Carpet is soft and plush under your feet. The warmth it offers can make all the difference in winter, and its sound muffling ability is unrivaled by other forms of flooring. Yet all of these positives can’t cover up the fact that the fluffy fibers like to trap dirt and dust. Regardless of whether you vacuum twice a week or more, you’re still living with a lot of dirt that becomes stuck between the fibers and near the pad.
If you have pets, that’s even more allergens building up to bother even the most sniffle-resistant family members. Carpet cleaning is the best way to lift dirt and dust while restoring the carpets appearance. Owning or renting a carpet cleaner and doing it yourself can save you hundreds of dollars over a few visits from a professional service. But before you rush out to get started, use this guide to make sure you’re getting the right equipment and solutions.
If you have a small apartment, rarely have guests, or only have a room or two with carpet in it, you likely only need to rent a carpet cleaner. Owning the equipment may not save you any money in these cases where you’re only using it once a year at most. For most people with at least two rooms with carpet, a busy family, or pets in the home, owning a carpet cleaner is a better choice. Rental costs tend to account for at least a third of the cost of purchasing a cleaner in many cases. If you’ll use the equipment at least twice a year, it won’t take even two full years to recoup your investment.
Portable carpet cleaners are the smallest, easiest to use, and most affordable options for cleaning carpets and rugs. However, they’re not designed for cleaning entire rooms of the home. These devices are best suited to cleaning up spots and spills in a hurry. They can be taken to a friend’s home with ease or used on the upholstery in your vehicle with the help of an extension cord. If you only have small areas covered in carpet in the home or rugs, a small portable carpet cleaner may be all you need. For most people, an upright carpet cleaner is a better choice, despite the higher cost.
For a deep cleaning that approaches what a professional company offers, you’ll need a proper upright carpet cleaner. These devices may resemble larger vacuums, but they contain two chambers. One supplies the cleaning solution, and the other holds the dirty water after it’s sucked back up. Upright machines hold much more cleaning fluid than a portable unit, both in the fresh supply and wastewater capacity. Upright models can be a big investment for the home, but they’ll give you the best cleaning for years to come. They can be a little heavy to move around, so you may want a portable unit as well for spot cleaning as needed.
Choosing a Cleaning Solution
First, make sure you’re matching the product to the type of carpet cleaner. A portable cleaner solution won’t work well in an upright machine, and vice versa. Next, consider the type of carpeting you have. Some cleaning solutions work well for artificial fibers like acrylic, while others are gentle enough for wool and hand-tufted rugs of all kinds. Pick up a bottle of stain-busting formula and use it specifically for trouble areas in the cleaning process. For the majority of the floor, use a standard strength formula to avoid unnecessary build-up on the fibers.
ProHeat 2X® Lift-Off® Upright Carpet Cleaner – Spraying Fix
FAQ
Can I use upright carpet cleaner in a portable carpet cleaner?
What is the difference between upright and portable carpet cleaning solutions?
Does it matter what carpet cleaner solution you use?
Can you use any Bissell solution in Little Green machine?