A carpet makes any room cosier. Unfortunately, the fibres discolour very quickly, and before you know it, there is stubborn stains on the carpet. Especially with light-coloured carpets, pets or deep stains, tried-and-tested home remedies do not help, and a professional carpet cleaner must get to work.
Washing vacuums can be constructed differently and work in different ways. However, their task is always the same: they should wet-clean carpets, carpeting and upholstered furniture and then suck out as much water as possible.
However, our test showed that the perfect combination of cleaning and powerful vacuuming is hard to find. You have to compromise here and choose one side.
BISSELL – ProHeat 2x Revolution Carpet Cleaner
Among the carpet cleaners, the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution offers the best result. It brushes out the carpet well and has a decent suction power to dry it afterwards.
Carpet cleaners with rotating brushes have the advantage that you do not have to brush the carpet manually. A significant disadvantage, however, is often the lower suction power. This is not the case with the Bissel ProHeat 2X Revolution: It cleans well, offers decent suction power, and even preheats the cleaning water.
Thomas Aqua Plus Pet and Family Vacuum Cleaner
An effective carpet cleaner, wet hoover, hoover, and water filter. The Thomas Aqua+ Pet & Family combines everything in one and is no bigger than a standard floor hoover. This is perfect for pet owners as it is perfect solution for pet stains and pet hair.
It is impossible to define exactly what the Thomas Aqua+ Pet & Family Parqut Pro is. It vacuums like a floor hoover with paper bags or water filters, is a washing vacuum cleaner for carpets and carpeting, cleans upholstery, and mops hard floors. A real multi-talent, and yet it is no bigger than a floor hoover.
BISSELL – SpotCleaner MultiClean Spot & Stain, 4720M
The BISSELL MultiClean Spot & Stain removes stains wherever they are – on carpets, rugs and soft surfaces such as sofas, mattresses, car interiors and more.
The combination of water, BISSELL cleaning agent and MultiClean Spot&Stain stain remover with its strong suction power ideally support the cleaning performance. The extra 2.20 m hose easily cleans hard-to-reach places anywhere in your home.
The spot cleaner includes several attachments for cleaning small or tight spots and spaces. So corners, edges and hard-to-reach areas can be thoroughly cleaned. Removable water tanks allow easy filling and emptying.
Vax Platinum Smartwash Carpet Cleaner
The Platinum Power Max from Vax carpet cleaner was impressive enough, but this model is even better. It promises to remove 99 per cent of bacteria from your carpets, but with the same relatively easy manoeuvrability.
The new Motion Sense technology means the process is more automatic than ever before – there is not even a trigger to dispense the solution.
Instead, the Vax Platinum SmartWash detects when you push the vacuum forward to wash the carpet and dries it when you pull it back, and we found this highly clever in use. The detergent and warm water mixture are also monitored to ensure the correct solution is delivered.
The flexible Flexforce bristles penetrate deep into the carpet pile – designed to flex and agitate the carpet fibres to remove everyday dirt.
With the expandable hose and SpinScrub hand tool, you can also clean stairs (as in our test), cars or upholstery. All in all, a great choice.
Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner, Red/Black
If you are looking for a hoover that takes up less space when you are not using it or something easier to transport, the Rug Doctor portable hoover is a great choice. It is nice and small and can easily be rolled or carried.
Of course, along with its convenience, it also offers solid performance, making it a compelling package.
If you want to spend less, this is a great deal that does not compromise cleaning performance.
Vax Platinum Power Max Carpet Cleaner
Vax cleaners are legendary, and this latest carpet cleaner is no exception.
We have found that a single pass is enough for light to medium soiling, only stubborn stains require more work and pre-treatment (with the included wand).
Vax platinum power max is also not too noisy, and the dirty water tank capacity is the largest we have seen, with a capacity of 3 litres. You may need to change the water a few times for a small to medium-sized room.
There is a quick clean mode for light soiling, which means your carpets can be dry in about an hour – useful for those short on time or with rambunctious children or pets. However, good ventilation is required for it to dry so quickly.
There is also a SpinScrub tool to remove tough stains and cleaning upholstery furniture – a great all-in-one solution for your household. And if you want to clean hard floors, you can do so with another attachment.
The Platinum Power Max is a complete one-stop cleaning tool for all your carpet and upholstery needs. You will not regret the purchase.
Henry W3791 George Wet and Dry Vacuum
Henry hoovers are downright iconic with their smiley faces, but you may not know that the George model is an excellent alternative if you are looking for a 2-in-1 hoover and carpet cleaner.
Its cleaning performance could be better than the other models on this list. However, you’ll buy it partly for the convenience of not having a separate appliance for different cleaning jobs, and that makes George a perfect choice.
This is a sensible option if you want to buy a new hoover and have many carpets.
Questions you should ask yourself before buying a carpet cleaner
What is a carpet cleaner?
A carpet cleaner is a carpet cleaning device. If you want to avoid expensive cleaning by specialists, it is best to use a carpet cleaner.
Water is sprayed onto the carpet with a detergent solution and vacuumed up again.
What are the alternatives to a carpet cleaner?
A cheaper alternative would be the conventional carpet cleaner from the drugstore. In this case, the carpet cleaner can be bought as a cleaning powder or cleaning shampoo.
The powder or shampoo is applied to the carpet, rubbed in by hand, and vacuumed off. For example, we can recommend cleaning powder from Vanish.
An alternative device is the wet-dry vacuum cleaner. This is not only suitable for carpets but also smooth surfaces.
However, if you are looking for a device that can remove very ingrained dirt, then the steam cleaner would be another option.
How to use a carpet washers?
