Cleaning Carpets

BusyGirl

I'm looking for some advice about steam cleaning my carpets. Rather than pay someone to clean them I've spotted a Vax Steam Cleaner in Argos for £69.99. Does anyone have any experience of using something like this or of cleaning their own carpets. If it does the job properly I'm thinking it might be a good investment and more convenient and perhaps less pricey than paying someone else to do it. What do you think?

MATH

Steam cleaners are great for freshening carpets, killing duust mites and cat flees and lifting the pile back up to a lush spring. However, IME they do not deep clean the carpet as well as a shampooer machine ie Bissell or Vax. That is why I have both. If I was solely concerned with cleaning carpets and I could only have one I would keep the vax and ditch the steamer. HTHxtraction

emilyt

I agree with Math. We have a Bissell but my MIL vax is far superior. You definately need a carpet cleaner to remove stains and deep down dirt.

angelavdavis

I hired an industrial carpet cleaner from Brandon Hire a few weeks ago and did every carpet in my place over a weekend!

http://www.brandontoolhire.co.uk/directory/prodView.asp?idproduct=87

OH helped and we were shattered but it brought everything up great and the carpet was practically dry immediately afterwards.

I have tried a vax in the past and would save my money, (I always found it too much of a faff putting it together and it seems to take ages to dry the carpet out), personally I don't think its worth it but that's just my opinion based on my experiences.

Mics_chick

angelavdavis wrote: »

I hired an industrial carpet cleaner from Brandon Hire a few weeks ago and did every carpet in my place over a weekend!

http://www.brandontoolhire.co.uk/directory/prodView.asp?idproduct=87

OH helped and we were shattered but it brought everything up great and the carpet was practically dry immediately afterwards.

I have tried a vax in the past and would save my money, (I always found it too much of a faff putting it together and it seems to take ages to dry the carpet out), personally I don't think its worth it but that's just my opinion based on my experiences.

There's 2 types of cleaner on the webpage you've posted angela so which one did you use?

bizzylizzy

I have a steam cleaner and I'm wondering if I can add Stardrops to the water to try and clean the carpets. I would hoover when the carpet was dry to lift any loosened dirt.
Has anyone done this or is it a really silly idea?

tru

I added soda crystals to the water in my steam cleaner, it worked quite well. I've never used stardrops in my life (oh the shame LOL).

bizzylizzy

Thank you, I have soda crystals. How much did you add?

tru

I dissolved them in a jug of hot water then poured it in, I can't remember how much I used. I just poured them in til I thought 'that should do the trick' LOL. Sorry, that's not very helpful is it.

fizzel81

i have a vax carpet machine, its ok for general dirt, not the best if you have some serious stains that need removing, i once bought a bottle of well known carpet cleaning shampoo was not impressed, i use a mix of cheap bio washing powder and soda crystals in my machine, not had a problem to date.

talking of vax's can you get spare parts does anyone know? mine needs a new brushbar all the nylon bristles have gone to one side

Claudie

We have a VAX and it is okay - our carpet is a light cream colour (thanks to previous owners!) and it cleans it but to keep it really clean we need to VAX it at least once every 4-6 weeks.

You can get parts and spares. If you Google it you can find either online suppliers or a local agent.