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Carpet cleaning shouldn’t be a chore, it should be easy and enjoyable. You should be able to look at your carpets once you are done and notice how clean they are. There are many companies that sell steam carpet cleaners or have them available for rental at home. Consumer carpet cleaners on the market today are convenient and have the ability to give you comparable results as professional cleaning services.
Carpet Cleaners from some of the major brands on the market have a variety of features. You can get them as upright cleaners, commercial-grade machines that are full-size, canister models, portable spot cleaners and other different models. They will most likely come with different attachments.
Based on some recent research, tons of carpet cleaners have been thoroughly researched. Some of the leading brands were included and were compared with how durable they are, how user friendly they are, their price, and power.
If you are looking for help choosing the best carpet steamers, check out these reviews of some of the most sought out cleaners on the market today.
Contents
Why A Carpet Cleaner Is Needed
Vacuuming alone doesn’t always lift up the dirts that’s ground-in to the carpet, stains from pets and odors. Even after you vacuum there is grime trapped within your carpet threads. Using a vacuum to clean the debris and hair from your carpets will make them feel clean, but won’t make them look clean. With a carpet cleaner that uses steam, your carpets will look and feel cleaner, more so than if you were to only vacuum.
Carpet cleaners are the ideal solution for cleaning that embedded dirt as well as eliminating pet mess odors and embedded stains. Some carpet cleaners can leave behind filth in your flooring and it may feel or smell gross afterwards. Steam cleaners use cleaning water for deep cleaning that you can feel in your carpets. This method will help your carpets look better and last longer for years to come.
There are those who also think that renting a carpet cleaner from the hardware store is the cheaper way to do thing. Unfortunately, it’s actually more expensive and you don’t have to worry about finding a place in your car to get the machine home. Also, as the renter, you are responsible for cleaning the cleaner itself and ensuring it’s in the same condition as when you rented it. If you buy a steam carpet cleaner, it’s yours forever and you can do what you want with it.
There are plenty of carpet cleaners for consumers available with attachment options. There’s no hassle and you can wash your carpeted flooring on your own without having to run to the store to rent the machine and buy the carpet cleaning solution.
There are plenty of carpet cleaner model on the market that are messy to use and can cause some major frustration. Here are some of the most recommended steam carpet cleaners that won’t cause you that irreversible frustration.
Best Carpet Steam Cleaner Reviews
1.
Hoover Power Scrub Elite Pet-Best Overall
Hoover’s Power Scrub Elite Pet is a top contender for the most powerful and versatile carpet cleaners of the larger models that are best-selling. It has a 25 percent larger tank capacity so you don’t have to worry about refilling the tanks as often as you would with the smaller models. This is much more convenient option, especially for those who have large carpeted spaces.
This carpet cleaner is a powerful machine that can tackle rooms full of carpeting, tackle all homes, your pets messes, and more. If you are looking for other options, check out this guide about the best carpets cleaner for pets.
It’s actually more convenient and reliable than more expensive machines. It’s perfect if you’re on a tighter budget than others. The Hoover Power Scrub Elite Pet has many cleaning modes that allow you to get a deep clean within your carpets without using a lot of water.
This carpet cleaner has a quick clean mode accompanied by HeatForce. This versatile mode allows your carpets to dry in just 45 minutes so you can get back to walking on your floors quicker. This is the setting that’s meant more for smaller messes and cleanups that are less severe.
Once the machine has gone through the scrub and rinse stages, the machine will then go through the extraction cycle, which uses hot air. This will accelerate the drying time. Since there is more shallow penetration and integration of hot air, the carpets dry faster. Individual results can vary depending on the amount of soapy water is used on your carpets.
Rinse Mode gives you the ability to clean your carpets with soap and water and then distribute only water to rinse the soap residue just by flipping a switch. There’s also a deep clean mode that will use all the machine’s power to remove embedded dirt and stains throughout your whole home.
The most basic carpet cleaning setting would be the Deep Clean. This uses a ton of water and detergent and then sucks it all back up. This particular carpet cleaner reaches all the way to the bottom of the carpet fibers and pulls up all that ground-in dirt and tough stains.
The Hoover Power Scrub Elite is extremely lightweight. It’s simple to carry and comes complete with four easy access handles. The machine itself weighs a mere 19 pounds. It also has a 12-inch cleaning path for maximum cleaning abilities. There’s also the automatic detergent mixing, allowing the machine to get the appropriate combination of detergent and water for fantastic cleaning results.
