Best Carpet Cleaners and Shampooers

Here's a mine of useful information about the best carpet cleaners, for keeping your carpet in pristine condition!

A quick preview of the contents of this carpet cleaners / shampooers page will, I hope, show that even if you do not wish to purchase a machine to do this vital job... there is plenty on this page which will be most helpful to anyone who owns a carpet or area rug.

ONE... to buy, or not to buy, that is the question... carpet shampooers, they are the objects in question.
TWO... your alternative strategies, with useful addresses.
THREE... a list of available carpet shampoo/cleaning machines, together with details of which of our favourite suppliers stock them.
FOUR... cleaning products used. What is available to the amateur?
FIVE... stain removal do and don't list... with vital tips.
SIX... a short list of stains & how to cope with each different one. Keep a note of this information!
SEVEN... advice on creating your own 'carpet care emergency kit'.

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Carpet cleaners... ONE...

Some important thoughts before you consider buying a machine... do you have the room to store one more large appliance? Would a cheap applicator/carpet cleaning kit for small emergencies be a better bet than going for full size carpet cleaners? How often are you considering using the machine? Does it make economic sense to purchase a top quality machine?

The question of storage space, only you can answer.

Have you considered a carpet cleaning kit... then using other means to do a large scale clean?

Again, only you know how soiled your carpets get... so how frequently a machine would be used... a further thought... children who enjoy the outdoors, and pets, especially, can lead to what seems like half of the outdoor world landing up on your carpets!

After considering the above questions... your answer on economic sense may be easier to reach.

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Carpet cleaners... TWO...

Alternatives to buying an expensive carpet shampooing/cleaning machine... your first course of action must be to collect your own individually designed carpet cleaners 'carpet care emergency kit' [see item 7].

It would be a good idea to have access to the information in item 6 included with your kit.

If you have the room maybe you could include one of the cheap carpet cleaning kits mentioned [see item 3] with the remainder of your own individually designed 'carpet care emergency kit'.

The next alternative option is to hire carpet cleaners from your local hire shop. Why not check the yellow pages... phone them up and find out full details, including if they supply any shampoo & if there is Scotchgard treatment available.

The final option available is to employ professional carpet cleaners. One thing to note is that it will not be cheap. Another thing of vital importance to remember is that all carpet cleaners and carpet cleaning techniques are not created equal.

A good place to begin your search for a reputable carpet cleaner is to contact The National Carpet Cleaners' Association website and search for someone in your area. Then get in touch and find out all about their services. If you hit on a quality firm, they are well worth the money as your carpets look at their best... and last so much longer.

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Carpet cleaners... THREE...

The prime makers of carpet cleaners / shampooers for the domestic market are Bissell and Vax, with Ewbank making the carpet cleaning kit.

24-7 Electrical... stock two machines by both Bissell and Vax, the more expensive Bissell having a 2 year guarantee, and Scotchgard treatment facility.

Argos... stock the more expensive Bissell [with the 2 year guarantee, and Scotchgard facility]. They also now stock various Vax machines.

Remember that Argos gives Free Delivery On All Online Orders Over £150!

Also from Argos you can obtain the Carpet Cleaning Kit.

Over 35,000 Great Value items, for you, your family and your home at Littlewoods Direct... just type 'carpet cleaners' into the search box for a selection of Bissell carpet cleaners, an extensive selection of Vax machines, plus carpet cleaning and carpet care items.

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Carpet cleaners... FOUR...

If you hire carpet cleaners from a hire centre it is normal for them to supply, either as part of the hire contract, or as an extra, a bottle of carpet shampoo [they may also have other options available such as Scotchgard treatments]... this shampoo will most probably be more expensive than that which you could buy elsewhere - BUT the quality will be first class, so it is well worth going for it!

DO NOT get the carpet 'wet'. Damp is plenty wet enough!

In all seriousness, if the carpet gets 'wet' it will take days to dry out. As the water soaks down through the fibres it just stays there... so remember not to get it more than damp.

