The Home Carpet Cleaner Buyers Guide
A home carpet cleaner should be one which is going to do the most effective job based on the amount of carpet cleaning you need to do, how often you need to clean, and how dirty your carpets get in between cleans
There is such a large variety of carpet cleaners so how in the world are you supposed to know which machine is going to do the best job. As a busy housewife, I am always looking for ways to make my life easier and one of those ways is to choose equipment that is going to save me time and energy, all the while doing a great job.
If you read through the list and descriptions of home carpet cleaners below, you will be that much more aware of what you are looking for when you go shopping. So take a brief look below and you should be well on your way to making an informed decision.
Types of Carpet Cleaners
- Deep Cleaning Machines
- Hand Held Vacuums – a. Suction only /b. Suction with a power brush
- Cordless Carpet Cleaners
- Broom or Stick Carpet Cleaners
- Upright Carpet Cleaner
- Canister Vacuum Cleaner
- Wet/Dry Carpet Cleaner
Detailed Description of Home Carpet Cleaners
Deep Cleaning Carpet Cleaning
This type of machine cleans at a much deeper level than just sucking up dirt. The combination of rotator brushes and suction action mean that deeper lying dirt is agitated and loosened which makes it easier to suck up.
Some deep cleaning carpet cleaners also come with a water tank which will enable you to shampoo your carpets or steam clean them, depending on which cleaning method you prefer. Please refer to the wet/dry carpet cleaning machine further on in this article.
Hand held vacuums
These are extremely useful pieces of cleaning equipment because they are portable, light and very often cordless. So if you have to quickly clean up something, say spilled sugar on the kitchen floor, it’s easy to whip out and vacuum up the mess.
Some models of hand held carpet cleaners are ideal for cleaning stubborn stains and some are even the set and forget type. If you have pets or small children inside that create little mishaps here and there, then a little hand held cleaner is just great for small areas of cleaning.
Broom vacuums
These are a very compact form of carpet cleaning machine for small areas of cleaning. They do not work at a deep cleaning level but are great for surface cleaning of house dust. They are light and easy to push. You will find both cordless and those with cords in this range. Many of these types of carpet cleaner machines are bag less so it’s just a matter of emptying the pan that catches the dirt.
Wet / Dry Carpet Cleaners
These machines are extremely versatile because you are able to do both dry vacuuming as well as carpet shampooing and sucking up water. You will find that there is also quite a large variety of wet/dry carpet cleaners and what differs is the size of the canister that holds the clean and dirty water. Which you choose will depend on how much cleaning you plan to do.
Upright Vacuum Cleaners
Many of these uprights are bag less and are a lot lighter than the wet/dry machines. Different models come with different attachments for cleaning in difficult places. These machines are easy to push around the house as you clean but might be quite heavy to carry up and down stairs. Some brands come with the special HEPA filter which helps with preventing the machine from getting clogged up with debris.
Canister Vacuums
These carpet cleaning machines are often large and a bit bulky when it comes to storage but are easy to use when it comes to cleaning carpets. The picture on the right shows a small version and is bagless. For larger carpet cleaning areas, you will need a much bigger canister. There are a variety of storage capacity sizes. Look out for the types with a power nozzle. This makes for more effective cleaning.
On any home vacuum cleaner, look out for suctions control switches. If you have very delicate carpets you might want a lower level of suction power to protect the carpets.
Of course the price will vary with each type of cleaning machine, and some have more attachments than others. If you know that you will have need for these extras then by all means get them but sometimes they are really unnecessary and just make the product more expensive.
If you are looking for a home carpet cleaner that is going to be dual function in both vacuuming and shampooing then the wet/dry carpet cleaner is the best choice. However if you want something smaller then consider the hand held variety.
As you can see, there is no one perfect carpet cleaner and what you choose should depend on your needs.
Also always consider the option of getting professional carpet cleaners in if your home is really dirty. They will be able to clean far quicker than you ever could. It’s wise to get quotes and compare costs against doing it yourself or even renting professional carpet cleaning equipment.
Also check on the cost of carpet cleaner solution and if it’s going to work for your type of carpets. Some detergents require you to use so much while others are strong and only require a little. There are also chemical free solutions and eco friendly detergents so don’t limit your self to only one brand.
Below is a short video about pet stains and carpet cleaning tips. Sometimes you need pure elbow greece to get rid of stubborn stains but this video can show you a quicker way.