Carpet fibers are delicate, and the stain-causing molecules of a particular stain are enough to destroy them past the point of not healing them again. So, have you spilled food, ink, or other substances on your carpet and desperately looking for a solution to tackle them to their core? If so, consider the carpet steam cleaning method, as it offers a deep clean beyond the scope of simple vacuuming or traditional and commercial cleaning solutions.
To learn how, explore this blog and learn a practical step-by-step approach to combat stubborn stains from your carpets through steam cleaning, leaving them fresh and healthier for years to come.
Steps To Neutralize Stubborn Stains With Carpet Steam Cleaning
Prepare The Carpet For Steam Cleaning
First, prepare the area by picking up unnecessary items from the floor, such as toys, books, newspapers, shoes, etc. Besides, look for other loose objects, like coins, buttons, and jewelry, as they hinder the steam cleaning performance by clogging the nozzles.
After that, move all heavy furniture to a separate room. Heavy furniture can snag the steam cleaner hose if left in place. In addition, steam cleaning around furniture legs can be tricky and leave unclean or unsightly spots.
Gather Your Supplies
After preparing the area, gather every vital supply required to steam clean your carpet, as such a method consumes time and effort, especially for larger rooms. Having everything you need on hand eliminates the need for interruptions and allows you to focus on the cleaning. The supply list includes:
- A vacuum cleaner
- Pre-treatment solutions
- 3-4 fresh microfiber cloths
- A detergent (vinegar preferred)
- A steam machine
- Baking soda
Start Vacuuming The Carpet
Now, grab your vacuum cleaner and start vacuuming the carpet, covering every part and corner. Carpet fibers trap a ton of dirt, dust, and other contaminants that, if left uncleaned for days or weeks, can brittle them.
Additionally, these contaminants can also get mixed in the solutions when you inject hot steam and solutions deep into the carpet, resulting in you getting poor or zero-to-no results.
Moreover, a heavy amount of dirt can clog the steam cleaner’s machinery, leading to malfunctions or breakdowns, so by vacuuming first, you can protect both your carpet and the steam cleaning machine.
Bonus point: Regular vacuuming helps protect your carpet from fading, so make sure you vacuum your carpet at least thrice a week or more often based on the number of people or pets in your family.
Pre-Treat The Stains
Once you’ve vacuumed the carpet, take your pre-treatment solutions and work them onto the stains. Pre-treating the stains is essential because stubborn stains often involve complex bonds between the staining materials and the carpet fibers.
Pre-treatment solutions contain enzymes that can loosen or break down these bonds, making it easier for the hot steam and detergent to tackle them easily. In simpler words, with the help of pretreatment solutions, you can significantly increase the effectiveness of your steam cleaning and avoid accidentally making the stain worse.
If pre-treatment solutions are unavailable in your supply list, you can use household ingredients like baking soda as a second option (only if stains are relatively fresh). Just sprinkle the powder over the stained areas of the carpet and allow it to sit for an hour or two before vacuuming it thoroughly.
Prepare The Machine
Every steam machine is different, so read the manual instructions before directly using it. This ensures you use the correct water type, filling procedures, and safety precautions specific to your model.
Once you’ve gone through it, start filling the water tank first. Always use distilled water to prevent mineral build-up that can clog the machine, and, most importantly, never fill the tank beyond the limitation indicated.
Next, add a detergent (vinegar) or a commercial cleaning solution to the designated compartment, ensuring you don’t use more than recommended, as excess residue can be left behind.
Steam Clean Your Carpet
Now, holding the steam machine, start at the farthest corner of the room from the exit to work your way back towards the door to avoid walking on the cleaned area.
When steam cleaning the carpet, use slow, even strokes with the nozzle. And, when you reach a stained area, concentrate your cleaning efforts there. Use several slow, overlapping passes with the nozzle, applying gentle pressure.
Most importantly, make sure you do not over-saturate the area to protect the fibers from shrinkage or discoloration because once the carpet dries, it might release excess moisture, resulting in distortion or fading of the fibers.
Allow The Carpet To Dry Thoroughly
Once done, let the carpet dry completely before you start walking. There are numerous ways to do so, with first turning on your dehumidifiers or overhead fans and letting them work for at least two hours before vacuuming the carpet again.
Secondly, open all doors and windows to let fresh air come and circulate throughout your home and serve the same purpose.
Bottom Line
As a homeowner, it is common for you to spill food or other substances on your carpet. Well, spills can deteriorate the fibers unless not acted quickly, and when that happens, they embed further deep in the carpet, so much so that even household ingredients or top-notch commercial cleaning solutions fail to tackle them.
Henceforth, at such times, carpet steam cleaning can help you neutralize them to their core with the help of hot steam and a powerful detergent or cleaning solution. The key is to know how to carry out such a method appropriately.