Vacuums & Vacuuming - First Things First
Diligent, weekly (or better) vacuuming with a powerful, well maintained vacuum is the single best thing you can do to prolong the health and life of your carpeting, and rugs. In fact, it is so important that one of the first questions I ask anyone that wants to rent one of my properties is... "do you own a working vacuum?" The answer to this question, including tone and attitude, has an enormous bearing on my decision to allow them into my unit. Anyone who doesn't realize that a working vacuum is on the 'Must Have List' for responsible dwelling, will more than likely destroy not only $2,000 of my carpet, but everything else as well. I will be posting an entire article on Money Saving Knowledge for Property Owners and Renters soon, so subscribe to The Carpet Chemist blog right now, and you won't miss a thing.
Throughout more than 20 years in the Professional Carpet Care Industry, I have seen and tried nearly every single vacuum ever released, and, my vacuum of choice, for 90% of my vacuuming, is a Kirby Generation 3 with self propel power drive, or Tech Drive, as they call it. My Inside Sources tell me that there is not much difference between Generation 3, Generation 4, & Generation 5 Kirbys, other than cosmetic. Believe it or not, you can usually pick up a fully serviced, Generation 3 Kirby at the Kirby Store for around $150! This is a great deal on a great machine, so there is no reason to not have a seriously deep cleaning vacuum. At this price, you could even keep one on every floor, so you never have to carry it up and down the steps. Several of my Customers do this, and say it's great. With proper/minimum care, these machines will last forever, so they are a great value. Totally unpaid Kirby endorsement here... I just want to make sure you have not only the best, Money Saving Carpet Care Knowledge, but also the best equipment as well. Always buy the best and you'll never have to wish you had. Yes, yes... I know...'the Kirby is heavier than my 8 pound...' Boo-Hoo, don't make me call the Waaaambulance! Yes, it is heavier, this is a very good thing. Your vacuum is not a toy, it's a serious machine, for a very serious job...making you look good, and saving you lots of money! As a carpet care professional, I understand that to get a truly DEEP Cleaning, your tool must always maintain a very tight seal on the carpet, so you're not merely sucking up surface debris, like most vacuums. The soils that cause the most carpet damage are also the heaviest, and hardest to remove. Sand, grit, & cinders slice into your carpet fibers with every step you take. These little gems take consistent, maximum power and maximum suction to completely remove. The weight and stability of the Kirby, along with it's big, heavy, powerful motor, and Fun-to-drive Tech-Drive, make it hard to beat. The self propel is so responsive, I do think they are actually FUN to drive! Here's a real time saver - tell your Husband it's a "self-propel-machine", and get the heck out of the way, he just might vacuum the whole house! I have seen this scenario play out more than once! I do also keep several well maintained Kenmore Progressive Uprights, (another excellent brand) because I can easily pick them up and vacuum the upholstery, stairs, small rugs, etc. The easy extending hose also makes getting corners and crevices, where the dirt always collects, a breeze. I don't care much for any of the canister vacuums. Some of them are cute but... with all the hoses, cords, attachments, fumbly connections, & the 'why isn't it following me'- Frustration !?!, I don't need it, I don't like them. And I especially don't care for the way overpriced canister vacuum with the gimmicky, filthy, icky, infected water sloshing around inside, just waiting to spill and ruin your day... seriously people! Please remember yhis fact, MOLD will start to grow just about anywhere it finds three particular conditions... First, mold must have water... next, mold likes a dark place, and finally, mold needs a cozy temperature between 68 and 78 degrees F...sound familiar?... And you want to exhaust all of this ick throughout your home?!? Not me... I much prefer to drive my handy, dandy, all-in-one 'truck-like' vacuum right where it needs to go to do its job as efficient and effective as possible, then drive it right back into its closet, and tuck it away. *I will be testing a new Simplicity Brand Upright Vacuum very soon. This brand is actually made in my home state of Missouri. I am very excited about this Simplicity brand after recently learning about some of the truly exceptional design advances their new machines have. I'll post photos so you can see what I'm talking about. You should really go ahead and subscribe to The Carpet Chemist blog right now, and my full report on the Simplicity Brand, and other Advanced Carpet Care Tools, will be automatically delivered to you, and wait, patiently, to be read.
Questions? I know you've got them, and they are all important...so send them in to The Carpet Chemist at info(at)CarpetChemist.com I'll post all Q&A and FAQ PDQ!
**DO NOT MISS My Next Carpet Care 101 For Everyone Series Posts, Know Your Fibers, and Vomit, Urine, and Poop Stains Suck, Get Revenge!
Very Truly Yours,
The Carpet Chemist
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