There's no way to completely prevent spills, drips, and muddy footprints. They're bound to happen, and when they do, they can leave your carpet and rugs looking soiled and stained. Fortunately, quick action and quality carpet cleaners are often all you need to get your floor covering looking like new. Ace Hardware stocks a wide range of carpet and rug cleaners to help you tackle dirt and stains.
How Do Carpet Cleaners Work?
Also called carpet shampoo, carpet cleaners are specialty cleaners for soft flooring surfaces like rugs and carpeting. These products contain surfactants that allow water to mix with oily substances, making them easy to wash away. In some cases, carpet cleaners can also work as upholstery cleaners for sofas, chairs and other furnishings.
Types of Carpet and Rug Cleaners
There are three main types of carpet cleaners for you to consider: liquid, powder, and foam.
- Carpet cleaner liquid is great for covering large areas because it can be easily poured into a bucket and spreads nicely.
- Carpet cleaning foam products are easy to see when cleaning your rug, and some offer extra cleaning power due to their foaming action.
- Carpet cleaner powder usually starts as a liquid but turns into powdery dust as it dries, so you can simply vacuum it away.
Tips for Choosing Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
When you're shopping for floor cleaners for hard surfaces, checking the label is important to ensure that whatever you're choosing is safe to use on wood, stone, vinyl or other flooring material. With carpet cleaners, you should take those same precautions.
Not all carpet shampoo products are suitable for every type of carpet fiber. Consult the manufacturer's care instructions before attempting to clean your carpet or rug yourself, and always read the label on the carpet and upholstery cleaner to determine if it's formulated for the specific type of fibers in your floor covering.
When to Use Carpet Cleaning Machines
When a conventional rug or carpet shampoo doesn’t do the trick, a carpet cleaning machine can provide the deep-cleaning, stain-removing benefits you need. While traditional vacuum cleaners effectively remove residual and surface dirt from your rugs and carpets, carpet shampooers help you achieve a deeper clean. Professional rug and floor cleaning services can cost hundreds of dollars each year. If you plan to follow a regular deep steam cleaning routine, consider investing in your own shampooer. Many rug cleaners today offer professional features such as built-in heat, powerful brushes and upholstery attachments.
Get the Best Carpet Shampoo for Your Needs at Ace
If you’re still exploring your options, your local Ace Hardware may have the right carpet cleaning machine available to rent for your needs, from full-size steam cleaners for larger areas, to smaller units to remove smaller stains or spots. To get assistance finding the right carpet cleaner for your needs, visit your local Ace where one of our friendly experts can help you compare carpet and upholstery cleaner products from top brands like Hoover, Rug Doctor and Bissell.
