| It used to be cost-prohibitive to own your own | | | | SteamVac Plus is an upright model that features a |
| carpet steam-cleaner, but these days you can have | | | | hose for more versatility, and comes equipped with |
| your pick of models. Before you choose a carpet | | | | car cleaning tools and a bare floor attachment. The |
| cleaner, take a look at the different options out | | | | Bissell ProHeat 7950 Steam Cleaner appears to |
| there and decide what's best for you. For instance, | | | | feature the same types of attachments, but is priced |
| are you a neat-nick who wants to shampoo all of | | | | at about $100 more? Is it a rip-off? |
| your carpet on a regular basis? Do you have pets or | | | | This is where comparing features comes in handy - |
| kids who are prone to spilling? Do you have mostly | | | | the Bissell has an onboard heater that keeps the |
| carpet, or would you like a machine that can clean | | | | cleaning water warm throughout use, which according |
| your tile, laminate, and hardwood, too? Will you | | | | to experts, gives better cleaning power. But, is it |
| mostly be cleaning high traffic areas like halls and | | | | always necessary? If you only plan to do one room |
| stairs, and sticking to a vacuum for the rest? How | | | | on a given day, you might not be using the steamer |
| much storage space to do you have available? You | | | | long enough to need the heater, so the Hoover |
| have so many choices available, so to avoid | | | | would be perfect for you. |
| becoming overwhelmed, assess your needs before | | | | Would a Spot-Cleaner Be Sufficient? |
| you begin shopping. | | | | When you have kids, pets, or both, spills and |
| How Much Horsepower Do I Need? | | | | accidents can be a part of your everyday life. If you |
| The most important decision when buying a carpet | | | | mostly want a steam cleaner to catch those spills |
| cleaning machine is to decide how much power you | | | | before they turn into stains, or for small jobs such as |
| need. First, decide if you want an upright, canister | | | | high-traffic areas only, a spot-cleaner would probably |
| model or a spot-treater. An upright machine is | | | | be more than enough machine for you. The biggest |
| operated similar to your regular vacuum. These | | | | benefits with the small machines are that they're |
| machines are best if you plan to clean an entire room | | | | easy to store, easy to use, and best of all, they're |
| of carpet four or more times a year. If you know | | | | quite inexpensive. You can get powerful name-brand |
| you'll use it at least that often, an upright machine is | | | | machines by Bissell and other companies for $30-$70, |
| probably best for you. Keep in mind, though, that | | | | depending on features. They are great for busy |
| they are usually comparable or larger in size to your | | | | families since they can be pulled out, used, and put |
| upright vacuum, so plan ahead where you want to | | | | away in a matter of minutes. |
| store it. | | | | Don't be fooled by the designation of spot-cleaner. |
| Canister models are often able to hold more liquid, so | | | | These powerful little machines can also be used to |
| if you have a lot of carpet and you'd like to be able | | | | clean stairs, high-traffic areas like halls and entries, |
| to clean it all in one day, a canister model might be | | | | and small rooms like carpeted bathrooms, even in the |
| right for you. They can be slightly harder to manage, | | | | largest homes. They're ideal for apartments or small |
| though, because unlike upright models, they have a | | | | homes where a larger machine would be overkill. In a |
| separate hose, which will need to be drained and | | | | small room, you can clean the entire area with your |
| cleaned. However, because of the flexibility, they are | | | | "spot" cleaner. |
| great for cleaning stairs and behind furniture. But do | | | | Just asking yourself a few simple questions about |
| your homework! Some upright models have separate | | | | your needs before you head to the store will save |
| cleaning arms with attachments. | | | | you a lot of hassle. Be realistic about how often you'll |
| Compare, Compare, Compare! | | | | really use your new carpet cleaner, where you plan |
| When you start your quest for an upright or canister | | | | to use it, and how you'll store it when it's not being |
| steamer, you may be surprised at the variety of | | | | used. There are so many choices that you'll be able |
| features available. For example, the Hoover | | | | to find one that meets your specifications exactly. |