Carpets are more than just thick pieces of fabric spreading out on your living room floor. Aside from adding to your home’s aesthetic value, they can help improve air quality, minimise the possibility of slips and falls, and provide more space to sit, work, or play. That is why it is essential to keep them clean to maintain their appearance and eliminate allergens they may contain beneath the surface.
Read this blog as we discuss the different types of carpet cleaning equipment and provide you with some tips to keep your carpets clean.
Let’s Start with Vacuum Cleaners
One of the most important carpet cleaning tools and equipment is a vacuum. However, it comes in different types, each with pros and cons. Here’s a list of the different types of vacuums to help you decide which one to buy:
Robotic Vacuum
Robotic vacuums have become more popular due to their convenience, as you can set a schedule for them to operate on their own. They work on different materials, such as carpets, rugs, tiles, hardwood floors, and other wood surfaces.
Additionally, robotic vacuums are cordless, making them a helpful carpet cleaning machine, especially in corners you may not reach. Depending on the model, robotic vacuums come with a remote control for you to adjust the settings or set a cleaning path. They also have sensors to avoid hitting obstructions.
Advantages:
- automated cleaning
- great at cleaning hard floors
- some models can be scheduled to clean
- can pick up dust particles and pet hair
- less noise
Disadvantages:
- costs a lot
- needs frequent cleaning since long hair can wrap the beater brush
- less suction compared to the regular vacuum
- doesn’t work well with cluttered rooms
- doesn’t work with stairs and other areas
Canister Vacuum
A canister vacuum is a carpet cleaning equipment with a wheeled body connected to a tube and power head by a flexible plastic hose. Usually, its main body consists of the electric motor, dust bag, indicator, speed controller, power button, and caster.
Canister vacuums are best for wooden and hard surfaces, carpeted areas, cars, stairs, corners, and even upholstery.
Advantages:
- good suction
- affordable
- useful for cleaning the stairs
- can easily reach under furniture
Disadvantages:
- bulky compared to other models
- less convenient for storage
- can be a hassle to operate (bending down to change the settings or turn on/off)
Upright Vacuum
Unlike canister vacuums, upright vacuums don’t usually have a tube and a plastic hose; therefore, you have to push the equipment itself to clean the surfaces. They are one of the most popular vacuums because of their capacity to clean large areas.
Advantages:
- works well with cleaning large rooms (which can be used as commercial carpet cleaning equipment)
- doesn’t need support (easier to store)
- comes with several accessories and tools to make cleaning easier
- can be used for deep carpet cleaning because of its turbo brush bar
Disadvantages:
- costlier than cylinder vacuums
- heavy to operate
- bulky
- needs a long hose and mini turbo tool to clean stairs
Stick Vacuum
Stick vacuums operate the same way as upright vacuums. You have to push it forward to clean surfaces. However, they are easier to store because they have a tall, thin body. These carpet cleaning machines are also lighter, cheaper, and convenient because of their size.
Advantages:
- lightweight
- cheaper than upright vacuums
- works well for quick cleans
- manoeuvrable
- ideal for bathroom and kitchen cleaning
Disadvantages:
- small dust capacity
- not suitable for deep cleaning
- does not work well with carpets
- shorter battery life
- less powerful than other vacuum models
If you’re looking for a cheaper vacuum alternative, you can always get a carpet sweeper. This type of cleaning tool can clean the surface of your carpet without relying on suction. Instead, it sweeps up the debris into a small container. But remember, this is only for basic or daily cleaning.
Other Carpet Cleaning Equipment You May Need
Defoamer
A defoamer is a chemical additive used primarily in carpet cleaning to reduce and eliminate foam formation. Remember, excessive foam can reduce the efficiency of cleaning and can cause problems in the machinery. That is why carpet cleaners add defoamers to the recovery tank of a carpet cleaning machine to maintain its optimal performance.
Stain Remover
As the name implies, this formula targets and removes stains from carpets. This carpet cleaning product breaks down the compounds that cause stains, such as food, drink, dirt, and other spills. Moreover, you can apply stain removers directly to the stained area, but it may require some time to work before being blotted or washed out.
Air Scrubber
While not directly used on carpets, an air scrubber is a portable filtration system that aids in removing particles, gases, and/or chemicals from the air in an area. This tool can help improve air quality by removing airborne particles stirred up during cleaning.
Carpet Rake
A carpet rake is a tool with stiff bristles used on the surface of a carpet. It loosens dirt and debris from carpet fibres before vacuuming and can help evenly distribute cleaning agents or carpet cleaning chemicals. Additionally, it’s useful for restoring the carpet pile, making it look fluffed and refreshed after cleaning.
Bonus Tips
Lay Out Doormats in Every Entrance
Entrance doormats help prevent dirt from entering your home. They give guests a surface to clean their footwear. For this reason, you must have a doormat at every home entrance so everyone who enters the property can tidy up their shoes before going inside—regardless of which door they enter.
One thing you must remember about doormat placement is that it must not interfere with the door’s functionality. So, choose one with the right width, length, and height to allow enough clearance for the door to open and close without obstruction.
Don’t Wear Shoes Inside
As much as possible, it is advisable not to wear shoes inside your home, especially if you have wall-to-wall carpeting. Guests and other occupants can wear socks, or you can provide indoor slippers for everyone.
Clean Stains
Don’t wait for a long time before cleaning stains on the carpet. If you do, you may have a hard time removing the spills or stains using carpet cleaning chemicals, causing more damage to the material. However, you must also remember that there’s a specific cleaning method for different carpet materials and stains.
For spills, you may soak it up by dabbing a cleaning solution on the area and using paper towels or a clean cloth to dry it. Never rub stains; it will only damage the fabric and push the stain further.
Vacuum Regularly
Having regular vacuuming sessions can help you maintain a clean and healthy home. It removes dirt and dust not just from your carpets but also from upholstery, velveteen furniture, and floors. Moreover, it allows you to get rid of pollen and other unwanted particles that may cause allergies. That is why you must vacuum your carpet at least twice a week.
When vacuuming your carpets, go over each spot around eight times and vacuum in all different directions. You must also remember to exert more effort in areas with heavy foot traffic.
Hire a Professional Carpet Cleaner
A reliable carpet cleaner will help keep your carpets clean, nice, and damage-free using professional carpet cleaning equipment and tools. Plus, they can get rid of elements you may not see.
You have to remember, though, that you won’t need to hire cleaners every week to vacuum your carpets; getting the help of an expert at least once a year is enough as long as you also do your part in keeping these covers tidy.
What Are You Waiting For? Grab Your Carpet Cleaning Needs at WesKleen Supplies!
Keeping your home clean doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t always need to do deep cleaning, especially for carpets. Just make sure that you do surface cleaning regularly to prevent dirt and dust from accumulating.
WesKleen Supplies offers a wide range of carpet cleaning equipment and products within your budget. Feel free to check our online shop or call us on 1800 728 926 for more information.
