Carpet Cleaning Machines - DIY to Keep It Looking New

Whenever first-time guests enter my home they are surprised by two things: the fact that there is white carpeting in nearly every room and the fact that the carpets are usually spotless.

What the visitors don't know is that I have my very own carpet cleaning machine that I count on to clean all the wall to wall carpets.

Gone are the days when carpet cleaners were so expensive that consumers were forced to either rent from a store or call a professional to come in. Now, good carpet cleaning equipment costs about the same as a decent vacuum cleaner, which means there's no need to spend a fortune to protect floors from dirt and stains.

Choosing the best carpet cleaner. In addition to price, there are three other things to consider: style, attachments, and the presence of a water heater.

Just as with vacuums, carpet cleaning machines are available in either upright or canister designs. The style that you choose will largely depend on personal preference. However, it should be noted that if you plan on using the machine for lots of hard-to-reach areas, a canister model would be the best bet.

A carpet cleaning machine is effective on more than just home flooring. Clean car interiors, furniture upholstery and stair runners. In order to do so, the carpet and floor cleaner should come with the necessary attachments.

In general, the more that the machine can do, the more expensive it will be. Therefore, it's important determine whether the extra features are worth the added cost.

The characteristic that makes machines effective for cleaning carpet is the ability to use hot water to produce steam. Some machines require that you add hot water, while others have heaters already built in.

Obviously, going with the built-in styles would simplify the process because it's not necessary to stop halfway through the job. But as with other convenience features, expect to pay a higher price.

The Bissell PowerSteamer ProHeat Plus comes with a high pressure power brush that lifts deep down dirt. The Hoover SteamVac Plus is an easy to use and moderately priced option. Dirt Devil Easy Steamer Carpet Extractor is a lightweight, affordable model.

Take a look at some of the most popular models and get the peace of mind that comes along with knowing your beautiful carpeting is safe from stains!