Carpet Steam Cleaners

You want to clean your carpets. You want to know where to get the biggest bang for your buck. Carpet cleaners have come a long way from the horse drawn versions of the early 20th century. One of the first things to know there's NO SUCH THING as a difference between a carpet cleaner and a carpet STEAM cleaner.

Many carpet manufacturers tell you to avoid using household detergent on your carpet. No matter the quality of the unit you have, detergent remains in your carpet. This detergent can cause allergic reactions. On top of that, the residue left has a "stickiness" which attracts dirt and dust. The very product you are using to clean your carpet is setting you up to require more frequent cleanings.

Home units or ones you rent from a store are generally hot water extraction carpet cleaners. You can get the more powerful steam units, but they are mostly used in professional environments.

Carpet steam cleaners are not normally used on residential carpet.  The temperatures they employ are just too high.  They use a powerful blast of high temperature steam is used to loosen the stain. Once the stain has been loosened, a dry cloth is used to wipe away the remnants. This preserves your flooring by reducing the amount of water on your carpets. If you've rented a unit from hardware or grocery stores, you know how wet it makes your carpet. Water is the enemy of most everything in a home, especially carpeting and upholstery. Commercial units do a much better job at hot water extraction than consumer models. The better the unit pulls out the water, the better it is for your home and your carpet. An increasing number of members of the CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute) recommend dry compound cleaning on their carpets. In many ways, carpet cleaning has become rocket science!

Here are considerations when looking for a consumer carpet cleaner.

HEPA filter
Anti bacterial Technology
Weight of the cleaner
Ease of use
Cleaning accessories included
Adjustable steam nozzle to focus the cleaning
Temperature of the water (higher is better)

Carpet manufacturers say the best carpet care is regular use of your vacuum cleaner. Deeper cleanings, like the ones we describe in this article, should also be part of your care ritual. Whether you use a professional for real deep cleaning or a carpet steam cleaner, following your manufacturer guidelines is the best way to preserve your carpet's long life.