Also, do not put anything back onto the carpet until it is totally DRY. For one thing, the damp could be attracted up into whatever you put on the carpet and spoil it. Also, whatever is put on the carpet could stain it, rust for example from any metal fittings [like feet].

If you decide you want to buy a machine yourself you will need to obtain your own carpet shampoo supplies. One answer to this problem could be your local supermarket where you will find various brands of carpet cleaners. To keep for emergencies you may wish to buy a can of mousse to use on the odd spot. Other than that you will find that there are different liquid shampoos available for use in your machine.

In the current Argos catalogue there is a choice of four different bottles of carpet shampoo, two of which also give Scotchguard protection.

Another avenue to explore via your yellow pages will be 'janitorial suppliers'... quite a few will supply the general public, and you should be able to find a more extensive choice with many quality products available. After all everyone who cleans carpets, whether as an amateur or professional, has to buy carpet cleaners somewhere.

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Carpet cleaners... FIVE...

Information supplied courtesy of best-UK-electrical-appliances.com. For personal, non-commercial use only.

Stain removal hints and tips. First, and most important, treat all stains as soon as they happen... the longer they are left the more they can soak in, and become, in some cases, permanent.

If it is a case of liquid material, mop up as much as possible with the kitchen towels and terry towelling in your 'carpet care emergency kit'. Always work from the outside of the stain in towards the middle, that way you won't spread the stain to a larger area. If the stain material is solids... scrape up as much of the solid matter as possible and dispose of it, then use kitchen towels to mop any liquid deposit.

Once you have carried out these immediate steps it is a case of ascertaining how much, if any, stain persists... then treat the remaining stain according to the recommendations in carpet cleaners number six [below].

Don't add any liquid to the stain [unless specified in our detailed instructions, below]... it could spread it and send it deeper into the pile or even get the back of the carpet wet. Where it is appropriate to clean with carpet shampoo only get your cloth damp enough to get the carpet moist NOT wet.

A time when you do use liquid is for fresh blood stains... then use COLD water only... and remember to start at the outside edge of the stain and work towards the centre... keep changing to a clean cloth or kitchen towel as the one you are working with becomes soiled. Keep blotting up excess water... don't get the carpet too wet.

The stain will need to be dried out to see how well it has come out... do this by putting a pile of kitchen towels on it with some heavy weights... try 'phone books and yellow pages, etcetera, and add extra weight to these by placing extra books on top of them. This will bring the damp out. If the stain has all but gone, maybe a general shampooing of the whole carpet will restore it to its former glory.

If you are not so lucky, it could be that it will be necessary to call in professional carpet cleaners... remember they will need to know exactly what caused the stain in the first place. The more information you can supply the better... and also the sooner they are called in the better!

Just one last mention... don't try to dry the carpet artificially... you could cause scorch marks, or, especially if the carpet is synthetic or part synthetic, ruin the pile entirely. Just follow the instructions as above and keep the whole area well aired... other than that all you can do is hope for the best.

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Carpet cleaners... SIX...

How to set out this carpet cleaners section for ease of access and speed at reaching the correct course of action is the main problem...

I have decided to make three separate alphabetical lists... one carpet cleaners list will detail water based stains which require just the one method of cleaning - carpet shampoo.

Another will detail greasy stains which require just one method of cleaning - dry cleaning solvent, or methylated spirits.

The third carpet cleaners list will detail - all those stains which require treatment by more than one cleaning method, or use a totally different method of cleaning.

First take on board the general carpet cleaning instructions in section five [above]... print them out if it will help. They are supplied, as is this list of stains and how to deal with them, courtesy of best-UK-electrical-appliances.com.

