If you’re like me and have a VAX carpet cleaner at home, I’m sure you’ve wondered if you can use carpet cleaning solutions from brands other than VAX in your machine. I know I have! As a long-time VAX user myself, I totally understand the temptation to buy cheaper generic cleaners instead of VAX’s own formulas. Although VAX machines are pretty specialized, but can you use any carpet cleaner in a VAX?
Below, we’ll explore the benefits of VAX cleaners, look at the differences between VAX and other brands, discuss the safety and results of using non-VAX cleaners, and provide tips for getting the best performance out of your VAX carpet washer.
What Makes VAX Carpet Cleaners So Special?
If you haven’t used one before, VAX is a leading carpet cleaner brand from the UK that makes some of the best home carpet washing machines out there in my opinion. VAX has been around since the 1970s so they really know their stuff when it comes to deep cleaning carpets.
Some of VAX’s most popular models for home use include the:
VAX Platinum Power Max – their top-of-the-line machine, great for whole home cleaning
VAX Blade Pro Pet – awesome for households with pets since it tackles tough stains and odors
VAX ONEPWR Blade 4 Pet – a lightweight cordless option for spot cleaning messes
VAX Mach Air Reach Upright – affordable and lightweight with great suction
So what makes VAX carpet cleaners stand out from other brands you might find at department stores or online? Here are some of the biggest benefits I’ve noticed after using my VAX for years:
- Powerful Suction – VAX machines have really strong suction that pulls up dirt, stains, bacteria, and allergens from deep in your carpets for a thorough clean.
- Large Capacity Tanks – They hold a lot of water and cleaning solution so you can clean large spaces without stopping to refill as often.
- Separate Dirty Water Tanks – This keeps all the yucky dirt and stains you pull out of the carpet contained in a separate tank from the clean water. Genius!
- Wash Plates – Special textured plates distribute the cleaning solution evenly while agitating and scrubbing the carpet to loosen debris.
- Useful Accessories – Most models come with handheld tools, brushes, hoses and more to tackle every area.
- Trusted Brand – With 50+ years perfecting carpet cleaners, VAX knows their stuff inside and out.
Read: Can You Use a Vax Carpet Cleaner on Your Beautiful Wool Carpet?
How Do VAX Cleaners Differ From Other Brands?
Don’t get me wrong – you can definitely find some decent carpet cleaner brands at retailers for lower prices than a VAX machine. However, from using both VAX and other cheaper machines, I have noticed some differences:
- VAX cleaners have special features like wash plates, strong suction, and brush bars engineered for deep carpet cleaning. Other brands tend to focus more on convenience and low price over cleaning results.
- The detergents and cleaning solutions designed by VAX are made specifically to work with their wash system and give the best results. Generic cleaners likely aren’t optimized for VAX.
- Cheaper cleaners typically have smaller tanks, shorter cords, and lack some of the handy attachments VAX includes for cleaning spots beyond just carpets.
- Of course it varies by model, but in my experience, build quality and durability is often better with VAX than a $100 budget brand.
- VAX has decades of experience while some cheaper brands are newer companies still perfecting their machines.
So VAX cleaners really are in a class of their own. But does that mean you can’t use other cleaning solutions or store brands safely in a VAX? Let’s explore that next…
Read: Can I Use A Carpet Cleaner On A Rug
Will Non-VAX Cleaning Solutions Damage My Machine?
This was my biggest question – can I really use any old carpet cleaning solution in my VAX or do I need to buy their special formulas?
The short answer is yes, you can use non-VAX branded detergents and cleaners designed for carpet washers in your VAX machine. They won’t immediately damage or ruin your VAX.
However, VAX does recommend using their own cleaners because they’re specially formulated to work with VAX wash systems.
Some potential downsides to using generic cleaners include:
- They might not activate the wash plates on a VAX properly, resulting in less effective agitation of your carpets.
- Generic formulas likely lack the specialized stain-fighting ingredients VAX solutions contain.
- It could potentially void the warranty if it causes damage, so check your VAX warranty details.
- Cheap cleaners sometimes leave sticky residue on carpets that make them dirtier quicker after cleaning. Gross!
So while you can use other brands safely as far as I know, you might not get your carpets as clean as with VAX’s own detergents. Let’s do a quick pros and cons roundup…
The Pros and Cons of Using Non-VAX Cleaning Solutions
Pros:
- Cost savings – no doubt generics are cheaper than VAX-branded formulas
- Convenience if you already have another cleaning solution on hand
Cons:
- Reduced cleaning power compared to VAX detergents optimized specifically for their machines
- More leftover dirt and stains since generics aren’t designed for VAX wash systems
- Potentially voiding your VAX warranty if any damage occurs
- Sticky residue left on carpets by some cheaper cleaners
So while you can save a few bucks up front with generics, you sacrifice some cleaning performance. In my opinion, it’s worth spending a little more on VAX’s detergents to really get carpets clean.
The Bottom Line – My Take on Using Non-VAX Cleaners
At the end of the day, while you can safely use other carpet cleaning solutions in a VAX machine, I really think you’ll get the best and most thorough clean by using VAX’s own detergent formulas.
Generic cleaners may be cheaper, but the trade-off is they likely won’t activate the wash plates as well or contain the same powerful ingredients as VAX’s branded solutions. Plus, cheaper cleaners can leave gross sticky residue behind that ruins all your hard cleaning work!