A carpet cleaner is built around two water tanks: a clean-water tank on top and a recovery tank that collects the dirty water. The one people forget is the recovery tank, and it’s usually the full one.
Empty both tanks
The clean-water tank usually lifts off the top. Pour any leftover solution down a sink.
The recovery tank is often at the front or the base. Pour the dirty water into a toilet or an outside drain, not a kitchen sink; it’s full of grit and fibers. Rinse it once and let it drain.
A home upright with both tanks empty is a straightforward carry. Left full, the same machine sloshes and drips the whole way to the door.
Leave both tanks off and open for a day before the pickup. A recovery tank that goes back on damp smells strongly within hours, and the smell travels with it.
Hoses, brushes and tools
Wipe the brush roll clear of hair and lint, coil the hose, and put any upholstery tools in a bag tied to the handle. Leftover cleaning solution and its bottle go out as the label directs.
Commercial extractors
A commercial carpet extractor is much heavier than a home upright, with bigger tanks, a heavier pump and sometimes a separate wand and hose set. Drain it the same way, and note the model when you book so the pickup is planned for the weight.
Carpet cleaner checklist
- Clean-water tank emptied
- Recovery tank emptied and rinsed
- Tanks left open to dry for a day
- Brush roll cleared, hose coiled, tools bagged
- Commercial model noted when booking
A carpet cleaner starts at $75 on its own, or adds $20 to a pickup with a vacuum or anything else that’s going.
