

Manufacturers recommend that you use their proprietary cleaning solution with their machines-even requiring it, at the risk of voiding the warranty. The standard solution is fine for most cleaning.


You don’t want your machine falling down the stairs after you tug the hose too far.” Of the cleaners we’ve tested that have hoses, they tend to be 8 to 9 feet long, though a few models, particularly deep cleaners, come with longer hoses.ģ. “If your stairs have carpeting, you’ll want a longer hose to reach up the steps,” Ciufo says.

A hose is especially useful for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and other tough-to-reach areas. The models currently in our ratings typically have cords that are 20 to 22 feet, but a few run as long as 25 feet. As for accessories, although an independently rotating brush doesn’t guarantee a good cleaning, it tends to scrub more aggressively than a fixed brush (or no brush at all). And some models offer a variety of tools for special applications, including upholstery, small stains, pet stains, stairs, and corners and crevices.Ī longer cord and a hose can save you some repositioning effort. There are also carpet cleaners that have dry-only settings so that you can suck up more water after your initial cleaning, which may speed up drying time. Settings to consider: Some manufacturers claim that their models clean hard floors, like wood and tile, as well as carpets.
CARPET CLEANER STEAMER MACHINE FULL
Some have dispensers that automatically add the cleaning agent to the water, saving you the hassle of having to measure out a full tank each time. But we found that it’s more convenient to have two separate tanks, one for water and the other for the cleaning solution. Some carpet cleaners have only a single tank with one chamber for the fresh solution and another for the spent mixture. You should check the settings, accessories, and cord and hose lengths. Of course, a handle makes it easier to carry the machine around, so look for a model that has one if heft is a concern.Ģ. One of the lightest models we tested, the Hoover PowerDash Pet FH50700, weighs only 12 pounds when empty and 17 when the tank is full.
CARPET CLEANER STEAMER MACHINE PRO
The largest carpet cleaner in our ratings, the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Commercial Pro, weighs 65 pounds when full and may be difficult for one person to maneuver. We list the weight of the carpet cleaner when empty and when full on each model page. A full tank of cleaning solution (which you have to lug from the sink) adds 6 to 15 pounds to the full-sized models in our ratings. Carpet cleaners are heavy when empty and even heavier after you fill up the tank. Here are five things to keep in mind as you shop.ġ. But while the deep cleaners are twice as big, they don’t necessarily clean twice as well, meaning you don’t have to spend a bundle to get a spotless carpet. The carpet cleaners currently in our ratings cost from about $100 to over $500. But their size makes them more cumbersome to maneuver. These are basically bigger, more rugged versions of the full-sized upright cleaners, often twice as powerful and with twice as much cleaning capacity, as measured by their tanks-and at least twice the heft. You can also buy some of the so-called deep cleaners that are available to rent at grocery, hardware, or home improvement stores. In fact, “the instructions for these machines tell you to vacuum your floor first using a conventional vacuum cleaner, and then use the carpet cleaner to clean up embedded dirt.” Though they have a profile similar to that of an upright vacuum cleaner, “carpet cleaners are nothing like a standard upright vacuum,” says Larry Ciufo, who oversees Consumer Reports’ carpet cleaner tests. It can make short work of ground-in dirt and stains in a way that even the best vacuums can’t. If the floors in your home are covered in carpet and there are lots of feet-or paws-to make a mess of it, a dedicated carpet cleaner may be a wise addition to your cleaning arsenal.
