Carpet Care

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:50 am

Does anyone own and use a home carpet cleaner ?

Are you satisfied with the results ?

Is there a particular brand you would recommend ?

Is it extremely time consuming ?

Do the carpets stay wet too long after cleaning ?

Are the upholstery and stair attachments adequate tools ?

Is it worth the investment to you ?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:05 am

We've had several carpet machines, one was a Bissell, can't recall the others. They were better than nothing but for all the effort, money and time involved, the heavy duty machines you rent from the grocery store worked far better. With our own machines, the carpet was moist for about an hour or two, nothing major though. Carpet cleaning formulas vary widely; we last used Doctors and it's okay but I'm looking for something better, especially for homes with pets. The upholstery tools didn't impress me. I don't have stairs. It does take a bit of time to empty the dirt bucket and refill with fresh solution and start on another patch of rug. I have never found the home machines powerful enough.

Again, a home machine is usually better than nothing but I'd rent a store machine or just call the professionals if I had my choice.

koan · Post by **koan** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:26 am

The best carpet cleaner is a knife. Cut that sucker out and put in laminate or other low bacteria options. It's worth the investment to get rid of the environmental hazard.

Over doing it with a steam cleaner is just as bad as not cleaning it. It takes about half a day to dry, if I remember correctly. I used to use a Bissell but I'm glad those days are over.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:41 am

We bought a Big Green Clean Machine. The solution pump went out about 30 minutes after the warranty lapsed. Now it's my shop vac, but it's inadequate to do that job because the hose is so small.

Just rent or hire a pro.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:05 am

I have a Bissell Pro, and it's not really that great. It's ok for spot cleaning when the kids have spilt something. But I've noticed the spots that I've used it, attact the most dirt and look even dirtier within a week.

I would recommend using a professional company. I used a Chem-Dry company not to long ago and loved the results. The carpet was dry within an hour of their leaving.

For upholstery I'd suggest Resolve spot cleaners. Resolve's powder carpet cleaner is good to clean and freshen the carpet when your in a time crunch. It takes a little elbow grease, but gets rid of odors.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:08 am

koan;820655 wrote: The best carpet cleaner is a knife. Cut that sucker out and put in laminate or other low bacteria options. It's worth the investment to get rid of the environmental hazard.

Over doing it with a steam cleaner is just as bad as not cleaning it. It takes about half a day to dry, if I remember correctly. I used to use a Bissell but I'm glad those days are over.

You are correct about carpet being a cesspool of bacteria. You would be amazed at the microscopic vermin that burough their creepy antennaed heads in there.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:09 am

Sheryl;820696 wrote: I have a Bissell Pro, and it's not really that great. It's ok for spot cleaning when the kids have spilt something. But I've noticed the spots that I've used it, attact the most dirt and look even dirtier within a week.

I would recommend using a professional company. I used a Chem-Dry company not to long ago and loved the results. The carpet was dry within an hour of their leaving.

For upholstery I'd suggest Resolve spot cleaners. Resolve's powder carpet cleaner is good to clean and freshen the carpet when your in a time crunch. It takes a little elbow grease, but gets rid of odors.

Thats why a clean water extraction after using solution is essential. The soap residue captures dirt.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am

Nomad I have purchased many Carpet cleaners none of the work worth a damn. To much work, money, and time. Call a pro and be done with it. For small clean ups just get "Resolve High Traffic Foam" and a brush it works great.

Koan is right just pull up the carpet and put in Hardwood floor or laminates so much easier to deal with. :-5

venus · Post by **venus** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:22 pm

I have a VAX and l use it regular, it doesn't sog everythig up and l use it on hte stairs hallway bedrooms. Anywhere l do not have hard flooring, the sofa and chair too.

I would love to just call a pro but having 4 pets with hair in my home mean l am cleaning constantly and just could not afford to get a pro in all the time.

plus my touch of ocd menas that l would probably go over it again anyways...

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:01 pm

rjwould;820706 wrote: I'll sell you a commercial machine I have in my garage, and it will kick ass on anything you can buy probably. The real secret is the chelmicals, Nomad, and I can get you some commercial chemicals too.

BTW-The chemicals are biodegradable and nontoxic.

Rotary or hot water extractor ?

Are you a fan of dry cleaning carpets ?

wildhorses · Post by **wildhorses** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 10:04 pm

Nomad;820618 wrote: Does anyone own and use a home carpet cleaner ?

Are you satisfied with the results ?

Is there a particular brand you would recommend ?

Is it extremely time consuming ?

Do the carpets stay wet too long after cleaning ?

Are the upholstery and stair attachments adequate tools ?

Is it worth the investment to you ?

I have a steam cleaner that I use on the carpet. I dont use any chemicals with it....just steam. It deodorizes, disinfects and gets any dust out of the carpet. And because no chemical is used there is no residue left behind. Works much better than chemical cleaning. I do it once or twice a year.

It is actually a wet/dry vacuum. But it has a steam feature. So you shoot steam into the carpet and then vacuum up the wet residue. Takes about an hour to dry on a warm day. In the winter it takes slightly longer. The heat of the steam disinfects and deodorizes. The wet vac brings up any dust and dirt that is ground into the carpet. It works for most spots but if I have a really stubborn spot then I pretreat just the spot with carpet cleaner the day before.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:32 am

Accountable;820670 wrote: We bought a Big Green Clean Machine. The solution pump went out about 30 minutes after the warranty lapsed. Now it's my shop vac, but it's inadequate to do that job because the hose is so small.

Just rent or hire a pro.

I hate when the hose is too small!

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:35 am

Nomad;820618 wrote: Does anyone own and use a home carpet cleaner ?

Are you satisfied with the results ?

Is there a particular brand you would recommend ?

Is it extremely time consuming ?

Do the carpets stay wet too long after cleaning ?

Are the upholstery and stair attachments adequate tools ?

Is it worth the investment to you ?

Have wooden floors throughout. And yes, it they stay wet...don't do this horrible job in the dead of summer with the humidity...