Ever since becoming available to the masses, the best carpet cleaners have surged in popularity – and one brand that continually dominates the market is Vax. Vax offers a range of upright cleaners as well as carpet-cleaning solutions, but how do these machines actually work and how do you get the best performance out of them?
We’ve pulled together a comprehensive guide, filled with tips and tricks, to give you the full breakdown on your Vax carpet cleaner. From the best technique you can use to what to do with persistent stains, we’ve covered all the bases, so you can rest assured that your carpets are getting the deep clean they deserve.
How does a Vax carpet cleaner work?
Carpet cleaners apply a combination of carpet-cleaning solution and water, which is worked in with the bristles on the brush bar and then vacuumed up to remove the excess moisture. They generally apply the diluted carpet-cleaning solution as you pull on the trigger, which is recommended as you push the device. Then you release the trigger as you pull to vacuum it up again. It’s a quick and effective method of cleaning carpets on a wide scale and needs much less elbow grease compared with cleaning by hand.
It’s worth mentioning that the exception to the trigger rule above are the Vax Platinum SmartWash Carpet Cleaner and the Vax Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Cleaner, which sense when they’re pushed and pulled to dispense the solution and vacuum automatically.
Tried and Tested Vax Carpet Cleaners
Score: 93/100
The winning Vax carpet cleaner is easy to manoeuvre, comfortable to hold and features motion sensor technology, so it applies the detergent and vacuums automatically in motion. The 'SpinScrub' hand tool is particularly useful for stubborn stains.
Score: 88/100
This Vax carpet cleaner is easy to use and copes well with fresh stains. The performance was strong across all our carpet tests, and we found the 'Deep Clean' setting particularly useful for a thorough wash.
Score: 81/100
The large water tanks give this carpet cleaner an extensive reach before it needs emptying. Plus the wide range of attachments make it a versatile machine too. On test, it lifted both immediate and set-in stains with ease, including mud and milky tea.
How to prepare the room
To get the best performance from your Vax carpet cleaner, you need to prepare the room beforehand. This includes removing furniture from the space and giving the carpet a thorough vacuum to clear any dust and debris. This step is important because you don’t want this residue to block the machine as you clean or end up tangled around the brush bar. You might want to open up any windows in the room before you start cleaning as well to help with ventilation.
How to prepare your machine
First of all, it’s worth checking you’re using the best cleaning solution for your carpet. Vax offers a range of solutions to suit different circumstances. For instance, the Vax Platinum Antibacterial Solution features an antibacterial formula to kill 99.99% of bacteria, while the Vax Ultra+ Pet Carpet Cleaning Solution has been designed with pets in mind (although many other products in the range are suitable for use with pets). You may need to consider if it’s suitable for wool carpets, too, if that’s what you have (check for the Woolsafe approved logo). It’s also worth bearing in mind that some solutions in the range are designed for use with Vax hard floor cleaners, rather than carpet cleaners, so don’t get these confused!
Once you’ve got your solution sorted, you need to add it to the machine. Depending on your model, you will either have a dedicated smaller tank for this or a solution tank incorporated as part of the main tank. If you have an older model, there might just be one large tank where you combine the solution directly with warm water. Add your solution either neat if you have a newer model, or following the dilution recommendations on pack. Then add warm water to your water tank, at a maximum temperature of 40°C. Look out for the maximum fill marks on your tank so you don’t overfill it.
Currently, all models on sale from Vax feature Automix Technology, which means it will automatically apply the correct amount of cleaning solution for the best performance. By keeping the cleaning solution separated, this also allows some machines to rinse separately as well as wash, which comes in use for removing excess detergent.
It’s good to understand the settings your carpet cleaner has to offer. Some of the latest models offer Quick Clean (for a light clean with quick drying results) and Deep Clean (for a more thorough wash). There might also be a separate dial which sets it to Wash or Rinse (to rinse away any residual solution) and Boost on the trigger (for tougher stains). Use the most appropriate setting as you clean your carpet; you might need to use multiple settings to get the best performance.
The best technique
The best method with any carpet cleaner involves working from the furthest side of the room towards the door, moving in gradual strips. As you work your way back towards the wall, leave a final perpendicular strip for your feet (this will be the final strip you cover). Overlap each strip slightly for full coverage, but don’t oversaturate the carpet. You might need to do more vacuum-only passes to achieve this; little water should be vacuumed up once you’re finished. If your carpet cleaner has a rinse function, you can use this as you go once the solution is applied; otherwise you will need to walk over the damp carpet or wait for it to dry to go over again. Remove your carpet cleaner from the carpet and leave to air-dry once you’re finished.
Stubborn stains
If there are any stubborn stains on your carpet, your Vax carpet cleaner may come with a pre-treatment spray that can be applied prior to cleaning, following the instructions on pack. You can also purchase Vax Pet Stain & Odour Remover Pre-Treatment Solution if you regularly deal with this kind of stain. Some models, such as the Vax Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Cleaner also come with a pre-treatment wand to better direct the pre-treatment solution and loosen any stains.
When it comes to cleaning, stubborn stains may require repeat passes in a criss-cross fashion to fully remove. The Boost trigger can come in use here, too, if your model has this function. If your machine comes with a wash tool, you can hand scrub the area for better stain removal.
Storage tips
Now that your carpets are spotless and your Vax carpet cleaner has done its job, you will need to store it properly. Do not just store it as it is because residual moisture will encourage bacterial growth over time, and you don’t want to be greeted with this the next time your carpets need a clean, which could be a year away!
If your carpet cleaner features a rinse function, a good pre-storing tip would be to run this program and vacuum it back up to flush fresh water to the dirty water tank. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to switch off and start cleaning the device.
The first step would be to empty out both the clean and dirty water tanks. Clean these with warm soapy water (max 40ºC degrees) and a soft sponge to remove any residual dirt, then rinse. The filter on your dirty water tank should be removed and rinsed separately with warm water too. Leave these out to air dry fully before replacing. Remove the cleaning solution tank next and tip the excess carefully back into its bottle. Then rinse the tank with warm water and leave to air-dry. Following this, remove the nozzle on the floor head and the brush bar (if your model allows) and wash these with warm, soapy water. Once everything is dry and refitted, your Vax carpet cleaner is ready for storage.
Vanish Gold Oxi Action Stain Remover Spray
