Stairs are where your carpet crew loses the most time. A floor machine won't sit on a tread, so your techs end up on their knees with a hand brush, one step at a time, for the whole flight.
The Orbot Micro takes over that part of the job. It's a 6.5 lb handheld tool with two 4-inch heads that orbit exactly half a turn apart, so each head cancels out the other's kick. You hold it by two handles, let its own weight do the scrubbing, and walk it up the staircase.
I'd put it to work on carpeted stairwells, hotel and office corridors with steps, and the upholstered seating in lobbies, waiting rooms and churches. It's just as handy on the grout around toilets and in small restrooms.
Be honest about scale, though. This is a detail tool. If you need to clean open floors, you want the Orbot Slim or a bigger machine, with the Micro riding along for the stairs.
There isn't a lot of public feedback on the Micro, but what's out there comes from pros who use it for work, and it lines up. The theme that keeps coming back is time. Stair and upholstery jobs that used to drag get done much faster and with less strain. Owners who run it every day say it paid for itself. One longtime user runs it almost daily on carpeted stairs, and also on tile in small bathrooms and around toilets, and calls it very reliable. Buyers also like that one tool covers upholstery, carpet and tile once you swap in the right brush.
Twin 4-inch heads timed half a turn apart cancel each other's vibration, so your wrists and forearms hold up over a long flight of stairs.
Brushes that orbit instead of spin scrub like a hand brush without burning, swirling or fraying carpet and fabric.
Four brush grades plus pads let one tool handle upholstery, commercial carpet, tile and grout, and stone.
6.5 lb cast aluminum body is easy to carry up stairwells all shift and tough enough for daily route work.
Low-moisture cleaning with SuperZorb pads pulls loosened soil out of the fibers, so stairs and seats dry faster.
Chemical-free AkwaStrip pads strip finish from small vinyl, VCT and wood areas using only water.
Not sure the Micro fits your jobs? Send us what you clean (stairs, seating, tile) and how often, or call (855) 601-5678, and we'll tell you honestly whether it's the right tool.
Why You Should Consider an Orbot Machine
Orbot has built orbital cleaning machines since 1974 and reports more than 40,000 sold worldwide. The company states that every Orbot machine carries the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval. In the US, Orbot is run by Ultimate Solutions in Huntington Beach, California, and warranty claims go through the dealer you bought from, which is us. See the full Orbot lineup.
How to Clean Stair Carpet with the Orbot Micro
Vacuum each step first, since no agitation tool removes loose grit. Pre-spray with your encapsulation cleaner, then fit the SuperZorb pads or the aqua brushes. Set your Micro on the tread, switch it on, and work it back and forth, then side to side, in a crosshatch. Light pressure only. Orbot warns that pushing down doesn't clean better and can damage the transmission.
When a pad loads up with soil, pull it, rinse it and put on a fresh one. Finish by wiping the step with a towel, or rinse and extract if you're running an extractor on the job. It's the same low-moisture method our encap machines use on open carpet, scaled down to a stair tread.
Which Orbot Micro Brush Do You Need?
Brushes come in sets of two, one per head. Pads need the Velcro pad driver plates. Each AkwaStrip pad, used on both sides, covers about 1,000 to 2,000 sq ft depending on how much finish is on the floor.
Is the Orbot Micro Right for You?
It fits you best if you run a carpet cleaning business, or handle hotel, office, church or school cleaning where stairs and seating get done every week. It isn't an extractor, so your heavily soiled carpet still needs rinsing and extraction. It's corded, with a 9.5 ft cord, so plan on an extension cord: 18 AWG is fine up to 100 ft, and past that Orbot calls for 16 AWG. It's also loud at 82.5 dBA. Normal conversation sits around 60 dB, so running it in your occupied lobby takes some planning, and Orbot recommends hearing protection.
Your Micro comes with a 3 ft cushioned extension handle that mounts in two positions, flat or at 45 degrees. Clip it on for quick carpet spotting and for reaching the back of deep treads without bending over.
Orbot Micro Maintenance and Warranty
Keeping your Micro running takes a few minutes. Every 8 hours, put 3 drops of light machine oil on the top motor bearing, and blow the motor housing out with compressed air (after every carpet job, too). The carbon brushes are wear parts that last about 50 to 150 hours. When they wear down, the tool shuts itself off, so keep a spare set. Orbot also recommends keeping the original box for storage and shipping.
The warranty is short, and you should know that up front. Orbot covers the Micro for 30 days against manufacturing defects. Brushes, pads, drivers and normal wear aren't covered. Here's our return policy.
