Patent ID: 7877836

Claim:
A cleaning apparatus, comprising: a base portion for movement along the surface; a handle pivotally connected to said base portion; a solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface, said solution tank removably mounted to one of said handle and said base portion; a recovery tank removably mounted to one of said handle and said base portion; a floor suction nozzle secured to said base portion and in fluid communication with said recovery tank; a suction source in fluid communication with said floor suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through said floor suction nozzle and into said recovery tank; an accessory hose secured to one of said handle and base portion in fluid communication the recovery tank; a holder mounted to one of said handle or base and adapted to receive an end of the accessory hose; a sensor for sensing the position of the accessory hose within the holder; a controller that controls a function of the cleaning apparatus is controlled in response to the position of the accessory hose within the holder; a valve assembly for selectively blocking the airflow to the floor suction nozzle; and an actuator for moving the valve assembly between a first position which at least partially blocks suction to said floor suction nozzle and a second position which substantially allow suction to flow through said floor suction nozzle; wherein the actuator moves the valve assembly into the first position when the sensor senses that the accessory hose is not positioned within the holder.