Can I use a household steam cleaner to clean carpet?

Many housewives say that cleaning a carpet with a steam cleaner is not difficult. But what is a steam cleaner? How does this household appliance work? What is its cost and is it possible to return your carpet to its original appearance using a steam cleaner? And if so, how to do it right? There are many questions, and we have an answer to each of them.

What is a steam cleaner?

A steam cleaner - or, as it is also called, a steam generator - belongs to the category of low-pressure household appliances. The operating principle is simple:

1. Simple running water is poured into a special tank.
2. The device is connected to the network, and in a short period of time the liquid is heated.
3. Having reached a boil, the water gradually turns into steam. Simultaneously with this process, excess pressure is created in the tank.
4. As soon as the user presses the button on the handle of the guide device, steam is released through the passage valve.

For greater efficiency, the household appliance includes various attachments and replaceable heads.

The good thing about a steam cleaner is that the humidity of the generated steam does not exceed 6%. While remaining dry, steam can be used not only for cleaning, but also for disinfecting various surfaces, such as upholstered furniture, carpets, covers, and various fabrics.

The average price of a steam generator is about 9,700 rubles.

Preparing the carpet for cleaning

In order for the carpet to be cleaned quickly and efficiently, it should be well prepared for this.

To do this you need:

1. Move all furniture that is on the carpet to another room. Or at least move it to the side, freeing up the working area.
2. Thoroughly vacuum the entire area, removing both large and small debris.
3. If there are stains or streaks, they should be treated with a suitable solution and allowed to soak in. Afterwards, rinse with plain water.

The last step is preparing the cleaning mixture for the steam generator. You need to dilute one measuring cup of carpet cleaner in as much liquid as the steam generator tank can hold.

Cleaning carpet with a steam cleaner at home

Gradually we came to the main question: how to clean a carpet with a steam generator? This should be done correctly, otherwise the condition after cleaning may be worse than before it. For example, too much detergent will cause more dust and small debris to stick.

Sequence of carpet cleaning with a steam generator:

1. The starting point is a ready-made cleaning solution. Folk remedies, as a rule, are not friendly with technology, so it is worth using household chemicals intended for caring for carpets.
2. Now the solution must be poured into the steam generator tank, leaving 0.5 cm of free space to the top.
3. Connect the steam cleaner to the mains and press the power button on the body of the household appliance. Wait until the indicator lamp shows the device is ready for operation.
4. Let's start cleaning the carpet. We gradually move from the end of the room, located as far as possible from the front door. Cleaning must be carried out in such a way as not to walk on the already treated area.
5. Move the nozzle in one direction: from above and slowly down.You shouldn’t use too much force, but weak cleaning won’t lead to a noticeable result.
6. After the first time, let the carpet dry and repeat the procedure.
7. After you have passed the steam generator over the carpet for the second time, you need to dry it again, fill the device with clean water without a cleaning agent and treat the working area with steam for the last time.

Do not forget to use plain clean water at the end of the procedure. This will help remove any small amount of cleaner left on the carpet. If you neglect this stage, the remains of household chemicals will cause the accumulation of even more debris and dust.

Some useful tips

Carpet cleaning is over, but a few helpful tips never hurt.

• For example, you desperately need to walk to the far end of the room along the newly cleaned carpet. This can be done, but in order not to spoil the fruits of your labor, wear clean house shoes. Simple socks are suitable as a universal option.
• Or maybe you need to put the furniture in a clean area? There are no special problems with this either: the furniture can be placed on small pieces of polystyrene foam, and when the carpet is dry, carefully remove them.
• Before you begin steam cleaning, carefully read the instructions that came with your carpet - of course, if they are still available. If not, then it is better to ask professionals for advice. For example, talk to the employees at your nearest dry cleaner.

The most important advice: if you are not sure that you can clean the carpet yourself, contact a specialist. You will spend more money, but save your nerves, and this is very important.

Many can afford to purchase a steam generator, unless, of course, they raise their demands to the expensive Karcher. But not everyone will be able to perform high-quality cleaning using such a device. The information in the article should help you with this - you just need to follow the instructions and listen to the advice.