How to Clean Carpet with a Steam Cleaner

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:

Simple running water is poured into a special tank.
The device is connected to the network, and in a short period of time the liquid is heated.
Having reached a boil, the water gradually turns into steam. Simultaneously with this process, excess pressure is created in the tank.
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.

Laminate

It is common knowledge that not all floor coverings handle water equally well. Linoleum and ceramic tiles are not afraid of it at all; and parquet, on the contrary, is absolutely not compatible with high humidity. Laminate occupies an intermediate position in this series.

Depending on the manufacturing technology used, all types of laminate can be divided into conventional and moisture-resistant. In the manufacture of the latter, additional impregnations and special coatings are used. Experts say that it is better to choose a laminate with a class of at least 32 and made using high pressure technology (HPL) or continuous pressure technology (CPL) and can withstand moisture for some time.

The moment of laying the laminate is important. If you plan to use a washing vacuum cleaner, preference should be given to laminate, which is assembled using a locking fastening. The ends of the coating slabs and seams must be treated with special water-repellent compounds. All this can ensure the waterproofness of the floor covering.

If you are not sure about the quality of your floor covering and the correctness of its installation, it is better to abandon the idea of mechanized wet floor cleaning. Only a simple mop can help you; with its help you can prevent the laminate flooring from getting wet and deforming.

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:

Move all furniture that is on the carpet to another room. Or at least move it to the side, freeing up the working area.
Thoroughly vacuum the entire area, removing both large and small debris.
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.

How to wash a carpet with Karcher high pressure, carpet cleaning products, chemistry

Carpets in the house make the interior more comfortable. Such products perfectly absorb noise and make life much easier for neighbors. Covered floors retain heat and provide warmth during the cold season. On a mottled surface, dirt is less noticeable. Crumbs are not as visible on it as on laminate or linoleum. However, cleaning a carpet is not an easy task.

The dimensions do not allow you to put the product in the washing machine and wash it quickly. Doing this manually is tedious; taking rugs and runners to the dry cleaner is problematic. Calling a specialist home is expensive. With the advent of compact washing equipment on sale, the situation with cleaning the house has changed. You can wash your carpet with Karcher at home.

Thus, the process of washing the described products will be significantly simplified.

Limitations for washing with mini-washes

A beginner who begins to master professional equipment often makes mistakes. They often lead to damage to the carpet. Familiarization with the operating principle of washing equipment will help you avoid troubles.

Karcher is a unit that injects high pressure into water supply hoses. Through special nozzles attached to the end of the hoses, a strong stream of water bursts out, capable of breaking up any old dirt. Its pressure can be so strong that the jet can destroy the weave of the carpet. Woolen items cannot be cleaned this way.

The use of mini-washes is contraindicated if the carpet or paths have an adhesive base. Such products will simply fall apart after washing under high water pressure. Karcher is ideal only for washing synthetic surfaces. Expensive natural carpets should still be taken to specialized dry cleaners for washing.

There are also some restrictions when using the equipment.

Do not pre-soak the carpet and leave it wet for a long time;
Do not use hot water (optimal temperature is +30 degrees);
Do not dry the washed fabric folded (if the carpet is not completely straightened, creases will form at the joints).

Anyone who purchases mini-equipment for personal use should learn simple rules.

Folk remedies

After the carpet is completely dry, its appearance may not change for the better. A solution of ammonia (two tablespoons per liter of cold liquid) or salt and citric acid (two teaspoons of juice and one tablespoon of sodium chloride dissolve in two liters of water) will help correct the situation.

Solutions are applied to the carpet surface using a brush. Excess moisture is removed with dry wipes. Since ammonia has a persistent odor, it is better to carry out the restoration procedure outside.

Prevention of contamination of carpets and rugs

It is recommended to remove snow from carpets once a year.
If you take timely care of the condition of the carpet, vacuum its surface daily, immediately remove stains and do not allow them to penetrate deep into the base, you can delay cleaning with mini-equipment indefinitely. Proper care will help prevent wear and tear on the carpet and tracks:

do not clean products against lint;
do not lay them on a wet floor;
do not clean with hot water;
Do not place heavy furniture with legs on the surface.

