Carpet Cleaner Buying Guide
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification recommends a deep carpet cleaning at least once every 12 to 18 months in high-traffic areas. Carpet cleaners can help you maintain that deep-clean feeling in between professional cleanings as well as help remove spills and stains throughout the year. Pronto’s Carpet Cleaner Buying Guide will walk you through the ins and outs of getting the best carpet cleaner for your home.
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the five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
Know your carpet type
Be familiar with the kind of carpet you own and what cleaning methods are best to use. Refer to your warranty to make sure a wet-extraction carpet cleaner won’t void the terms, especially when it comes to stain resistance.
What’s in a name?
Although they’re sometimes called steam vacs or steam cleaners, carpet cleaners use hot water and are not carpet steamers. Carpet cleaners work best for lightly soiled areas or to maintain cleanliness between professional cleanings.
Upright carpet cleaners
Choose an upright carpet cleaner if you have large, wide areas to clean. Look for wider, 12-inch cleaning paths to cut down on cleaning time. Multiple water tanks may reduce time spent emptying and refilling, but the more water the carpet cleaner holds, the heavier it will be. Look for self-propelled models for greater ease of use.
Canister carpet cleaners
Canister and portable carpet cleaners are best for stairs and tight spaces. If you’re considering a cordless model, check the average run time at a full battery charge as well as how long the unit takes to recharge fully.
Important features
Look for carpet cleaners that feature heating mechanisms to keep water and cleaning solutions hot throughout the cleaning process. Rotating brushes clean deeper than fixed brushes but can damage carpet fibers with heavy use. Look for easy-to-reach power switches and controls that let you set the amount of solution sprayed so you don’t over wet your carpet. If you hate to mop, get a carpet cleaner that works on bare floors or includes a bare-floor attachment.
pronto pick
What product do we recommend?
We like the Bissell 9200 ProHeat 2X Upright Deep Carpet Cleaner. This upright features a heating mechanism to keep water and cleaning solutions hot, two sets of power brushes and fixed, edge-cleaning brushes that get close to walls. Its upholstery attachment cleans furniture and drapes, and its tough-stain tool makes spots disappear.
experts say
Consumer Guide—“[The Eureka Atlantis Express 2553A is] a handy machine for spots, spills and pet accidents, this multi-purpose cleaning machine works on small areas of carpet, upholstery and stairs. It’s small enough not to be a huge bother to drag out of the closet, and compact enough to store easily.” Source: Consumer Guide
Housekeeping Channel.com—“The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends that carpet be dry- or wet-extraction cleaned a minimum of every 12 or 18 months before it shows soiling. Use a cleaning method recommended by the carpet manufacturer to maintain your warranty.” Source: Housekeeping Channel.com
Allergy Nursing.com—“Steam cleaning of carpets is the industry standard. Not only does it provide excellent results, but kills dust mites and bacteria as well. While bare floors provide the optimal solution for dust mite control, steam cleaning is recommended for those who have carpets.” Source: Allergy Nursing.com
hot buzz
What's the latest in the world of carpet cleaners?
Whether you’re cleaning your own carpet or bringing in the professionals, you don’t have to worry about toxic chemicals anymore. Companies like Bi-O-Kleen now make plant-based cleansers for almost all carpet cleaning methods. Look for carpet cleaning companies that offer green cleaning and use only water or natural, plant-based solvents. Some of these “green” cleaners may do a better job than their toxic cousins, since they don’t leave oily residues that can attract dirt.
Wallet Impact
What can I expect in my price range?
| Price | Description | Good Pick (see all Carpet Cleaners) |
| $ | You can find upright, canister and handheld carpet cleaners in the budget range that are small, lightweight and best suited to spot cleaning. You’ll find water tanks up that hold up to a half gallon, fixed brushes, and few if any attachments. These carpet cleaners are a good choice for stairs, cars and upholstery. |
Buy now at Thebuzzelectronic... $79.72 |
| $$ | In the midrange you’ll find carpet cleaners with more power, larger tank sizes and an attachment to clean stairs. Feature sets will vary widely from model to model. Look for rotating brushes, solution control levels and motors that generate air flow to keep water heated. |
Compare prices at 8 stores $95 - $120 |
| $$$ | At the high end, carpet cleaners offer the largest tank sizes outside of commercial or professional cleaning machines. Look for more powerful motors, built-in water heating, rotating brushes and a variety of attachment tools. |
Buy now at Thesevacuumssuck.com $199.99 |
shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
Canister
These carpet cleaners have a canister tank and sit closer to the floor. An attached hose extends from the machine to do the cleaning.
Dry extraction
This carpet cleaning method consists of applying a powdered cleaning agent to the rug with a brush (sometimes a foam or spray is used), and then removing it with a vacuum cleaner.
Fixed brushes
These carpet cleaner brushes stay in place and clean the carpet as the operator moves the machine over the cleaning surface. These loosen surface dirt, but don’t extend deep into the carpet.
Rotating brushes
Also called mechanical brushes, these carpet cleaner brushes move separately from the back and forth motion of the cleaning machine and help get deep-rooted dirt out of the carpet.
Upright
A carpet cleaner design similar to an upright vacuum, with tanks mounted in the main body. With this design, the entire carpet cleaner is pushed around on a handle.
Wet extraction
This carpet cleaning method uses a machine to inject a combination of hot water with or without cleaning solution into rug fibers. The carpet cleaner’s brushes loosen the dirt, which is then vacuumed out with most of the water.
guide tools
Research Central
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