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List One... Water based stains requiring carpet shampoo treatment:

Animal stains... remove excess as in - 5 above - blot dry. Then treat with carpet shampoo. [If the stain has penetrated to the back of the carpet you could well need to call in professional carpet cleaners.]
Beer & Lager... remove excess as in - 5 above - blot dry. Treat with carpet shampoo.
Blood... treat as - 5 above. Then use carpet shampoo.
Felt tip pens, water based... treat as - 5 above - followed by carpet shampoo.
Fruit juices... treat as - 5 above - then follow with carpet shampoo.
Metal polish... treat as - 5 above - then clean with carpet shampoo to which a little household ammonia has been added [N.B. Please read the precautions stated, the fumes are dreadful!]
Mud/garden soil... First, and most important... let it dry. Then brush. Then vacuum. After this you MAY need to use carpet shampoo.
Mustard [ready made]... treat as - 5 above - then shampoo.
Perfume... treat as - 5 above - then use carpet shampoo.
Toothpaste... treat as - 5 above - then shampoo.
Treacle and golden syrup... treat as - 5 above - then shampoo your carpet.
Wine... treat as in - 5 above - then shampoo.

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List Two... stains containing grease and requiring either methylated spirit or dry cleaning solvent treatments:

Ball point pens... use cotton wool or buds to immediately apply methylated spirits.
Egg... scrape up as in - 5 above - treat with dry cleaning solvent or spot removing kit.
Fat and Oils of any kind... mop as in - 5 above - then use dry cleaning solvent.
Lipstick... scrape as in - 5 above - then use either spot removing kit or dry cleaning solvent.
Paint, gloss... scrape & mop as in - 5 above - then sponge with dry cleaning solvent, alternatively use white spirit. Read paint label for any advice.
Paraffin... mop as in - 5 above - then use dry cleaning solvent.
Plasticine modelling clay... scrape as in - 5 above - treat with dry cleaning solvent.
Powders... vacuum up then treat with dry cleaning solvent.
Soot... vacuum up carefully DO NOT BRUSH or you will work the material more deeply INTO your carpet. Use dry cleaning solvent on any remaining marks.
Tar... scrape and remove all you can VERY carefully. Treat with dry cleaning solvent.
Wine... very old stains may be reduced by sponging with methylated spirit. [See List 1 for treating fresh stains.]

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List Three...

3A... stains which require more than one treatment, plus 3B... stains which require a totally different approach.

3A... stains which require more than one treatment

Alcohol... mop as in - 5 above - sponge with WARM water. Allow to dry and assess problem. Shampoo carpet. If any stains remain use small amounts of methylated spirit on cotton wool pad.
Chocolate... scrape off as in - 5 above - then shampoo carpet. Once it has dried, any remaining stains can be treated with dry cleaning solvent.
Cocoa... for powder the first procedure must be to vacuum up the deposit [rugs can be shaken outside], for liquid mop liquid up... then for both - use carpet shampoo. Once dried remaining stains can be tackled with dry cleaning solvent.
Coffee... mop and blot as in - 5 above - then use carpet shampoo. Once dried any grease marks from milk/cream should be treated with dry cleaning solvent.
Felt tip pen... spirit based ink, as opposed to the water based type mentioned in list one... use a small amount of methylated spirit on cotton wool or bud. [If you have a pale carpet the actual cleaning may leave a stain!]
Gravy... mop as in - 5 above - treat with dry cleaning solvent to remove grease and once dry use carpet shampoo.
Ice Cream... scrape up as quickly as possible, treat with dry cleaning solvent to remove grease, then once dry use carpet shampoo.
Ink [for fountain pens]... blot quickly with kitchen roll, sponge with WARM water. Repeat remembering to work from the outside of stain toward the middle. Blot and repeat as often as necessary. Remove remaining stain with spot removing kit.
Jams and Marmalades... scrape up as in - 5 above - wipe over with your towelling from your kit which has been dipped in WARM water, then use carpet shampoo. Remove any remaining stains with spot removing kit.
Ketchups... scrape up as in - 5 above - treat with carpet shampoo, wipe with clean cloth which has been dipped in WARM water. Any remaining stain should be treated with dry cleaning solvent.
Milk... treat immediately or the smell will last for ever! Blot up all that you can. Clean with carpet shampoo. If stains remain use dry cleaning solvent. If the smell persists, it may be the case that your only option is to call in professional carpet cleaners.
Paints... read the labels, there may be advice on them. For Emulsion, quite often, if treated immediately, cold water will be all that is needed to remove small spots. For Acrylic, mop, sponge with warm water, then use either methylated spirit or dry cleaning solvent.
Shoe polish... scrape as in - 5 above - use dry cleaning solvent. May require a further treatment with methylated spirit and the area may need a full carpet shampoo.
Soft drinks... mop as in - 5 above - then treat with carpet shampoo. If marks are left once it has dried try methylated spirit.
Tea... mop, treat with carpet shampoo. Remaining stains, from the grease in the milk, should be treated with dry cleaning solvent.

