REVEIW: Thane H20 X5 Steam Cleaner

 Steam dreams.

We've featured a few cleaning devices in the past (including the unique Karcher Window Vac), but lately Test Pit Towers has been looking a tad... well, stale. All those stinky reviewers sweating over keyboards has certainly added to the general mess, and we decided that enough was enough - we need something more than just the dust sucking prowess of a vacuum cleaner, we need the big guns. And so we tested the Thane H20 X5 Steam Cleaner.

The trouble with vacuum cleaners is that although they make the place look nice before your mum pops over with Aunt June, they don't kill bacteria. With something like your mattress literally teaming with microbial life, most of which is very bad for you, we were relieved to see that the H20 X5 kills 99.9% of bacteria without the use of any chemicals. In this war only good old fashioned steam is used, blasted from the gadget under high pressure. Just writing about that is turning us on.

For the amount of power the cleaner can jet out, it's surprising how little water in needs to operate, and also how quickly that water is boiled. It is also alarmingly compact, with the main part of it being of similar size to a dust buster - everything else being an accessory that can be added or removed.

It is that versatility that makes the Thane H20 X5 Steam Cleaner truly great, as in that compact package is a steam cleaner suitable all kinds of surfaces and jobs. Once the carpet head accessory is added it is perfect for gliding across carpets and even hardwood floors without the danger of causing scratches. Swap out the head for the extended flexible neck and lose the long handle from the back, and you have a hand-held curtain and window cleaner. Remove all the nozzles and handles and you have the very bare essentials of the device; a powerful steam blasting machine perfect for cleaning in awkward spaces like sinks and in the foot wells of cars.

Once you master all the accessories (and the included instructions will help with that) using the Thane H20 X5 Steam Cleaner couldn't be easier. You simple pour in the small amount of water required (yes, there's a measuring jug in the box), plug it in, twist the dial to the desired level of steam intensity (again the booklet will help you decide which is best), and then turn it on. It took literally seconds to get to temperature and for the steam start cascading out of whatever hose or nozzle we were using. So no waiting around and no lugging about heavy complicated equipment.

And the results? Well, the aforementioned mattress has been thoroughly blasted and allowed to dry, and we can confirm that it does make a massive difference. Although the Thane H20 X5 Steam Cleaner (and any steam cleaner really) doesn't get stains out of upholstery, the level of actual cleaning is deep and complete, giving peace of mind that the unseen dirt has been dealt with.

And we're happy to report that the weird milky smell from the living room carpet has gone. Thanks Thane!

£79.99

Visit www.thanedirect.co.uk

Get more awesome reviews like this, as well as the latest news, views & competitions, by subscribing to our weekly newsletter. You'll also be entered into our monthly prize draw!