Steam Vac Help Please :)

[gkids09]

One of my new employees (LOVE her, by the way...) has offered me her steam vac (not because she thinks the floors are filthy, but because I was vacuuming yesterday and mentioned that it would be nice to have the carpet cleaned). I had no idea she had one..

Anyway, she taught me how to use it today, but I'll have to buy the soap because she ran out when she cleaned hers the other day. SO I am wondering...Do I have to go out and buy the soap for a one time use? Or is there something else I can mix with the water that works just as well?

I think there was a thread on this, or something similar a while back, but maybe that was a different forum? Anyway, if you have any suggestions, let me know! If I need to buy the soap, obviously I will..I just thought if there was a cheaper, easier way with household stuff that works just as well, I might as well do that.

Thanks!!

[Unregistered]

My friend who had one would actually use laundry soap or dish soap. Just make sure you go over it real well do get everything up out of the carpet or it will have a weird feel to it. I used Oxie Clean the last time and it worked wonders! So that is what I'm going to be using from now on.

[Michael]

Some links that may have the info you needed: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...carpet+cleaner

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23845

[MyAngels]

My friend who had one would actually use laundry soap or dish soap. Just make sure you go over it real well do get everything up out of the carpet or it will have a weird feel to it. I used Oxie Clean the last time and it worked wonders! So that is what I'm going to be using from now on.

I wouldn't use either laundry or dish soap - it may seem clean, but it actually attracts more dirt and you end up cleaning all the time, also it foams something awful and is almost impossible to get it out of the carpet with a home machine (can you tell I tried this once :.

I've heard of people using vinegar, but have never tried it. The new concentrated cleaning solutions really aren't too terribly expensive, since they're concentrated. I usually use the brand with the oxi clean (maybe Resolve) in it, and it works pretty well.

[Unregistered]

Some machines emphasize using the correct cleaner, so you may want to ask the owner what her preference is. I lent mine out once and that person trashed it by using it incorrectly, you would hate to accidentally do that.

[Abigail]

I would look up her actual machine and see what cleaning solution is recommended. I don't know if it ruins the machine, but I always follow the instructions. It's more expensive to rent a machine though so I wouldn't mind paying out of pocket for the solution and keep any solution that is left over for a future use or split the cost with her based on what is left in the bottle for her personal use.

If you didn't want to use anything, I would do just hot/warm water. I did that last week at home because I ran out of solution and was doing "deep vacuuming" when I move most of the furniture out of the room so I figured why not shampoo it since it's all moved! Using just warm water got out ALL the stains! I pre-sprayed only a section of the carpet that I knew cats got kitty litter on since it's near their litter box and let it sit a few minutes and used water on it like the rest of the carpet. Works just fine if you ask me.

[Kaddidle Care]

I wouldn't use the laundry or dish soap either. The oxyclean is probably a good option but I wouldn't know what percentage to use. Just make sure you disolve it well. I think I'll try that next time I use mine. Unfortunately it's an OLD Bissell and they no longer carry the little round filter part that has dry rotted and disintigrated. Still waiting for hubby to make me one.

Just make sure you follow the directions for cleaning the unit afterwards. I had someone borrow mine and they left a ton of dog hair in the hose when they returned it. Disgusting! Needless to say I didn't let them borrow it again.

[Evansmom]

vinegar. We use vinegar in ours, won't clog the lines so shouldn't be a problem. Vinegar is a natural germ killer. It always makes the place smell like easter eggs for a bit but it airs really quickly. Also just hot water works really good too. And then there is no left over soap residue which if left on the carpet will actually act like a dirt magnet and the carpet will look dirty much faster which totally undermines your hard work.

[mac60]

I use white vinegar, actually used it yesterday to shampoo a whole room after we scraped the ceiling off. Vinegar will take the vomit smell out of carpet, may have to do clean it 3 or 4 times to get the result you want, it doesn't leave that film behind that the other stuff does.

[TSDaycare]

I would go buy a bottle of the solution the cleaner recommends, then give mom the rest back that you haven't used- kinda as a "thank you" for letting you borrow it....