Carpet cleaners: FAQs
What is a carpet washer?
Brushes or rollers scrub the carpet clean
A carpet washer uses warm water and detergent to clean carpets. The solution is sprayed into the pile to give it a good deep clean. Brushes or rollers scrub the carpet clean, then a vacuum sucks away the dirty water. They can be upright or cylinder.
What is a multi-function cleaner?
Multi-function cleaners can wash carpets with detergent and water like a carpet washer, and can also be used as a traditional dry-vacuum cleaner. Switching between modes takes time in most cases, and performance at either task isn’t exceptional.
Can I use own-brand detergent or do I have to use the manufacturers own?
Manufacturers recommend that you use their own brands and supply a few litres with most machines, but own-brand products are also available.
Should I wash around the furniture or clear the room?
It’s best to empty the room before you wash the carpet. If you don’t, and you move the furniture afterwards, you might find some areas of carpet are cleaner than others.
Do I need to vacuum the carpet first?
Vacuum the area you’re going to wash to pick up any loose dirt, dust and fluff.
How do I use a carpet washer?
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding how many passes to make on one section – too much detergent in one spot could lead to an uneven finish.
Can they handle spills and stains?
We tested carpet cleaners on red wine, coffee and gravy stains
A spot cleaner will be your best option if you have a nasty stain (see our stain removers review) but all machines are able to suck up spills. Nozzle attachments for the hose are handy for this.
Do I really need to buy a carpet cleaner?
If you’ve got light-coloured carpets, then sooner or later they’ll get dirty with everyday wear. And if you’ve got young children or pets, accidents will happen. So at times like this, it’s handy having a carpet washer in the cupboard under the stairs.
What are they good at?
A carpet washer’s speciality is deep-cleaning and refreshing tired-looking carpets – and as if to prove how hard they work, some machines have transparent water tanks that allow you to see the dirty water being sucked back up into the machine. Specialist detergent is also available to deal with pet smells.
How much should I pay?
You can pick up a Best Buy for about £160. Cheaper machines don’t tend to have powered brushes or hose attachments, so what you save in money, you lose in cleaning power and ease of use.
Can they be used on hard floors?
Some machines are designed to be used on hard floors, and others come with clip-on or rubber lips so they can be used on tiled floors or lino. But don’t use them on unsealed laminate or wood, as these surfaces can be damaged by the water. See also our review of traditional vacuum cleaners.