How to Maintain a Carpet Cleaner

Most steam cleaners use a three-part system to remove stains. First, the machine sprays a cleaning solution onto the carpet. Then a brush creates a rubbing motion to work the cleaner into the carpet fibers. Finally, a vacuum sucks up the dirty solution and stores it in a bucket until you dispose of it. Here's how to maintain your cleaner.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Dump out any cleanser that you didn't use during cleaning. Then rinse out the canister to prevent build-up.

2. Rinse out dirty water reservoir. Do so several times until you remove all of the grime left behind.

3. Check the bristles. Lay the carpet cleaner on its side and examine the bottom. Human hair or pet hair often gets wrapped around the bristles. Use scissors to carefully remove any built up hair.

4. Wrap the electrical cord around the brackets provided on the carpet cleaner. You don't want the cord to fray, so it's important to take good care of it.

5. Wipe down the outside of the carpet cleaner. The unit gradually may get dusty or grimy, especially if it's stored in a rarely-used closet or basement. Wipe it down with a wet cloth or cleaning solution.

Tips & Warnings

• Let carpets dry before walking on them.
• Wear protective gloves and goggles when using any cleaning products.
• Don't saturate the carpet. This will cause the padding underneath to get wet, which may cause future mold problems.