Carpet Care: Sold On Portable Extractors

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“I’ve always been a strong believer that truck-mount hot water carpet extractors are the best way to clean carpets,” says Rich Ellis, owner of Precise Carpet Cleaning in St. Louis. “But I was having so many service problems with the truck-mount extractor I was using, I decided I had to get a decent portable as a backup.”

Ellis already owned a portable extractor, but it had only 100 psi, making it relatively ineffective in most situations. Searching for a more powerful portable, his distributor suggested the Solus 500R from U.S. Products—the first portable extractor to earn the Gold Seal of Approval from the Carpet and Rug Institute.

The Solus 500 has an upright, user-friendly design, with large rear wheels and handles, making it perfect for single-person operation, transport, and maneuverability. Models are available with an optional pre-heat system.

“The machine also has dual three-stage top-mounted vacuums that provide incredible water recovery,” says Ellis, “as well as fully adjustable psi from 0 to 500, which makes it very versatile.”

But one of the things that most impressed Ellis was the heat — something U.S. Products is known for. The Solus 500R has a unique recirculation system that can preheat the solution/water up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps its patented in-line heating system deliver consistent 212 degrees F instantly at the wand tip, which increases cleaning power significantly.

“I tested our truck mount and was surprised to discover it delivers only about 125 to 130 degrees F at the wand tip,” he says. “That’s probably one reason why when I tested the Solus on my own carpets, they came out as good as — if not better than — using the truck mount. I use the Solus now more than the truck mount. I guess you could say I’m sold on the Solus.”