As a carpet cleaning business owner, you need to buy the right equipment for your operation. Choosing between a carpet cleaner and a carpet extractor to clean your clients’ homes or commercial spaces is a significant decision and is part of the cost of starting a carpet cleaning business.
While these two machines seem to be used in cleaning and maintaining carpets, understanding how they differ can help you select high-quality equipment that meets your clients’ needs and helps your business succeed.
What is a Carpet Cleaner?
A carpet cleaner is a machine designed to clean carpets using a combination of cleaning solutions, scrubbing brushes, and vacuuming functions. The electric-powered machine can spray cleaning solution onto the carpet while scrubbing the surface and removing dirt and debris with a vacuum.
A carpet cleaner is best used for cleaning carpets that are lightly soiled or require regular maintenance. Homeowners and small businesses, such as restaurants or small offices, often use portable carpet cleaners to keep their carpets clean and looking fresh.
Professional carpet cleaning companies may use portable or truck-mount carpet cleaners with higher water capacities for bigger jobs.
Using a carpet cleaner typically involves filling the machine with water and cleaning solution, then moving the machine back and forth over the carpet surface to apply the solution and agitate the fibers. The cleaner then uses its vacuum function to extract the dirty water and debris from the carpet, leaving it clean and refreshed.
Carpet cleaner machines are a convenient and cost-effective solution for maintaining the appearance and cleanliness of carpets. However, they are not ideal for heavily soiled carpets or deep cleaning.
What is a Carpet Extractor?
A carpet extractor is a powerful machine that is designed to deep clean carpets by using hot water and cleaning solutions to remove dirt, stains, and debris from deep within the carpet fibers.
The machine is typically larger and more powerful than a carpet cleaner machine and comes in truck-mounted and portable carpet extractor options. It injects hot water and cleaning solution deep into the carpet before extracting the dirty water and solution with a powerful vacuum, helping to remove caked-on dirt and grime from carpets.
This machine is best used for heavily soiled carpets or deep cleaning jobs, such as in commercial settings or for carpets that have not been cleaned in a long time. The hot water and cleaning solution combination helps to break down stubborn stains and dirt that may have settled deep into the carpet fibers.
To operate the extractor, you fill the machine with a mix of hot water and cleaning solution and then move it across the carpet’s surface to apply the solution and scrub the fibers.
The extractor’s powerful vacuum function removes the soiled water and solution from the carpet, eliminating visible dirt, odors, and allergens and leaving the carpet looking and smelling fresh.
High-quality truck-mount carpet extractors and accessories like hoses, sprayers, and wands, are valuable tools for businesses that regularly clean heavily soiled carpets in homes and offices.
Carpet Extractor Vs. Carpet Cleaner?
The main difference between a carpet extractor and a carpet cleaner is the level of cleaning they provide. A carpet cleaner is used for regular maintenance and light soiling, while a carpet extractor is used for deep cleaning and heavy soiling.
Carpet extractors are larger and more powerful and use hot water and cleaning solutions to break down deep-set dirt and stains. Carpet cleaners are smaller and less powerful and use a combination of cleaning solutions, scrubbing brushes, and vacuuming functions to clean the carpet’s surface.
Due to the deep cleaning provided by a carpet extractor, using this method may take longer than the less involved carpet cleaner machine; however, it gives a more thorough extraction for commercial or residential carpets.
Which Machine is Best For Your Carpet Cleaning Business?
Choosing the right machine is crucial to minimizing business costs if you’re running a carpet cleaning company. Consider the following factors when deciding between investing in a carpet extractor or carpet cleaner:
- Type of cleaning required.
A carpet cleaner may be ideal if you service homes or businesses that need regular maintenance and light cleaning. However, if you need equipment that performs heavy-duty cleaning on heavily soiled carpets, a non-TRC carpet extractor, like the Five Star Soil Extraction System, is the better option. - Carpet type.
Different carpet types require different cleaning methods. A non-TRC carpet cleaner is recommended for delicate or wool carpets because they use gentler, often plant-based cleaning agents. A carpet extractor will provide a better clean for synthetic or heavily soiled carpets. - Budget.
Both carpet cleaners and carpet extractors come in a range of prices. However, carpet extractors are typically more expensive due to their advanced cleaning capabilities. As a DryMaster Affiliate, you can access the best carpet cleaning extractors at affordable prices for your start-up. - Size of the machine.The machine you need will depend on the size of your business and the amount of cleaning you perform. Carpet cleaners are typically smaller and more portable, while carpet extractors are larger and less mobile. However, if your carpet cleaning company uses larger vans or trucks, you can easily transport a heavy-duty carpet extractor to your various client locations.
Invest in High-Quality Carpet Cleaning Equipment
Choosing the right carpet cleaning machine is essential for running a successful business. As a DryMaster Systems Affiliate, you gain access to high-performing carpet extractors designed to help you run a profitable company.
We carry powerful, professional-quality machines and accessories to help you clean your clients’ carpets effectively and build a solid customer base for continued success. Contact DryMaster Systems today to learn about our affiliate program or shop our carpet cleaning equipment to find the cleaners and supplies you need.
