Steam cleaning is something you get done only occasionally, and it can be hard work, and a more diligent effort can definitely lead to cleaner, brighter and fresher floors, rugs and carpeted staircases. The question is, should you tip them? We contacted several cleaners, including the national office for Sears steam cleaning. The answer we get is thattipping is not required, but tips usually can be accepted if the customer chooses to do so. We recommend that you tip only if you feel that the job was particularly difficult or well-done. Did the cleaner need to run their equipment across staircases and through windows? Did they make an extra effort to do a good job? If you do choose to tip, we've heard that 10-15% would be fairly standard, or $10-$20 for a medium-sized $100-$200 job. Whether you choose to give a monetary tip or not , we consistently hear that a nice way to show your appreciation for solid work is with a sincere thank you or a note of appreciation. Click here to shop our Special Offers |

Please contact Hoover Customer Support by phone or email for assistance with finding products and parts & accessories. Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST Or, you may try our Service Center Locator to find help near you! Quick Tip: Clean Carpet Stains with a Clothes Iron Take a cue from professional carpet cleaners and harness the power of steam to remove even months-old stains that have firmly set in. You know and loathe the traditional way to clean a carpet. But however laborious it may be, there’s no doubt that blotting the stain can be effective—so long as you act immediately, before the stain has the chance to set in. What happens, though, if you fail to notice the stain right away? How do you remove it days, weeks, or even months after the fact? One option is to shell out for professional cleaning. Another, less-discussed method involves less hassle and costs nothing at all. In a spray bottle, mix together a solution of vinegar (1 part) and water (3 parts).

Alternatively, if you’re convinced of the need for extra firepower, combine 1 part clear ammonia with 3 parts hot water. Once ready, liberally spritz the entire stained area and leave it to sit for several minutes.best rated bagless vacuum cleaners Now lay an old, light-colored towel over the stain. carpet cleaning equipment used truck mountSince the iron is going to transfer the stain to the fabric of the towel, don’t use one of your favorites! vacuum cleaner sale gold coastMeanwhile, a light color makes it easy to discern whether or not the method has worked for you. best steam floor cleaner for tile floors

The dirtier your towel, the cleaner your carpet. With your iron to its highest steam setting, apply it directly to the towel, moving it back and forth over the stained area briefly, for about ten seconds. As you do so, expect the iron to hiss and release steam. Place the iron aside, lift up the towel, and look: You should now see the stain on the towel. If a mark remains on the carpet, lay the towel back down, being careful to place a clean section of the fabric over the stain. Again, apply the iron directly to the carpet for about ten seconds. With additional attempts, the stain ought to transfer, gradually and completely, from the carpet to the towel. Once you’re satisfied, let the carpet air-dry. Finish by vacuuming the carpet to restore its fluff. As you work, take pains not to allow the iron to come into contact with the carpet (as opposed to the towel). The heat of the appliance can singe or melt the carpet fibers, whether natural or synthetic.If you rent a steam or hot water extraction carpet cleaner you may be tempted to buy the expensive branded cleaning solutions offered by the rental company but white vinegar also works quite well and for a fraction of the cost.

Household weblog Hostess with the Motzes used a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water with a few optional drops of lavender essential oil to counteract the odor of vinegar (liquid fabric softener can also be used for this purpose) in a Rug Doctor cleaner with no problems. At first she was concerned with damaging the cleaner but their website simply states that other products aren't recommended because they don't clean as well as the official commercial product.After caring for my mother-in-law's not-quite-housebroken puppy for a week we had a few stains in the front room of our house that didn't want to come out with regular spray stain removers. We decided to rent a Rug Doctor hot water extraction cleaner since we haven't done a deep cleaning of the carpets since we bought our home. When you rent one of these machines it is customary to also buy the branded cleaning solutions and most people never think about alternatives mostly for fear of damaging the cleaner. We bought the cleaners that time because we had two coupons that combined to make them free with the rental but next time we rent one of these cleaners you can bet I'll try the vinegar method.

Using Vinegar in a Rug Doctor to Clean Carpets | Hostess with the MotzesWe all vacuums our carpets, but not everyone thinks about giving them a good wash now and then. In fact, this chore is normally only ever thought about when you move into a new property (and you’re keeping the carpet), or if you have a rental property and it needs a deep clean once the latest tenants have vacated. Before I get into the actual guide on choosing a carpet cleaner, I feel it’s necessary to tell you exactly what’s hiding in those fibers, and it doesn’t matter if you have a luxurious deep pile that cost a lot of money, or a budget type carpet. They all have “fibers” and this is where all sorts of unhealthy bugs can hide.Every-time you walk across a carpet whether it’s in bare feet, slippers or shoes, you’re grinding surface dirt deeper into the pile. Add to this the various pollutants that hang about in the air like cigarette smoke, dust and various chemicals it doesn’t bear thinking about what the deeper fibers look like in your carpet.

Sure, vacuuming will help as long as you do it regularly but this only deals with loose dirt and unless you’re prepared to spend a good deal of money, there are few models of vacuum cleaner on the market that will keep airborne particles at bay. So, now you know the importance of making sure you clean your carpet I’ve taken the liberty of giving you a few tips on what to look for when you’re on the market for a carpet cleaner. As you probably know, my website champions the power of steam when it comes to cleaning your carpets, and there are a couple of reasons for this. One is that steam is very hot and will kill off a good number of bacteria that hides in your carpet. In fact, many of my reviews state that close to 100% of allergy inducing bugs like dust mites will be a thing of the past. The second reason for choosing a steam carpet cleaner is the fact that it will help vastly reduce the amount of drying time when you’ve finished washing your carpet (or rugs), and this helps prevent mold and mildew from forming which can cause respiratory problems, or set off allergies.

I’m more aware than most how chemicals can affect the air you breathe, and again this could be the reason why people in your home have allergy flare-ups. