What's a SteamwayPro?
Well this is encouraging, I didn't like the idea of lugging a portable around. I've read some folks with TMs say they prefer cleaning upholstery with a portable, so I thought there might be something to it. I just want to be an upholstery cleaning superhero like Jim P someday. And also never damage anything. Even if I can afford to replace it, the sorrow might break me.
Don't worry about being a "me"
Bryce Comprone is doing really great all by himself.
There are advantages and disadvantages with portables and truck mounts on natural fiber upholstery:
Cons of using a truck mount:
1. If you aren't using a tool that controls wetting and vacuum, you can either over wet the fabric during cleaning, or tear it (at worst) or distort it permanents (at least) during extraction/drying strokes. So with a truck mount, you must have the right tool to safely clean natural fiber upholstery
2. Change of rinse solution: If you want to change from alkaline detergent to neutral or acidic rinse agents, it can be more challenging with a truck mount.
3. Operational cost: If you have a lot of upholstery to clean, the fuel consumption on a truck mount versus a portable extraction machine can start to add up.
Pros when using a truck mount:
1. Easy set up, easy to do add ons.
2. Enough heat, vacuum, and pressure (under the control of the right tool) to do anything needed.
3. No built up humidity in the home or building from portable exhaust (A BIG and often overlooked advantage)
4. Low noise in your working environment. Working with no noise other than the vacuum hiss from your tool is a lot nicer than hearing a loud vacuum motor (or two)
Cons of using a portable (most relate to the above pros of a truck mount)
1. You have to go out to the truck to bring in and set up the unit. Time and labor consuming
2. It can be difficult to regulate or achieve the balance of heat, vacuum and pressure you need in most portables.
3. Exhaust of portable creates humidity and odor in the home or building
4. Noisy working environment
Pros of portables (most related to the above cons in truck mounts)
1. Cleaning tools may not need to be as elaborately designed to control pressure and vacuum as on a truck mount
2. Rinse solution is put in on the job that is designed for the article being cleaned
3. Cost of operation is paid by the home owner, business or institution. Also, you are putting the wear and tear of your daily operation on something that costs less than 10% of your truck mount in most cases.
Others will speak from their experience, and add valuable thoughts as well, I'm sure.
