Choosing the Right Floor Care Machine for Deep Cleaning
Daily, the floors in your home are subjected to never-ending foot traffic. They withstand a lot, and most of the time can be cleaned up with a broom, mop or vacuum. However, your floors can also benefit from deeper cleanings. If you’re considering adding deep cleaning to your floor care cleaning routine, you’ll need to have the right machines on hand to help you get the job done. There are a few options available, so think about the type of floor you have and your cleaning needs to help you choose the right one for your home.
Carpet Cleaners
Carpeted floors can look clean — until they don’t. In busy areas of your home, like living rooms where carpet sees a lot of foot traffic, dirt, stains and grime can quickly build up. If you have pets, pet hair is added into the mix, and suddenly you’re wondering if a vacuum is enough to tackle the mess. Most of the time, a vacuum can do the trick. But for stubborn stains and dirt that just doesn’t seem to come completely out of the carpet, a carpet cleaner is your best bet. There are two types of carpet cleaners, portable and upright.
Upright Carpet Cleaners
Here are some features and benefits of upright carpet cleaners.
- Feature a similar silhouette to upright vacuum cleaners.
- Great for large cleaning jobs, including rooms with wall-to-wall carpet and area rugs.
- Most come with an assortment of attachments for cleaning versatility.
Portable Carpet Cleaners
Portable carpet cleaners have the following features and benefits:
- Perfect for on-the-spot mess cleanup.
- Great for small cleaning jobs on stairs, upholstery and car interiors.
- Most have various attachments to easily clean in harder-to-reach areas.
- Easy to carry where you need it.
Things to Consider
Weight: Upright carpet cleaners are a heftier cleaning machine, and when water is added to the tank, they become even heavier. Portable options are lighter, due to smaller water tanks and compact size.
Noise: Carpet cleaners can be loud. Though it’s not a sound that’ll be constantly running, it is important to note that while you’re cleaning, the noise level in your home will be high. If you’re able, choose a carpet cleaner with a lower decibel level if you’d like to carry on a conversation while cleaning.
Hose Length: On models with hoses, you’ll want to make sure that the hose reaches far enough to clean where you need to.
Size: This is important where storage is concerned, along with how heavy the machine will be. Make sure you have room to store your carpet cleaner whether it’s upright or portable.
Pet Hair: For homes with pets, a carpet cleaner that can tackle pet hair along with dirt and grime is a must. Look for models that are made for pet hair cleanup.
Attachments: The more accessories you have, the more you’ll be able to clean. Look for models that have attachments that can cater to your cleaning needs.
Cleaning Solution: While a basic carpet cleaning solution may be ok, most manufacturers recommend that you use their branded cleaning solution with the carpet cleaner. Refer to your owner’s manual for specifics.
If you plan on starting a regular carpet cleaning routine, adding a carpet cleaner to your floor care lineup is practical and cost-efficient. Lowe’s also offers a carpet cleaner rental service if you’re unsure about whether purchasing one is right for you.
If you’ve never deep cleaned your carpet before, our guide, How to Deep Clean Carpet With a Carpet Cleaner, can help you get started.
Steam Cleaners and Steam Mops
Steam cleaners and steam mops take using chemicals to clean out of the equation. Using water and heat, these machines can effectively sanitize everything from floors to shower doors to upholstery and more. Since these machines use water heated to high temperatures that’s then converted to steam, it’s important to follow all manufacturer’s instructions for use and safety guidelines.
Steam Cleaners
Sometimes referred to as steam vacuums, steam cleaners are the more versatile option of the two, generally coming with various attachments to help you clean different surfaces and in hard-to-reach places. There are two types of steam cleaners, handheld and multipurpose.
Handheld Steam Cleaners
- Feature a small, portable design that’s easy to carry.
- Ideal for cleaning a variety of surfaces around the home.
- Include attachments for cleaning versatility.
- Small size makes it easy to store.
- Great for quick cleanups of messes right when they happen.
- Not suited for large cleaning jobs.
- Typically feature a canister design.
- Large water tank eliminates the need to refill as often.
- Better suited to larger cleaning jobs.
- Come with different tools and attachments for versatility.
- More expensive than a handheld model.
- May be harder to store due to the larger design.
Steam Mops
Steam mops are specific to floor cleaning only. Like steam cleaners, they don’t require detergents or harsh chemicals, giving you an efficient way to clean and sanitize the floors in your home. Their design is like a stick vacuum, making them a lightweight tool that’s easy to take from room to room. One drawback — depending on the size of your cleaning job, the water tank may need to be refilled more frequently to complete it.
If you’ve never used a steam cleaner or steam mop before, our How to Use a Steam Cleaner guide details how they work and lists the many ways you can use one around your home.
Steam cleaners and steam mops are only recommended for use on specific surfaces, like sealed tile. Before using a steam cleaner, check the manufacturer instructions to find out if your floor type is a candidate for steam cleaning.
Floor Scrubbers
Floor scrubbers are a more common cleaning tool in business settings, but there are options for residential use. They make a great alternative to using a mop and bucket, allowing you to quickly wash away dirt, germs, scuffs and stains from your floors. Much like carpet cleaners, steam cleaners and steam mops, floor scrubbers feature a water tank to hold the cleaning solution. Some models have brush heads with rotating discs, while others clean with microfiber pads. Keep in mind that larger brush heads may make it difficult to clean under furniture and around other obstacles and may require prepping the room you’re cleaning beforehand — moving furniture out of the way, etc. As with other floor care machines, make sure your floor type can be cleaned with a floor scrubber. This includes whether your floor can be cleaned with water and if brushes or microfiber pads are the right choice. Always refer to the manufacturer’s use and care instructions before use.
Floor Polishers
Floor polishers are a great tool to use to protect your floors from the wear and tear they see on a constant basis. They’re designed to remove scuffs, scratches and stains, giving dull or damaged floors their shine back. Some can also be used for cleaning, removing dirt, dust and debris from your floors. When you think of polishing floors, hardwoods are probably the first floor type to come to mind. But other floor types can benefit from floor polishers too, including tile, stone and even carpet. If you have different flooring types throughout your house, look for multi-surface options so you can use one machine for your whole home. Check to see what the floor polisher comes with first. Certain models may already come with the right cleaning brush or pad for the type of floor you're working with. For others, you may need to purchase these accessories separately.
Floor Sweepers
Floor sweepers are less of a tool for deep cleaning and more one for keeping up with regular maintenance in between those bigger cleaning jobs. They work on carpet and hard floors, picking up dirt, dust, crumbs and other debris. You can choose from manual or battery-powered models, depending on your needs. Manual sweepers don’t use electricity, but as you roll them back and forth they generate static, which attracts dirt and debris. Sweepers with rechargeable batteries offer more pickup power because their roller spins faster and creates more static. These make a great choice for more frequent cleaning schedules. Other features and benefits to look for include:
Lightweight: Manual models typically range from 3 to 5 pounds. Battery-powered sweepers are a little heavier but still easy to manage.
Compact: Slim silhouettes make them easy to store in a closet, laundry room or somewhere else.
Telescoping Handle: With an adjustable handle, different uses can comfortably use the tool for cleaning.
Cleaning Width: A wider sweeping path allows you to clean more floor in one pass.
Made for Pet Hair: For households with pets, look for models designed to collect pet hair.