Abstract: A carpet cleaning apparatus is provided with a modular construction. A tank module is made up of a vacuum separation tank and a cleaning solution tank, both of which form a uniform cross section. Located at one end of the tank module is a mounting plate which is fastened to a matching mounting plate which in turn mounts the spray and vacuum pumps as well as the vacuum nozzle to form a pump module. The simple yet effective vacuum separation system is provided with directed air and liquid flow. The vacuum is ultimately pulled out of the top of the vacuum separation tank and passes through a tube downwardly through the cleaning solution tank to the pump module. The device is self-contained and easily portable.