01795 436999
Guide to Carpet Cleaning Machines
Hello, I'm Martin Ashby from Ashbys Cleaning Equipment
and this is me aged 8, expertly modelling a Stimvak Toto for my dad back in 1982.
I've been involved in the carpet cleaning industry for nearly 30 years. I've been out professionally cleaning carpet and upholstery and work for Ashbys serving and advising our customers on equipment, detergents and training. I learnt most of what I know from my father, Derek Ashby. He started this company in 1975 when carpet cleaning was in its infancy... and he's still working here part-time now!
My father Derek wowing the crowds with a Stimvak Mini, circa 1980 at the Dartford Show!
I definitely don't know it all, but I have a fair amount of industry-specific knowledge. So if you're new to professional carpet and upholstery cleaning machines, it's no problem. Let my guide, well – guide you!
This guide is written for anyone starting a professional carpet cleaning business or running commercial premises such as hotels, care homes, schools or offices. My aim is to explain, in plain English, how modern hot water extraction machines work and how to choose the right set-up for fast, reliable, commercial-grade cleaning.
Contents
- HWE Cleaning Process
- HWE Machines
- Water (Solution) Pumps
- Upholstery & Mattress Cleaning
- Cleaning Carpeted Stairs
- Hard Floor, Tile & Grout Cleaning
- Vacuum Systems
- Heating Systems
- Hose Sets
HWE Cleaning Process
HWE stands for Hot Water Extraction. This process is what I and most other seasoned professionals believe to be the most effective way to clean carpets and upholstery. It's a system that thoroughly flushes out dirt, leaving the item clean and most importantly, residue-free. HWE employs the principle of rinsing away soilage – a technique that has been used since men and women started cleaning. That principle is still being used today when we clean our clothes, dishes, vehicles and even ourselves in the shower.
Jet-washing one of my dad’s vans, circa 1982
It’s an uncomplicated, common-sense approach to cleaning, which involves spraying a fine high-pressure mist of clean water (at the correct heat level) into carpets and upholstery. These items have been thoroughly dry vacuumed to remove loose soilage and pet hair etc, then pre-treated with detergent to break down the remaining stuck-on dirt. This rinsing solution is continuously being extracted using a powerful vacuum system.
We use a wand to clean carpets, a general purpose hand tool to clean carpet edges, stairs and upholstery; and a dedicated upholstery cleaning tool for upholstery.
Ashbys 400 psi Enforcer with V2 SteamMate doing its thing. Video courtesy of Prosteam UK
The HWE process rinses away and thoroughly removes loosened soilage, leaving the item clean, residue-free and ready to apply finishing products. These include:
- Bactericidal deodorisers to kill bacteria and freshen.
- pH neutralising finishing sprays to balance pH, fix and brighten colours and prevent browning.
Essentially, HWE is the process of spraying hot water into an item and sucking it out to remove and rinse away the dirt.
HWE Machines
Ashbys Enforcer industrial carpet cleaning machine
A professional HWE carpet cleaning machine is fitted with:
- A powerful water (solution) pump to spray down the high-pressure mist of clean water used to rinse away loosened dirt and stains.
- A powerful vacuum system used to recover the above solution, leaving the items as dry as possible.
- A powerful heating system to heat the clean water, greatly improving the speed and efficiency of the clean.
Water (Solution) Pumps
For professional carpet cleaning –
Use pump pressures ranging from 250–400 psi. In my opinion you don’t require pump pressures in excess of 400 psi or you run the risk of jetting water into the backing of the carpet you’re cleaning – and that’s when problems could happen…
You see, the backing of some carpet is packed with woven fibres which might be prone to shrink or expand, causing rippling if over-wetted or overheated. Fortunately, a professional carpet cleaning machine should be fitted with a very powerful vacuum system, which simultaneously extracts the rinsing solution, not allowing it to over-wet the carpet backing.
For shrinkage or rippling to happen you have to:
- Over-wet the carpet, allowing water to penetrate the carpet backing; and
- That backing has to be prone to shrinkage or expansion.
Don’t worry too much – with professional training, cleaning a well-fitted carpet using a good professional HWE machine with water pump pressures between 250–400 psi, a strong vacuum system and correct wand technique; you practically remove all risk of this happening.
Ashbys Enforcer, Ninja and Sensei professional HWE carpet cleaning machines are fitted with a Flow Control Valve to quickly reduce your working pressure (psi) and lower the litres per minute volume (L/min). All 400, 600 & 800 psi models come with an additional Pressure Regulator Valve which reduces the pump’s working pressure (psi), whilst maintaining maximum flow-rate. The unique combination of these two valves gives you total control over your water output to prevent over-wetting. This is vital when cleaning upholstery and mattresses, where the correct water output is essential.
