Sanitaire by Electrolux SC6070

This small carpet cleaning machine is great for cleaning up spills and other spot cleaning activities. The SC6070 has a 1.5 gallon solution tank as well as a 1.5 gallon recovery tank. That means you can mix one and a half gallons of cleaning solution for the solution tank. As the machine sucks up the dirty used water, it is collected in the recovery tank. A floating ball rises to the top with the liquid level and when the ball hits the bottom of the motor there is an automatic shutoff feature. The machine also automatically shuts off if it tips over. The cleaning solution is delivered out of the three inch metal upholstery attachment under fifty five psi of pressure. The high pressure helps to loosen debris and stains. It also helps if you pour hot cleaning solution into the solution tank. The upholstery attachment is at the end of an eight foot hose so your mobility is slightly prohibited while using this machine.

Sanitaire by Electrolux SC6080

The SC6080 is a larger carpet cleaning machine that would be more appropriate for cleaning entire carpeted rooms rather than spot cleaning. It has a twelve inch wand and a fifteen foot hose. The cleaning solution is delivered at 150 psi which is much stronger. The capacity of both the solution tank and the recovery tank is nine gallons. As with all of the models form Sanitaire, there is a two year service and parts warranty available for with every purchase. Both this model and the 6070 are what you call canister carpet cleaners because the tanks are on a canister and the cleaning solution is delivered and sucked in through a wand on the end of a hose.

Sanitaire by Electrolux SC6090

If you have really dirty carpets that would benefit from the work of scrub brushes then you might want to consider the SC6090. This carpet shampooer is one that you walk behind as it works rather than using a canister and wand. The water is delivered at 100 psi and it also has a nine gallon capacity in the solution and recovery tanks. The main difference is that there is a seventeen inch brush roll where the cleaning solution is delivered. This is the largest cleaning path available from Sanitaire and the brushes really help to loosen dirt from deep in the carpet fibers and pad underneath.

The first step to clean carpet is to vacuum the carpeted area well. You want to run the vacuum a few times to make sure that you get any loose dust and not just the large debris on top. After you are sure you have vacuumed completely, then you need to mix the carpet shampoo solution. Any brand of carpet shampoo will do, but you can also make your own. A mixture of vinegar and water with a small amount of dish soap makes a nice carpet shampoo. Make sure to read the directions on any carpet shampoo container carefully. Generally you want to use about half or maybe even less of the amount recommended. You want to avoid foaming. Add the appropriate amount of water and if necessary you can add antifoaming agent. Some carpet shampoo machines have a separate compartment for this, but others just have you add it to the shampoo solution.

Once the carpet shampoo is mixed, you will fill the reservoir in the carpet shampoo machine and get to work. Run the carpet shampooer slowly over an area of the carpet. Good technique is to pull the carpet cleaner back in long rows. Look at the solution being sucked into the machine to makes sure it is not too foamy. If it is, then you can stop and dilute the solution some. When water stops flowing into the machine then it is time to empty the waste water and refill the cleaning solution.

It is good practice to run over the entire carpet twice and then run over it a third time with only cold water in the reservoir. You want to make sure that the last time you go over each section of carpet there is absolutely no soap going into the waste compartment. Soap left behind in your carpets is one of the worse mistakes you can make and is extremely bad for your carpets.

You need to think about how much money you want to spend on carpet cleaning before you make the decision about what kind of carpet shampoo machine is best for you. Carpet shampoo machines you buy in a department store or home improvement warehouse and cost anywhere from two hundred to six hundred dollars. Once you have chosen the model that you want, you need to think about how many times per year you are going to shampoo your carpets. It costs about forty dollars to rent a carpet shampooer over night so multiply forty times the number of times per year you will use carpet shampoo. Then divide the cost of the shampooer by that number and you will know how many years it will take to get your money’s worth out of a purchased carpet shampooer. If the number of years is longer than the typical lifetime of a carpet shampoo machine then you are better off renting.