3B... stains which require a totally different approach

Candlewax... scrape and pick off the carpet. The remainder should have a warm iron over blotting paper moved over the stain. Only use the point of the iron... the idea is for the heat to attract and melt the wax into the paper, so keep using fresh areas of the paper. Do not rest iron on the carpet it will cause irreparable damage, especially to any man made fibres. Remaining stain can be removed with dry cleaning solvent.
Chewing gum... if only on the very top fibres, could it be cut out with scissors? Otherwise, use the normal freezing method to remove it... fill a plastic bag with ice and freeze the chewing gum. Then you will have to remove it by hand - very carefully.
Curry... very difficult. You have wet, dry, grease, and strongly coloured spices to contend with. Scrape up all that it is possible to remove without driving it deeper into the carpet pile. Try using a little borax in warm water. Then sponge with warm water. Repeat if necessary... this may be one of the instances when calling upon a professional carpet cleaners assistance is unavoidable.
Nail varnish... scrape and spoon up any liquid quickly. Moisten some cotton wool with non-oily nail varnish remover and dab on. Use as small an amount as possible, and keep getting clean cotton wool to avoid spreading the colour. It is advisable to try it first, in an out of sight corner, to check that the remover does not damage your carpet. Finish with methylated spirit or use dry cleaning solvent. If in doubt call in professional carpet cleaners.
Scorch marks... the actual scorching damages the carpet, so there isn't much that you can do. If the mark is only superficial you can trim the pile to remove the scorched top of the pile.

Do not forget the main points... for any stain... speed is of the essence. Scrape up, mop up, or vacuum up loose dry material [preferably without touching the nozzle of the vacuum to the carpet... to avoid spreading the stain]. Then treat according to the make-up of the stain... water or grease.

Colour/dyes may need expensive professional care... it all depends upon the colour of the carpet and stain. Another consideration will be the age and value of the carpet, this should also be taken into careful account... before you make your final decision.

Carpet cleaners... SEVEN

Finally our details of a 'carpet care emergency kit' which it is wise to collect and store together, perhaps in a bucket or a labelled box.

First get some old towels or face cloths for mopping up and some good quality kitchen towels [I use Morrisons new Ultra Spill Busters, which cost approximately £1.25 for two rolls... expensive, but such superior quality]... some blotting paper and a polythene bag or two... plus cotton wool and/or cotton buds.

Then if you have an old spoon and/or blunt knife... add this to your kit for scraping up any solid matter. Next collect together some dry cleaning solvent, such as Dabitoff; some carpet shampoo; maybe - if you can find one - a proprietary carpet spot-removing kit; methylated spirit; non-oily nail varnish remover; white spirit; borax; and household ammonia. The ammonia you will probably find at an ironmongers or DIY store... make sure the top is on firmly, store out of the reach of children and animals, only open in a well ventilated area, keep your nose well away from it and/or hold your breath... the fumes are dreadful!

The above comprises your own carpet cleaners 'carpet care emergency kit'... add to it details of numbers five and six [above].

If you decide it is a good idea, and have the room, add the Carpet Cleaning Kit from Argos or Littlewoods Home Shopping as well, and you are set up to deal with all problems. Below, for your convenience, I have added links back from this best carpet cleaners page to various interesting pages within our website, including the 'Cleaning' page...