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WHAT TO
LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A CARPET STEAM CLEANER
If
you have carpet, as well as children and pets,
then chances are you are going to need a good
carpet steam cleaner.
Many people opt to rent carpet cleaners
from local stores, especially if they only need
one once or twice a year or two.
However, if you have small children and
or pets, then more than likely you also have a
lot of unexpected spills and stains.
If this sounds like you, then purchasing
a carpet steam cleaner is probably more
economical as well convenient.
When
shopping for a steam cleaner, you’ll quickly
realize that they are available in both upright
and canister models as well as small hand held
models and with each type available in many
different sizes.
If that isn’t enough to confuse you,
then add in all the special features that are
available.
The following are some options that you
should take into consideration when purchasing
a carpet steam cleaner.
Rotating
Brushes:
Rotating
brushes are good for lift dirt from the carpet,
especially deep down dirt and grime and are a
definite feature that you want when purchasing
a steam cleaner.
Brushes are available on beater bars and
as circular disc.
Both types lift embedded dirt well.
However, the circular brushes have a
tendency to leave circular impressions in
carpet if allowed to remain in one area for a
length of time.
In addition to how the brushes operate,
the other factor that affects the price of the
machine is the number of brushes, often 4 to 6.
Upright
or Canister:
When
deciding between upright or canister models,
generally uprights are better for cleaning
large areas.
However, they often have smaller tanks
and are very awkward to use on stairs.
Canisters, usually have larger tank
sizes, are better for stairs, small areas, area
rugs, car interiors, and furniture.
However, canister models tend to be
heavy to pull and can catch on furniture.
Tank
Size/Design:
In
general the majority of all upright carpet deep
cleaners have one gallon tanks, there are some
that do have slightly larger tanks that hold
1.3 gallons hot water/cleaning solution.
Canister models usually have tanks that range
in size from l gallon to 1.5 gallons, or just
slightly more than uprights.
Compact and spot cleaners usually have
tanks that range in size from 16oz to 48oz.
Another important factor to consider is
the design of the tank.
Many, who have previously owned carpet
cleaners, prefer systems with separate
reservoirs, which keep rinse water and the
cleaning solution away from the dirty water.
Water
Heater:
Today,
more models on the market have water heaters
than systems that do not.
The heater ensures that you will be
cleaning from start to finish with hot water.
Carpet cleaners that do not offer the
water heating option, you are in a race against
time as the hot water placed in the storage
tank quickly cool.
The
two options that have been proven to help
increase the cleaning efficiency of carpet
cleaners are the water heating option and
having separate reservoirs. Both options however will increase the price of the machine.
Tools
and Attachments:
The
types of tools and attachments you will need,
will depend on your cleaning requirements and
your and price range.
If you have upholster, steps, and
curtains, then you may be interested in a
machine that has an extra long hose to reach
your curtains and an upholster brush.
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