Buying Vacuum Cleaners

On the market today you can find a broad range of both canister and upright hot water extractors. These units function by spraying the carpet with warm water mixed with detergent, washing the fibers of the carpet, and then pulling the mixture out of the carpet. For better cleaning there are models which also use rotating or revolving brushes to agitate the carpet fibers.

Originally these models featured a special wand and nozzle similar to what can be found on wet/dry vacuum cleaners. You needed to connect a long hose to the nearest hot water source and the detergent had to be mixed in before the water could be sprayed. You could control the amount of water being sprayed with a finger controlled valve. Many people still have and use these types of machines.

The models of today are easier to use and self contained, with the water and the detergent mixing into the tank on the machine. You no longer need to use a long hose to get hot water.

There are several main parts to an extractor vacuum, including a cleaning solution tank, recovery tank, cleaning nozzle, suction monitor, and solution spraying system. Those models that use hoses will also need motor or turbine driven pump to push the solution to the end of the hose.

Upright Steam Cleaners These models have all the components listed above in a machine that resembles an upright vacuum cleaner. These operate in much the same way as an upright vacuum cleaner. The spray nozzles for these units are usually directly behind the suction nozzle and are gravity fed.

Brushes that agitate the carpet and improve cleaning are included on most models. Many also come with a special hose, nozzle, and brushes which can be used for cleaning upholstery and stairs.

Canister Steam Cleaners These models feature a hose and nozzle which are separate from the tank and suction motor which can be pulled along behind you. You clean the carpet by moving the nozzle and wands at the end of the hose along the carpet.

Cleaning is made easier by some models which feature a drive motor style revolving brush in the nozzle. It is much easier to push these nozzles across the floor and a large upright model.

While it may be easier to maneuver a canister model steam cleaner it is not as easy to store and set up. It can be quite troublesome to pull them around with you as you vacuum. While smaller models may seem ideal for those with stairs and upholstered furniture to clean they are not usually very effective.

It is best to steam clean your carpets regularly when they are just lightly soiled. You may be very disappointed with the results if you wait until your carpet is heavy soiled.

A professional carpet cleaning service should be hired for those times that you have heavy duty cleaning. There equipment will yield much better results as it is much more powerful.

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