How to Steam Clean a Carpet

As much as we wish that our carpets would not get stained and dirty, nonetheless they do and from time to time they require a cleaning. There are several different methods that one can take to clean their carpets. The most common is by using a steam cleaner that propels hot steam at high velocity into the carpet fibers and both sanitizes and removes the dirt and many stains from the carpet. If you have been putting off steam cleaning your carpeting, these easy steps will show you how it is done.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Steam cleaner
• Cleaning solution
• Spot treating solution

1. Rent a steam cleaner and buy the cleaning solutions. You can usually find steam cleaners for rent at most grocery stores; they cost about $20 per 24-hour period that you rent them. Make sure that you buy the proper steam cleaning solution for the cleaner as well as a spray-on spot treatment solution.

2. Spot treat your carpet prior to cleaning. Find all of the major stains in your carpet. Use the spot treatment solution and spray ample amounts on each stain to pre-treat it prior to steam cleaning the carpet.

3. Follow the directions on the steam cleaner. You will typically have to detach the water basin and fill it with room temperature water. You will also have to add the recommended amount of cleaning solution to the water; follow the directions on the solution packaging for best results.

4. Use very slow and methodic motions, back and forth. Repeat these and watch as the steam cleaner removes all of the dirt from your carpet. Allow the steam cleaner the time it needs to effectively clean and sanitize your carpet.

5. Go over any stains or tough spots. When you come across tough and set-in stains that you pre-treated, make sure that you go over these several times in order to get them out. Use the same slow motions that you did to clean the rest of the carpet. Some of the stains may not come out, but you can usually get a vast majority of them out of the carpet.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a baby or pets make sure that the cleaning solution and spot treatment solution that you use is safe for pets and babies; assure that it is non-toxic.