It is also important to consider what other surfaces you might want to shampoo before you make the decision to buy or rent. Rental carpet shampooers almost never have attachments or tools for shampooing upholstery or stairs. They also have only one mode for shampooing carpets. You cannot use them on other hard surfaces as well. Carpet shampoo machines that you buy often do have this versatile functionality. With the right attachments you can clean the upholstered furniture in your home, your curtains, and all the nooks and crannies that you cannot reach with a traditional carpet shampoo machine head.

However, you need to consider how much space you have available in your home for storage. Carpet shampoo machines are not small and you will need to find some room in a closet or in the garage to store it when it is not in use. This is often the biggest sticking point when it comes to buying over renting. In addition, sometimes the carpet cleaners you can buy for home use are not powerful enough to clean high traffic areas or carpets that are extremely dirty. For those kind of jobs you might need an industrial carpet cleaner which you have to rent.

One of the things that Dirt Devil uses to set this carpet shampooer apart from other carpet shampooers is the fact that there are two suction nozzles on this machine. That means there is more force sucking out the dirty water out of your carpet and it never has a chance to settle or soak your carpets like it might have with other carpet cleaning machines. This machine has two revolving brushes that rotate in opposite directions to add to its cleaning power. Multi-directional scrubbing is a proven way to get your carpets cleaner.

Some other ways that this machine is different from other carpet cleaners is that there are three tanks instead of just two. There is a clean water tank that you fill with plain water, a dirty water tank for the wash water you suck up after scrubbing, and a soap dispenser. This third tank is for holding the carpet shampoo. The Platinum Force will automatically measure how much soap to use and mix the soap with the clean water when the soap dispenser button is pressed on the handle. Keeping the soap separate from the water allows you to rinse with clean water whenever you need to and means you do not have to empty the reservoir to rinse.

Not having to premix the soap and water also saves time. When I clean my own carpets, the part of the job that takes the most amount of time is refilling the cleaning solution reservoir. You need to measure out shampoo and mix it with water and then pour it into the machine. With the Dirt Devil machine you only have to fill the reservoir with water. This is a big time saver and one of the reasons this machine is great for small and quick jobs.

Another helpful cleaning gadget is the high intensity spotlight that reveals any problem areas or stains. Combined with the light there are also two spot cleaning settings on the carpet shampooer that will help you clean all different kinds of stains. There is a stream setting for targeting small stains and a spray setting for attacking large high traffic areas.

There are two setting for general carpet cleaning as well. The carpet and rug setting will allow the brushes to work at optimal levels and speeds. There is a patented rinse cycle that uses fresh water to rinse the carpet free of any residual soap residue. Soap residue left behind can cause a phenomenon known as wicking. Any dirt left behind would be attracted to the soap residue and would rise to the surface over time making your carpet look even dirtier. The best thing about these settings is that there are indicator lights to tell you what cycle you are on. That way you can be confident that you are getting your carpets appropriately clean. There are also indicator lights to inform you when you need to change the water in your tank.

There are several attachments that make this carpet shampooer from Hoover an even better investment. There is a SpinScrub powered hand tool with a rotating brush so that you can clean hard to reach areas or stairs. There is also an upholstery tool and a crevice tools that you can use with a long hose to clean furniture or curtains.

First, do you want an upright carpet shampooer, a canister shampoo machine, or a compact carpet cleaner? Up right machines look a lot like vacuums but are usually heavier and a bit bulkier. Canister machines have a canister for the wash and waste water connected to a vacuum head by a long hose and handle. A compact carpet cleaner is a small canister with a handheld suction head connected to a short hose that wraps around the canister for storage. Small machines like this can be stored in cabinets or under tables. The upright machines are definitely the most powerful and best for whole carpet cleaning projects. However, they are bulky and may be hard to handle in small spaces. The canister machine is definitely easier to handle in small spaces, but they are not as powerful and not good for really deep carpet cleaning. The compact machines are best for immediate stain fighting because they are easy to use and are best for small jobs.

You also want to consider if you want a carpet cleaner that can multitask. Some shampooers can be used on surfaces other than carpet. Steam cleaning can be effective on ceramic tile, marble, slate, or wood floors. If you want a machine that you can use in multiple areas of your house then look for a multi-surface machine from Bissell. You will be making a good investment because you will be able to use the carpet cleaner so much more often.

