How to Choose a Self-Contained Carpet Extractor
Twelve machines sit here, and your choice comes down to how wide, how much water, which direction it cleans and who pushes it.
Cleaning path. Paths run from 12 inches on the Powr-Flite PFX3S to 19 on the EDIC Polaris 800 and 1200, the EDIC Supernova and the Tornado Marathon 2000, with the table below listing every width. A 12 to 16 inch machine turns inside a hotel room or a small office. A 17 to 19 inch machine covers your corridors in fewer passes, which is where the time goes on a school or hospitality floor.
Tank size. Solution tanks run from 3 gallons on the EDIC Fivestar to 20 on the Marathon 2000 and the battery Clarke Clean Track L24. Every refill and every trip to dump the recovery tank is time off the carpet, so match the tank to the area you clean between breaks. Tornado rates the 12-gallon Marathon 1200 at 900 square feet per fill and the Marathon 2000 at over 4,000 square feet an hour.
Which way it cleans. Most walk behind carpet extractors clean on the pull, so you back away from the wet carpet and reposition at every wall. Two of ours clean in both directions, the Clarke EX40 18LX and the EDIC Supernova, which pays off in furnished rooms where you cannot back up freely. The Tornado Marathon 2000 is self-propelled and cleans forward, built for lobbies and banquet rooms. The Clean Track L24 is cordless and runs a low-moisture mode for daytime cleaning in occupied buildings.
Pressure and brush. A self-contained machine relies on its brush for agitation, so pump pressure runs lower than on a box extractor, from 20 PSI on the PFX3S to 120 on the Clarke EX40, Viper CEX410 and Polaris. The Marathon 1200 uses an internal bladder that keeps brush pressure constant as the tank empties, and the Clarke, EDIC and Marathon SE 900 heads float to follow your carpet.
Weight and cord. The EDIC Fivestar weighs 40 pounds and the PFX3S 51, so either rides in a van and up a stair without a second person. Most full-size units weigh 100 to 123 pounds, the Marathon 2000 190, and the L24 650 with batteries. Cords run 25 feet on the Fivestar, 50 on most units and 75 on the Marathon 2000; the Polaris and Marathon 2000 cords detach so you can wheel the machine to the drain.
Not sure which width or tank fits your floors? Tell us your square footage, carpet type and how often you clean, and we will suggest one, backed by our 30-day return policy and free shipping on orders over $400. Reach us through our contact page or at (855) 601-5678.
| Model | Path | Solution tank | PSI | Direction | Weight | Starting price |
|---|
| Powr-Flite PFX3S | 12 in | 3.5 gal | 20 | Pull-back | 51 lb | From $1,399 |
| EDIC Fivestar (401TR, 411TR hard floor) | See product page | 3 gal | 85 | Pull-back | 40 lb | From $2,129 |
| Powr-Flite Prowler | 18 in | 9 gal | 100 | Pull-back | 100 lb | From $2,479 |
| Tornado Marathon SE 900 | 18 in | 9 gal | 100 | Pull-back | 100 lb | From $2,799 |
| Viper CEX410 | 16 in | 9 gal | 120 | Pull-back | 121 lb | From $2,900 |
| Tornado Marathon 1200 | 17 in | 12 gal | 100 | Pull-back | 100 lb | From $3,499 |
| Clarke EX40 16ST | 16 in | 9 gal | 120 | Pull-back | 102 lb | From $4,323 |
| EDIC Polaris (700, 800, 1200) | 17 or 19 in | 7, 8 or 12 gal | 120 | Pull-back | 78 to 114 lb | From $4,348 |
| Clarke EX40 18LX | 18 in | See product page | 120 | Push and pull | 114 lb | From $5,596 |
| EDIC Supernova (800, 1200) | 19 in | 8 or 12 gal | 85 | Forward and reverse | 113 to 123 lb | From $7,193 |
| Tornado Marathon 2000 | 19 in | 20 gal | 100 | Self-propelled, forward | 190 lb | From $7,699 |
| Clarke Clean Track L24 (battery) | See product page | 20 gal | 100 | Cordless walk-behind | 650 lb with batteries | From $19,832 |
Self-Contained or Portable Wand?
A walk-behind is the fastest machine on open carpet and the wrong one for stairs, upholstery and the edge under a desk. If your building is mostly furnished rooms, stairwells and seating, a portable carpet extractor with a wand reaches all of it. Facilities with both kinds of space keep one of each, or add an optional hand tool to the walk-behind; the Viper CEX410, Clarke EX40, EDIC Polaris and Supernova and Tornado Marathon SE 900 all accept one. For the full format comparison, see our carpet extractors hub.
Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Contained Carpet Extractors
Which self-contained carpet extractor is best for hotels, offices and schools?
Match the path and tank to your rooms. Hotel rooms and furnished offices suit a 12 to 16 inch machine such as the EDIC Fivestar, Powr-Flite PFX3S, Viper CEX410 or Clarke EX40 16ST, which turn in tight spaces. Corridors, classrooms and lobbies want a 17 to 19 inch path and a 9 to 20 gallon tank: the Tornado Marathon series, the EDIC Polaris and Supernova or the Clarke EX40 18LX. Pick a two-way unit for rooms where you cannot back up.
Do I still need a portable wand unit if I buy a walk-behind?
For stairs, upholstery and edges, yes, or at least a hand tool. A self-contained machine cleans your open floor fastest, but its brush head cannot climb a stair or clean a chair. Most of our walk-behinds accept an optional upholstery tool or wand kit, which covers occasional detail work. Facilities with a lot of stairs or seating usually pair a walk-behind with a portable carpet extractor.
What should I check on warranty, parts and service before buying?
Three things: how long parts and labor are covered, whether the body carries a separate longer warranty, and which manufacturer service network covers your area. Coverage here ranges from 2 years parts and 1 year labor (10 years on the housing) on the Powr-Flite PFX3S and Prowler, to 3 years parts and labor (10 years on tanks) on the Clarke EX40, and 5 years parts and labor with a lifetime body warranty on the EDIC Fivestar and Polaris. Each brand services its machines through its own authorized centers nationwide.
Is a self-contained extractor quiet enough for daytime cleaning?
The ones rated for it are. The Viper CEX410 and the Clarke EX40 models run at 68 dB(A) and the battery Clean Track L24 at 69, quiet enough for occupied offices and school corridors. Dry time is the other half of daytime cleaning: the L24's low-moisture mode is designed to leave carpet dry in about 30 minutes, and on any of them a final vacuum-only pass and an air mover shorten it.