Upholstery & Mattress Cleaning
For upholstery and mattress cleaning –
Use between 120–150 psi with a lower volume of water output and ideally use a professional low-moisture upholstery cleaning tool with an internal jet. Internally jetted upholstery tools provide a surface-active clean without allowing water to penetrate into the backing or filling of the upholstery or mattress you’re cleaning. This gives a fast return-to-use for the customer with minimal risk of overwetting.
My preferred modern upholstery tools are from the Sapphire Upholstery Pro range, which offer excellent visibility, low moisture output and smooth, controlled cleaning:
Sapphire Upholstery Pro in action — excellent visibility, low moisture and fast drying.
Cleaning Carpeted Stairs
For cleaning carpeted stairs –
Use pump pressures between 250–400 psi. Select a multi-purpose hand tool or dedicated stair carpet cleaning tool. In my opinion, an externally mounted spray jet is the best as it provides a good level of water output to thoroughly rinse and flush away loosened dirt, leaving the stair carpet clean and fresh. I prefer hand tools with a jet enclosed with spray guards to minimise over-spray; or a dedicated stair wand, ideally with a swivel head to make it easier to clean the stair riser.
Ashbys Swivel Headed Stair Tool.
Hard Floor, Tile & Grout Cleaning
For hard floor, tile and grout cleaning –
There are essentially 3 ways to effectively clean hard flooring using your professional carpet cleaning machine as the extraction unit.
1) Using an electrically powered rotary floor scrubber
A traditional rotary floor scrubber fitted with a hard floor cleaning brush or scrubbing pad is a very effective way to agitate soiling on hard floors. The machine is typically fitted with a solution tank and trigger, allowing you to release the cleaning solution onto the floor during the scrubbing process. This generates a slurry of dirt which is then spray-rinsed and extracted away using your HWE machine fitted with a hard floor cleaning wand.
Video showing the basics of how to clean hard floor with a rotary scrubber and Ashbys Hard Floor Wand
You can use any pump pressure from 135 psi upwards, but I would recommend using between 250–400 psi with heat for fast and effective rinsing.
2) Using an electrically powered Rotovac 360i fitted with a hard floor brush head
The Rotovac 360i is an electrically powered, multi-surface cleaning tool designed to dramatically increase cleaning speed and consistency. Unlike a traditional rotary scrubber, the Rotovac 360i:
- sprays solution,
- agitates mechanically,
- and extracts dirty water
…all in a single pass.
This makes it one of the most efficient and thorough ways to clean hard floors, tile, grout and even carpets when paired with the appropriate cleaning head. The 360i is powered by a geared motor that rotates the cleaning head at 250 rpm, delivering consistent agitation without relying on operator strength or technique.
The Rotovac 360i can be fitted with a variety of cleaning heads, including:
The Rotovac 360i is ideal for:
- commercial hard floors,
- tile and grout restoration,
- care homes and schools,
- hotel maintenance,
- and deep carpet cleaning when fitted with a carpet head.
It delivers a consistent, powered clean that is significantly faster than manual wand cleaning and far less physically demanding.
3) Using a non-powered spinner
A non-powered spinner is a tool fitted with a rotating spray bar powered solely by the water pressure from your HWE machine. The spray bar rotates at high speed, creating a powerful cleaning action ideal for cleaning hard floors, tile and grout. The dirty water is then extracted away using your HWE machine.
Non-powered spinners are effective but require very high water pressure (typically around 1500 psi), which is beyond the capability of most portable HWE machines. They are best suited to truckmount systems or specialist high-pressure setups.
Vacuum Systems
Vacuum performance determines how clean and dry the carpet is after cleaning. More stages, higher wattage and efficient design all contribute to stronger suction and faster drying times.
The Sensei uses a single 3‑stage vacuum motor suitable for up to 50 ft of hose.
The Enforcer and Ninja use dual vacuum motors capable of running up to 200 ft of hose, making them ideal for larger properties, commercial work and long‑distance setups.
Heating Systems
Heat dramatically improves cleaning performance. Ashbys machines offer two heating options:
1) Built‑In Immersion Heater
This heats the clean water tank like a kettle. It’s simple, reliable and protected by a low‑level cut‑off to prevent damage if the tank runs low.
2) Inline Heat Exchanger (V2 SteamMate)
The V2 SteamMate heats water instantly as it flows through the system, delivering temperatures up to 110°C for exceptional cleaning power.
Hose Sets
A hose set connects your machine to your tool. Choose between:
- 25 ft / 7.6 m
- 50 ft / 15.2 m
Solution Hose
If using high heat, choose a fully insulated hose such as the V2 Fully Sleeved Hose.
If using a standard immersion heater, the standard hose set is ideal.
If you have any questions or want advice choosing the right machine for your business, call me on 01795 436999 — I’m always happy to help.
All the best,
Martin Ashby
Ashbys Cleaning Equipment