Thinking about buying your own carpet cleaner? Here are some key facts to help you cut through all the marketing hype!

Fact #1: Most steam cleaners don't produce any steam

By far the most popular type of carpet cleaning machine for consumer use in North America is the all-in-one extractor: a machine that will apply a cleaning solution to your carpet, scrub the fibres with a brush, and then suck the solution back up along with all the dirt and grime. Most household extractors look like upright vacuums, and this is the kind of machine will usually find on sale in department, warehouse and variety stores. Manufacturers are very fond of incorporating words like 'steam' and 'steamer' in the names they give their extractors, but in truth you won't see any clouds of white vapor billowing out of these machines. Consumer-grade extractors use only hot water, to which a concentrated liquid detergent is added. While there are extraction cleaning systems that actually do work with live steam, they are professional units that typically cost in five figures and require a truck or van to haul them around.

Fact #2: A European steamer probably won't do the whole job

European-inspired home steam cleaners that can cost $500+ are usually nothing more than oversized electric kettles on wheels. While they do generate live steam, most produce it in such small volumes that using one to clean a houseful of broadloom would be something like cutting your lawn with a pair of scissors. On top of that, the majority of European steamers only do half the job, since they have no extraction component to pick up the dirt and condensed water from from the carpet. You must either have a second person working alongside you with a wet-vac, or wait until the carpet air-dries on its own and then go over the area thoroughly with your regular dry vacuum cleaner (and the problem with the latter is that much of the dirt loosened by the steam will re-adhere to the carpet fibers as they dry.)

Fact #3: The average extraction cleaner isn't going to last all that long

Manufacturers have to cut a lot of corners to make extractors that can sell for what the typical consumer is willing to pay. As a result, we get cheaply constructed machines that look impressive in the store but tend not to stand up terribly well. But look at it this way: If a $150 unit provides, say, fifty hours of actual scrubbing before it begins to give you major problems, you can be satisfied that you enjoyed the practicality and convenience of having your own carpet cleaner for about three dollars per operating hour. If you feel you really must have a genuinely durable extractor, be prepared to lay out $750+ for a commercial-grade model such as a Rug Doctor Pro or Carpet Express. Understand, though, that these heavy-duty portable extractors use the same cleaning technology as the cheaper consumer machines, so while they will last longer they won't necessarily provide better results.

So are these machines really worth buying? Definitely -- IF you're willing to buy selectively and follow the directions . . . AND if your durability expectations match the price you're willing to pay. You'll no longer need to lug a dirty, heavy rental machine back and forth from store to home, nor will you again be held to ransom by professional carpet cleaners whose final bills always seem to come from a much richer neighborhood than their advertised prices. And because you can clean at your convenience, you'll enjoy the pleasure of seeing your carpets cleaner, more often, which is sure to add to the pride you take in your home.

Check out my other eBay guides for useful tips on choosing the right carpet cleaner and getting the best use of it.