Another thing to consider is the efficiency and ability of the heater. If you have many high traffic area carpets and need to fight tough stains often then you want a machine with a very strong heater so that you can get the water and cleaners hot enough to activate them and work at their best.

In addition to these basic characteristics, you also need to think about special needs that you may have in your household. For example, there are carpet cleaners made especially or households that have allergen concerns. Or ones that are best suited for pet stains and odors. There are also carpet shampooers that are considered green and eco-friendly.

Finally, you will need to consider price. You may or may not be able to purchase the carpet shampooer you want because it might be outside of your budget. Bissell sells machines anywhere from small compact shampooers for less than fifty dollars to upright machines with lots of accessories for close to three hundred dollars. Make sure that you get the most ability for the money you have available. And if you cannot get what you want with the money you have, consider renting for another month or two and saving some more money. It is better to wait and get what you really want than to buy something inadequate and only have to replace it later.

Rug Doctor makes a carpet shampoo to go with their machines, but you do not have to use their soap if you do not want to. I sometimes use other brands if I can find them on sale, or a make a homemade carpet shampoo out of hot water, vinegar, and dish soap. If you notice too much foam in the waste stream then you want to cut back on the amount of carpet cleaner used in each tank. I actually use about half of the recommended dosage in order to avoid leaving too much soap residue behind. Soap residue is what is responsible for the phenomenon known as wicking. This is when dirt is attracted to soap left behind in the carpet and that soapy dirt mixture makes its way to the surface of the carpet during the hours after you finish cleaning. Your carpets can actually look less clean than when you started.

There are two varieties of Rug Doctor carpet shampooers you can rent and the only difference is that one is wider than the other. If you rent the wider machine, you will be able to clean a larger surface area of carpet in a shorter amount of time, but the machine is less maneuverable. It is very difficult to get the wider machine into corners or around pieces of heavy furniture. The small machine may take longer, but it is a little easier to use. In addition, the wide machine is heavier than the small machine. If you have a large SUV then the wide machine might be difficult for you to get in and out of the car because you need to lift it up in order to get it in and out.

Grocery Store Shampooer Rental

My personal preference is for the machines you rent at the grocery store. The most popular brand you will find at your local food mart is Rug Doctor. There are three reasons that I like renting these carpet cleaners.

• First, it is extremely convenient. I go to the grocery store almost every day anyway, so picking up a carpet shampooer on one of those trips is not a problem.
• Second, the price is right. Generally you can rent one of these machines for less than forty dollars for twenty four hours. That is long enough for me to clean all the carpets in my house twice.
• Third, these carpet cleaning machines are generally good to use on almost any kind of common household carpet. Some of the more powerful industrial strength machines will tear up or otherwise damage more delicate carpet fibers. However, they are still robust enough to give your carpets a good cleaning.

There are two negatives that come with renting a carpet shampooer from the grocery store. First, these machines are generally not strong enough to fight tough stains. They do a really good job at overall cleaning, but stain fighting is not high on the list. You usually have to pre-treat and scrub stains with other cleaners after you shampoo your carpets. The second problem that I have with these machines is that you never know who rented it before you and what might be lurking inside or under the machine. If the previous renter did not clean out the machine thoroughly and they were using it is a greasy garage, you could track in more dirt and stains than what you started with. However, this negative will be true with any rented machine, no matter where you get it.

Rent a Shampooer at a Home Improvement Warehouse

Your second option is to rent from a large home improvement warehouse like Home Depot or Lowes. There is one main advantage to renting from this type of retailer and one major disadvantage. The two actually are the same feature. Carpet shampooers from home improvement stores are usually of industrial strength. This can be good if you have a high traffic carpet with many stains and lots of ground in dirt. However, that industrial strength could be too much for your delicate home carpets. While it might work well on a high traffic carpet like what you would find in an office, it might damage or tear up fibers in your living room carpets. Make sure that you test the machine in an inconspicuous area before using it on your entire carpeted surface.

