Home & leisure
Carpet cleaning
Introduction
Removing stains from carpet can be murder - so we've tested 8 spot carpet cleaners on both wool and nylon carpet to see which works best.
We also discuss the options for using professional carpet cleaners, and advise on the questions to ask to find a good operator.
Plus see our handy guide of first aid for stains - and catch those spills before it's too late.
Products we tested
This report contains test results and recommendations for the following spot carpet cleaners:
- Cavalier Bremworth Carpet Stain Remover
- De-Solv-it Sticky Spot and Stain Remover
- Freedom Carpet Science
- Frend Oxy Action
- Frend Power Shot
- Glitz Carpet Stain Remover
- Ozkleen Carpet Power
- Shotz Carpet Stain Remover
Spot cleaners - our test
We tested 8 products to see how well they cleaned tricky stains:
- red wine and coffee (common household spills)
- shoe polish (oil-based)
- raspberry cordial (dye-based).
We applied the stains to light-coloured carpet (nylon cut-pile and wool sisal loop-pile).
In one test the stains were treated after one minute. A second batch of stains was left for 24 hours before treatment, to simulate a mishap you discover the next day. In both tests we followed the manufacturers' instructions.
The Cavalier Bremworth Carpet Stain Remover wasn't included in the first part of the test, because its manufacturer recommends that you "pre-treat" and then apply the remover (if needed) when the stain has dried (see First aid for stains).
Our lab rated how well the products removed each stain. As well, it checked whether the treated areas were more likely to attract dirt afterwards. This was done by rubbing sieved garden soil into a patch of carpet, part of which had been treated with the stain remover. The soil was vacuumed off, and the treated and untreated areas were compared.
What we found
No product removed all traces of these demanding stains - the best achieved a result of "hardly visible." And no single product performed well on all stains.
Glitz Carpet Stain Remover (pictured) was best overall - it removed most traces of the stains on nylon carpet.
All the products achieved better results on the nylon carpet, possibly because it had been treated with a stain-repellent coating and so kept liquids on the surface of the carpet for longer. These coatings are most effective on a new carpet but wear off with traffic.
The sisal loop pile of the wool carpet may also have affected the results - stains are more apparent on the sides of fibres (as in a loop pile) than the ends (cut pile).
All the products except Cavalier Bremworth caused treated carpet to get dirty faster than untreated carpet. This "resoiling" happens naturally over time, and can be fixed professionally (see Using professional cleaners).
Damage to the carpet pile was mainly a result of the testers' repeated efforts to remove the stain.
An expensive option
We were stunned to find a product costing $25.90. While De-Solv-it Sticky Spot and Stain Remover is a larger size (750ml) than other products in our test, it's by far the most expensive per ml - more than double the price of the top-scoring Glitz and Cavalier Bremworth stain removers.
For full details of the products tested and their performance, see Spot cleaners compared.
Spot cleaners compared
Guide to the table
Our test was carried out in the laboratory of the Australian consumer organisation Choice.
- Price: based on a survey of supermarkets and hardware stores in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch during August 2007. This is a good price to aim for.
- Overall Score: comprises cleaning performance (70%) and damage to carpet pile (30%).
- Resoiling: assessed after treatment: Five stars = no resoiling, to one star = significantly darker.
We recommend
Glitz Carpet Stain Remover
- Price: $7.00 (500 ml)
Good points
Useful on wool carpets for cordial (if treated immediately), wine, and shoe polish. Useful on nylon carpets for wine, cordial, coffee, and shoe polish.But
Available only from Bunnings. Treated area became darkened after resoiling.
Cavalier Bremworth Carpet Stain Remover
- Price: $6.40 (400 ml)
Good points
Useful on wool carpets for wine and shoe polish. Useful on nylon carpets for wine, cordial, and coffee. Protected the carpet from resoiling. Very little effect on pile.Comment
Tested only after 24 hours (manufacturer recommends pre-treatment).
Using professional cleaners
Particles of dirt walked into the carpet over time can leave it looking grubby and the pile tired and flattened. To remove dirt and refresh the pile, the Australian/New Zealand carpet cleaning standard AS/NZS 3733:1995 recommends a "restorative" clean at least every two years.
Carpet cleaners offer a choice of hot-water extraction (sometimes called "steam cleaning") or dry cleaning.
Hot-water extraction
Hot water is sprayed on to the carpet through a wand that then extracts the water and dirt using a powerful vacuum. Detergent is usually added to the water, to help lift the dirt.
Hot-water extraction can be done with a portable machine or from a truck-mounted system. Portable machines may use your hot-water supply - if they do, they'll take lots of it.
