Know The Different Types Of Carpet Cleaning Machines And How To Shop For Them

Home owners know that the only way to thoroughly clean a carpet is with a carpet cleaning machine. The question that arises is what is the difference between the different types of carpet cleaning machines.

Carpet Cleaners Defined

Here’s a fast run down of terms used in reference to carpet cleaning machines and what they mean.

• Extraction machines/extraction method - applies to home and commercial portable carpet machines. Extraction cleaners inject warm or hot water and cleaning solutions into the carpet then use vacuum to suck the water and dirt back out. Most commercial carpet cleaning machines use extraction, including those available as rentals. A well known retail extraction machine is the Green machine carpet cleaner.


• Steam - a true steam carpet cleaning machine usually does not extract dirt and debris. Water vapor is turned into tiny steam droplets at extremely high temperatures which kill everything they come in contact with. Dirt and stains rise to the top of the carpet and are absorbed by a towel-like attachment. What remains is able to be vacuumed off. True steam cleaners leave behind very little moisture which dries within fifteen minutes. Many cleaners claim to be steam cleaners, but are really just hot water extractors. Look for steam cleaners that list themselves as vapor steam cleaners and check product specifications to be sure the machine truly produces stream.


• Dry carpet cleaning - dry carpet cleaning machines are another kind of steam cleaner. A dry carpet cleaning machine uses a very low percentage of moisture - just 5 or 6 percent and cleans at high temperatures. This percentage is less than that of air, so the result is a dry, sanitized carpet.

It is difficult for consumers to judge what the best carpet cleaning machine is. Each type has unique pros and cons. Unarguably, a vapor steam carpet cleaner machine is the best at sanitizing, but without extraction dirt can be left atop the carpet. They are also very slow working cleaning machines. Carpet cleaning can take hours with vapor steamers. An extracting home carpet cleaning machine is much faster and will do a very impressive job of cleaning if a good quality carpet cleaner is used. Some cheaper models don’t get carpets as clean as they should be, so it is important to know what result you seek and choose your machine accordingly when comparing carpet cleaning machines by feature and cost.

A good quality carpet cleaning machine is an excellent investment for a home for those who choose not to hire a professional cleaning service. Carpets can be cleaned far more frequently when you own your own machine, and the overall cost savings really add up over time. However, if you don’t take the time to find a good home carpet cleaning machine, you will be disappointed and will soon be looking for the number for the local carpet cleaning service.