We live in the age of “do it yourself.” It’s become more popular than ever to undertake home improvement on your own, and there is a bevy of products invading your local home improvement stores that claim that they will help you to do a professional job all by yourself. But many of these products are just cheap knock-offs that look like the real thing. Take carpet spot cleaners, for example. The disadvantages of using a store bought spotter versus using an approved CRI spotter are many, but most people are unaware of the differences, so they buy an inferior product in their ignorance.
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) is committed to researching facts about carpets and rugs, including how to maintain and care for them and what the best methods and tools are for caring for them. The CRI is well aware of the disadvantages of using a store bought spotter versus using an approved CRI spotter. The CRI recommends certain spotters over others because they are more powerful and more specifically designed to remove spots than store bought spotters. They have been proven effective and have more going for them than the mere fact that they are small and easy to use.
Of the disadvantages of using a store bought spotter versus using an approved CRI spotter is that they aren’t really spot cleaners, per se. The store bought versions of these spotters are often little more than smaller versions of hot water extraction vacuums. While this type of vacuum is perfectly adequate for general dirt removal, spots and stains require special attention, and only CRI approved machines can really provide the performance that these store bought spotters claim to provide. CRI approved spotters may be more expensive, but you get what you pay for, and they provide excellent cleaning capabilities along with their portability.
Once you’re aware of the disadvantages of using a store bought spotter versus using an approved CRI spotter, you’ll be sure to opt for the CRI spotter. Even though the store bought spotters are cheaper, there’s no point in spending any money on something that doesn’t work the way it should. If you’re going to buy a spotter, then you should buy one that can do what you need it to do, and that’s providing an extra measure of cleaning to tough stains and spots that just need a little more power.
