You don't have to break the bank to clean up for the holidays. All you have to do is go to your local home improvement store and look for the turbo scrubber from Hoover. You might find this on sale right now for only $68. The usual price is usually around $98 but keep looking you can find it cheap. I figure why pay those expensive steam cleaning outfits to do the cleaning for you.
Whats really nice about this scrubber, is that it has completely separate reservoirs one for the clean water and one for the dirty water. The dirty water container is a 2-piece container that has a sponge type filter and is easy to clean and empty. By releasing the two levers on the container it will open up for you to empty and clean. If you are worried about whether or not you can learn to use this scrubber, don't. There is very little assembly and is very easy to use. You just have to get used to using it on your carpeting. This scrubber comes with a carpet washer (motor and base), a water or solution tank, a upper handle, the screws to attach it, a spin scrub brush assembly, even comes with a mesh bag for the tools, an upholstery tool, and the accessory hose.
Assembly
When you first get the unit home, it is very easy to get it ready to use. Just pull everything out of the box and attach the handle with the screws. Then place the dirty water tank at the bottom and make sure that it is secure in the base. The solution tank fits in the upper section. This is where you can use a concentrate solution to mix with water to last a lot longer. The mesh bag that comes with this scrubber is very nice and handy to store the tools when not in use. You can either use it to store all the accessories on the back of the scrubber when not in use or do as I do and keep all the extra stuff on a shelf so you remember where they are. I usually do the later, because it becomes very monotonous moving all the extras around.
USE
This has an easy on/off pedal instead of a switch that is operated via your foot. To fill and empty the reservoirs there is another pedal to step on to take them out of their positions. To remove the top container you can pull it out without pulling down on the handle, but the dirty water container you will need to lower the handle by stepping on the release pedal.
When you first start, all you have to do is fill the top container with clean water and solution mix. Of course Hoover will want you to purchase their solution, but I have used just about any on the market. I found it best to use hot water and whatever cleaning solution that you have. It is very important not to use any laundry detergent or dish soap. This will cause the rug to be sticky and not clean up well. When you are ready all you have to do is push the on/off lever and you should hear the unit start up and then, while pushing the unit forward then squeeze the trigger located in the handle and then release the trigger and pull the unit backwards toward you. You should see the unit suck up all the old dirty water and go into the bottom container. That's all there is to it. When the dirty water tank is full you will hear a difference in the motor and that is a sign that the tank is full and needs to be emptied. This unit transports very easy and doesn't weigh a lot.
Applications
I have used this unit on solid wood floors, ceramic tile, and thick and thin carpeting. This unit will take out all kinds of stains with a little bit of work and going back and forth over affected areas several times. It also helps if you change directions with the scrubber. If you have pets this is a must along with your vacuum cleaner. Your house will smell a lot fresher after you are done.
Maintenance
There is not much to maintaining this unit. Basically all you have to do is keep it clean after each use. This unit will come apart to allow you to clean the front plastic shield and the brushes can be taken out to remove any hair and debris the becomes lodged in the brushes. Also, you will not have to lubricate the motor because it is a sealed unit and any excess lubricant could possibly damage unit. This is good for the life of the motor.
Warranty
This unit comes with a two year limited warranty. But, as of yet I haven't had to call anyone. But in case you need it here's the number 1-800-944-9200
Conclusion
Everyone likes to save a little money nowadays. So why not save some all year long and keep those pet odors down. You don't have to purchase an expensive model this one does a great job. You might even find a better deal now that it's this time of year.