There are different attachment tools that come with this carpet cleaner. You can use a tool for upholstery or stairs that are carpeted. These tools are attached to an eight foot long hose, giving you have a good amount of cleaning range. You can switch between rubber nubs and stiff bristles, which is dependent on what you’re cleaning. Rubber nubs are perfect for cleaning pet messes. The antimicrobial SpinScrub brush system makes it so odors and unsanitary bacteria don’t gather in the tool while attempting to tackle even the toughest pet messes and food spills.
Most users enjoy using their Hoover Elite, but there are those who have complaints about the durability of the bristles. They don’t seem to hold up as well as the ones on the Bissell machine. There’s also the issue of having to lug around two water tanks and the detergent ratio can’t be controlled.
- Inexpensive
- Two cleaning modes
- Faster drying
- Automatically mixes water and detergent
- Unreliable
- Disc scrubbers aren’t durable
- Can’t control detergent ratio
2.
Bissell DeepClean Professional Pet Carpet Cleaner
There’s no doubt that you’ve heard of the Bissell company. These guys are one of the most popular for carpet cleaning products. The Bissell DeepClean Professional Pet Carpet Cleaner is quite the workhorse with dependable bristles, a better design, and great overall performance. This carpet cleaner has a larger head for cleaning than most other carpet cleaners. You will find multiple roller brushes that have 12 rows of scrubbers per each one.
One of the great features of the Bissell DeepClean is that the cleaning area extends all the way to the edge of the width rather than stopping in the middle or just before the edge. It has spinning brushes that run horizontally and come out of the sides so you can get right into the cracks of your baseboards for professional-like cleaning power. As a mid-range priced carpet cleaner, it really goes above and beyond.
The suction in this carpet cleaner extends all the way to the edges of the cleaning head as well, which is an issue that a lot of carpet machines have. There is consistent drying across the whole nozzle. For those of you who have pets, there is a basket that collects hair. It works like a vacuum dust compartment. All of the fur will accumulate in the collection unit and you can easily throw it in the garbage. With other carpet cleaners, you have to remove the hair manually to avoid drain clogging.
The Bissell has a 1.25-gallon water tank with an even better collection tank. The collection tank is actually linked to the water tank so you don’t have to lug two of them around. The pouch gets smaller the water is filling up, so you don’t have to stress about overflowing. This is quite the versatile machine with two attachments.
You will get the upholstery tool and the tool for stain trapping for excellent spot cleaning. The stain trapper tool has its own tank so that you can use a separate cleaning solution that will stay in the tank and won’t go throughout the machine.
You could also get an attachment that works like a high-powered mop. It also has a three-year warranty.
Many of the Bissell users haven’t had an issue, but there are some isolated reports from those who have seemed to get a lemon. There were also some complaints about the compartments for clean and dirty water. If you want to load one, you have to dump the other and it’s a pain to clean.
- Three-year warranty
- Great cleaning power
- Sturdy bristles
- Easy to use
- Large water tank
- Great attachments
- Poor water tank design
- Hard to clean
3.
Bissell Big Green Machine - Best Quality
If you’re looking for a professional quality carpet cleaner, then the Bissell Big Green Machine is a smart choice for a carpet cleaner. It’s a professional-grade unit with big and powerful motor scrubs. If you are sick of renting machines from the store, consider the Bissell Big Green Machine. It’s designed to fit nicely in your home with a handle that folds and nose that can be packed away for easy storage.
The power of the Bissell Big Green is a huge advantage for those who need their carpets scrubbed well. It has the power to clean your carpeting with minimal passes. You don’t have to spend as much time cleaning like you would if you had a traditional carpet cleaner. Not to mention, there’s a larger coverage area with each pass.
The water tanks on this machine are larger than most. This means you can clean for longer without having to fill and empty the tanks every few minutes. The tanks can be removed for easy filling and emptying. They also stack together in a particular way to help you figure out which one goes where. As well as the injection system for the water and detergent, there are wide power scrubber brushes that aid in lifting grime and dirt from your carpets. It’s so powerful that it beats the power of rental machines by far.
The Bissell Big Green has added suction power to help lift the water better and dry your carpet quicker. There’s also a nine foot accessory hose that can reach just about anywhere you need to clean. Attached to it is a six inch nozzle for cleaning stubborn stains and corners. You can clean upholstered furniture, stairs and more with this handy tool.
Most reviewers love this machine. However, there are some that don’t appreciate how bulky and heavy it is for them. It’s not the easiest to maneuver around coffee tables and couches. There’s also the issue of storage space and its bulky stature.
- Fantastic sucking power
- Cleans great
- Affordable
- Ergonomic design
- 5-year warranty
- Doesn’t automatically heat the water
- No hose storage options
- Doesn’t do well with edge cleaning
4.
