Buying a Carpet Steam Cleaner - Features to Look For

Investing in a carpet steam cleaner is a great way to cut your carpet cleaning in half. Apart from that, there are so many types to choose from that you feel you have a bevy of offerings in the market. For some, it could mean an exciting time choosing which one is ideal for the home, but others might end up a little more overwhelmed. Whether you are replacing an old one or buying a carpet steam cleaner for the very first time, there are some features which, when found in one particular model, will make carpet cleaning seem like a more enjoyable task.

Build, Size and Proportions

Your carpet steam cleaner, for it to be ideal, should have the necessary adjustable features to ensure that you can use it and pack it up conveniently. In light of that, a pull-up and pull-down handle is essential. You pull it up so you do not need to keep bending forward as you use it to clean your carpet, but at the same time you want to be able to store it in a low shelf space. There should also be a carrying handle somewhere in the middle back portion of the entire unit so you can easily hoist it if you put it in an elevated storage.

Navigating around with the carpet steam cleaner is important, and for that wheels are necessary. However, make sure you get the model which has swivel wheels instead of front-facing ones. If you have swivel wheels, it is easier to navigate because the unit will simply roll into the direction you take it. This is ideal if you are trying to steam clean carpeting in a floor space that has a lot of nooks, crannies and turns here and there.

Plug and Cables

It would be very helpful if your steam cleaner came with an extended and roll-easy plug, so you can reach farther portions of your carpet without needing to unplug it from the socket. Also, a roll-easy plug means faster cleaning time for you – simply press the button and the gadget will suck in the extended cord and tuck it way into one part of the unit.

Valves and Containers

The carpet steam cleaner should also have a two-valve or a two-container feature – one to hold in the water to be dispensed via steam and another to hold additional cleaning solutions such as fabric softener, disinfecting agents and easy-wash detergents. Separating them is necessary because you want to have equal distribution of both water and cleanser before you press the steam function to clean it out. It should also have a small container to hold the steam-cleaned particles and dust agents, something you can easily remove and empty into the garbage bin once you are done.

Settings and Adjustments

And finally, it is ideal to have a steam cleaner that has steam level settings so you can use it for a variety of rugs. A slightly dirty wool rug could be cleaned using a low setting without it being destroyed, but a badly stained carpet will require extra-steam and heat to get the dirty stuff out. In any case, using a steam cleaner with various settings will mean more items to clean with just one gadget.