How to clean carpets with a steam mop

Dirt and stains that attack carpets in-depth and being unpleasant from a purely aesthetic point of view can damage the fibers and protective padding. We add excessive dust to these problems, which can give rise to annoying allergies and breathing problems.

To solve all these difficulties, the use of a steam cleaning machine is essential. It uses a mixture composed exclusively of hot water (without the addition of detergents or chemical compounds), which can eliminate debris from the carpet fibers and completely sanitize it, destroying germs and bacteria.

If we intend to buy one, remember to opt for the model with the Eco function, which will allow us to save energy. In this regard, in this short guide, I will illustrate how to clean carpets simply using a steam mop.

Before using a steam mop, it is important not to forget that you need to vacuum or even a traditional broom with a shovel to raise as much dust as possible or crumbs trapped between the carpet fibers.

If we do not carry out this first step, we risk transporting dirt to the house and creating a bad smell that will later be complicated to eliminate.

Now we carry out a pre-treatment, spraying hot water on the particularly dirty or stained areas of the carpet, then we leave it to act for a couple of minutes.

Then we fix the microfibre cloth to the broom’s base, paying the utmost attention to perform this operation with the appliance off and not in operation (it seems trivial, but it is important to remember it).

The steam mop can generate heat very quickly; there is the danger of getting burned seriously, or worse, risking taking a strong electric shock.

Once the cloth is fixed to the appliance, we can proceed to fill the tray. It is easy to use ordinary tap water in most cases, but pay attention to the characteristics and type of steam mop. Some appliances require only the use of distilled water. We carefully check the instruction booklet.

Now the steam cleaner is finally ready to be turned on. We wait a few minutes to allow the correct temperature to be reached (generally, there is a warning light that will indicate that the water has reached the exact temperature).

Of course, this waiting time varies from model to model, so don’t worry if the temperature, in some cases, is reached after about 15-20 minutes.

At this point,  we begin to handle the steam cleaner, pushing the steam cleaner forward (to facilitate the escape of the steam) and backward (to collect the loose dirt). Movements should be light, rapid, but continuous, forward, and backward. The steam dries very quickly, so once we have treated a certain carpet area, we can move on to the next one without insisting too much, unless there are stains more difficult to eliminate.

We continue in this way until we have sanitized the entire surface of the carpet. Once the cleaning process is over, ensure that the carpet is completely dry before storing it to prevent mold from forming.

After using the broom and performing the desired cleaning, we turn off the appliance and wait a few minutes to cool down. Only then can we empty the water tank and remove the microfibre cloth. We can also decide to wash these clothes to make them ready for possible subsequent use.