Benefits of Steam Cleaning Your Rugs
Let’s face it—your rugs have seen better days. From muddy paw prints to the ever-mysterious coffee stains, they’ve been through it all. But before you resign yourself to living with those battle scars, there’s a hero in the cleaning world you should meet: steam cleaning.
With steam cleaning, you can transform your tired, worn-out rugs back into fresh, vibrant focal points of your home. It’s just like giving your rugs a spa day, but with the bonus of zapping away all of those uninvited guests (we’re looking at you, dust mites).
In this guide, we’re here to walk you through everything you need to know about steam cleaning. Whether you’re thinking about tackling the job yourself or calling in the pros, we’ll help you understand why steam cleaning might just be the refresh your rugs need.
If you are looking for a professional, non-toxic, and long-lasting clean, then Pure Clean’s carpet cleaning services are your best option. Give us a call to discuss our options and schedule your appointment.
The Basics of a Steam Cleaner
A steam cleaner is a specialized cleaning device that uses hot vapor to deep clean and sanitize different surfaces around your home, including dirt magnets like rugs and carpets. Unlike other traditional cleaning methods, a steam cleaner heats water to extremely high temperatures (usually between 150-360 F), creating pressurized steam that penetrates deep into the rug fibers. This process tackles the pesty dirt, grime, and stains while eliminating health concerns like bacteria, dust mites, and other allergens.
How Steam Cleaners Work
While steam cleaning is great for both hard and soft surfaces, it does particularly well with carpets and upholstery.
Here is how the steam cleaning process works:
- The machine heats water to create steam, which is then forced into the carpet fibers under pressure (up to 150 psi), breaking down dirt particles and loosening deeply embedded debris that a regular old vacuum is unable to reach.
- After the steam dissolves and lifts away the dirt, oil, and other contaminants, the cleaner’s powerful suction system then removes the loosened debris along with the excess moisture, leaving your rugs cleaner and fresher than ever before. This extraction step is necessary for preventing mold and mildew growth.
Best Carpet Steam Cleaning Tips
Thankfully, steam cleaning your carpets yourself isn’t as complicated as you might think. While there are situations where professional steam cleaners would be advised, for basic upkeep and maintenance, you have the tools (and now tips) necessary to help keep your carpets and rugs pristine for years to come.
Clear Floors
Before steam cleaning, we advise removing all furniture, toys, and other items in the area. This preparation ensures complete cleaning coverage and prevents obstacles from interfering with the cleaning process.
P.S. — Don’t forget to check for any small items that have a knack for hiding under furniture or in corners.
Dust Surfaces
Take time to dust all the surrounding surfaces, including baseboards, windowsills, and hard-surface furniture. Not only does this step help to prevent dust from settling on your freshly cleaned rugs, but it also helps to maintain the overall cleanliness of your space. To be the most effective, use a microfiber cloth or duster.
Completely Vacuum Carpet
Next is to thoroughly vacuum the area to remove any loose dirt, debris, and pet hair on the surface of the carpet, making sure to pass over high-traffic areas more than once. This is an important step in maximizing the effectiveness of the steam cleaning process by allowing the steam to really penetrate deep into the fibers.
Pretreat Any Stains
Before steaming, apply stain treatments to visible spots or discolored high-traffic areas, letting it sit for the recommended time. For particularly tough stains, we recommend consulting with our professional carpet cleaning experts, who have access to specialized commercial products and techniques.
Steam Cleaning Carpets vs. Shampooing
Carpet shampooing can be compared to shampooing your hair—using soaps/detergents to get rid of surface dirt and stains. This can be done with brushes or with a carpet shampooing machine.
The steam cleaning process utilizes heated and pressurized water vapor to get rid of dirt, stains, and odor while also efficiently sanitizing surfaces from things such as allergens, dust mites, and other environmental irritants.
Benefits of Steam Cleaning Carpets vs. Shampooing
While steam cleaning and shampooing are both methods used to treat and clean carpets, steam offers several advantages over traditional shampooing:
Prevents Potential Mold and Mildew Growth
Steam cleaning uses significantly less moisture, which means faster drying times and reduced risk of mold and mildew growth.
Effectively Cleanses and Sanitizes Carpets
With the one-two punch of heat and pressure, steam not only removes deep-hiding dirt but also can remove up to 99% of bacteria and allergens, eliminate dust mites and their eggs, and break down stubborn stains and odors.
Improves the Appearance of Carpets
Regular steam cleaning can maintain your rugs’ appearance by:
- Restoring the fiber’s natural color and texture
- Removing unsightly stains and spots
- Lifting crushed fiber in high-traffic areas
- Preventing discoloration from dirt buildup
Promote a Healthy Indoor Environment With Steam Cleaning
Creating healthier living spaces for you and your family is crucial, especially for those dealing with allergies or respiratory issues. Steam cleanings help to eliminate allergens, reduce irritating dust mites, and remove pet dander, creating a sanitized environment without any harsh chemical residue.
Steam Cleaning Extends the Lifespan of Your Carpets
When shampooing your carpets, there are long-term side effects to think about, such as the harsh chemicals potentially fading colors and designs or rough brushes damaging the delicate fibers of a rug.
With steam cleaning, only using water and non-toxic emulsifying solutions means no fading and no course brushes causing frayed fabric. This, in turn, helps to extend the overall lifespan of your carpet or rugs.
Getting the Health Benefits of Steam Carpet Cleaning Services
The best thing for your carpets after at-home routine cleaning is periodic professional deep cleaning. While DIY steam cleaning helps to maintain your carpets in between services, professional treatments provide the deep, thorough cleaning that only industrial-grade equipment can deliver.
For optimal results, consider scheduling an appointment every 12–18 months or more frequently for higher-traffic areas or homes with pets and allergies. Don’t forget that this same professional care can extend to your mattress by using the same powerful steam technology to remove dirt, stains, and bacteria for a healthier home environment.
