Blog>Expert Advice>Buying guide: Helping you to choose your carpet cleaner
Last updated: 4 October 2024
Buying guide: Helping you to choose your carpet cleaner
Whether you're looking to freshen up your living space, tackle stains, or reduce allergens, choosing to buy a carpet cleaner is a wise investment. Here, we help you to find the best carpet cleaner for you and your home.
Using a carpet cleaner not only makes your home more hygienic but also extends the lifespan of your carpets.
Did you know, that the average carpet can accumulate nearly 0.5kg of dirt per square metre before it becomes visible?* You may not wish to think about it, but dirt, pet hair, dust mites, pollen, skin cells, and bacteria can become trapped in your carpet fibres and left behind after vacuuming.
Giving your carpets a thorough, deep clean every 12-18 months (or more often if you have pets or allergies) will help to keep them fresh and clean, but which carpet cleaner is best for the job?
How to choose the best carpet cleaner
Our easy-to-follow buying guide outlines the key features to consider to help you choose the best carpet cleaner machine for your needs.
1. Types of carpet cleaners
Before you buy a carpet cleaner, it's helpful to understand the key differences in the main types available. This way, you can be sure of choosing the right one for your home.
Carpet shampooers
These carpet cleaning machines use a combination of water and a cleaning solution; the best carpet shampooers scrub and loosen dirt from deep within the fibres
This type of cleaning is ideal for households with pets or children as they're great for removing tough stains and odours
For extra deep cleaning power, look for models with heated cleaning
Carpet steam cleaners
This type of carpet cleaner uses steam instead of shampoo, making it a more eco-friendly option
A carpet steam cleaner deep cleans and sanitises carpets - killing bacteria and allergens - perfect for allergy sufferers
Look for models with the flexibility to be used on upholstery and hard surfaces for a complete clean
2. Purpose
Of course, you want a carpet cleaner to clean your carpets. This much is obvious!
However, with various makes and models available, narrowing down your specific needs will help you choose the best carpet cleaner for your home.
Perhaps you're searching for the best carpet cleaner for pets. In this case, look for a machine that targets pet hair and helps to eliminate odours. Choose a model with strong suction power, specific pet tools, and odour-removing, antibacterial solutions
If you're keen on a machine that can double as a car carpet cleaner, opt for a compact, portable machine that's lightweight and easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces
Maybe you have lots of carpeted stairs in your home. If so, choose a carpet cleaner that's light and portable with features to help make this chore less tricky!
3. Ease of use
We've touched upon this slightly already. But if your carpet cleaner is heavy and hard to use it's more likely to gather dust in a cupboard than do the job it's intended for.
Compare the weight of the carpet cleaning machine and factor this into your decision-making process
Look for models that are easy to use and steer
If you have large rooms in your home, a model with a longer cord could prove handy
4. Tank capacity
Carpet cleaners have separate tanks for clean and dirty water:
Smaller tanks are easier to handle (for filling and emptying), but need more frequent refills, making them better suited to smaller homes or occasional use
Larger tanks won't need to be filled and emptied as frequently, but the machine may be bulkier and heavier to manouevre
5. Drying time
If you want your carpets to dry quickly after cleaning, there are specific features you can look for:
Warm air drying mode: Models with this functionality blow warm air onto the carpets after cleaning to speed up the drying process
Quick-dry cleaning mode: These models use less water, so your carpets dry faster
6. Cost considerations
Cheap carpet cleaners: If you're on a budget, there are plenty of cheap carpet washer options that offer a decent performance. However, you may not get the same power, size water tank, or number of attachments as a pricier model, so do check it offers what you need.
Premium models: High-end carpet cleaner machines may have a higher price tag, but they often provide better cleaning efficiency and extra features to make life easier.
Carpet cleaning: Cost breakdown [year]
Getting your carpet professionally cleaned can help to revitalise your room, contributing to healthier environment through the removal of dirt and bacteria.
Best carpet cleaner brands
With this information in mind, which carpet-cleaners should you consider? Here are six top-rated carpet cleaner brands to help kick-start your research.
Key takeaways
Carpet cleaners help to give your carpets a thorough, deep clean making them more hygienic, fresh-smelling and longer-lasting
Decide between a carpet shampooer and steam cleaner based on your specific needs, for example, whether you have pets or allergies
Tank capacity, ease of use, speed of drying, and attachments are some of the key considerations homeowners make when choosing to buy a carpet washer
There are several top-rated brands to consider, including Vax, Bissell, Shark, Henry, Rug Doctor, and Kärcher
How to clean a carpet
Transform your home with our guide on how to clean a carpet. Get rid of old stains and nasty odours with our step-by-step guide.
Find a professional carpet cleaner near you
Prefer some expert help to bring your carpets back to their best? Use Checkatrade to find reputable carpet cleaners in your area. Search your postcode to get started.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
FAQs
What is the best cleaner for carpets?
The best carpet cleaner depends on your needs: do you have pets, family members with allergies, or require several attachments to be able to clean upholstery and your car interior? Vax and Bissell carpet cleaners are among the top-rated brands, but it's well worth exploring several options depending on your needs and budget.
What is the best small carpet cleaner to buy?
Bissell offers a range of compact carpet cleaners, which are portable and easy to store.
Is it better to shampoo or steam clean carpets?
Both methods have their merits. Shampooing is effective for deep cleaning and stain removal, while steam cleaning is best for sanitising and killing bacteria - great for allergy sufferers.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job