Using the Machine:

I have had to explain to 9 different people how to use the machine, and it is really quite simple. Actually seeing the machine makes it easier to understand, but if you've used a regular vacuum cleaner, it shouldn't be too hard to follow. You're just dealing with water containers instead of dirt bags.
Extremely important note: This Hoover carpet cleaner is NOT a vacuum cleaner. You first need to vacuum the carpet thoroughly before attempting to wash it with this machine. It only has two little screens for catching large particles, and with an un-vacuumed floor they will clog up fast, and the machine won't be able to suck up the dirty water out of your carpet. The screens are easy to find and are described in the Manual.

We'll start at the bottom and work up.
--- There are 6 rotating brushes that will scrub your carpet as you go.
--- The first container is the "dirty water" container. This will fill up with dirty water as you wash your carpet. It has a yellow float in it that will make the carpet cleaner stop sucking up dirty water to prevent from overflowing the dirty water container. When it gets full and the yellow floater plugs it up, you will notice a higher pitch sound from the machine.
To remove, release the two little "ears" at the bottom of the container on either side that hold it in place, and lift it out using the handle. The lid comes right off, dump and rinse and replace. Don't forget to secure it with the little "ears" again.
--- The next container is the clean water reservoir. It is easy to remove. The built in handle serves as the latch -- just push firmly to attach, and push the handle down a little to remove. Take to sink, fill up with warm water, and pour Carpet Cleaning Detergent in the built-in quart-sized reservoir on the side of this container. Put back on the machine and you are set to go.
--- Now plug in the machine with the 27ft. cord it has.
--- Look on top of the handle, and you'll see two buttons. One says ON/OFF, the other says RINSE / WASH-AutoRINSE. Set the second button to WASH-AutoRINSE.
--- Push the button to the ON position
--- Push the gray foot pedal located on the lower back part of the machine. This makes the machine hinge back like a regular vacuum cleaner. Now grip the machine with your hand. You'll notice a black push-button at your fingertips.
--- Push-and-hold this black button, and slowly make a forward swath as if you were vacuuming. This forward motion with the button depressed will spray soapy water onto your carpet.
--- With the button still depressed, pull backward over the same swath. This motion puts plain rinse water onto the carpet, and begins drawing up dirty water.
--- Now release the black finger button, and just go back and forth a couple times over the same patch of carpet, and this will just suck up any remaining water from your carpet.

All this time, the 6 brushes are spinning around scrubbing.

Repeat this same process over your entire carpet, one swath at a time. You don't want to get your entire carpet wet at once and come back at the end to suck up the dirty water because by then the water will have soaked in too deeply into the carpet

The other button setting, the RINSE, is if you want to clean your carpet without using soap. Put the button on that setting and follow the same procedure.

It's always a good idea to clean the machine after each use. There are a lot of clear plastic parts, so it's easy to see where the dirt is. It's easy to remove parts, and the manual tells you how. It's very easy to clean in your sink.

Hand Tools:
There are a couple of hand tools provided so you can clean upholstery. One just has a row of hard bristles that you can use to scrub tough spots, and the other has 2 rotating brushes that can gently scrub your upholstery. There is a long hose provided that attaches to the front of the machine, with a small tube (attaches to the side) that provides the clean water to the hand tool. The hose and the tools all fit in a cradle that hangs on the back of the machine. The cradle removes easily so you can set it aside while you are cleaning carpets so you don't have this bulky hose hanging around all the time.

Last note:
I love this carpet cleaner. It has very strong suction power so it's picks up almost all the water you put down. But because of the strong motor, it is a bit louder than a regular vacuum cleaner. You may want to get some ear protection if you'll be cleaning for any length of time.

Recommended:
Yes

Amount Paid (US$): $270.00