

Cleaning with a carpet cleaner takes time. (Check out these tips for preventing hearing loss.)ĥ. So grab noise-canceling headphones or earplugs that guarantee protection for up to 85 dBA. (In decibels, a reading of 80 is twice as loud as 70.) At this decibel level, we recommend wearing hearing protection, especially if you’re using the machine for a prolonged period. In our tests, the average noise level was 80 dBA. An average vacuum cleaner can produce up to 70 decibels of noise. Save the specialized solutions for stubborn stains, like a pet mess.Ĥ.

Hoover, for one, offers a dozen different choices for carpets and floors.īut for routine carpet cleaning, the specialty formulas and spot stain removers aren’t necessary. And they might sell a bewildering array of specialized solutions. Manufacturers recommend that you use their proprietary cleaning solution with their machines-even requiring it, at the risk of voiding the warranty. Stick with the standard solution for most cleaning. You don’t want your machine falling down the stairs after you tug the hose too far.” On the cleaners we’ve tested that have hoses, they tend to run 8 to 9 feet long, though a few models, particularly deep cleaners, come with longer hoses.ģ. “If your stairs have carpeting, you’ll want a longer hose to reach up the steps,” Ciufo says. A hose is especially useful for cleaning stairs, upholstery, or other tough-to-reach areas. The models currently in our ratings typically have cords that are 20 to 22 feet, but a few run as long as 25 feet. As for accessories, although an independently rotating brush doesn’t guarantee a good cleaning, it tends to scrub more aggressively than a fixed brush (or no brush at all). And some models offer a variety of tools for special applications, including upholstery, small stains, pet stains, stairs, and corners and crevices.Ī longer cord and a hose can save you some repositioning effort. There are also carpet cleaners that have dry-only settings so that you can suck up more water after your initial cleaning, which may speed up drying time. Settings to consider: Some manufacturers claim that their models clean hard floors, like wood and tile, and carpets.
#Carpet extractor full
Some have dispensers that automatically add the cleaning agent to the water, saving you the hassle of having to measure out a full tank each time. But we found that it’s more convenient to have two separate tanks, one for water and the other for the cleaning solution. Some carpet cleaners have only a single tank with one chamber for the fresh solution and another for the spent mixture. Check the settings, accessories, and cord and hose lengths. Of course, a handle makes it easier to carry the machine around, so look for a model that has one if heft is a concern.Ģ. One of the lightest models we tested, the Hoover PowerDash Pet FH50700, weighs 12 pounds when empty and 17 when the tank is full.

#Carpet extractor pro
The largest cleaner in our ratings, the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Commercial Pro, weighs 65 pounds when full and may be difficult for one person to maneuver. We list the weight of the carpet cleaner when empty and when full on each model page. A full tank of cleaning solution (which you have to lug from the sink) adds 6 to 15 pounds to the full-sized models in our ratings. Carpet cleaners are heavy when empty and even heavier after you fill up the tank. Here are five things to keep in mind as you shop.ġ. But while the deep cleaners are twice as big, they don’t necessarily clean twice as well you don’t have to spend a bundle to get a spotless carpet. The carpet cleaners currently in our ratings cost from about $100 to over $500 for a deep cleaner.
