What machine to pre-vacuum upholstery?

[dennis]

I am looking to buy  perhaps a wet/dry vac just to pre-vac upholstery.  Home Depot sells a bunch of them but I would like something that looks more professional and yet still isn't too expensive.  I would appreciate some suggestions. 
Thanks

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[Bill Martins]

I know how you feel I bought one from Lowes that says "shop vac" it's blue/white, I think Mike Charles bought one as well.  The more professional looking shop vacs are going to be in the $100-$500 range.

Might be easier to prevac w/ an upright or a back pack vac w/ furniture tools that come w/ it.  That might look more pro than a shop vac if you're going to use it for uph, also it's less cumbersome.

I'd keep an eye out on Ebay and Craigslist.

[jeffvanburen]

I have 3 different vacuums I might use when in a home. I have my upright that has tools on board which works good, also I have a suitcase style Ridgid wet and dry looks professional I also use this one for water claw spotting and dryer vent cleaning, then the third unit is a small handheld unit by Oreck. Any of them will do a good job depends on what other services I'm doing in the home as well I don't like taking alot of unnecessary equipment in the home when not needed.

[Mike Charles]

Are you locked into a wet/dry vac because you're wanting to multi-task with it? Since you're pre-vacing with it, any vac will do. A wet/dry vac IMO is really cumbersome size and in-flexible hose-wise for just normal vacuuming. Although we have bought the flexible hose from HD that's a little pricey at $39, it is nice. But just extra expense.

We use a small canister vac to pre-vac, the same that we use on the steps. It is a smallish canister with a dirt cup and HEPA, and it does post vac duty on uph. and steps as well.

If you are looking for a wet/dry vac for double duty, you're in luck. Watch the Black Friday ads. Wally World, Lowe's and HD seem to always offer killer deals on units then.

[John Bolton]

What type of vacuum cleaner performs best on a carpet? AN UPRIGHT!

This is because, in addition to airflow, it also has a brush/beat action.

For upholstery a similar principal applies. Since fine dust will penetrate through upholstery fabrics and that fabric also acts as a filter when you attempt to remove it, the airflow of the vacuum cleaner requires a little assistance in the removal of this penetrated soil. Think of it like a flour sieve - if you fill the sieve with flour and wait for gravity alone to pull the flour through, you will have a long wait! However if you assist by tapping the side of the sieve, the flour starts to flow.

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 A small hand-held, though having less airflow than the vacuum cleaners mentioned, will remove more soil due to the beating action of its' brushes.
An alternative is to use a turbo-head attached to a carpet vacuum. I go a stage further when cleaning mattresses and very dusty upholstery by using an electrically-powered brush-head (own build) and a dust-downer attached to a powerful HWE machine which provides 326cfm of airflow. Being located outside the building, the exhausted air does not compromise IAQ - ideal for allergen treatments.

[Denny Keil]

I have conducted  tests on vacuuming results on upholstery using
1. upholstery attachment on suction only vac
2. turbo brush on suction vac
3. hand held Dirt Devil with a beater bar
#3 removed the most soil  (Unlike Al Gore and "GLOBAL WARMING", my tests did not meet all scientific standards).

If the customer is not present, I prefer to vacuum the cushions with my Eureka upright.
(Your'e only a hack If you stand on the customers couch while your vacuuming the cushions)

[Mike Charles]

Your'e only a hack If you stand on the customers couch while your vacuuming the cushions

Or get caught using your upright on the cushions....

Beware the Nanny Cam

[micky navarro]

15 or so yrs ago, when i was in my hay day doing upholstery, i used a turbo vac attachment.

not the small one known as a rug rat, but a larger one which is actually for carpeting.
i had this attachment at least 20yrs. bought it from hesco for 20 bucks or something like that.
worked like a champ.
it was about 9" wide, not 12" or 14" like some of the turbo floor attachments are!

[Mike M]

Micky - I had one of those too! 

I would still use a turbo type attachment or a small handheld vacuum with a beater bar like John Bolton uses.

[Grant D.]

Those turbo tools never seem to work very well for me.  Always seems like the brush roll stops as soon as you tough what you want to vacuum.  I've been using a dirt devil hand vac for a couple years.  It works pretty good, but I can't say I love the machine or anything.  Could have been built a lot better.  That yellow Eureka one might work pretty nice for upholstery?

[CACBServices]

Mike, I see a pattern here, "I had that tool too!" Is there any tool you haven't owned?

Regarding uphostery vacs, I picked a Eureka hand held a few weeks back for less than $50.00. Yellow. Comes with a short hose and crevice tool. Two motors. One for suction one for the beater bar. They can be used together or indepently. The beater bar cover can be rotated, allowing convenient vacuuming of horizontal or vertical srufaces. So far I've used it a half dozen times. No question about it. Puts my Dirt Devil hand vac to shame.

Eric

[Mike M]

Eric - No, there isn't much I haven't owned. 

I usually have to have the latest "toys" so I have bought a lot of stuff over the years. That's why I said don't put much into the fact that I'm selling something. At least I do sell stuff once in a while. Otherwise I would be considered a hoarder.

[CACBServices]

Personally, I appreciate that you have tried so many toys. We all get to benefit from your experience and commitment to figuring out what works.

Eric

[Denny Keil]

Can you use disposable paper bags with the Eureka handheld vac?