Carpet Cleaners

Carpet cleaners (also called carpet shampooers) are large, vacuum-cleaner-like appliances that use a combination of water, concentrated shampoo and suction to deep clean your carpet. Carpet cleaners are great for lifting out stubborn stains, deeply embedded dirt and even some odours. It is recommended that your carpets are deep cleaned once a year.

With the right attachments, carpet cleaners can also be used to clean mattresses, comforters, curtains, soft furniture, car upholstery and even hard floors.

The carpet will need a thorough vacuum beforehand to lift as much loose hair, fluff and dirt from the carpet as possible. It is recommended you plan your clean before using a carpet cleaner, as you will often need to move furniture into another room for at least 5-6 hours. You should make sure your carpet is completely dry before moving furniture back in, as this can slow the drying process and lead to mould growth.  For the best results you may want to allow your carpet to dry overnight.

Although they may look similar, vacuum cleaners and carpet cleaners work quite differently and are designed for different cleaning tasks.

Carpet cleaners apply detergent and water as they clean. As the soapy mixture is applied the area is scrubbed and the soapy water is sucked back up and stored in a dirty water tank. Vacuum cleaners use a motor to create a vacuum that sucks air in through the head, filters out dust and dirt, then blows air exhaust out the other end.

Both carpet cleaners and vacuums are used to clean flooring in the home. The main difference comes down to what you are trying to remove from the floor. Vacuums rely entirely on suction and are better suited to picking up dust, dirt, hair, fur and other dry particles in the home. For deeply embedded stains, dried on mess, or more muddy marks a carpet cleaner is better suited to the task. Moisture can damage a vacuum cleaner, so if you’re cleaning a moist spill and aren’t sure what to use, the carpet cleaner is a safer bet.

The fibres that make carpets soft and warm are also good at trapping dirt and other messes. Carpets should be deep cleaned annually to prevent the trapped dirt from building up and causing serious damage to the carpet shag. Carpet cleaners and steam cleaners are both designed to carry out this deep cleaning, although the method and results are different.

Carpet cleaners create a soapy solution from detergent and water that is applied to the carpet as it is being scrubbed and then sucked back through the machine and stored in a dirty water tank, that will need to be emptied periodically. The brush in the head of a carpet cleaner can damage some delicate carpets.

Steam cleaners do not have a brush in the head and instead use a pressurized stream of hot water to loosen dirt deep in the carpet. The dirtied water is immediately sucked back up with a vacuum located in the head. The pressure of a steam cleaner coupled with the powerful suction can clean more deeply than a carpet cleaner.

Although they look similar, carpet cleaners tend to be bulkier and heavier than vacuum cleaners. When comparing models, you should consider how easy they may be to carry and manoeuvre around your home, particularly if there are stairs in your home. Keep in mind that carpet cleaners use water, which can add to the weight when in use.

Consider the capacity of water tanks, as a smaller tank will not be as heavy but may require more frequent refilling and emptying. A carpet cleaner with a longer power cable will save you moving a heavy appliance around your home as you swap power outlets.

If you have hardwood flooring or tiles you may want to look for a model that can clean hard floors as well as carpets. With the right attachments some carpet cleaners can be used to clean upholstery in your car and around the home. Some models will come with upholstery cleaners while others need to be purchased separately. Before deciding, make sure your furniture won’t be damaged by shampoo detergents.