cannot be adjusted
- Cleaning solution is a bit expensive

If you purchase the Hoover steam mop you can expect the following in the box:

TwinTank Microfiber Pads

- Steam mop body and handle
- 2 multi-surface microfibre pads (for hard floors and carpet refreshing - washable and reusable)
- 1 hard floor microfibre pad (washable and reusable)
- Carpet glider
- Storage tray
- 8 ounce bottle of SteamPlus cleaning solution

The TwinTank can be used on all manner of hard flooring including sealed hardwood, laminate, tile, vinyl, linoleum, and sealed stone.  However it’s important to point out that you shouldn’t use this steam mop on waxed surfaces or unsealed hardwood.

The “TwinTank” has 2 tanks – one for clean water and another for cleaning solution.  The tanks are both removable which allows for easy filling and emptying.  The mop can run entirely from the clean water tank (cleaning with steam alone), or it can run on a mixture of clean water and SteamPlus cleaning solution.  SteamPlus cleaning solution, which is manufactured by Hoover of course, is non-toxic and totally bio-degradable.

Solution Dial

To clean with steam only one simply has to fill the clean water tank, place the head of the mop onto one of the microfiber pads (see video at bottom of article), turn the power on (via the button on the front of the unit) and wait about 30 seconds for the green “ready” light to illuminate.  You also need to set the solution dial on the front of the mop to “Steam only”.  A trigger on the handle allows you to apply hot steam as you start mopping.  The clean water tank has a capacity of 16.9 ounces and this usually lasts for about 20 to 25 minutes of mopping.  It should also be pointed out that a water filter sits underneath the water tank and this should be replaced every 12 months or so.

To mop with both steam and cleaning solution you have to fill both tanks then choose the appropriate setting on the solution dial.  You can choose from General Clean, Spot Clean and Tough Stains.  After the setting on the solution dial has been chosen the mop will dispense the appropriate amount of solution for the job.

The Hoover WH20200 is also capable of disinfecting as it cleans.  For disinfection purposes Hoover recommends making 4 strokes of the mop over a 32 inch length of floor at 5 to 7 seconds per stroke.  While moving the mop back and forth the steam trigger in the handle needs to be squeezed continuously.  When done properly Hoover claims that the mop can eliminate 99.99% of harmful bacteria such as staph, e.coli, salmonella, etc. 

Owners are impressed with the reach the mop has due to its lengthy 30 foot power cord.  It doesn’t have to constantly be plugged and unplugged as you move from room to room.  There are also many comments regarding how lightweight and maneuverable the unit is.  Maneuverability is aided by the swivel head and the fact that the entire mop weighs only about 8 lbs with the tanks full. 

The head of the mop is only about 11 inches wide and though this helps with mobility it doesn’t allow the unit to cover a large area with each pass, although there are no complaints regarding this.  The mop has a docking bay / storage tray which is somewhat fancy terminology for a plastic holder that provides a place to cool off and store the mop when it is not in use. 

The Hoover TwinTank is powered by a 12 amp motor and it carries a 2-year limited warranty.   The mop is also ETL listed.  ETL is a group that performs electrical and reliability tests on products to ensure they meet US product safety standards.

Microfiber Pad Video
The following video describes the different microfiber pads, how to install them on the mop, and also how to clean them.

Steam Mop Video and Instruction Guide
The video and instruction guide by Hoover is a great way to see the steam mop in action and to learn about operating procedures.  See it here.

Steam Mop Manual
If you want to learn more about this steam mop you can check out the manual here.

	Nigel Russco has been writing for Vacuum Cleaner Advisor for years and has a background in business and engineering, as well as a keen interest in anything related to vacuum cleaners. Connect with Nigel on Google+

POST YOUR COMMENTS