After the treatment's completed, make sure your furniture doesn't come into contact with the damp carpet or you'll get stains. So furniture legs should be placed on plastic squares, and furniture without legs should be lifted on to polystyrene or plastic blocks.
What's good about it
Hot-water extraction is the method recommended by most manufacturers, and it's the standard for restorative cleaning. It removes more dirt, and can be used on stairs and upholstery.
Downside
It takes longer to dry. If an inexperienced operator allows your carpet to get too wet it may shrink, will certainly take longer to dry, and - if the drying process takes too long - may also develop mould.
Dry cleaning
The most common dry-cleaning method is "bonnet buffing" (pictured). This is where a rotary machine with a round shag pad or "bonnet" attached to its base runs over the carpet, which has been lightly wetted with cleaning agent.
Another method is "dry foam", where foam is worked into the carpet by a revolving brush and allowed to dry to a powder that traps dirt particles. The carpet is vacuumed afterwards to remove the residue.
What's good about it
Dry cleaning means your carpet dries quickly - you can use the room almost immediately.
Downside
It's really only "surface cleaning", and isn't as good as hot-water extraction at removing ingrained dirt. Dry-cleaning methods are usually not suitable for stairs, unless the machine is small enough.
DIY hot-water extraction?
You can hire hot-water extraction machines from supermarkets and hire centres. They're usually easy to use, and they're cheaper than calling in a commercial cleaner. But you're unlikely to get the carpet as dry as a professional operator would - and if anything goes wrong you have no comeback.
Finding a good operator
Your carpet is a major investment, so finding a competent operator is important. Ask your insurance company, or the retailer that supplied your carpet, to recommend a cleaning service.
A good operator will check the condition of the carpet, looking especially for loose seams or damage. They will note any stains and should ask you what caused them. They'll then decide on the most appropriate method of cleaning. If an operator doesn't make a proper inspection first, don't use them.
Be aware that specialist stain removal is usually an extra cost.
What you should ask
Experience
What qualifications and experience does the operator have? This is especially important with hot-water extraction, or when it comes to removing stubborn stains.
Guarantees
Does the cleaning service carry insurance in case it all goes wrong? Does it belong to a professional association that will step in and resolve disputes?
How long will it take?
How much time will the carpet take to clean, and how long to dry? What will be involved in getting it dry? Don't pressure the operator about doing it faster - it's better to have the job done right first time.
Deadlines
If you need the carpet clean and dry by a particular date, make sure the cleaning service agrees this will be done. If the timing is really important, get the agreement in writing.
Pre-vacuum
Is this included? Pre-vacuuming will improve results if an efficient commercial vacuum cleaner is used.
Hot water
For hot-water extraction, will the operator want to use your hot water?
Stains
Does the service have techniques to deal with your particular stains? Will stain removal add to the cost? What guarantees does the service give against bleaching or residual staining?
Price
Make sure you know whether the fee includes:
- all the areas you want cleaned (fixed-cost cleaning is often based on a relatively small area - say the living area and hall - and if you want the bedrooms or stairs done, the cost may rise sharply)
- any extras - such as stain removal, deodorising, stain-resistant treatments, or extra drying equipment for hot-water extraction done in cold wet weather (extras can be useful, but they can send the cost skyrocketing)
- GST and any other charges, such as travel.
Be wary if the operator quotes a price that's much lower than others. If you want an operator who has qualifications and experience and is covered by insurance, you should expect to pay a reasonable price.
A "reasonable price" starts at around $3 per square metre including GST - this will cover pre-vacuuming and furniture moving but won't cover specialist stain treatment.
First aid for stains
- Treat the stain immediately.
- For liquid stains, blot up as much of the liquid as possible. And blot it up - don't scrub (scrubbing can damage the carpet pile and leave matted fibres). Next, dilute the stain with cold water and continue blotting until the stain fades. Don't saturate the carpet with water - if the backing becomes wet it can create new stains or even grow mould.
- Candle wax, crayon and gum are easier to remove after being frozen with ice.
- Treat the residue with an appropriate spot cleaner. Test the cleaner first on an inconspicuous patch of carpet, to check that it won't affect the colour. To stop the stain from spreading, work from the outside edges in towards the centre.
IMPORTANT: if the stain isn't liquid and looks serious - oily footprints tracked in, for example - don't touch it until you've called your insurance company. You may find that repairing the damage is covered by your contents policy.
More information
- Carpet care: www.woolsnz.com
- Carpet Cleaners Association of New Zealand: www.carpetcleaners.org.nz
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Report by Bev Frederikson