Have you ever wondered which carpet cleaner is used most often? There are a few different options out there, but one type tends to be the favorite of many homeowners. Let’s take a look at the most popular carpet cleaner and why it remains a top choice.
Carpet Cleaning Machines
One type of carpet cleaner is a carpet cleaning machine. These are machines that you can rent from stores like home improvement stores or dedicated carpet cleaning rental shops. Carpet cleaning machines come in a few different styles.
One popular style is an upright carpet cleaner. Upright carpet cleaners look similar to an upright vacuum cleaner but have a water tank and solution tank. You fill them with water and a cleaning solution, then use the rotating brushes to clean your carpets. The dirty water is then sucked up and collected in a separate dirty water tank.
Upright carpet cleaners are easy to use – just push forward like a vacuum. They work well for most carpet types and are very effective at lifting out deep down dirt and stains. Another type is a canister carpet cleaner. Canister style carpet cleaners have a separate cleaning solution tank and dirty water recovery tank that you pull behind you on wheels as you clean. Some people find canisters a bit harder to maneuver than uprights but they can still do a great job on carpets.
Portable Carpet Cleaners
While carpet cleaning machines work well, they do require renting the machine, bringing it home, and then returning it. For many people, the easiest and most convenient option is a portable carpet cleaner. Portable carpet cleaners are handheld devices that are very affordable to purchase compared to renting a machine. They are small and lightweight, making them extremely portable and easy to store at home.
To use a portable carpet cleaner, you fill the small clean water and solution tanks, then work the device back and forth over the carpet using the rotating brush or trigger spray. The dirty solution is collected in a separate small recovery tank. When full, you just empty it into the toilet or outside. Portable carpet cleaners don’t have as large of cleaning paths as full size machines, so they take a bit more time to clean large areas. But for quick spot cleaning, stairs, cars, and smaller rooms they work great.
Steam Cleaners
Another option that has become quite popular is a steam carpet cleaner. Steam carpet cleaners work by using pressurized hot steam to lift out dirt and grime from carpets. The steam breaks down stuck-on dirt and grease. Most steam carpet cleaners work with just water, no cleaning chemicals required. After the steam loosens the dirt, the unit will usually have suction to pick up the now-liquid dirt from the carpet.
Steam carpet cleaners are very effective at cleaning, and the hot steam can sanitize carpets in the process. They tend to dry much faster than solutions from other carpet cleaners too since it’s just steam. Many people find steam carpet cleaners to be the most environmentally-friendly option as well since you’re just using water. Steam cleaners can be corded or cordless models, often for a similar price to a portable carpet cleaner.
The Winner – Portable Carpet Cleaners
After trying all three of the main types of carpet cleaners, in my opinion the most convenient and common carpet cleaner people choose is a portable carpet cleaner. Portable carpet cleaners are affordable to purchase compared to renting a full-size machine. They are lightweight and compact, making them extremely portable and easy to use on stairs or in multiple rooms.
Final Thought
While they don’t have the large cleaning paths of full-size machines, portable carpet cleaners still do a great job on spot cleaning, smaller rooms, and carpets in vehicles. For quick cleanups between deep professional cleanings, portable carpet cleaners can’t be beat. They are simple to use with just a few buttons and take minutes to have clean carpets again. No more hassle of loading and unloading a heavy rental machine either. It’s no wonder portable carpet cleaners have become a favorite for homeowners and the most common type of carpet cleaner found in homes today.