Do you vacuum your house once a week or more and still feel like your rugs and carpets are not getting clean enough? There’s a chance that, hidden deep within the smallest fibers of your carpet, there are countless bacteria and harmful particles that are not being picked up by your vacuum. What you need to get your hands on is a carpet and rug rake, and to help you, we’ve put together a list of the best options out there, and why it’s imperative that you find the best rug and carpet rake for your home.
There are so many reasons to get one of these rakes to clean your carpet prior to vacuuming, and many of these reasons are ones that we don’t consider in our daily lives; but we should.
► If you are in hurry, check our top pick: Carlisle 4575100
It’s possible that you or your friends and family are unaware of the fact that rugs and carpets may be holding on to germs and bacteria that can be detrimental to your health over long periods of time. So, it’s important to understand WHY you should do battle with them in the first place. Now, we will discuss and compare some of the amazing products out there aimed at assisting you with battling these particles.
Image
Name
Length
Head Length
Material
Rating
Carlisle 4575100
54"
18"
Nylon
9.4/10
Groom Industries Grandi
54"
18"
Nylon
7.6/10
Superior Performance
50"
13"
Silicone
8.0/10
The Universal Rug Rake
48"
13"
Metal
8.5/10
FURemover Broom
60"
12"
Rubber
8.2/10
Rug and Carpet Rake Reviews
Carlisle 4575100 Commercial Grade 18″
Carpet Rake / Groomer
The Carlisle Carpet Rake is definitely one of the best options you’ll find. This Carlisle markets itself as being perfectly designed to return carpets to their fluffy and natural state.
The tines of the rake are made of sturdy and firm nylon aimed at lifting ground in dirt, dust and yucky pet hair and the soil that your pets have dragged in over the years.
Use this rake just before you go to vacuum to make sure that you are grabbing every unwanted particle hiding deep within the fibers of the carpet. Additionally, doing so regularly prior to vacuuming will ensure that your carpet stays fresh over a long period of time, and overall, that it lasts longer.
Our Rating: 9.4/10
Design
Performance
Price
It’s important to consider the dimensions of any carpet rake, to ensure that the size and specifications are optimal for your individual use. This design is built out to a length of 18 inches and weighs in at a mere 2.11 pounds. With a handle length and a product height of 54 inches, this product is a great size that is suitable for most every user.
Most users of this rake have found that it does exactly what it advertises to be able to do; it lifts the fibers of the carpet to restore it to its former fluffy glory. Many have also experienced, in times where the vacuum is doing an insufficient job at lifting all the dirt, this rake sufficiently brings the dirt to the surface, which makes vacuuming more successful experience.
There have been very few complaints associated with the Carlisle. The first is that it works well on bigger items such as dog hair, but does not seem to pick up dust and smaller particles as well as its competitors. The second is that it is too large and heavy for children to use to help clean up around the house.
Despite the sparsely seen negative reviews of the Carlisle, overall, this is one of the better options on the market today.
Groom Industries Grandi Groom Carpet Brush
The Grandi Groom is similar in style and in purpose to that of the Carlisle, with a few additional benefits. Touting itself as the very same tool that many professional carpet care experts use during a cleaning, the Grandi Groom is an ideal choice for most every carpet.
Many people who frequently use this product had never heard of a carpet rake prior to finding the Grandi Groom. Now that they have it in their household cleaning arsenal, they are thrilled at the idea of restoring their carpet and increasing its longevity by quite a bit.
One common complaint found with this product is that it is not the ideal design to be used on Berber carpet loops.
Our Rating: 7.6/10
Design
Performance
Price
It is commonly stated that the attached bristles will bend during use and will often get caught on the loops. Also, in general, some have considered this product as not being strong enough to handle carpets that are more worn than the average carpet, and thus are rendered useless.
The last found complaint regarding this product is the inconsistency of the bristles. Some users have found that, upon delivery, there may be gaps in the bristles which result in lines left in the carpet after use. While this it is a rare instance when this happens, it is important to not.
Overall this product is a viable option when searching for a carpet rake that can tackle most every older and matted down carpet or rug.
Superior Performance Silicone Push Broom
This is absolutely one of the more customizable and user-friendly options that you’ll find. This broom comes in two different sizes, the 54 inches and the 48 inches so that you can choose the broom that is the perfect size for you.
The bristles are made of sturdy and versatile silicone so you can use it for your indoor and your outdoor rugs. Additionally, the silicon bristles make this a scratch-free device that you can freely use over most every surface.
What really sets this item apart from its competitors is it’s built in squeegee edge, making it perfect for use with soap and water to really work and get stains and unwanted particles off the floor, and then easily scrape it to a drain for exceedingly easy clean up.
Our Rating: 8.0/10
Design
Performance
Price
One of the most commonly found praises of this product is that it is so versatile. People are using it as a carpet rake, as a regular push broom, as a dust mop and a squeegee and many other ways as well. After use, it is very easy to rinse off and clean so that you may use it again as needed.
By far the most common complaint found with this item is that the broom handle is way too short, even for someone of average height.