BISSELL Turboclean Powerbrush Shampooer - Best Budget
If you’re looking for a small and powerful carpet cleaner but you’re on a tighter budget, then consider the Bissell Turboclean. This small cleaner is great for your budget and it’s a convenient solution if you aren’t looking to spend a ton.
The Bissell Turboclean Powerbrush Upright Clear isn’t that great if you have a room full of carpeting you need cleaned with heavy traffic. However, it’s ideal for area rugs, carpeted entries, single rooms and it’s very inexpensive. It’s actually one of the cheapest cleaners out there with good power. It’s a great tool and a compact option for those who don’t need something huge or bulky.
This little cleaner weight only 12 pounds and the handle collapses for easy storage. It’s just about as big as an upright vacuum cleaner and has some of the same extras as some of the larger Bissell models do. It comes with a brush cover that can be removed, edge bristles and it is backed by a one-year warranty. It has a four row rotating dirtlifter brush that works on 3.4 amps of power. The two tank system keeps the clean and dirty water separated. The Bissell oxy-based formula that you can use in this machine is ideal for removing grape, wine, coffee, juice and pet stains.
Most users who were looking for a cheaper carpet cleaner love this product. However, there are some who complain about a faulty handle mechanism and the fact that the machine doesn’t work at all or after a few uses.
- Powerful for a small cleaner
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Great for small rooms and stain
- Powerful brushes
- Poor quality
- Faulty handle mechanism
5.
Reliable Steamboy 300CU
Best steam mop for spot-cleaning
One of the better steam mops on the market is the Steamboy 300CU. This is a convenient steam mop for quick touch-ups. The Reliable Steamboy 300CU steamer is the best option for those looking to refresh their carpet fibers. This is one of those steam cleaners that cycle water for steaming carpets.
The Reliable Steamboy 300CU is a top-quality steam mop that is recommended for all hard flooring types. It’s also a stellar machine to have for those quick carpet touch-ups. With the Reliable Steamboy 300CU, you will get a carpet glider attachment. No steam mop is going to do as thorough of a job as a carpet shampooer, but this one is great for handling those smaller cleaning chores that you don’t want to bring out the large machine for.
You can use this steam mop to remove odors from and sanitize carpets for pet messes. It will also freshen areas of carpet and make them brighter just by gliding over the top of it. It’s great for killing fleas, dust mites and any other nasties that may be lurking beneath your carpet fibers. All you have to do is fill the 2.4 cup tank and press a button.
The Reliable has a heavy duty scrubber brigh that makes your grout lines and floor tile look like they were just installed. The 180 degree swivel head allow you to reach areas that you can’t with a traditional mop. You can easily switch between the scrubber and steamer by simply pressing a button with our foot. Simplet click on the glide option to freshen your carpets and area rugs.
There are some pretty mixed reviews about this product. A lot of users enjoy the ease of use, but there are some who complain about leaking water and soaking carpets. A lot of users needed to return it after a short while because it was faulty.
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Freshens carpets
- Scrubs hard floors
- Affordable
- Leaks water
- Randomly stops working
- Stops producing steam
Buying Guide
Decide on Your Budget
The price range of carpet cleaners are very similar to those of carpet cleaners. They generally come in around $100 to hundreds of dollars. The cheaper models usually feature some of the common things that the premium units do, but they won’t have a ton of extras and amenities. You won’t have the luxury of ergonomic features such as advanced scrubbers, automatic fluid dispensers or gauges. These features can result in a carpet with a deeper clean with minimal effort. Not having these features means you won’t have that deep clean and you will need some more elbow grease.
Generally. The more expensive the machine, the bigger the warranty, most of them up to five years. They will also have a better quality build. You will get more accessories, better scrubbing brushes that won’t clog or snag and they’re easier to use. They have ergonomic features that save you the strain from all that elbow grease.
If you are only going to use the carpet cleaner on occasion, it’s not recommended to buy a top-of-the-line $300 model. If you have pets or a lot of carpeting throughout your home, you may want to consider spending more on a machine that is more reliable and powerful. It’s best that you think about how often and how much carpeting you have on your home as you figure out how much you want to spend.
Consider Size
The size of your machine is vital for a variety of reasons. A bigger carpet cleaner with a larger cleaning path can cover more area in a shorter amount of time. The bigger machines will be better on those tougher stains. They will also usually have bigger tanks, which results in fewer trips to the sink. Unfortunately, they are more difficult to use around large furniture. A larger carpet cleaner will usually result in having to more the furniture while you are cleaning. It’s more difficult to use for simple spot checks.
Those smaller carpet cleaners for smaller cleanups and furniture cleaning are ideal. They can be easily maneuvered, are perfect for stairs and they have the ability to keep water warmer for a longer period of time. The cheaper carpet cleaners usually have smaller tanks, so they need to be refilled more and they’re less powerful.
