How to Steam Clean Carpets on Hardwood Floors

Cleaning carpets can often require more work than simply vacuuming them. This is especially true for heavily soiled carpets that have been in rooms with lots of dust or dirt. Steam cleaning a carpet on a hardwood floor, however, is only recommended when using a steamer that produces dry steam, or steam vapor. Steamers that leave droplets of water are not recommended for use on carpets that sit atop hardwood floors. Using a steam vapor cleaner on your carpets is a great way to get rid of dust and dirt while deep cleaning your carpet without damaging your wood floors. Be sure that your steamer is approved for use on sealed hardwood floors. Once you have the appropriate steamer, the process is relatively simple and will clean the carpet thoroughly without harsh cleansing chemicals.

Vacuum
Carpet steamer (vapor steamer)
Water
Mop
Bucket
Oil-based soap for wood floors.

Instructions

- 1
  Vacuum the carpet thoroughly with a regular vacuum before steaming it. After vacuuming the carpet, move it aside and vacuum the hardwood floor underneath.
- 2
  Prepare your dry vapor steamer for use according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 3
  Test the steam vapor cleaner on an inconspicuous area of carpet and hardwood floor. Because vapor steamers operate at high temperatures, it is possible for them to damage carpet fibers or cloud hardwood finish. Once you are satisfied that your floor and rug are safe, plug the steam cleaner's electrical cord into an outlet and turn it on.
- 4
  Begin steaming the carpet by running the steam vapor cleaner over the surface of the carpet back and forth, in a slow, controlled motion.
- 5
  Move in a pattern as you travel over the carpet with the steam vapor cleaner. Move either left to right, top to bottom or from the center outward. This will help you avoid missing certain spots and steaming others too heavily. Continue until you have finished steaming the entire surface of the carpet.
- 6
  Open the windows and turn on any overhead fans in the vicinity. Allow the carpet to dry for about five hours. Avoid allowing any foot traffic on the carpet during this time.
- 7
  Move the carpet gently out of the way after it has dried. You are now going to clean the wood floor underneath, which may have picked up some additional dirt or dust during the steaming process. This will also help condition the wood.
- 8
  Fill a bucket with warm water and 1/4 cup of wood floor cleanser.
- 9
  Mop the floor thoroughly, and allow it to dry.
- 10
  Return the now clean carpet to its original place in the room.

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