Household Products Used in Steam Cleaners

Commercial Products

• Commercial cleaning additives for steam cleaners are available in supermarkets, discount stores and anywhere that steamers are found for purchase or rent. Manufacturers also have their own product line for use in their equipment. Among them are detergents, allergen removers, defoamers to cut down on the amount of suds, odor control products, rinsing agents and stain pretreating solutions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides a list of products that are recognized under the Safer Product Labeling Program for those who are conscious of the environment.

Vinegar

• White vinegar is a natural cleaning product with numerous household uses. According to Avian Web add it to a steam cleaner to help eliminate pet stains and odor. It also removes soap, mildew and grease. It is also one of the ingredients used in some homemade cleaning formulas. My Best Carpet recommends 1 1/2 cups of white vinegar to 2 gallons of water. For removing pet and other stains such as wine, ketchup and coffee, as well as pet odors equal parts of water and vinegar may be used.

Hydrogen Peroxide

• Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant and works well to remove stains according to Using Hydrogen Peroxide. It is prevents mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria. Carpet Cleaning Tips suggests adding one part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to five parts of hot water.

Homemade Solution

• Hillbilly Housewife offers a homemade recipe for steam cleaning. In a bucket combine 1/4 cup of lemon-scented ammonia, 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 3 teaspoons of dish-washing liquid to a little less than 1 gallon of hot water.

Tips

• For best cleaning results, The Housekeeping Channels emphasizes the importance of pre-conditioning the carpet before cleaning it. This means vacuuming it thoroughly to remove all loose dirt and pretreating with a stain removal solution in heavily soiled areas. Natural Cleaning Products recommends a steam cleaning once a year