Some have found that when they take this broom to a local hardware store, they are easily able to attach a different handle that is longer, to use the broom comfortably. Why this is nice, it is still a pain to have to go to a store to purchase an accessory for a product that should, ideally, come complete.
Some people have also found that, while it works well as a push broom for smaller particles such as dust and dirt, it does not fare well when trying to pick up hair, either dog hair or person hair. Overall, people have been very pleased with this product, despite the few negative reviews.
The Universal Rug Rake Carpet Rake, Pet Hair Remover
To offer a suitable alternative for those who have complained in the past that their carpet or rug rake does not come with a handle long enough for comfortable use, This Universal rake may be the solution.
This carpet rake comes with a four-foot adjustable and extendable handle, making it an extremely customizable piece of equipment that is suitable in size for virtually every user.
Unlike the previously mentioned Push Broom, the Universal is marketing as being the product to excel at picking up unwanted dog and person hair with ease. Also, unique to this product is that it consists of tin plated bristles rather than the silicone or nylon found in the previously referenced carpet rakes.
Our Rating: 8.5/10
Design
Performance
Price
Many users, especially after their first use, are amazed at the amount of dust dirt and pet hair has been secretly being stored in the fibers of their carpets. After first using the Universal, users swear that this item is a must-have among cleaning tools for every home – especially homes where dogs or cats frequently dwell.
While most pet owners have had favorable experiences, some people that own pets with finer and softer hair have found this product to be insufficient at lifting this type of hair from the carpet.
Others have claimed that, while this product picks up most of the surface level dirt and grime, that is leaves much of it deep in the lower layers of the carpet, ultimately defeating the purpose of purchasing one of these rakes in the first place. However, it’s notable that reviews such as these are very seldom found.
Overall, cat owners and dog owners alike have found much success with this carpet rake and would recommended to others for use on their carpets and rugs.
Furemover Broom with Squeegee
The Furemover could be considered a hybrid version of the previously discussed carpet rakes, in that it has many similar features of these others, all wrapped into one convenient product.
First, like the Silicone Push Broom, this product has a squeegee on the end of it to help cleaning up the mopped-up remnants of your laminate or tile flooring. But unlike this Push Broom, the Furmover’s bristles are made up of rubber rather than silicone, which is a more natural option.
Second, much like the Universal, the Furemover comes complete with an extendable handle that can be adjusted to as short as 3 feet and as long as 6 feet. Users have found this adjustable handle to come in handy during a number of cleaning situations.
Our Rating: 8.2/10
Design
Performance
Price
The Furemover is also quite versatile, in that it can be used on a number of surfaces due to its scratch resistant rubber tines. It can be used on hard wood floors, tile, laminate, carpets and rugs, and can even be used to clean your trailer, mobile home or boat. It even markets itself as good for use on clothing, furniture and upholstery in order to remove fur and lint!
Most often, users are very pleased with this broom’s ability to rake up stubborn pet hair imbedded in carpets in rugs, and they are repeatedly astonished at how much this broom can capture, especially when they once believed their vacuums were sufficient at grabbing all this unsavory biproduct of pets and general lifestyle.
One complaint that is often voiced is that, after adjusting to the desired handle length, it will sometimes move mid-use, making it uncomfortable and irritating to use at times. Other than that, most complaints are overruled by happiness and satisfaction.
Many people discuss the variety of ways in which they find use time and again with the Furemover. People have talked about using it on the walls of their homes, in their tubs and showers, and on the walkways and pavers in their front and backyards. This is one of the best options on the market, anywhere.
Dust Can be Seriously Hazardous to Your Health
Dr. Mercola, a licensed physician and surgeon, and author of three New York Times Bestsellers, states on his personal website that, dust in the average American home has within it over 5,000 species of bacteria and 2,000 species of fungi. Gross. These numbers are especially gross when considering the amount of time that we spend in our homes, breathing in that indoor air.
While you and everyone you know might spend time worrying about what you may ingest or breathe in while you are vacationing or spending time outdoors, the real problem is contained within the four walls of your own home. Dr. Mercola goes on to say that, inside the home, pollutants are concentrated 2 to 5 times higher than any air you’ll encounter while outside.
Much of these pollutants can be found in the dust particles that rest on furniture, in the closets and amongst the fibers of your carpets and rugs. Dust is one of the most problematic particles found in the home, because it contains more than 7,000 species of bacteria and fungi at times.
While this is a disgusting fact, why is it important to know when considering your health?
There are several reasons why it’s important to understand the components of dust and the effects it can have on your wellbeing.
Dust Might be Causing You to Gain Weight
Why the scientific evidence behind this notion can become very complex, the idea is this:
Some of the materials in dust can activate a protein known as PPAR-gamma. This protein can cause fat cells to grow, which is something you most likely do not want to happen.
What’s most concerning is that it takes a very little amount of this dust to have this effect on the fat cells in the body. It is thought that on average, children ingest as much as 50 mgs per day, which is more than enough to activate the fat cells.
