How to Steam Clean a Carpet

Carpets, by nature, attract dirt and grime. Professional carpet cleaning is expensive, but carpet-cleaning is one do-it-yourself project that most people can confidently tackle with good results.

On Your Mark

The process commonly known as steam cleaning doesn't involve steam at all, unless you count the small amount that rises from the top of the water in the tank. "Steam" cleaners shoot a jet of hot water and carpet shampoo onto your rug and then vacuum it back up. Some units have brushes to scrub your carpet, but otherwise they work the same way. The hope is that when the machine sucks the water back up, the dirt will come with it. Unless the carpet was heavily soiled, most of it usually does.

Get Set

Dry cleaning establishments, grocery stores and discount stores often rent carpet cleaning machines. It's worth it to rent a machine that heats the water, but if you can't find one, use hot tap water. Recipes for homemade carpet shampoo abound, but for professional results your best bet is to use professional products. In addition to carpet shampoo, pre-treating solution, spot treatment and pet stain remover, if necessary, are good ideas.

Go

Before you begin, move as much furniture from the room as possible and vacuum thoroughly. Any dirt you can remove beforehand is dirt that won't become mud when you add hot water. Pre-treat any areas with obvious soiling. Pre-treat pet stains if the product label tells you to do so. Begin cleaning in the farthest corner from the door and work your way slowly and methodically across the room. Only spray each section one time, but run the extraction head over the carpet a second time before you move to the next section. As you clean, place plastic coffee can lids beneath the legs of any furniture you did not move to avoid damaging either the furniture or the carpet.

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Finish

A fan will help with ventilation, if necessary. Be very careful to keep children and pets out until the floor is completely dry. Kawasaki Disease, a devastating illness, has been linked to allowing children to crawl or walk on freshly cleaned carpets, regardless of the method used to clean them. Once the carpet is dry, apply a spray-on protector, remove the plastic lids from beneath the furniture, and enjoy your freshly cleaned carpet.

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