A selection of hot water extractors are being marketed that range from the large or small canister types with hose and nozzle to those that look more like an upright vacuum cleaner. The basic operation of the steam cleaner vacuum involves spraying a mixture of warm water and detergent into the carpet, washing the fibers and then extracting the solution mixture back out. There are some models that include rotating or revolving brushes that will agitate the carpet for better cleaning.
The earlier styles that were sold consisted of a special wand and nozzle that was used to on wet/dry utility type of vacuum cleaner. The long hose was connected to a nearby hot water source. The detergent came in a small bottle on the wand and was mixed with hot water before being sprayed on the carpet. By using a finger controlled valve, you should control how much water was sprayed in the carpet. Even today, this type of vacuum is still being used.
The more modern designs are more self contained in the sense that water and detergent mixtures are placed into a tank on the machine. This will free you from the long water supply hose.
The main part of an extractor will consist of a cleaning solution tank, recovery tank, suction motor, cleaning nozzle, and some sort of solution spraying system. If there is a hose that is used, there will also be a motor or turbine driven pump that will force the solution on to the end of the hose.
Upright steam cleaners These types of vacuums look like uprights also have the tanks, suction motor, main nozzle, and other features built into one. The entire vacuum unit is pushed around much like using an upright vacuum cleaner. Normally, the solution is gravity fed to the spray nozzle which is directly behind the suction nozzle.
Most types have brushes mounted in the same area to agitate the carpet for overall better cleaning. For cleaning upholstered furniture and carpeted stairs, most types will have a special hose and smaller nozzle that will come with stationary brushes that can easily detach.
Canister steam cleaners This type of steam cleaner will come with a separate hose and nozzle and has the tanks and suction motor built directly into a case that is pulled along with you. The nozzle at the end of the hose and the wands are moved back and forth across the carpet to clean it.
There are some deluxe models that have a drive motor style revolving brush in the nozzle that will help you with the process of cleaning. These types of nozzles are much lighter to move acros the carpet than the upright types of steam cleaners.
The only disadvantage is that they aren't as convenient to set up and store as the self contained upright type. Therefore, having to pull them around with you can be a pain in the neck. The smaller portable extractor is a variation of the canister type in a small package. Even though this may sound great to have for stairs and furniture, the effectiveness they offer is actually quite poor.
Steam cleaners work the best when they used on a periodic basis to clean carpets that are very lightly soiled. If you use them on carpet that is very heavily soiled or stained, it can be very disappointing to say the least.
If you have the need for heavy duty cleaning, you should look into the professional cleaning services that are offered in your area. They have heavy duty commercial equipment that is far more powerful and able to produce much better results.
Great-looking tailored carpeting and floor covering requires constant work to keep it looking beautiful. A steam vacuum cleaner allows you to make quick work of those traffic pattern areas and anywhere deep dirt collects. You're not the first person to have dirt tracks through your home and on your carpets. If you have kids, dirt tracks, juice stains and miscellaneous food debris discolorations on your carpet are just the fact of life. With the steam vacuum cleaner however, it's much easier to keep your carpets looking their best.
The steam vacuum cleaner is actually not steam based, but uses a cleaning solution in hot water to clean your carpet. Preparation and pre spotting is the key to removing the stains and discolorations. You can actually rent a steam vacuum cleaner at your local hardware store or supermarket. These rentals are typically made for two days at a fixed price which is more than enough time to clean your carpets. Although many people pay for a heavy-duty carpet cleaning service, a steam vacuum cleaner rental is a great idea between those more expensive cleanings.
But the large expense of a steam vacuum rental however is in the cleaning solutions and chemicals. Here are a few carpet cleaning solution chemicals that are a lot less expensive and are claimed to do just as good a job. This is a good time to remind you to be very careful using any type of chemicals.
It's also important to test all chemicals even those specifically recommended for steam vacuum cleaners before using on your carpet. One quick way to check is to take a white cloth dipped it in the chemicals and rub your carpet in a hidden spot to check for color fastness. If any color transfers to your rag, the dyes used in your carpet will not hold up to the chemical recipes selected.
Here are a few home carpet cleaning recipes that have been very successful.
1. Go to the local janitorial supply and pick up pre-mixed carpet steam vacuum cleaning solution by the gallon
2. 3 teaspoons of cheap, non moisturizing clear dishwashing liquid, 1/4 cup of ammonia, and 1/4 cup of vinegar to 2 gallons of water.
3. Use equal portions of very hot water and Windex window cleaner. You can buy Windex or plain window cleaner by the gallon at your local janitorial supply store. Just find any window cleaner that has ammonia in the ingredients.
4. Pre-treat your carpets, using a spray bottle with very hot water in an oxygenating bleach such as Oxy-clean. I personally have used regular chlorine bleach and hot water in a 1% solution on my light gray carpets to make them much brighter. [10 parts water and 1 part bleach]
Remember that whatever steam carpet cleaner chemicals you select be certain to rinse your carpets thoroughly. The key to keeping your carpets cleaner longer is to remove all of the soap and chemicals used to clean them. Many steam cleaning solutions can act as a dirt magnet making your carpets look dull and dirty much faster.
Using a steam vacuum cleaner rental can be much less expensive than having a service in to clean your carpets. If you clean your carpets at least twice a year however, it may be worth while considering the purchase of your own steam vacuum.
Both Juliet Sadler & Abigail Franks are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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