Carpet cleaners come in a range of sizes and configurations to suit different cleaning needs. For instance, cleaning the seats and mats of a car would require a cleaner that is not only powerful, but also portable and flexible enough to reach tight spots. Carpet cleaning for homes requires carpet cleaners that can clean stretches of carpet as well as smaller areas; they should also be maneuverable, particularly in smaller spaces like apartments. But cleaning industrial and commercial areas poses unique challenges. This 6is why these environments require completely different kinds of carpet cleaners.

Size Does Matter

In most domestic settings, the biggest expanse of carpet may exist in the hallway or perhaps the living room. Even in these areas, carpet cleaners won’t take more than a few runs to get the area clean. But commercial areas are very different. For instance, the carpeted hall of a hotel or a large office building can extend to a considerable length. In many areas, the breadth of the carpet can be quite considerable as well. Schools, movie theaters and entertainment venues all have formidable areas of carpet.

Ordinary vacuum cleaners won’t help, as they only remove dirt and dust from the surface of carpets.For large stretches of carpet, carpet cleaners that have a walk-behind configuration are the best option. Not only do they cover a lot of area, they are easy to maneuver as well.

Powerful Cleaning Tools

Another thing to bear in mind about carpet cleaners is the power factor. Industrial and commercial carpets experience a more wear and tear from constant traffic and heavier deposits. For instance, the carpet in a casino is subject to liquid and food spills, cigarette burns and, of course, steady traffic. An industrial area may also be subject to deposits and industrial debris and spills.

Carpet cleaning equipment for these demanding applications should ideally offer a water column lift of at least 150", an air flow of at least 110 cfm, and pressure levels ranging from 100 – 500 psi. This powerful combination can help loosen and remove hardened and stubborn deposits and stains. Additionally, solution and recovery tank size are a consideration for large commercial and industrial areas. Larger tanks allow for longer cleaning -- solution and recovery tanks that can hold about 15 gallons can ensure extended, hassle-free cleaning.

Apart from the cleaning power, carpet cleaners should also have a quick drying time as well. The shorter the drying time, the lower the chances are of mold or mildew setting in. For commercial areas, quick drying times mean you don’t have to rope off areas until the carpet has dried. Carpet cleaners should be able to deliver a drying time of 6 hours or less. However, the best carpet cleaners available today allow carpets to dry in as little as 1-2 hours, permitting businesses to be fully operational shortly after cleaning.

For commercial and industrial users that experience a wide variety of applications, carpet cleaners available from top distributors can often be purchased with a variety of wands. These wands include an upholstery wand, a stair wand, and even a hard surface squeegee for cleaning hard floors.