Vax or Bissell

ravylesley

I have four young children and up to moving to our new house we always had polished floorboards and rugs but hubby insisted on carpets this time.Having spent so much money on carpets I knew I needed a decent carpet cleaner as I'd had one of those awful vax machines before and they are all right for a light cleaning job but if you've ever seen the mess four kids can make to a dining room carpet it could never be described as light cleaning.So I decided to bite the bullet and buy a decent purpose built carpet shampooer.I've got the Bissell one it cost me £279 but just think about how much a decent carpet costs.It has all the tools attached and has been an absolute godsend I would recommend it to anyone.But bear in mind it is the size of an upright vacuum and most of the time is stored in a cupboard unused.So if you have the money and the space buy the Bissell otherwise hire a rug doctor every couple of months because the Vax is useless and a waste of money

Lesleyxx

jess1974

Once you've cleaned the carpets, do they then need cleaning more often? I was told once you've used a carpet cleaner they attract the muck even quicker...

dianeclaire

Thanks so much for all your replies, looks like it's a Bissell!

I'd love to change it (glad I'm not the only one who thinks a cream carpet is mental!) and in previous rented properties we've more or less been able to replace what did not suit or was worn out with help from landlords, they are not keen on letting us do anything here and we have to get permission for picture hooks! Even then they want us to make good and re-paint the WHOLE WALL when we leave Needless to say, not many pictures on the walls.

To be honest we're not sure who is so strict on the inspections, the letting agent or landlord Problem is we're kind of stuck here until we decide where to buy as there's not many decent family houses to rent in Surrey at a reasonable price. 2 Bedrooms and a boxroom think £1500 + and we get limited because of the animals (even though we have good references for them and the children make more mess!)

Oh well, off to find the cheapest Bissell and then check Costco

Thanks again

lynnexxxo

Dianeclare

I would post on the houses,selling,buying and renting board. I don't think that your landlord has the right to inspect ever three months. There are lots of landlords and savvy tenants on that board.

There is nothing to stop you removing it, then replacing it when you are leaving. Sounds like whateever you do the cost of a replacement carpet will be taken from your deposit as there is just no way on earth you'll be able to keep it clean enough.

Back to your original question - i have a vax carpet cleaner (half price in agros at 60 quid ish). i think its pretty rubbish - although i do think i might be expecting too much.

dianeclaire

Lynnexxo

I think to be honest it is in our tennancy agreement but I will check

We did not pay too much attention too it as we were in a hurry to move as in our previous house they wanted to sell it quickly without tenants

As we have always used letting agents and good ones we just assumed things would be similar - annual inspections etc - but they are a bit more militant, we have never been critisised about the carpet or anything else in fact always get a letter after saying they are glad we are looking after it etc etc

As I said we have always used letting agents but local to the town where we live and this one is a much bigger chain, maybe they get their fingers burnt more having more properties but at the end of he day it is a 10 minute walk round, they do offer to do it whilst we are at work but to me it's worse to have them here when we are not than to leave for work 10 mins later, although last time we kept putting them off for a month as they didn't turn up twice

We've been here a year now and I'm sure the carpet looks pretty much the same as we have been hiring cleaners but I know I'm extra fussy - bloody cream carpet in the kitchen! - the next insepction is next week so I may broach the subject with them and they can approach the landlords as I'm sure they have to spend a certain amount on upkeep of the house for tax reasons

Justamum

I bought a Vax vacuum cleaner which was rubbish - the first fan belt snapped a few months after we got it and the new one snapped as soon as I switched the machine on after changing it. So the "powerful turbo brush" (ha ha ha) didn't work. I ended up on my hands and knees picking up my daughters' long hair which was like cobwebs all over the carpet. When I took it to the dump one of the workers said they get a lot of Vax and Dysons. I also bought a Vax carpet shampooer. Complete rubbish. Half the time it doesn't suck up the water! I've been trying to do the carpets in the house we are in now but I'm not going to bother finishing. They don't look any different. I've a good mind to just get rid of the stupid thing as it's just taking up cupboard space.

peachespeaches

lynnexxxo wrote: »

Dianeclare

I would post on the houses,selling,buying and renting board. I don't think that your landlord has the right to inspect ever three months. There are lots of landlords and savvy tenants on that board.

There is nothing to stop you removing it, then replacing it when you are leaving. Sounds like whateever you do the cost of a replacement carpet will be taken from your deposit as there is just no way on earth you'll be able to keep it clean enough.

Back to your original question - i have a vax carpet cleaner (half price in agros at 60 quid ish). i think its pretty rubbish - although i do think i might be expecting too much.

Our letting agent comes on the landlord's behalf and inspects every 3 months. Luckily, the last tenants werent particularly kind to the house so its not in A1 condition. But half of the problems occur because of bad communication between the agent and the landlord. We had one hell of a fuss when we asked permission to change the cooker.

The up side is, its a great house, at a good price in an excellent area, excellent school, so we are keeping our mouths shut and biting the bullet. I sympathise with the carpets though. We have to keep cleaning ours, though they are fortunately not cream, except the master bedroom. They are some old fashioned patterned ones which doesnt show that much dirt fortunately. (Just look vile).

peachespeaches

Is the bissell quickwash good? Is it a lightweight thing or does it give a real deep clean?

Hitch

We recently bought a vax rapide. The one with the brush bar. Not overly impressed, but id say it was better than the bissel we borrowed last time.
I found the vax worked better if you push it whilst spraying, then suck it up a few mins later.
Seem to be forever emptying it though.


Ours is a cream carpet, entire downstairs is open plan, small kitchen are (lino) goes straight onto it, as does both the front and back doors. Neither have the clearance underneath for even the thinest of mats.
Madness. What with a 2y/o as well!

We are due to leave here in a few weeks time, im considering having a pro clean the carpets.

andrew-b

We have just got a factory reconditioned Bissell Powerwash proheat direct from Bissell for just under £90. We actually received the "Aromapro" model which is identical in functionality and retails for just under £200 at Argos. Tried it yesterday for the first time in the hall. At first i didnt think it was making much difference - although i had spent a whole afternoon cleaning the carpet by hand only recently. Then i emptied the murky blackish brown water out and was suitably impressed. Used nearly 1/2 a bottle of Bissell Wash & Protect (with scotchguard) for a not particularly big hall but it was my first attempt and i think i was overapplying the cleaning solution and moving along too slowly.

Good bits:
tank-in-tank system with clean and dirty water held seperately within the same container with a useful carry handle. Easy to fill and empty and clean.
Smartmix bottle ...you just fill with cleaning solution and it dilutes it.
It heats the water up for better cleaning power.
Accessories - brushes (including a turbobrush which has a rotating brush) and crevice tool to clean areas you can't just roll over with an upright cleaner. So you can clean other upholstery such as sofas and car seats.
Bad bit:
The only thing i'd say against it so far is that it's heavy weighing in at nearly 11kg excluding water.

Andy