I may be biased as Ideal Home’s Cleaning Editor, but I absolutely love steam cleaning. It’s chemical-free, it’s easy to do, and it’s extremely effective - which is why I think everyone should know how to use a steam cleaner on carpet.
After all, many people don’t realise that the best steam cleaners are some of the best tools you can have in your back pocket for cleaning carpets. And with the high pressure and high temperature of steam at your disposal, you can rid your carpets and rugs of bacteria, dirt and even pet dander and dust mites lingering deep within the fibres.
However, using a steam cleaner incorrectly can damage your home and even lead to mould and mildew build-up if you’re not careful. That's why I’ve consulted with cleaning experts to get the low-down on how to use a steam cleaner on a carpet… correctly.
1. Assess your carpet
There are certain things that you should never clean with a steam cleaner, which is why you should always do your research when attempting to steam clean anything. In fact, it may be that you can't steam your carpet at all.
Matthew Harrison, cleaning expert at PriceYourJob.co.uk says, ‘Check that your carpet is suitable for steam cleaning. Some natural fibres, including sisal and jute, shouldn’t be cleaned in this way.’ And you need to be wary if you want to clean wool carpets, too.
‘Wool is usually fine, but check the care instructions for your carpet first. And bear in mind that wool fibres are more delicate and denser than synthetic fibres. So, they’ll need the right type of brush head and plenty of suction power to draw the moisture back out of the carpet.’
If your carpet is made from natural fibres that shouldn’t be steam cleaned, you’ll be better off using one of the best carpet cleaners to clean your carpets instead - like the VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Washer.
2. Choose the right model
If you don’t own a steam cleaner and you’re looking to buy one to steam clean your carpets, it’s important to note that not all steam cleaners are equal. While some are perfect for this cleaning task, others aren’t equipped with the right tools to get the job done and run the risk of damaging your carpets.
In fact, one of the biggest differences between a steam mop vs a steam cleaner is the fact that steam cleaners have so many attachments, nozzles, and additions that allow you to clean multiple areas of the house with the same appliance - including your carpets.
Atit Chopra, Product Development Director at Beldray, explains, ‘You should use an appropriate attachment for the steam cleaner, or it won’t glide over the carpet smoothly.’This is typically called a carpet glider, and a quick look at the specs of the product will tell you whether it comes with one.
A carpet glider attachment isn’t the only steam cleaning accessory you can use to your advantage though. You could also make the most of floor nozzles or upholstery attachments for a gentler clean. But still, you shouldn’t turn your steam cleaner on just yet.
3. Give it a vacuum
If you’re happy and confident that it’s possible to steam clean your carpets and you’ve got the right model and attachments for the job, you should then use one of the best vacuum cleaners to give it a vacuum before you move on to the next step.
‘When refreshing your carpets with steam, there are some things you should consider to achieve the best results. We would recommend that you vacuum your carpet first to remove any loose hair or dirt within the pile,’ explains Atit.
When vacuuming and steam cleaning your carpets, we’d also suggest moving furniture out of the way and, ideally, out of the room completely. This will also speed up the drying process after completing this cleaning task.
When you’ve done that, you can finally get your steam cleaner out of the cupboard.
4. Spot-clean any stains
If you’ve finished vacuuming and spotted any stains or marks, you can then use this opportunity to clean remove these stains from your carpet. This is particularly important in high-traffic areas, which not only get dirtier than other areas, but are also more noticeable.
And while a steam cleaner can potentially lift these stains from the fibres, experts would suggest spot-cleaning these stains before using your steam cleaner on the carpet. Generally, the best upholstery cleaners can help with this.
Matthew says, ‘Most of the time, you should be able to deep clean a carpet using the power of steam alone. But if you discover some old stains on your carpet, these will need treating first. Use a suitable spot cleaner or a mild soap solution and a sprinkle of bicarb to deal with the stains.’
Just remember the stain removal golden rules while you’re doing this, so you don’t make any mistakes.
5. Use the proper technique
While it’s not complicated, there is still a proper technique to use when steam cleaning carpets. And while you should clean in small sections at a time, you should also make sure you’re overlapping your strokes to ensure you’re steam cleaning every inch of the area.
However, steam cleaning your carpet does come with a warning, as you want to avoid over-wetting your carpet at all costs, as this can lead to all kinds of mould and mildew growth. And there's an easy way to do that.
To ensure you don’t oversaturate your carpet, move the steam cleaner over each area quickly before turning it off, allowing a few seconds for the steam to disappear, and then running the dry steam cleaner over it.
This will allow the dry steam cleaner to start evaporating any remaining moisture, to help speed up the drying process. You should also keep your windows and doors open, and you could even use one of the best dehumidifiers to get the job done, too.
6. Vacuum again
Steam cleaning doesn’t actually remove dirt and debris, but it does sanitise your carpets and loosen the debris - which means you need to finish by vacuuming your carpets when you’re done. However, you should only ever do this when you’re confident that your carpet is bone dry, as moisture is one of the many things you should never vacuum up.
This can also help to fluff up your carpet fibres if they’re looking a little lacklustre after the steam cleaning session, so your rooms should look good as new again. And when you’re done, you can start on the other things you didn’t know you could clean with a steam cleaner.
The best steam cleaners for carpets
Crowned the 'best overall' steam cleaner in our guide, this steam cleaner bagged itself a perfect score during testing. As well as offering a carpet glider for steam cleaning carpets, it also comes with a pop-out handheld for smaller steam cleaning tasks.
This is the steam cleaner I use to clean my own carpets, and it's incredibly lightweight and easy to use. It has an extremely quick heat-up time and offers up to 28 minutes of constant cleaning. The only downside is that it's just a steam mop, so it's just for your floors.
I've crowned this model the 'best for carpet' that we've tested, and it scored 4.5 stars out of 5 during testing. Unlike many other steam cleaners, this one even gives you the option to use detergent to give your carpets an even deeper clean.
FAQs
Can I clean my carpet with a steam cleaner?
Yes! Steam cleaning is one of the best ways to clean a carpet, and experts suggest doing this around once a year to extend the life of your carpet and keep it looking fresh.
However, it’s important to note that some carpets can’t be steam cleaned. These are usually carpets made from natural fibres, so do your research before whipping out your steam cleaner.
It’s also important to note that steam cleaning isn’t a substitute for vacuuming or spot-cleaning. You still need to keep on top of these tasks to maintain a clean and dirt-free carpet.
What do you spray on carpet before steam cleaning?
If you have stains on your carpet, it’s always a good idea to use a carpet stain remover to treat these stains before you start steam cleaning.
But you don’t have to use any cleaning solution before steam cleaning if you don’t have stains. The steam alone should be enough to clean them.
Not sure if a steam cleaner is right for you? Check out our steam cleaner vs carpet cleaner debate to figure out which one suits you (and your carpets) best.
