Carpet Steam Cleaner » Featured

Advantages and Disadvantages of Bagless Vacuums

david — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:14:00 +0000

In recent years, there has been a huge surge in the advertising of bagless vacuum cleaners. At first glance, these sound superior in every single way to vacuums that use bags, as they require less maintenance and do not require the user to continually replace bags. The replacement process can get annoying for a lot of people, so it seems that a bagless vacuum solves all these problems. Although bagless vacuums do have a lot of benefits, they are not perfect, so before getting one you should be aware of all the pros and cons.

The first thing to realize is that there is still some level of maintenance to carry out when working with bagless vacuums. Instead of using a bag, the dirt is sent into a dedicated compartment, that you can easily remove and empty directly into the trashcan. Since the compartment is reusable, you do not need to worry about continually purchasing bags. In this sense, a bagless vacuum is superior to a bagged alternative, but in addition to convenience, there is also the question of efficiency.

You want the vacuum you own to be able to get the job done, and if a product cannot do that, then it is certainly an inferior device. A problem with bagless vacuums is that they have not been around for that long, and there has not been enough time for the technology within these systems to be perfected. Therefore, there are sometimes problems with how effective the vacuums function. Due to the current way the devices work, a lot of the smaller dirt particles can be exhausted back out after being initially caught up. This means that despite doing a complete vacuum job, your carpets may not be completely clean.

There are a few other problems with bagless vacuums, such as the fact that they can break and you still need to replace the filters, albeit not as often as you need to for a bagged vacuum. Realize there is a lot of variation between different vacuum models, and some products are definitely better than others. By being aware of all the factors that distinguish bagged and bagless vacuums, you can make a more informed decision about what kind to get. If you really care about solid cleanliness, then you should go with a bagged vacuum, but if you just want to finish up quickly and do less work, a bagless device may be for you. In any case, you have to make some sort of decision, because carpets don’t clean themselves.

Separate the Winners from the Losers in Cleaning Supplies

david — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:30:59 +0000

There are many companies that market their green cleaning supplies and many companies that actually sell environmentally friendly cleaning products and green commercial cleaning supplies. The disappointing part is that these companies are not always one and the same. It is a step in the right direction to see many larger companies dedicating resources to developing green product lines but if this is just a small part of a large company, that does not practice this as a whole, do you really want to support them with your money. There are too many good alternatives out there to vote for the wrong guy with your dollars.

Here are some quick tips to separate the winners from the losers and find some genuine green cleaning supplies.

First look to make sure that all of your products are biodegradable. This relates to our water supply, which is often taken for granted. Tell that to the billions that don’t have access to clean drinking water. Take care of this resource or we will loose it.

Just to be sure we are on the same page, let me explain. Everything is biodegradable to some extent, some things just take millions of years to deteriorate. We are looking for things that will degrade in less than 28 days. That is the bench mark that we are shooting for and that is what will have an impact.

Look at the ingredients of a product. If you see bleach or anything that looks like it needs an MSDS you can probably rule it out as safe. If you see plant based ingredients then this is a thumbs up.

It amazes me that we attempt to sanitize our homes and businesses with things that are highly toxic. The very things that many people use to clean their homes and businesses can get you thrown in jail if you try to take them on a plane.

Many people will make numerous environmental changes but refrain from making the changes that involve cleaning. This is disappointing because this is one area that has the potential to be a real game changer. People are either afraid that green products don’t work or that they are not as effective as harmful products.

For those of you with this opinion look at your options and I challenge you to make the change to green cleaning supplies for a short time. If you don’t recognize the effectiveness and safety of these products then switch back. Many companies have made progress in leaps and bounds in the areas of green cleaning supplies.

The Best Carpet Cleaning Solution – Hoover

david — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:41:03 +0000

Hoover has been synonymous with carpet cleaning and home care machinery and solutions since its first vacuum cleaner came forth in 1908. (In England, the company name has long been generic for vacuum cleaning, much the way Band-Aid is for simple first-aid bandages and Mixmaster is for any home kitchen mixer.) Hoover carpet cleaning solutions—vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners—continue to receive positive reviews for the most part, 102 years after that original, ponderous Model O upright was first built and sold.

