> wrote in message
...
On Mar 28, 1:16 pm, Bobo Bonobo® > wrote:
> On Mar 28, 2:58 pm, "brooklyn1" > wrote:
>
>
>
> > "FERRANTE" wrote
>
> > > I know this is way OT, but with all the home makers here, I am sure
> > > someone can help me.
> > > I am looking for a good steam cleaner for my carpets, but with so
> > > many to choose from, I am not sure what to get.
> > > I cannot afford a lot, so I am trying to stay under $200. How
> > > essential is a built-in heating element? Obviously, I want one with
> > > two tanks. I see some offering cleaning in both front and reverse
> > > movements. Some offer a button to give the carpet an extra shot of
> > > cleaning solution, some don't.
> > > Considering that I cannot get everything for what I can spend, what
> > > should I make sure it does and contain at the very least? Any
> > > recommendations on a particular model or on a make/model to stay away
> > > from?
>
> > How often do you need to steam clean your carpeting... if more than once
> > a
> > year you're too much of a slob and you shouldn't have carpeting. None of
> > those homeowner carpet steam cleaners work very well, neither do the
> > rentals...
>
> I do this for a living. Last week I probably spent 15-20 hours
> extracting carpet. The Rug Doctor rentals are fine for home use. A
> very important number is inches of water lift. This one, which is
> much like the rentals, has
> 101".http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden...Upholstery-Ste...
>
> --Bryan

I have a question. Why is it professionals (at least around here)
only clean wall to wall carpeting? I've used bound w/w carpeting
(let's say 10x12) as an area rug in the past but they wouldn't give me
the time of day when I called to have it cleaned.

The professional carpeting steam cleaners where I live will clean area
rugs, but they will roll them up and bring them to their plant where they're
dry cleaned. Many bound area rugs require special cleaning techniques so
they don't fray, unravel, or otherwise become ruined... expensive oriental
rugs definitely require special care. And sometimes after they take your
rug and examine it they'll phone and say they can't clean it and then make
arrangements to return it... often people have area rugs that are too poorly
made, too delicate, and/or too worn to withstand professional cleaning. If
they ruin your rug they could be liable. With in-home steam cleaning they
have you sign a waiver that indemnifies their liablity for damage. The
honest cleaners will strongly recommend you don't clean a rug they deem have
a high likelihood of becoming destroyed.