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.