Carpets can become stained and look diminished in quality after you’ve had them for a while. White and cream-colored carpets are even more prone to looking more worn down.
So, many people wonder whether they can use steam mops to rejuvenize their carpets to make them look new again. Well, you may be pleased to hear that you can use a steam mop to clean carpets.
Below, you can learn more about how to clean your carpets with a steam mop in the right way.
Steps To Using Steam Mops To Clean Carpets
Clear The Area
First of all, you’ll want to remove as many pieces of furniture and objects that are on the floor. While it can feel like a hassle, clearing the area properly will make it a lot easier for you to use a mop to steam clean the carpet.
Cleaning carpets with a steam mop also isn’t something that you’ll need to do too regularly. Therefore, when you do steam mop your carpet, it’s best to make sure you do it thoroughly and clean the entire carpet. It’s also common for people to find more messes underneath their furniture that they weren’t even aware of.
Vacuuming
After you’ve cleared the floor from the furniture and other objects, you’ll want to vacuum the carpet before you grab the steam mop. This is an important stage because vacuuming effectively captures any dirt and debris that could become caught in the steam mop.
If you don’t have a vacuum at home, you should check out our vacuum reviews to compare the different brands and models before making a final buying decision.
Vacuuming also gets rid of any hairs that steam mops aren’t so great at getting rid of. After you’ve vacuumed your carpets, you’re left with a better foundation to use your steam mop to the best of its abilities. The steam mop can reach deeper into the fibers of your carpet without being blocked by larger pieces of debris.
How To Use A Steam Mop For Cleaning Carpets
Begin by connecting the carpet glider to the head of your steam mop head. Refer to the user manual of your specific steam mop model to make sure that you’ve attached the carpet glider properly.
It’s also imperative to connect the carpet glider to your steam mop before you plug it in. This is because some steam mops can start instantly as soon as you plug them into an outlet. Therefore, you’ll want to have the carpet glider already attached to make sure that you don’t get burned by the steam.
Attaching the carpet glider is an important step because the majority of steam mops have been made for hard floors which means that they come with a flat head design. Trying to use a flat head steam mop on carpets is difficult. Sometimes, the carpet glider will come with the steam mop but other times you’ll need to purchase it separately.
Once you’re happy that the carpet glider has been properly attached, fill up the water tank to the maximum capacity. This will save you from constantly having to go back and forth between the sink for refills.
After the above steps are completed, you’re ready to start steam mopping your carpet. The best place to start cleaning your carpets is the corner that’s furthest away from where you plan to finish mopping.
By starting at the furthest corner, you won’t have to step back on the wet carpet that you’ve just cleaned. When you aim to finish steam mopping your carpet by the entry/exit of the room, you can simply walk out and leave the carpet to dry.
The best method to clean your carpets with a steam mop is to use motions that go in straight lines. Going in straight lines allows you to easily keep track of the areas that you’ve covered and the areas that you’ve missed to ensure that you can achieve a deeper clean.
When you’ve finished mopping the carpet, all you need to do next is give it some time to dry. Since steam mopping doesn’t involve any soaps, most carpets will be dry after approximately 5 hours.
Other Things To Consider
Type Of Water To Use For Steam Mops
We recommend that you try your best to use distilled water to fill up the tank in your steam mop. This is because regular tap water can contain minerals that may cause damage to the inside of the steam mop. Not to mention, if you live in areas where the tap water contains especially high quantities of minerals, it can leave a residue on carpets.
Steam Mops Can Kill Germs
You may be pleased to hear that steam mopping carpets don’t just provide them with a cleaner appearance. Steam mops can be effective at killing germs, pathogens, and bacteria that have become trapped in your carpets. This is due to the high temperature of the water vapor.
In addition to this, high temperatures from the water vapor are great for killing dust mites. Since dust mites are so small, getting them out of carpets can be trickier. A steam mop sends hot water vapor into the carpet fibers where lots of dust mites can accumulate without you even realizing it.
To ensure that the dust mites you’ve killed from steam mopping don’t return, be sure to regularly vacuum.
Carpet Cleaners & Steam Mops
Initially, using a carpet cleaner with a steam mop seems like it would be more effective at removing dirt. However, adding a carpet cleaner to your steam mop can cause your carpet and the steam mop to become damaged.
One of the main benefits of using a steam mop to clean carpets is that you don’t need to add any chemicals. Instead, you can rely on the high temperatures of the water vapor to clean the carpet.
This is especially the case if you have pets or young children in the house. It’s best to avoid leaving the carpet with chemicals that can lead to allergies or health implications.
Conclusion
To recap, the best way to clean carpets with a steam mop is to remove all furniture and objects, vacuum, and safely attach the carpet glider attachment before plugging it into an outlet. It’s also best to fill the water tank with distilled water and avoid using any carpet cleaners or chemicals.
Furthermore, regularly vacuuming the carpet after steam mopping will help to prevent all your hard work from becoming undone.
By following the tips mentioned above, you’ll be well on your way to having cleaner carpets in no time.