The size of your carpet cleaner is also something to consider. You will also need to consider where you want to store it. The carpet cleaners that are professional-grade and full-sized are going to occupy more space in your closet. Most full-size models come with handles that fold. This turns them into a compact box. These are larger than most of the other models and usually look like an upright vacuum.
Look at Features & Functions
Carpet cleaners can come with a variety of different features and have different cleaning powers. When deciding between a few, consider the cleaning power as your top need when it comes to function. You are going to want something that isn’t too bulky, but has a lot of power behind it. You can then look at the extras. This will help you figure out which machine is right for you. Don’t pick a machine that is based completely on the extras that come with it. Make sure it has the power you need before you go for those expensive extras.
If you want just the basic features, weigh flexibility versus power. The machines with the larger motors have the best suction power and will work harder. Industrial cleaners, on the other hand, are very difficult to maneuver around and under furniture. The smaller machines adapt better, but they will have problems with those big stains and larger amounts of dirt because of the lack of power and its weak brushes.
You can find a variety of features in a carpet cleaner. You should make sure you’re thinking about the ones that will make the most difference in cleaning.
You can find pet hair attachments that come with your carpet cleaner. These can really help remove any embedded hair more easily. However, there are some mixed reviews on these features. You should never use the pet hair feature as a alternate for vacuuming. Rather, look for odor elimination and tools for stain removal.
Durability
Let’s face it, there is never going to be such thing as the perfect product. No matter how much you spend, there is always the possibility of a faulty piece of machinery. It has come to the attention of many people that Bissell, Hoover, and Rug Doctor were very difficult to deal with in terms of faulty cleaners.
Based on recent research, individuals who noticed these issues right off the bat did the best. Cleaning machines are generally easy to return and exchange while you’re still in the period of return. After that window closes, things can get dicy. If your machine is still in the warranty period, it’s possible that you will be asked to bring the faulty machine to a place where they can service the machine. This can be difficult for customers in some areas.
It’s highly recommended that you check your machine for damage as you unbox it and test it soon after you do so.
It’s extremely important to look over the user manual and use the machine like they are supposed to be used. Take care of your carpet cleaner the proper way. For more about this, check out our upcoming Tips section.
Tips for Making Your Carpet Cleaner Work for You
1. Vacuum First
You may think that your carpet cleaner can handle all that pet hair you have in your carpet, but it really can’t. It can clog the machine if the surface isn’t prepared. Not to mention, you are probably going to see huge globs of pet hair come out of the back of the machine while you are using it.
Vacuum your carpet the best you possibly can. Your carpet cleaner may then have the ability to pull out hair that is deeper in the carpet and it will be a lot less of a mess.
Not to mention, the less there is in the carpet to begin with, the less passes you will have to make to get the carpet clean. Also, less trips back and forth to the dumping station.
2. Pre-Treat Stains
Your cleaning solution makes a huge difference in how your carpet looks and feels afterwards. Some of the natural carpet fibers may not work well with the solution you use. More importantly, some detergents can harm certain types of carpets.
It’s best to read your carpet warranty and browse online for creative solutions. Some savvy bloggers have shared their tips online such as using vinegar on stains before you begin carpet cleaning.
3. Check Frequently for Clogs
The brushes that scrub the carpets tend to be one of the most frequent issues consumers have with their carpet cleaners. You should check them every so often for loose threads, debris and fur. You can take the brushes out of some models for simple cleaning, but they should still be checked frequently.
4. Follow the Manual
Yes, the carpet cleaners look very simple to use, but this is because they are pre-built and sent that way. It may seem like everything is common knowledge, but it’s still best that you get to know the user manual beforehand.
5. Take Your Time
Give the brushes time to work the detergent into the carpet. The longer you do this, the more grime you’ll pull up. You will also get better results for drying times if you let the warm air get deep within your flooring.
6. Make It Easier for Yourself
If you are looking to make things easier for yourself, try going over your carpet with hot water first. You can then double back with detergent. Apparently this will draw the detergent into the fibers that are already damp.
Another tip is to make sure you are using brand name detergent. It is the only kind that won’t void the warranty. Unfortunately, it’s rather expensive. This is a good way to save some money and you can get a deeper clean.
Final Thoughts
Your personal preferences really make a difference in your options of steam cleaners and steam mops. You don’t have to spend a ton and a lot of them are inexpensive and under $200. You don’t have to chose the top-of-the-line product for a good clean. Just make sure you follow the tips and tricks. This can save you time, energy, and money.
You can find our reviews and recommendations for the best steam mop, floor steamers and cleaners on the market by visiting our homepage.
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