As a matter of fact, ConsumerSearch.com gave the Hoover SteamVac F5914 a best carpet cleaning solution rating based on the machine’s effectiveness, moderate pricing for its class, and such features as a built-in solution heater, its ability to leave a carpet less wet than other similar machines, and its lack of hose leakage. The machine features five revolving brushes and two tanks dispensing and collecting hot tap water for cleaning, and a Clean Surge feature giving a user an extra shot of solution for more harsh stains including pet stains.

However, the SteamVac F5912 Turbo Power got near five-star ratings on average from 100 Amazon.com consumer reviewers. Those reviewers said the machine had superior stain-removal ability and praised the revolving brushes’ ability to refluff a carpet after giving it a firm deep cleaning.

ConsumerSearch.com preferred those two models to several more expensive Hoover carpet washers including the SteamVac All Terrain carpet and hard floor cleaner and the SteamVac Dual V. The lone knock on the SteamVac F5914 appears to be that some of its plastic parts may break. On the other hand, 170 Amazon.com consumer reviews left the SteamVac All Terrain model an average of four stars, deciding price was no object when you had a machine that was equally effective on carpets and floors and was cited especially for being effective against pet hair and stains.

If you do not want full-solution-and-steam carpet cleaners but a good vacuum cleaner that handles carpets and upholstery, Hoover’s Wind Tunnel canisters continue receiving positive ratings for the money. The S3639, which uses filter bags, receives high marks for cleaning ability on carpet (with a power-driven nozzle brush) and above the floor, but the bagless S3765 version is getting stronger reviews for lacking the small inconveniences many reviewers found in the bag version—especially the difficulty in disconnecting the wand from the power nozzle of the S3639. It averaged four stars from over 900 consumer reviewers on Amazon.com, with the only noticeable complaints being its comparatively short electric cord.

You may even prefer something back to the future—Hoover decided to resurrect its once-venerable Constellation canister a few years ago. Resembling the planet Saturn now as then (1952-75), the Constellation features HEPA filtration rated to trap 98 percent of particles, a power-brush carpet nozzle, and an air cushion produced by the machine’s exhaust just as it was when first introduced. The lone drawback to that may be a little blowing of untouched dirt or dust around the room until it, too, is vacuumed up, but reviewers have praised the machine’s quiet operation and overall cleaning efficiency on and above floors. And, like the Wind Tunnel canisters, the Constellation features a longtime Hoover trademark: cleaning tools that snap into the wands or handle, eliminating the possibility of their becoming detached while cleaning.

Among Hoover’s once-venerable standard upright cleaners is a surprise pick by consumers—the Platinum series Wind Tunnel lightweight bagged upright. It sells around an average of $299, landed an average of four and a half stars from Amazon.com consumers who praised its light weight—making it easy to clean steps, carpeted or otherwise—and its 99 percent HEPA filtration trapping, not to mention an in-handle control speed and power control system and a portable canister attachment with cleaning tools.

Consumers also gave high marks to an even more expensive Hoover upright option, the Platinum series Wind Tunnel cyclonic upright, which sells around $400. Reviewers said it brought up more carpet dirt than competitive cyclonic cleaners with a combination of powerful suction and strong revolving brushes, and also praised its unusual filter cleaning reminder indicator, with the machine including a washable filter. The most frequent complaint about the machine, however, was its size—reviewers said it was difficult to manipulate beneath furniture, and there were also complaints about the lack of extension for the on-board hose and cleaning tools, making it difficult to clean upholstery or draperies above shoulder height.

Carpet Steam Cleaner Reviews – Bissell 2X

david — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:06:32 +0000

It wasn’t so long ago that steam cleaning your carpets meant calling in the professionals. While professional steam cleaning services still offer a great service they can be expensive if your carpets and floors need regular cleaning. Nowadays owning your own cleaner is common place and affordable costing around the same as a high quality vacuum cleaner. Less straight forward is choosing the right model. The market is already swamped with different models and brands and the choice can be confusing, even the best carpet steam cleaner reviews can leave you scratching your head.

