Carpet Cleaner Purchasing Tips

Sometimes finding the perfect carpet cleaner is a difficult thing to do and you may become frustrated. But Never fear, I have some tips for you to follow to make sure you get the carpet cleaner of your dreams. While most models are called ‘steam’ carpet cleaners, only some units actually heat the carpet to produce a steam when water is applied; most just use hot tap water in the cleaning cycle. Heating to generate steam is a great feature to have, and usually results in a more efficient carpet cleaning. But even models without a heated feature can perform well and deliver a clean carpet, depending on the condition of the carpet and design of the machine. Sometimes, the heated part of a vacuum or carpet cleaner actually plays a huge role in the cleaning process. Several factors can influence performance: Power, heated cleaning, whether a spray is auto-released or controlled, suction, the design and activation of the brushes, one water tank or two and size or path of the head. But the most influential is the spray and brush design and effective suction.

A lightweight basic model might deliver an adequate cleaning, but the design and lack of features might not be as convenient as a larger full-featured model. Lack of adequate suction may not impact cleaning, but delays drying. A 12-amp motor is comparable to most upright vacuums and generally adequate for carpet cleaning. If you want the best of the best, you have to look at the performance and you have to look at what it can and cannot do before you can see if it is good for your lifestyle or if it isn’t. If you have a family of dogs, cats, and small children, then you have to have a pretty strong carpet cleaner around or get hardwood floors. Dual tanks – one for the hot water spray and a separate one for dirty water/solution removal is the best design. With a single tank, once the water has been discharged, suction must be initiated and the tank emptied before continuing with clean water. Heated cleaning is more effective than hot tap water and a wide cleaning path saves steps. Several brushes work better to loosen and lift deep dirt, than 2 or 3. Being able to control the spray and activate the cleaning solution allows you to rinse the carpet or concentrate on certain areas. Good suction means quicker rug drying and variable speeds are preferred.