3. Kitchen and Dining: HAAN FS-20 Floor Sanitizer

“Clean” and “green” are two terms that are increasingly complimentary. As consumers look for ways to keep their homes tidy, they will be presented with a number of options for doing so with a substantial burden on the environment. It needn’t be like this. One popular method of cleaning (or in this case, sanitization) can easily be achieved through steam. We took a look at the HAAN FS-20 Floor Sanitizer to see how its simple use of tap water could help make the floors in our home safer and cleaner.

The HAAN is similar to other floor steamers that we have tried. It has a reusable mop head and uses water alone to clean surfaces. This particular model, however, had some stunning features and was amazingly easy to get up and running. Here is how we did it:

1. We assembled the unit in less than two minutes. It simply required us to attach the handle. The mop head was made of micro fiber and used a heavy-duty Velcro design to attach it to the steamer. The included measuring cup let us know just how much water to pour into the reservoir. (Think of it as a very large clothes iron.)
2. The HAAN had an on/off push lever that I could press with my foot, so unlike other steamers on the market, you don't have to leave it running while plugged in, which saves energy. It also featured an LED indicator light letting me know when to add more water. Red indicated it was empty and green let me know if I still had time on the clock.
3. The steamer itself took a few minutes to get warmed up. Two to three minutes, depending on how long it had been since the last use, was the average time. Note that if there’s no steam rolling out of the bottom, it's not ready and will not supply you with enough steam for a good cleaning.

The HAAN did an amazing job on even the most dingy surfaces. I was able to test it on laminate, wood, and tile flooring. The temperature of the steam, which was above 212 degrees Fahrenheit, was more than enough to remove stickier substances, such as scotch tape, for example, and it dried almost immediately, leaving no streaks or water marks behind. A simple rectangle design allowed me to butt up against the baseboards of my floors and to easily get into corners and difficult areas. The light weight of the mop makes it perfect for those who struggle with lifting a soaking wet mop or who can't manually exert much pressure when using cleaning tools. 

I used one full tank of water (about one cup) for both my dining and living room, which is about 310 square feet, and was able to use the same cleaning head for both rooms. The HAAN comes with two cleaning heads, making it easy to switch them when needed. Cleaning the heads was as simple as tossing them in the wash on a dark color cycle (the blue color can bleed upon the first wash) and letting them air dry.

The included carpet/upholstery attachment allows users to also “freshen up” their carpets, area rugs, and steam-safe furniture. I don’t see this as the best feature of the unit, although it keeps it on par with other models that offer similar functions.

Cleaning with the HAAN saved me time and money over a traditional mop-and-bucket system.  No cleaning fluid was needed, only a relatively small amount of water was used, and the electricity used to power the HAAN was only 800 watts, or eight cents per hour in my area. An attractive alternative for homes with small children and pets, this “green” cleaning machine is competitively priced compared to other steamers. 

• Haan FS20 Steam...
• • Best Buy
  • $99.99