Although studies on this relatively new scientific revelation are still ongoing, the idea that the ingestion of household dust, even in tiny amounts, may be linked to obesity in both children and adults is cause for serious concern.
Dust is Made up of Toxic Chemicals
It’s a little-known fact that household appliances, furniture and decorations shed chemicals over time and that these chemicals often end up either on the carpet or in the air. Event when they end up in the carpet, vacuuming might cause them to be tussled into the air that you are inhaling rather than being sucked into the vacuum. Except you’re using some powerful dust collector.
In an article put out by Environmental Working Group (EWG), a study was done on household dust, finding that on average, dust contained at least 66 different endocrine disrupting compounds that included such harmful chemicals as flame-retardants and pesticides.
An endocrine disrupter is a chemical that interferes with our hormones and can be a carcinogen or even cause birth defects. Having these disrupters set up a home in your rugs or on your carpets is not ideal, for obvious reasons.
Dust May Have Detrimental Effects on Small Children
While it’s clear that toxins within dust particles are harmful to virtually anyone exposed to them even in small doses, the exposure to these toxins is an even bigger problem for infants and small children because they are in the early stages of their development.
Harmful flame-retardants that are most commonly found in dust can severely damage a child’s ability to function properly in terms of motor skills, learning abilities, hearing, and behavior. If you’re a parent of small children who spend much of their time indoors, it’s crucial that you are cognizant of the amount of dust lurking in your home and on your floors and surfaces.
Pet Dander is Hazardous to Your Health
Now that you are aware of the many reasons why dust bunnies in the home are terrible for your overall health and wellbeing and the wellbeing of your infants and small children, there is another component of dust that could potentially be causing you harm, and that’s pet dander.
According to Lung.org, pet dander is more than just the hair shed by dogs, cats and other animals. It contains microscopic skin cells that they shed over time.
Allergic Reactions and Asthma Due to Pet Dander
You might be someone who experiences mild to severe allergic reactions to pet dander which can be made up of skin cells, feces, and even dried saliva. And although cat dander in particular, seems to cause more allergic reactions, dog dander and other animal dander can create problems for you as well, if you are prone to allergic reactions.
There are several symptoms that you might experience when you come into contact with pet dander and begin to have an allergic reaction. One of the more common reactions is a flare up of asthma.
As stated by the National Heart, Lunch and Blood Institute, asthma is a chronic and long-term condition that inflames and narrows the airways. If you are experiencing an asthmatic reaction to pet dander, you will likely notice shortness of breath, eventually leading to an inability for the lungs to function properly.
There are other symptoms of an allergic reaction to pet dander as well, that many people are familiar with. These symptoms include runny nose and sneezing, congestions and difficulty breathing or wheezing.
Stomach Related Problems Due to Pet Dander
If you’ve ever had a bad case of diarrhea, then there’s a chance you’ve heard of Campylobacter, the main bacteria that causes most cases of diarrhea in America today. According the Medical News Today, this bacterium affects over 1.3 million people every year. This harmful material also is the root cause for many other stomach related pains.
Why is this important to you? While this bacterium most often is contracted by eating contaminated foods, many cases have popped up because of being exposed to pets that are infected, as well. PedMD claims that as much as 49% of dogs and 45% of stray cats are carriers of this bacteria, and they most often shed it in their feces.
Tapeworm, hookworm and roundworm are also present in many cats and dogs found all over the world, and these parasites can also be spread through the shedding of animals in their feces, which is yet another cause of diarrhea and stomach cramping.
Now that you’re aware of some of the more prominent health issues associated with dust particles found in the home, do you still think that vacuuming is enough to get rid of these harmful germs and bacteria? Unfortunately, the truth is that vacuuming alone, leaves behind much of this harmful dust every time you hope to rid yourself of it.
Why is Vacuuming Not Enough?
The fact is that, when you’re vacuuming up dust particles and pet dander, you are only lifting and disposing of the very top layer, leaving the deeper-rooted bacteria to fester over time, and this grime will tend to build up over time.
Not only does this stuff lead to several health problems, but it also gradually eats away at your carpet or rug over time, effecting its longevity and appearance. What’s more, this gradual builds up can lead to a subtle odor that you, as the homeowner may not notice, but your guests sure will.
Conclusion
It is of course important to keep your home clean. You want to vacuum your carpets and rugs regularly because to neglect this part of your cleaning regiment can lead your household to be unsanitary and a poor environment to dwell in.
After looking closely at the many health conditions associated with pet dander and dust, along with a look at why vacuuming doesn’t get rid of these harmful particles, it’s clear that something needs to be done.
Adding the best rug and carpet rake to your cleaning routine prior to vacuuming regularly can drastically improve the air quality in your home for yourself and your family. It’s strongly advised that you take every precaution to avoid and rid your household of any harmful biproducts of everyday life, and these rakes are a great place to start.
Sources and References:
1. What Dangers Are Lurking in Your Household Dust? – Mercola
2. Pet Dunder – American Lung Association
3. What Is Asthma? – National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
4. Pets: Are You Aware of the Risks to Human Health? – Medical News Today
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