To enjoy the back pack vacuum cleaner shown here, you either have to be a gadget lover as I am or really like to clean your house a lot, or perhaps you have a Dora syndrome and you want to go exploring with your vacuum on your back. I am making light of it but the fact is I really like the idea of backpack vacuums.

The first and most important advantage that I see is the ease of cleaning stairs. Until now you either had to lug the big tool out of the closet and really do a balancing act or you used a hand-held little vacuum that never quite got the job done all that well.

With this backpack vacuum you no longer have to worry about it, you strap it on and you have the power you need to really do the stairs but you don't have to worry about the wire or the tank being in your way. This little machine is operated by a fuel battery and when you run out of power you simply refill it with ethanol. Very eco friendly and that is why there are no wires, you can go anywhere in the house.

Lightweight, aerodynamic this vacuum cleaner has all the functions you would ask, variable power, battery level indicator, visual indicator when the bag is full. Designed by Continuum Studio it fall in the category of "cool" appliances, but unfortunately it is only a concept at this time and we will have to wait until it is available. Until then there are some nice backpack or shoulder strap vacuums on the market and the folks at Hoover, Hepa, ProVac and a few more brands are working hard to make sure you find the backpack vacuum cleaners that you want.

Not all portable vacuums strap on the back as this one does, some could be considered fanny packs as they strap around the waist, and others have a shoulder strap. What they do have in common is they are lightweight and portable, they make the work of vacuuming much easier, they help you reach into places that a traditional vacuum might not be able to reach, they improve your usability by keeping you from bending and pulling. They are fun to use, if you have teenagers they might even want to lend a hand (forget that, I was dreaming!)

Allergies are closely tied to dust and dust mites. Unfortunately both are omnipresent in every room of the house and take refuge in areas hard to reach by normal cleaning. They might be everywhere, this does not mean that we have to suffer them, today we have methods to fight these annoying problems. Thanks to carpet cleanings machines, with the antiseptic properties of steam we can get rid of them.

Down with dust and its associated health problems

Some models of steam carpet cleaning machines are more than a simple appliance. They combine the cleaning power of water steam, delivered at extremely high temperature, with the properties of a vacuum cleaner. These can be used to mop up at the same time that they clean, but the results are more impressive than what words convey.

A carpet cleaning machine can because of its cleaning product delivery remove tenacious spots on your favorite rugs. Dust that settles on rugs and carpets from windows, walls, disappears drawn by humidity and heat produced, even grease can melt under this amount of pressure.

Technically, a cleaning machine is equipped with a water tank and sometimes comes with a few additional accessories. Most are a complete carpet cleaning solution.

How does it work?

If you are expecting a difficult operation, you will be pleasantly surprised. Simply fill the water tank with tap water up to the line, add your cleaning fluid, press the on button, wait a few seconds for the heating process, and you are ready to chase those mites.

You might want to keep an eye on the water tank capacity, it should not fall below the minimum indicated.

When buying a carpet cleaning machine, you may want to compare models based on the pressure they can deliver, the better the pressure, the better the cleaning. Another thing to look for is the quality of the pump system.

There are many models to choose from, ranging in price from under $100 to over $300. One of the ways to find out which is best for your needs is to ask your local retailer, but I would not rely on the sales people on the floor of a department store, who often have little information about each model and only rely on the information on the box. You are capable or reading that without help. You can rely on the information offered by a specialist in a vacuum shop, or you can read consumer reviews on line. Consumers who have bought a machine and are not satisfied by it can be positively brutal about their opinion. Those who like a product are also honest.

When choosing a major brand you sometimes pay a little more but you are buying the reputation of the company as well. Remember that reputation is earned.

Brands like Bissel and Hoower come to mind, they are well known but there are others to consider as well. Take your time, read reviews, and you will find the right steam carpet cleaning machine that does the job, and will reduce the incidence of dust mites in your home.