Carpet Cleaners and Sweepers

[Janet]

Quite some time back on all the forums it seemed, everyone was writing about how wonderful the bagless sweepers were. So I found a nice one, it wasn't real expensive, but it worked great. Even picked up stuff after I ran my old sweeper. But ya know.....I've come to really dislike the bagless sweeper very much. First off even though it does a great job of picking up the dirt from the carpet, it has to be emptied all the time. I know that makes it sound like my carpet is horrible, but I sweep usually every other day, at least some rooms, not all. Next, it's so dirty and dusty when I have to empty that plastic container. Then besides that....I have to clean all the parts and sponge type things all the time. I've decided I'm going back to the bag sweepers....so much cleaner to work with.



Okay now the cleaners. I have the Bissell ProHeat 2X (the blue one). For the most part I love it. Works very well at shampooing the carpet and gets it very clean. The part I do not care for is the carpet still feels so wet after I'm done. It does take awhile to dry and I have to put down towels for us to walk on.

I also have a Bissell steam cleaner that I love and it seems to not leave the carpet feeling as wet. Problem with that is the head is so small (about 10 inch width) it takes forever, it seems to clean one room. It's nice to have the cleaners for me to use at my own will, but I've heard that the professional cleaners leave the carpet almost dry. Guess I'm mostly complaining....lol, but more than that, I'm wondering what your opinions are for sweepers, bag or bagless and the cleaners.

[Tiramisu]

If I were you I'd just stop cleaning! I have an ancient Kirby that still works great, so I've never tried a bagless, but I do have a little Swiffer Vacuum and it's a pain to clean it every couple strokes seems like. I don't have my own steamer/cleaner, but have rented them and cleaning the machine is a huge chore.

[DianaB]

Sorry that you're not happy with your vaccuum. I have a central vac and I just love it!! The power head needs some work on it but it was one of the best decisions we made when we were building the house. I use it alot!

As for a shampooer, I have a Hoover. It does a pretty good job and the floors are usually dry by evening with the ceiling fan on. The only thing with it is....I wish that it heated the water. Sometimes I get distracted and by the time I get back to my shampooing the water has cooled off. I just shampooed right before I got Jazzi and unfortunately, it needs it again. Puppies are so hard on carpets!!

[Marilyn]

I love my bagless because it seems to get the carpet much cleaner than the other vac that I had. It is messy to empty the container that holds the dirt and clean the filters, but I didn't like changing the bags either. Also, I hated having to find the right bags to buy and would forget them. I've actually cut a bag open before, emptied it and stapled the bottom shut again. The main thing is to have a machine that works well that you like to use.

My steam cleaner is an old Hoover, one of the first they came out with. It still works like it used to, though it's been serviced a few times, and the hose has been replaced. The hand held unit doesn't work right any more, but the main machine gets the job done. I keep running it back over the wet carpet sucking out as much of the water as possible, and like Diana, the carpet is dry by evening with the AC on and the ceiling fan running. Mine uses hot water from the tap, doesn't have a heater. Don't know why they call it a steam cleaner when it really doesn't generate steam.

I hate my carpet in the living room, and want so badly to replace it with vinyl plank flooring. I'm lobbying hard. Bought a sample strip from Lowes, but the color wasn't right.

[judy]

I would love a steam cleaner. They aren't good for my particular laminate floors though.

Google around and check the 2009 reviews and look for the best prices. I'll look on Consumers and see if they have anything to say.

[judy]

Here's a lot of info on vacuums from Consumers. They haven't rated steam floor cleaners yet, but I'm going to check again.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/video-hub/video.htm?bctid=1279707706

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/laundry-and-cleaning/vacuum-cleaners/vacuum-cleaner-guide/brands/vacuum-cleaner-brands.htm

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/laundry-and-cleaning/vacuum-cleaners/vacuum-cleaner-guide/features/vacuum-cleaner-features.htm

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/laundry-and-cleaning/vacuum-cleaners/vacuum-cleaner-guide/types/vacuum-cleaner-types.htm

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/laundry-and-cleaning/vacuum-cleaners/vacuum-cleaner-guide/getting-started/vacuum-cleaners-getting-started.htm

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2007/11/black-friday-va.html?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=floor%20cleaners%202009

Actually, they are in reverse order. I backspaced and then copied and pasted.
The video is excellent to watch first though.

[Janet]

WOW....you did good Judy....Thank you. Lots of good info here and the video was good.

[judy]

WOW....you did good Judy....Thank you. Lots of good info here and the video was good.


Glad to help. Consumers does an excellent review of products!

[Janet]

I used to get their magazines, but stopped. I need to do that again.