In winter, it is useful to beat out carpets using snow (the cold destroys germs), place rubber pads under the legs of heavy furniture, and periodically change the position of the carpet - this will avoid the appearance of abrasions in high-traffic areas. Experts advise carrying out deep intermediate cleaning once a year. The BRS 43/500 C model is most suitable for these purposes.

The price of Karcher for high-pressure carpet washing starts from 35,000 rubles. You can use the sink not only when cleaning carpets. It is suitable for washing cars, garden paths, building facades.

Disadvantages of steam cleaning carpets and rugs

It will not be possible to clean a carpet, rug or other carpeted surface with a steam cleaner, since its characteristics do not provide a suction function, but treating the surface with steam can soften dirt or some stains, which can then be cleaned with a brush, rag or napkin.
Before cleaning carpets with a steam cleaner, they must first be vacuumed from small debris and dust with a regular vacuum cleaner.
Steam cleaning of a carpet is not suitable for all types of carpets (the material of the pile, the backing, the presence of an adhesive base, etc. are taken into account), so consult with specialists in advance whether your carpet can be cleaned with steam.
It is impossible to disinfect a carpet or rug with a steam generator (steam cleaner)!
Most viruses, bacteria and microbes can easily tolerate short-term boiling and exposure to steam. Long-term treatment of the carpet with hot steam will quickly ruin the carpet than destroy all bacteria. To disinfect carpets, it is better to use modern chemicals specially designed for this purpose.
Steam carpet cleaning is not recommended for removing stains that contain protein (for example, blood, milk, eggs, etc.), because when exposed to high temperatures, the structure of the protein changes and the stain becomes impossible to remove.
Also, some other dirt and stains on the carpet under the influence of steam can be even more absorbed into the structure of the carpet pile and also become impossible to remove.

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:

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.
Now the solution must be poured into the steam generator tank, leaving 0.5 cm of free space to the top.
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.
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.
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.
After the first time, let the carpet dry and repeat the procedure.
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.

Application

The functionality of a washing vacuum cleaner is much superior to an ordinary unit, which is used only before starting wet cleaning. All washing models combine both of these operations.

Washing and wet cleaning of various surfaces

What coatings can be washed?

Having a large number of positive qualities, such models cannot be used for any surfaces. It is not allowed to wash natural carpets, and it is strictly forbidden to use such a vacuum cleaner to clean parquet floors. Moisture gets inside these products, their inner surface begins to rot.

Manufacturers in the instruction manual indicate several types of surfaces that can be perfectly cleaned by a washing vacuum cleaner:

artificial carpets;
laminate;
linoleum;
stone;
ceramics;
glass.

Attention! Before you start cleaning, check the surface for moisture resistance so that it does not become unusable after using the vacuum cleaner.

Application technology

After assembling the device, the tank is filled with clean water. For severe contamination, add detergent.
First, the entire surface is completely treated.
Then they begin washing from the far corner; use an overlapping brush.
For heavily soiled floors, you will need a little more cleaning mixture.
After washing, the floor is cleaned with clean water.
At the final stage, drying is performed. A nozzle with a suction effect is placed on the hose.

The whole operation will take a few minutes. As a result, the dust will disappear and there will be no traces of dirt left on the surface.

Dry cleaning

Ordinary vacuum cleaners, which were used several decades ago, could only perform one function - drying. In washing models, there is no need to fill the reservoir with water to carry out drying. A special suction nozzle will help you complete this operation in a few minutes. The dust will completely disappear in two passes.

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.

In what cases is steam dry cleaning of carpets performed:

This type of cleaning is safe for people suffering from allergic reactions to household chemicals and skin diseases
Cleaning carpets with steam is ideal for families with small children; such cleaning will not harm their developing immune system
Steam dry cleaning is carried out when it is necessary to delicately clean items without using chemicals that can damage or destroy the carpet pile.

How a steam cleaner works and its capabilities

The operating principle of a steam cleaner is simple. Water is poured into the tank, brought to a boil, and then comes out in the form of a stream of hot steam. Various attachments and nozzles are used for work.

What you can do with a steam cleaner:

Clean the upholstery of upholstered furniture from dust;

Disinfect the surface: kill germs, bacteria, microorganisms;

Degrease different types of surfaces

Remove unpleasant odor;

Renew soft toys;

Clean the curtains;

Remove animal hair and hair from the surface.

