Would a Spot-Cleaner Be Sufficient?
When you have kids, pets, or both, spills and accidents can be a part of your everyday life. If you mostly want a steam cleaner to catch those spills before they turn into stains, or for small jobs such as high-traffic areas only, a spot-cleaner would probably be more than enough machine for you. The biggest benefits with the small machines are that they're easy to store, easy to use, and best of all, they're quite inexpensive. You can get powerful name-brand machines by Bissell and other companies for $30-$70, depending on features. They are great for busy families since they can be pulled out, used, and put away in a matter of minutes.

Don't be fooled by the designation of spot-cleaner. These powerful little machines can also be used to clean stairs, high-traffic areas like halls and entries, and small rooms like carpeted bathrooms, even in the largest homes. They're ideal for apartments or small homes where a larger machine would be overkill. In a small room, you can clean the entire area with your "spot" cleaner.

Just asking yourself a few simple questions about your needs before you head to the store will save you a lot of hassle. Be realistic about how often you'll really use your new carpet cleaner, where you plan to use it, and how you'll store it when it's not being used. There are so many choices that you'll be able to find one that meets your specifications exactly.