Vacuuming is all well and good, but, for your spring cleaning sessions, you might want to consider a steam clean-up as well. If you don’t own a steam cleaning device, you can always buy or rent one, depending on your budget. Efficient and effective at dealing with carpets, hardwood surfaces and tiles, steam cleaning most definitely should be a part of your home clean-up routine on a yearly basis. The process is quite simple, and, once you get used to it, you’ll be able to see a noticeable difference! If you’d like to learn more about steam cleaning, just keep reading!
Steam cleaning carpets your carpets and rugs
Before you break out the steam cleaner, you want to give your carpets and rugs a good old vacuuming. This will help you remove larger debris as well as most traces of pet hair, lint and dirt.
After that, you can start prepping your steam cleaner. Begin by pouring a tiny bit of your cleaning solution into a bucket of hot water and let it mix well. Rub it on a small, usually hidden part of your carpet and give it 10-15 minutes. If you notice no discolouration, you’re good to go! If that’s not the case, however, and there appears to be an adverse effect, dilute your solution a bit more and give it another shot. You don’t want to damage your surfaces! If there are still severe reactions to your cleaner, you might want to look into a different brand. Keep in mind that some carpets will simply refuse to tolerate certain cleaners.
Once you’re certain that your cleaning solution is safe for use, fill your steam cleaner’s tank by following the instructions to the letter. This varies from device to device, as well as solution to solution. Make sure that you’re using gloves and that no cleaner gets in contact with your unprotected skin or clothes.
Get cleaning
Steam cleaners are not unlike upright vacuums. They tend to have a trigger or handle, which is used to release the cleaning solution onto the surface, as you slide the appliance forward. Familiarise yourself with the control scheme of your device before you begin.
The steam cleaning process:
Clean your rooms from the point farthest away from the door and work your way to the exit. This will allow you to save time and efforts on having to redo things you’ve already cleaned. In case you encounter any especially stubborn stains, don’t hesitate to give them a second touch-up. If you’re dealing with multiple large rooms, you would want to keep an eye on the clean water tank, so you know when you should change the water.
The Finishing Touches
While your carpet is still wet, you want to avoid stepping on it at all costs. If you end up soaking the pad below the carpet, you might end up having to deal with mould and other nasty side-effects. Furthermore, dust and debris will have an exceptionally easy time sticking and clinging on to your carpet, sabotaging your cleaning efforts. To help your carpet dry out faster, you could open the window (if the outside temperature permits it) or use a small heater fan.
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