If you are still vacuuming, then going around the house a second time with a mop/bucket or some kind of spray-wipe combo for your hard floors, stop right there. If you have dogs, it’s a this is a game changer and lifestyle choice! Tineco is leading the world in wet/dry cleaners and here we are the S9 Artist Steam is the nerdy miracle which promised a lot and delivered (unlike many men I have dated!).
I road-tested the Tineco S7 Steam less than a year ago, the floor ninja that made me actually want to clean. That was a revelation: vacuum, mop, and steam in one? But just like when Apple releases a new iPhone, you know there’s always a sleeker, sassier version waiting around the corner. Enter the S9 Artist Steam.
It takes everything I loved about the S7 the hot steam scrubbing, the tangle-free hair magic, the slick self-cleaning routine and goes the extra mile. Smoother gliding, smarter sensors, longer battery life, and a self-drying system that pats itself on the back. It’s like the S7 went off to finishing school and came back not just clever, but more glamorous.
The Black Friday Sale
From 19th November to 2nd December via the Tineco Online Store and through Australian retailers, Tineco is offering great value discounts on the following models:
- ($300 OFF) Tineco Floor One S9 Artist Steam – was $1,499, now $1,199
- ($300 OFF) Tineco Floor One S9 Artist Pro – was $1,299, now $999
- ($200 OFF) Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch Steam – was $1,199, now $999
- ($200 OFF) Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch – was $999, now $799
- ($250 OFF) Tineco Carpet One Cruiser – was $999, now $749
- ($200 OFF) Tineco iFloor U5 Stretch – was $599, now $399
- ($400 OFF) Tineco Floor One S7 Steam – was $1,199, now $799
- ($300 OFF) Tineco Floor One S6 FlashDry – was $899, now $599
Unboxing
Opening anything in this household has Maggie the greyhound inspecting to see if a) there are treats, b) there are toys, or c) anything she can steal/rip and take to her bed. Unboxing is a dream there’s really nothing to it. I lift out the main body and the only thing to do is click the handle in place. No luck on my first try, I thought I might have it back to front. However, with a good push, the handle attaches to the main body.
Design & Set Up
This is a very different design. They’ve totally reworked the system. Firstly, it’s all black. Goodbye white goods, hello sexy sleekness. At first glance, I have to rewire my brain as the clean water tank is now sitting on top of the head of the vacuum cleaner. Which, as I start to use it, is super clever. The weight is in the base which is a real change in maneuvering and ease of use. So whilst the machine is heavier, it’s lighter to handle.
The dirty water tank sits at the back of the upright section. Just a button press and it’s an easy release. It’s sleeker, more stylish. The S9 is more rectangular in shape with soft curves, looking modern. The base is flat which makes it much easier to connect and recharge.
New Features
Ease of Use – This is more like driving a car. Other models only have forward assistance, which in the past has made my wrists sore if I’m doing a whole house in one go. Plus, you need bicep power to pull it back. Fine if you have a large house and go in a straight line, but the S9 is like a Mini Cooper. Easy to steer, zippy around furniture and corners. They call this ‘SmoothDrive’ technology. Big improvement.
It also has a new ‘Lay Flat’ design, which is brilliant for getting under low-lying furniture. I have a King Furniture sofa that’s modular but low, and whilst this is where a robot cleaner excels, I can at least get the S9 under my TV unit and even under my Peloton bike.
There are Four Toggle Functions – There’s one button for on/off. To the right is a menu where I toggle from auto, max, steam, and suction. No manual needed. On top of the handle is the clean button. So easy to use and set up.
The HyperSteam heat hits a blistering 284°F internally,with about 210°F steaming through my tiles get the caffeine hit I wish I had at 7am. I toggle the steam via a button on the handle, and the screen begins its countdown upwards: 10%,.. 25%, climbing steadily. Oddly satisfying. Unlike waiting for a bus on Parramatta Road with no ETA, I’m watching the heat build with purpose.
Tangle Blocking – Essential in my house. As a pup parent to two greyhounds who are not supposed to shed—but absolutely do I run the S9 around our lounge after a few days and there’s nothing tangled on the roller.
Auto-Streak-Erase – One of those small joys that makes a big difference. I hit stop, and it retracts the excess water instantly. Floors dry fast. I can walk across barefoot without sticky regret. My black bathroom tiles (which show every streak and speck) looked so much better. However I did leave a faint outline of slipper prints, but on wooden floors: 10/10.
Still my favourite feature is the iLoop Smart Sensor. It feels weirdly empowering and borderline manipulative. I keep going until the colours switch from ‘red’ dirty to ‘blue’ clean. It senses dirt levels and adjusts power accordingly. For fun, I run it over my carpets upstairs and it went a bit bonkers. The shower grate in the bathroom confused it and stayed red, no matter what I did.
When I’m done, I pop it on the stand and it does a hot-water wash followed by warm-air dry in under seven minutes thanks to FlashDry Self-Clean. I don’t just finish cleaning, I finish with a clean cleaner. It’s like the S9 tucks itself in.
On steam mode I get around 25 minutes of runtine (they say 30). Generally, run time is 60–70 minutes, similar to the S7.
Steam or Chemical Clean? The S9 gives me options and I love that. Some Tineco models skip steam entirely, relying on cleaning fluid in the tank. But if you’ve got pets who treat the floor like a tasting plate (yes, mine do yuck), you don’t want chemicals in their system. With the S9, I steam-clean the bathroom and lounge no additives, just heat and then switch to chemical mode for the kitchen, where the mess is more… culinary. The catch? You can’t steam and chemical clean at the same time. It’s not a quick toggle but a deliberate choice between modes. Flexible, but not seamless.
The Clean (and Self Cleaning)
I kick off in the living room, my greyhounds’ messiest spotfur, dust, dirt from walks, leaves, remains of sloppy drinking and eating. All cleaned in nanoseconds. We recently had issues with hungry ants after scraps of food spilled from their bowl, so the S9 helps keep pests at bay. One of my favourite things is how well it cleans my workout and yoga mats. They smell and look great!
Next, the kitchen. Which it handles really well, especially with Triple Edge Cleaning. Upstairs in the bathroom, the steam does a solid job on grout lines, and getting some surface mould off, far more efficient than the S7 Pro. Given its size, I can’t clean the nooks and crannies around the toilet or in the laundry.
The Daily Addict Verdict
What Are We Addicted To? The S9 is a massive overhaul on the S7. Steering is better, the water tank at the base makes handling easier, and it slides under low furniture. It looks sleek, cleans more effectively, and fixes most of my S7 gripes. Bonus – it’s actually handsome to look at.
What Do We Need To Be More Addicted? I’m being picky, but I’d love a flick-of-a-switch system that could instantly toggle between steam and chemical cleaning. Could there be an attachment to get to those narrow spots?? The price point may make some hesitate, but if you’ve lived with both models, it’s a no-brainer.
Pricing and Availability
The FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Steam comes with a two year warranty and has a RRP of $1,499.
The S9 Artist series are available from today from Tineco Online Store, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, Bing Lee, Costco, Retravision, Mobileciti, MyDeal, Tech Sales Online.
