Pre-Vacuum For Fantastic Results With Rug Doctor

To obtain the best results from using a Rug Doctor it is important to pay heed to the basic essential elements of a sound carpet cleaning strategy. One of the most important of these elements takes place before any other part can be successfully implemented, and that essential element is pre-vacuuming.

Regular vacuuming is already a widely accepted practice to remove periodic accumulation of debris and most every homeowner already recognizes the importance of doing this chore rather frequently, but pre-vacuuming is rather more involved.

(Dyson's DC25...an example of a good quality vacuum with high performance)

When I speak of pre-vacuuming, I mean a very thorough process of cleaning from multiple angles and making several passes to try to remove as much debris as possible before going on to the next step in carpet cleaning. In addition the use of nozzles to fully clean edges (along baseboards and door jams, and various nooks and crannies).



This procedure should also be done at a fairly slow pace as compared to routine day to day vacuuming. One should think of this as a very, very complete vacuuming with no carpeted surface being neglected.

Additionally the requirement of using multiple angles with overlapping passes will act to remove all the dirt possible by the vacuum cleaner. This step takes a while to do properly.

(Video demonstrating vacuuming from multiple angles, with multiple overlapping passes)

Important to achieving this goal is to have a good quality vacuum (doesn't have to be expensive) with brush roll preferred to help agitate the carpet fibers and shake the dust out of them. If a bagged vacuum is utilized it should have a bag that is not clogged with fine dust or full of debris.

A bagless vacuum should have clean filters and the dust bin shouldn't be over filled. If hose can be disconnected you can check for adequate suction before and during cleaning to make sure debris can be picked up properly.

(clean filters allow maximum airflow and vacuum)

If matted areas are present (such as traffic areas) a rake can be utilized prior to vacuuming to help "open up" the nap of the carpet and aid debris removal. In fact, it is a good idea to pre-rake the carpet if there are persons with long hair or pets in the house as this will help remove those hairs that so easily clog the brush roll of the vacuum cleaner, though this is not mandatory.

Pre-vacuuming removes the debris that would become sludgy if not removed BEFORE any type of moisture is applied to carpets such as when a pre-spray is employed, and it should be noted that dry debris is much easier to remove than damp debris so doing the pre-vacuuming thoroughly will greatly enhance the finished results after extraction is completed.

Although one can go out and purchase a very expensive vacuum cleaner to do this task, it is not essential to spend a lot of money here. Even a basic vacuum can clean a carpet thoroughly as long as the task is done with great care and the cleaner is checked during the process to make sure it is still picking up well (bag not full etc).

For special conditions, it may be necessary to utilize a heavy duty vacuum system (for instance cleaning up after bad tenants in a rental property or when heavy debris is matted into the carpet, or nails and metal pieces, you know, things that will ruin a nice household vacuum cleaner). After all, this step should be completed before running a Rug Doctor as what would harm a vacuum cleaner probably isn't good for an extractor either.

To safely clean those bad carpets a standard wet/dry vacuum can be used as it can pick up those hazardous objects without being damaged. Special carpet cleaning nozzles can be purchased to aid in this effort as well. A nice facet of this specialty equipment is that it is relatively inexpensive...a good wet/dry vac and the tools necessary can be obtained for less than $150.

(Video showing a wet/dry vacuum utilizing a carpet cleaning nozzle to pre-vacuum a carpet)

When a heavy duty vacuum is used, it can be followed up with regular vacuum cleaner if one chooses, to help ensure removal of all the debris that can be removed before extraction begins.

Using pre-vacuuming as a preliminary to extraction procedures with the Rug Doctor will result in a powerful combination that will really make the finished results of your carpet cleaning efforts magnificent.

For more information about Rug Doctor extraction equipment, and vacuuming tips visit my YouTube channel joerwheelervideo and see the section (playlist) for Vacuum Video's.

Thanks!