The cleaning process when using a carpet cleaner is divided into the following steps: Prewash, Main Wash, Rinse and Vacuum.
The first step is the prewash. The water and the carpet cleaner are sprayed onto the carpet through a nozzle. The time for the carpet shampoo to work varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but you should allow at least 10 minutes for it to work.
This is followed by the main washing cycle. The floor nozzles are pulled over the carpet, and the carpet cleaner is worked in. The loosened dirt is vacuumed up in the same or the next wash cycle.
Now rinse with clear water and use the suction nozzle to suck up the cleaning solution and dirt. After drying, you should vacuum the whole carpet thoroughly with a hoover.
How does a carpet cleaners work, and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
A carpet cleaners are a cleaning device similar to a conventional hoover but equipped with a spray and suction nozzle. The spray nozzle distributes a cleaning fluid onto the carpet. This is then sucked up together with the dirt through the suction nozzle.
Pros
- Gentle on the back
- Ideal for cleaning large areas
- It can also be used for cleaning vehicle interiors and upholstery
Cons
- Comparatively expensive to buy
- Long drying time
For those who like to spend a few pounds more for effortless cleaning of large areas, upright carpet cleaners are recommended. Care should be taken to buy a high-quality product, as cheap versions often leave too much moisture in the carpet, which could lead to mould.
How does a carpet cleaning powder work, and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
The application of carpet cleaning powder is quite simple. The powder is sprinkled on the surface to be cleaned, worked in with a brush and vacuumed up with a hoover after a short reaction time.
Pros
- No drying time
- Suitable for specific stain removal
- Inexpensive to purchase
Cons
- Powder residues often remain
- Not suitable for every type of carpet
- Manual application of the powder
The powder is a quick and inexpensive remedy, especially for minor soiling caused by spilt drinks. However, spreading the powder evenly can be tricky.
How does carpet shampoo work, and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Professional deep cleaning can be achieved with carpet shampoo. This is mixed in a dedicated carpet cleaner. The machines can be hired from a DIY store, so apart from the shampoo, there is little or no cost involved.
Pros
- Inexpensive to purchase
- It can also be used for cleaning vehicle interiors and upholstery
- Leaves antistatic protection
Cons
- Long drying time
- Can only be used with special equipment
If you are okay with a quick trip to the hardware store first, you can look forward to a deep cleaning result.
How does a carpet foam work and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Similar to the carpet cleaning solution, the carpet foam must be applied to the carpet and then worked in with a brush. After the foam has dried, it is vacuumed up with a hoover. Drying usually takes about 1-2 hours.
Pros
- Ready to use
- Easy to handle
- Inexpensive to buy
Cons
- Long reaction time
- Manual application of the foam
The carpet foam variant also requires some physical effort and strength. However, the foam is very easy to apply and a gentle cleaning method.
Buying criteria for the best carpet cleaner UK
In the following, we would like to show you which factors you can use to compare and evaluate carpet cleaners. This will make it easier for you to decide whether a particular cleaner is suitable for you or not.
In summary, these are:
- Product dimensions
- Item weight
- Tank capacity
- Power
- Carpet nozzle
- Upholstery nozzle/crevice tool
In the following paragraphs, you can read about the individual purchase criteria and how you can classify them.
Product dimensions
Carpet cleaners have a specific product size. These product dimensions could be interesting for you if you have only a little space available to store the cleaner in your home. In addition, you usually already own a regular hoover, which also needs its space.
You can store the carpet cleaner in a cupboard only a certain width. In order for the cleaner to fit into the cupboard without any problems, it should comply with a certain product dimension. Generally speaking, the smaller the carpet cleaner, the easier it is to handle.
Product weight
Since carpet cleaner is often used by individuals and in the household, it should be handy. The cleaner should be easy to transport, i.e. you should be able to move it back and forth flexibly and easily. Cleaning carpets should not be torture.
The lower the item’s weight, the more comfortable you push the carpet cleaner back and forth!
Tank capacity
Another aspect to consider is the volume of the carpet cleaner’s container. A carpet cleaner sucks up dirty water and collects it in a dirty water tank.
The smaller the capacity, the more often you have to empty the container; therefore, only a limited number of square metres can be vacuumed. As a rule, a container volume of 4 to 10 litres is sufficient.
Cleaning Power
The wattage refers to the motor of the carpet cleaner and provides information about the power consumption from the socket. However, the motor power says nothing about the power generated by the nozzle during cleaning.
Much wattage does not equal good cleaning power. A carpet cleaner with a power of 3000 watts is potent, but it also consumes a lot of electricity.
The wattage is essential if you are looking for an energy-efficient carpet cleaner. This can help you avoid a high electricity bill!
Most carpet cleaners currently have an output of 1200 to 1600 watts.
Carpet nozzle
Nowadays, many people vacuum different floors, such as wooden floors, laminate, carpeted stairs, carpets and tiles, with the same brush. Considering that different floors have different demands on the brush or nozzle, the worst-case scenario is that you damage your floor with it.
The carpet nozzle is suitable for carpets and hard floors. The bristle ring can be retracted and extended. This prevents the hard floor from being scratched and the bristles from sticking to the floor.
Upholstery nozzle/crevice tool
A narrow upholstery nozzle is suitable for dusty upholstery, curtains and mattresses. The crevice nozzle is especially suitable for cleaning corners, edges and joints.
With the upholstery nozzle, it is possible to penetrate deep into upholstery crevices. This nozzle is also ideal for cleaning the inside of cars. The crevice nozzle is a slim tube that is flattened at the tip. This nozzle allows you to vacuum even behind tiny pieces of furniture.
