When you can say, "It works!"

It would be an ideal world if all things functioned just the way the way the advertisements and product packaging said they would. We are bombarded every day with the latest and greatest tool, cleaning product, gadget, face cream, etc. Sadly, many disappoint, and we quickly realize that our hard-earned money was lost to another clever marketer in the quest for quicker, better, and best. This whole scenario makes the moments when our latest purchase actually works just the way "they" said it would (or better!) all the more exciting. My latest product love affair is one I've been itching to share.

I will fully admit that I'm gadget-curious, but I'm also a very critical shopper. This is especially true when it comes to cleaning products. The truth is, most don't work as well as they say, many let off enough toxic fumes to choke you, and I often leave my cleaning experience, whether it's in the kitchen or the bathroom, feeling a little dizzy and less than satisfied.

Mopping, oh mopping! I've been able to escape it for many years because I had very little hard flooring. I used to clean my bathroom and kitchen floors on my hands and knees with paper towels and a little cleaner. That did the job much quicker and faster than hauling out a mop. Besides, don't you always feel like the mop just spreads the dirt around? Even if you change the water often, you're putting the dirty mop back on the floor and ugh! I just hate it. In our new house here in Las Vegas, we've got a lot more tile to deal with. That means mopping. I set out on a quest for the best solution. I started with the Libby mop with washable head. It sounded good that I could just throw the head in the washer after a mopping. What I quickly learned is that there's a lot of annoying squeezing and bending. It does the job, but it's not fast and it's not perfect. The dirt-spreading factor is huge here. Next came the Method Mop. The cleaner that comes with the mop smells divine and the Micro-fiber cloth does actually pick up a bunch of dirt and it's washable at the end of the job. This is a great mop if your floors are just lightly dirty or you need a quick once-over at the end of the day. Still, though, not perfect.

That brings me to my new love. The Monster EZ1 Steam Mop. It's a steam mop made in heaven. This thing is not easy to find. I set out to find a steam mop of some sort, read a lot about the domestic brands that are commonly available at Target, Wal-mart, etc, but came away wanting for something better. I sort of stumbled upon a vacuum site that was featuring a video of the Monster. Being a gadget-lover, I was intrigued, though skeptical. It's made in Italy and not regularly available here, though you can find it at said vacuum store, Amazon and on ebay. After seeing just a few good reviews and bargaining with a guy on e-bay for a great deal, I made the leap. What a great leap! This thing is, as they say, "the bomb". You put in the water, let it heat up, then steam away. And when I say steam, I mean steam. This stuff is hot! That's great for sanitizing your floors, but not so great when you're mopping right next to your foot. I fried a few toes early on. Now I wear shoes or at least socks. The micro-fiber cloth seems to suck in the dirt and I really like that the steam is sanitizing. No choking chemicals either! The real test for me was to mop my kitchen floor with the Monster then wipe a section with a wet paper towel to see what other grime comes up with a little up close and personal scrubbing. Nothing! Not a speck or hint of dirt. I love it! I've found my eternal mopping companion.

What's your favorite cleaning tool? I've got mopping down, but what about toilet cleaning and shower scrubbing? Those are still a work in progress. Share if you've got a great solution to these ever so mundane problems.