And this is just a small part of the list of functions.

Karcher is a frequently sought-after steam cleaner. It is possible to select a model: by weight, power, tank volume, availability of steam control function and other characteristics.

Advantages

A steam cleaner has many advantages compared to traditional cleaning methods.
This device is very maneuverable. Unlike a vacuum cleaner, it can get into tight, hard-to-reach areas. Using different attachments it is quite convenient to process surfaces of varying complexity. Steam gently cleans many types of materials. Penetrating deep into the structure of fabric fibers, jets of steam remove contaminants embedded in them without causing damage to the material or stretching it. This method of cleaning upholstered furniture and carpets is considered one of the best.

The steam jet removes dust and dirt and kills germs. The device successfully destroys dust mites that multiply in furniture fabrics and fillings.

Many steam cleaner models are equipped with containers for cleaning agents, which allows you to more effectively remove dirt and stubborn stains.

Cleaning upholstered furniture

It is recommended to clean the sofa and other furniture even if there are no signs of obvious contamination. In this case, the surface is treated, microorganisms are destroyed, for example, dust mites, moth larvae.

Prepare microfiber cloths. You will need several of them.
Fill the tank with water, preferably distilled.
Check the interaction between the material and the steam cleaner. Treat a small piece of the sofa to prevent damage to the upholstery.
Clean the surface of the furniture in small areas. As soon as you have steamed one area, immediately collect the softened dirt with a dry cloth. Microfiber perfectly absorbs moisture and dirt.

To clean a specific stain, you need to point the nozzle at an angle to the surface, trying to blow away the dirt.

Kitchen appliances

A modern kitchen has a large number of smooth, shiny polished surfaces. The formation of fatty deposits and the settling of soot make them dull and untidy. A steam cleaner with a special cover and a yellow microfiber cloth will help restore your kitchen appliances to a sparkling appearance. Under the influence of steam, the fat dissolves. Dried-on dirt can be further treated with a brush without stopping the flow. The covering is changed as it becomes saturated with fat. To ensure that no streaks remain on the cleaned surface after drying, the equipment is rubbed manually using a napkin. Steam cleaners are equally effective and safe for both metal and glass ceramics, from which modern kitchen stoves are made.

Textile care

If you treat textiles with steam, you can quickly refresh their appearance, eliminate various odors, and remove wool.

A special iron attachment will provide an additional opportunity - smoothing things out.

Some tips for caring for fabric:

The steam cleaner should be held parallel to the surface of the fabric.

The softer, more delicate the material that is being cleaned, the weaker the steam jet should be. For this purpose, the function of regulating the steam supply is important.

After cleaning, you should always check the condition of the surface. If it is very wet, dry it using dry wipes or paper towels.

Nozzles

To clean the carpet efficiently and quickly at home, you should use nozzles, which are available in a wide variety. With their help, cleaning will be faster and easier. Any steam cleaner model can be supplemented with various attachments:

for treating floor coverings such as tiles or stone;
for washing glass and mirrors, for example, can be used to clean windows;
nozzle in the form of a brush for cleaning plumbing elements;
high power nozzle for cleaning sewer system drains;
The sprayer allows you to treat house plants.

Cleaning clothes

This process can be carried out without even removing clothes from hangers. A special attachment will collect hair, threads, and lint from the material. After steam treatment, things will look ironed, fresh, without foreign odors.

When cleaning fur products, the nozzle should be kept at a considerable distance: the steam jet should only lightly touch the surface, without penetrating deeper. This will allow you to clean the pile efficiently and provide volume to the fur.

The same applies to down jackets. Keep the steam cleaner nozzle at a distance of at least 30 cm from the jacket. This condition is mandatory, since down does not tolerate high temperatures.

Kinds

Today, all steam cleaners can be divided into three groups.

Manual. This device is characterized by a fairly compact size and is easy to use.
Compact. It is presented in the form of a small vacuum cleaner, which has medium dimensions. The unit is easy to use, does not take up much storage space and copes with its main task perfectly.
Steam vacuum cleaner. This is a very powerful device, which is distinguished by its rather large dimensions, high power and provides excellent results. It is worth noting that this unit will require a separate storage space.