Guest blog by Chris
Do you know how dirty your carpet or rugs really are? I thought I did. I thought mine were just marked with the odd “child-related spillage”… However, I was very wrong and am now a convert to carpet washing on a more frequent basis and vow to never wait until they are visibly dirty before I clean them!
I was lucky enough to borrow a basic carpet washer from my in-laws to try to tackle the marks on the carpet. To use it was fairly straightforward; simply mix the carpet solution with water and then set about washing the carpet. This machine showed me that the carpets were actually dirtier than I thought but didn’t really remove the marks left by the children, so I was a little disappointed.
I decided to do a little research on different types of carpet washer and found quite a range to choose from. The features offered by some of the more upmarket models were what I needed so I eventually settled on the Vax V124a.
What appealed to me most was the simplicity to both use and operate: no need for complicated building as it comes already assembled – yay! So after a quick read of the operating instructions (which even includes tips from Vax to get the best results) I set about tackling those stubborn stains from the kids…
This model has an auto mixer for the solution and the water (the water used must not exceed 40 degrees celsius) so simply added a small amount of solution, then fill the water tank with warm water and clip the tank back onto the machine. This is placed on at a slight angle and then raise the handle on top of the tank to lock into place.
To operate, recline the Vax, push the slide switch to the wash position and turn the machine on. The best results are achieved by operating slowly and it is suggested that you squeeze the trigger when going forward and release as you slowly pull the Vax back over. This sucks up the water as you release the trigger by shutting off the water, thereby sucking the solution (and water and dirt) from the carpet. I did this over an area and then repeated the process with the switch in the rinse position to ensure any solution is removed from the carpet and found it also gets the carpet slightly drier.
This model has rotating scrubbing brushes which really attacked stubborn grubby patches and did a fantastic job of removing most of the marks completely. What I hadn’t considered was all of the dirt that also came off of the carpets that I considered to be relatively clean (as they are regularly vacuumed). Once you have completed or ran out of water it is time to empty the waste water. This is done by reclining the handle flat, opening the two side clips on the bottom waste tank and then lifting the handle to lift off the tank. The handle has a clever part on the sides that stop the lid accidently falling off/opening whilst carrying and only when at the correct angle at the sink will it allow you to take off the lid to empty the waste tank.
It was at the emptying the tank stage that I discovered how wrong I’d been about the cleanliness of my carpet… the colour of the water was one indication but the bottom of the tank was thick with mud and sand that my little “cherubs” had obviously walked in from the garden and had been hidden in the pile of the carpet, stubbornly resisting the normal vacuum! So, not only had it worked on the marks but also revived the carpet to its former glory and brightened it up a shade or two again.
I highly recommend anyone with carpets to get one of these and use in conjunction with their normal vacuum, based solely on its carpet cleaning capacity but there’s a bonus. This machine can also do your upholstery and stairs with the attachment tools you get with the machine – in our home this means little fingerprints can be tackled too!
It works in the same way as for carpets but with the handheld scrubbing attachment I was able to wash the sofa, a set of curtains and the stairs, removing all the marks that had built up over time.
The Vax Dual V upright carpet cleaner will wash your carpets and upholstery using dual V technology and heated cleaning for the optimal cleaning results.
- Dual V Technology for quicker drying time, Heated Cleaning
- Spin Scrub technology using rotating brushes for a deeper clean
- On board tools and hose for upholstery cleaning
- Auto mix cleaning system
- 6 year guarantee
To view our product page click here or find your nearest store.
