:: Steam Cleaning Carpet

Steam Cleaning Carpet

Also called "hot water extraction", steam cleaning is recommended and used by many carpet manufacturers and professional cleaners. Steam cleaners apply product to the carpet which will help the shampoo and steam lift the most possible dirt and dander. Then a pressurized tool sprays shampoo and steam deep into the carpet fibers. The tool's vacuum then sucks all of the dirt, shampoo, and other particles into its tank.

Steam cleaners are available to buy at a number of places or to rent at many stores (i.e., Depot, Lowe's, etc), and grocery chains. If you want to steam clean your carpets yourself, be careful to follow the directions with your machine, don't over wet or over soap the carpet as this can cause your carpets to attract dirt and other particles and become soiled more quickly. Please note that most rental units will leave your carpets wetter, and require the tank to be emptied several times during the cleaning process. Be careful not to spill the soiled water back onto the carpet as you empty the tank.

If you hire a professional to steam clean your carpets, you may want to look for a company that has a "truck or trailer-mounted" unit. These are much more powerful than the stand-alone units, and have the added advantage of venting directly outside and having a drying system which allows you to use your rooms more quickly. Steam cleaned carpet, when a drying system is not included on the machine, will generally take several hours to dry (12 hours is the recommended time to wait before walking on the carpet). Take a look at Steam Cleaning Carpet Tips.