Steam Vacuums - A Hoover Agility Steam Vac
Include a steam vacuum in your arsenal of spring cleaning tools and you'll be well equipped to tackle a winter's worth of carpet dirt!
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Don't think, though, that your steam vac is combining two appliances in one – a conventional vacuum and a steam cleaner.
Most home cleaning appliances termed steam vacuums are really vacuum-sized hot-water extractors, or carpet deep cleaners. Little, if any at all, steam is produced when a steam vacuum is at work. Their cleaning power comes from a solution of hot water and detergent injected into the carpet pile, scrubbed in with brushes at its base, with the resulting dirty water sucked back up into the machine.
Avoid the nuisance of pulling a hose around the house and purchase a model that has its own separate clean and dirty water tanks, eliminating the need for a fresh water hookup. Make sure your steam vac has a high-powered motor to provide as strong a suction as possible – as useful as it is to get the water and detergent worked into your carpet, it's essential to retrieve as much of the dirty water as your machine can handle, since failure to do so can ruin your carpet.
Overwetting – allowing more water into your carpet than it can capably extract - can damage carpet backing and pads, cause discoloration, unpleasant odors, and even shrinkage. Be sure to follow the instructions that come with your machine, and even perform a trial run on a piece of scrap carpet to gauge the capacity of your steam vac.
Hoover , a market leader in both vacuums and carpet deep cleaners, produces a variety of models in its SteamVac series of hot water extractors. Bissell PowerSteamers, Eureka and Dirt Devil are also top names in the field of steam vacuums for carpet deep cleaning.
An advantage to having your own steam vacuum is that you can store it in your utility closet and use it whenever you want to, or need to. Use it in between professional cleanings when the urge to freshen your carpet strikes, or when you need to prepare for an unexpected visit from the in-laws. If you notice some spills on your carpet after a party, pull out the steam vac and voila! Stain gone!
Styles of steam vacuums range from uprights to canister models. Keep in mind that uprights are generally easier to store, and may offer more attachments. Cost is key in choosing a carpet steamer, but make sure you are getting the most value for your dollars
Keep the following questions in mind when making your decision:
- Does it have rotating brushes (to agitate dirt out of carpet and also scrub hard surface floors)?
- Is there a headlight for working in poorly lit rooms or corners?
- Automatic tool conversion? (Can you just touch a button to switch from carpet to hard floors?)
- Can it easily switch from floor cleaning to tool use (for stairs and upholstery)?
- Do the water tank(s) remove easily?
- What kind of detergent is required? (Must I use only brand-identical cleaning solutions – Hoover detergent in a Hoover SteamVac?)
- How long is the cord? (Sometimes cord length is the only distinguishing feature between consumer and industrial quality steam vacuums!)
- What accessories are included with the model?
- Does the machine heat the water itself, or must I put hot water in the tank?
- How much water will it hold?
- How powerful is the motor?
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