Borrow a Rug Shampooer

The third option is to borrow a carpet cleaning machine from a friend or family member. While this is not technically renting, you often will be indebted a favor so there is some kind of currency exchanged. If you borrow a carpet shampoo machine, then make sure that you return it in as good a condition or better condition than you got it. Make sure you ask what kind of carpet cleaner they use and try to use something similar. If they give you a bottle of carpet shampoo, make sure to return the machine with a full bottle of the same. Most importantly, always return the cleaner in a timely manner. It is not good manners to borrow a tool like that and keep it for weeks or months.

There are several advantages to these small portable carpet cleaning devices. That is why I think that a portable handheld piece of equipment is the best carpet shampoo machine you could purchase. The first advantage is that this home carpet shampoo machine is small and easy to store. You can easily fit one of these carpet scrubbers under the sink or in a small inconspicuous corner of your hall closet. It is easily put out of sight but still easily accessible in case you need to clean up a spill quickly. Another advantage is that the carpet cleaner is easy to use. Upright machines are hard to maneuver and difficult to get into small places. The smaller models have small handheld brushes and long hoses that allow you to reach in between furniture and into corners.

One possible disadvantage that I have noticed through using these products is that the canister that holds the soapy water and the discharge is not very secure. I have noticed that the canister sometimes falls out or comes loose which causes leaks. In addition, the hoses have come loose during use causing a big mess. I am sure if you buy a reputable Bissell carpet shampoo machine or a Hoover carpet shampoo machine you will not run into these problems.

It is important to remember that these compact carpet shampooers are good for small spills or spontaneous cleanings, but not for overall carpet cleaning. Yu still want to use a regular upright carpet shampooer when it comes time to clean your entire carpet. These large carpet shampooing are usually meant to take care of the daily dirt and grime and not targeted stain removal. The compact carpet cleaning machines are more appropriate for those.

If you decide to buy then there are several factors to consider. First, how wide should your commercial carpet shampooer be? You can purchase these machines in a variety of widths. Generally, the wider the machine the fewer passes you need to complete to clean the room. However, the wider machines are heavier and harder to maneuver. If the room is full of many large pieces of furniture that you will not be moving when you shampoo the carpets, then it might be more efficient to use a less wide carpet shampoo machine. Hoover has trademarked a name for their wider machines called Widepath™. One popular model featuring this wider cleaning surface is the Hoover SteamVac™ Widepath™ deep cleaner. This Hoover carpet shampooer features six rotating brushes and a CleanSurge feature that allows the user to dispense more cleaning solution onto particularly soiled areas of the carpet.

Another thing to consider when choosing to buy a carpet shampooer is whether it will have a rotating brush system or fixed brushes. There are pros and cons of both approaches. The rotating brushes are better for getting out tough stains and for rigorous cleanings. The rotating action works well to scrub deep into the carpet fibers and pull dirt to the surface where it is easily sucked away. The problem will rotating brush carpet shampoo systems is that the rotating brushes can be hard on delicate fabrics. There could be pulls or tears in the carpet. If you have a particularly delicate carpet then fixed brushes might be a better idea. Dirt Devil is an example of a company that makes fixed brush carpet shampooers as well as rotating brush carpet shampooers. The Dirt Devil carpet shampooer called the CE6000 has five rows of fixed brushes and is advertised as a good machine for cleaning everyday spills right after they happen. This machine is almost identical to the CE7100 that has rotating brushes. Of course, there is a cost benefit to purchasing the fixed brush variety of machine.

One final thing to consider, when trying to find the best carpet shampooer for you, is what kind of attachments it has available and how much hose. With additional attachments, you can clean things other than the carpets, like upholstery or curtains. With the simple change of an attachment you can have an upholstery shampooer as well. In addition, with long sections of hose, you can clean larger areas before having to stop and change outlets. If you choose a reputable machine like a Bissell carpet shampooer, there are many additional accessories and extra parts easily available to you.

If you do not want to buy your own carpet shampooer, then you always have the option of carpet shampooer rental. However, your options will be more limited since rental locations rarely keep a wide variety of choices in stock. They typically have a few of the basic models with not too many bells and whistles. If you really want to have full advantage of a carpet shampoo machine, then you should purchase one.