Carpet Info

Bissell is a good (upright models) carpet cleaner for DIY, other good
machines are also available from retailers but Here are some thoughts to consider. First, I am a full time carpet
cleaner. I am not here to sell, or advocate, or promote *anything*. I am not an expert on the home market machines. If you want to know
about the professional models...but you don't. Now, *please* accept
this as it is written, and it is not an attempt to criticize these
machines because they are my "competition"--they *aren't*. Personally,
I *like* my clients to have these machines, especially those with busy
homes and lives. First, I am always amused at the word "steam" for these types of
machines. Steam implies heated water raised to the temperature of 212
degrees. Considering that portable steam machines used by me cost
$2,000 minimum, I find it a little difficult to understand how a $279
machine can heat water to "steam". It is simple--they *can't*. They use your tap water, and seldom are
home water heaters ever set to 145 degrees, which is about as high as
they go, and this is both a waste of energy, and too hot for human
use. Most are usually 120 degrees or so. (You are 92 degrees below
steam.)

I have both portable and truck mounted steam machines--my truck
mounted steam machine cost me $19,000 for just the machine, and I
spent another $15,000 for accessories, like a water softener, etc.
Then I had to put into a *truck*. Bissell has long been a leader in this field. Hoover makes a machine
that I examined at the local K Mart; seemed to be a fairly nice
machine. There are others, and I would make sure that it contained a
hand tool attachment with a sprayer attached. For small jobs, and when
you are brave, upholstery.

One thing I can help with is cleaning agents. I would look in the
yellow pages under "carpet cleaners-supply", or under "janitorial
supply", and purchase cleaning agents *there*, instead of buying the
cleaners from the machine manufacturer. You will get better products,
at much better prices. (A 7 lb jar of a top notch detergent for about
$30--you will use less than **1 oz** per cleaning. Enough to last you
a *lifetime*...in my portables, I mix *2 ozs* per 5 gallons of water.
Four ounces does NOT "work twice as good", okay?)

Introduce yourself, and tell them what you want; a quality shampoo, or
steam detergent for your machine, and see what they recommend. I would
also want a rinse product. A good supplier will be able to answer your
questions, and they will sell single gallons/jars. If you are not
comfortable, or they seem to lack expertise (and you would not believe
how many are incompetent), try another place. Good brands: Chemspec,
ProChem, Harvard, Bridgepoint, ProMaster, DSC, etc.

Read the manual *carefully*--the professional cleaners are
manufactured to be safe for stain resistant carpets, and also to
protect the *equipment*. I have one extractor, a small spotting
machine I use for little jobs, which is almost entirely plastic, and
after 6 years of lots of use, I have never had a problem with it. I
would imagine these upright machines are similar in construction so
that they would be fine for use with the same stuff I use.

When you clean your carpets, always *rinse*. Make numerous dry passes.
I define "soil" as *anything* foreign to the carpet, or its
construction, so when I am cleaning it, I am *soiling* it, by my
definition. A very thorough vacuuming is essential (would you mop your
kitchen floor before sweeping?).

I *rinse* every single piece I ever clean. Do NOT overwet, however.

You can purchase a traffic lane cleaner, a detergent, a shampoo if you
need lubrication (a machine with a beater brush), defoamer, and a
rinse. I would also buy a Grandi Groomer, which is a carpet "rake" to
agitate the carpet if you prespray, or to vacuum heavily matted
traffic lanes. When you are done, you "groom" the carpet, and set the
pile for a pleasing appearance, and faster drying. By the way,
*carpet* detergents are NOT used on upholstery.