It doesn’t help when a leading manufacturer brings out two models that seem almost identical, only a little detective work can bring to light the subtle differences between the two. In this carpet steam cleaner review we will look at just such an example. Bissell, one of the most respected steam cleaner brands, has its excellent ProHeat 2x range of upright carpet steam cleaners, but what a range it is with 5 different models sporting the ProHeat 2x logo. In this article we will take a quick over view of two of them to give you some idea of the differences between the models available.

ProHeat 2X Select

The first thing that should be said about the Bissell ProHeat 2x Select is that this is the updated and improved version of their successful ProHeat model. The ProHeat 2X Select is bigger, better and certainly more expensive, although at around $270 still reasonably priced. It’s bigger because it now has a one gallon water tank capacity, compared with the previous three quarter gallon model. Better because the cleaning path, that is to say the width of the bristled roller that cleans the floor, has now doubled to 12 inches compared to the previous 6 inches. As well as the added width to the cleaning path Bissell has also added extra brushes at the sides of the machine which have improved the cleaning up close to walls and along steps. It also comes with a longer extension power cord and more cleaning tools.

This new model of carpet steam cleaner has three strong new features that are worth a mention. Firstly the ProHeat 2X will not only give a deep clean to your carpets but can now be used for cleaning bare floors. This is a big plus and means you can now have an all in one cleaner that will do for the whole of your home no matter what the surfaces found there. Kitchen and bathroom floor tiles, wooden or concrete surfaces are all catered for. I should mention that thick rug surfaces, for instance a shag rug, would probably still be better off with a good shampooing.

Secondly the ProHeat range has an onboard water heating system, much like a commercial cleaning machine, which is very useful compare to machines that require filling with pre heated sources of water. The improvement in the 2X Select is that the heating system is not confined to the water tank alone; the heating system now permeates through into the hose attachment. The end result is water constantly heated during every part of the cleaning process which in turns results in better deep cleaning in your carpets.

Last but not least the ProHeat 2X Select now comes with Bissell’s own Microban antimicrobial product protection. Mold and mildew can spread fast in damp areas and lead to allergy irritations and odors and your steam cleaning product is at risk if not carefully looked after. This new protection system is already integrated into key components within the machine to protect it continuously from such infestation.

Bissell ProHeat 2X Select Pet

The ProHeat 2X Select has been manufactured with the pet owner in mind. This is a welcome and worthwhile development. For those of us who have a cat or a dog know only too well there’s a whole new world of pain involved in cleaning your carpets and upholstery when you have a furry friend living with you.

This model has some useful design features that will help with the specific removal of pet stains and dirt but it is worth mentioning that for one of the main problems of pets, that is to say molted hair and fur, you will still need to hoover thoroughly before using this cleaner. The rotating brushes will do a good job of pulling up a certain level of cat and dog hair and the see through nozzles and panels will alert you to when you need to clean the machine so that you can avoid blockages, but unless you want to spend a lot of time unplugging hair from your machine you really need to remove most of it first.

In fact the main pet feature of this machine is an extra six inch attachment which is proclaimed as a pet stain erasing tool. Use this along with the pet stain and odor removal solution that Bissell produce and you have a head start on pet specific stains and smells like urine, saliva and the rest.

While undoubtedly a useful tool it is debatable whether this model offers much more. In fact there is an argument that it offers a lot less. Yes you still have the internal water heating system and 12 inch rotating brushes but the ProHeat 2X Select Pet is not intended for use on bare floors and further more the standard model, 9400-6, does not come with the Microban® antimicrobial product protection; for that you need to make sure you’re buying the upgraded 9400-4 version.

Conclusion – In this carpet steam cleaner review there can be no argument that Bissell is a quality brand making quality cleaners, but the large range of products can be a little confusing. Remember as well as the two models above there is also the ProHeat 2X, the Proheat 2X Clean Shot and the new ProHeat 2X Healthy Home and we will look to provide home carpet steam cleaner reviews of these models at a later date. In the meantime if you want a Bissell cleaner for your home we recommend that you take the time to read carefully through the different specifications of each model so that you find the right one for you and your home. Unless pet stains are the main source of cleaning frustration in your life the conclusion of this carpet steam cleaners review is that you would be better off with the ProHeat 2X Select.