It's a great way to get a deeper clean than vacuuming, and it extends the life of the carpet.Before you wash the room, remove furniture, vacuum, and treat stains.The machine should be filled with the correct amount of soap and water.Make sure to go slowly by running the shampooer in a pattern across the room.When the dirty water tank is full, pay attention to it.It is a good idea to run the machine with cold water and no soap after you wash your hair.Before putting furniture back and walking on the carpet, let it dry completely.
Step 1: The furniture should be moved.
If you can, move the furniture completely out of the room when you wash your carpets.If you can't get it out of the room, move it to the other side.Move any small pieces of furniture to the other side of the room.If you have large pieces of furniture that are hard to move, leave them in the room.It will be harder to clean the room if you leave furniture in it.If you don't want to move large furniture, you can place squares of aluminum foil, wood blocks, or plastic film under the legs or base to protect them from water.
Step 2: Place a vacuum in the room.
The carpets are meant to suck up water and dirt.Dirt, hair, and dust balls can be removed by vacuuming the room.It will make shampooing more effective.You should vacuum a little more since you are going to have to wash your hair.If you want to do another set, go in straight lines up and down the room.Before you wash, look for stains that need treatment.Put a sticky note or marker on the spot so you can easily find it.
Step 3: Specific stains must be treated.
If you want to remove carpet stains, spray them and let the cleaner do its job.Do it if it says to use a wet towel.If it says to leave it and let the person pick it up, do so.Something besides stain removal may be required for some stains.It's possible that you don't need to use a stain remover because the carpet shampoos are meant for tough stains.
Step 4: Make sure you know how to operate the machine.
The instructions for use should be read before using the shampooer.If there is no instructions, look at the machine to see the various parts.There are many different types of carpet cleaners.Knowing how yours works is important.If you push them forward like a vacuum, they will work if you pull them along with you.Your carpet won't get clean if you try to use the shampooer in a different way than how it was designed.You can learn the most effective way to use the specific shampooer by looking up tutorials online.Before renting or buying a machine, make sure it's been verified by the Carpet and Rug Institute to ensure it works well and effectively cleans carpets.Since you won't clean your carpet often, it's important to use a machine that works well.
Step 5: The machine needs to be filled with water.
Some people have fixed water tanks while others have a clean water tank.Don't add more water than the max fill line says.There is a line to make sure the machine runs smoothly.Follow the instructions for hot or cold water.It is usually best to use hot water.
Step 6: You can add the soap to the carpet.
Not every soap will work with every machine so choose a soap that is designed for the machine you have.If you want to leave soap scum on your carpet, only pour the amount of soap that is directed.If the soap is added to the clean water or into a separate compartment, pay attention.If you want to find out if there is a specific soap that works best, read reviews online of the best carpet shampoos.It is a good idea to put less soap than you need in order to clean the carpets.
Step 7: Make strips in a corner.
Start in the corner of the room that is closest to the walls.To get to the wall on the other side of the room, you have to walk from that corner.You should walk back towards the wall you started at if you turn around and move the shampooer to a new line that overlaps the first.This process is repeated across the entire room.A random pattern like vacuums are not meant to be pulled back and forth.Straight lines are the most effective way to clean a room.
Step 8: Pull the machine with care.
It takes more time to wash than it does to vacuum.They have to suck the soapy water out of the carpet.If you pull the shampooer too fast, it will not suck all of the dirty water up, leaving your carpets wet and still dirty.Pull the shampooer at a rate of one step per second if you are patient.The deeper the machine is, the easier it is to clean your carpet.
Step 9: You should pay attention to the motor sound.
A float valve is in the dirty water tank to warn you when it's full.When the float valve engages, the motor will change sounds.If the tank is full, stop immediately.The dirty water tank can be seen by a light or gauge on the machine.The water level of the clean and dirty tanks can be seen from the machine.Go ahead and stop if you notice that you are almost out of water.You might need to empty the dirty water and refill the clean water multiple times before you wash the room.It depends on the room size, the tank size and how slowly you are moving.If your carpet is dirty or worn, you will need to empty and refill the water tank multiple times if you run the shampooer over the carpet more than once.
Step 10: There is dirty water in the toilets or outside.
Dirt and debris can cause sink and shower drain problems.Dumping the water outside is the best way to handle this material since the toilet has a larger pipe.If you have to dump dirty water down the sink or shower drain, run the hot water for the entire time.This will help keep the drain clean.
Step 11: Cold water and no soap are needed for a second run of the shampooer.
The shampooer is supposed to suck up all of the soap and dirty water, but it will sometimes leave more behind than you want.There will be soap and dirt left in the room after a second pass.You can go quicker on the second pass.The emphasis is on cold water because hot water can cause soap to suds up again.Take off your shoes and socks so that you don't leave any dirt on the carpet.
Step 12: Before putting furniture in the room, allow the carpet to dry completely.
It can take six or more hours for the carpet to dry, depending on the thickness and room size.Your hairdresser may have instructions on how to dry your hair.If you want to decrease drying time, place fans and blowers at intervals around the room.If you put furniture back on the wet carpet, it can cause problems because the carpet has no air.You might want to hang a sign saying that you have washed the carpet so that people won't walk on it.
Step 13: After each use, rinse and empty the tanks.
Dump any remaining water out of the water tanks.The dirty water tank needs to be washed out thoroughly.The machine is in top working order if the tanks are emptied all the way.Leave the cap on the tank for a day or two to allow the water to completely evaporate.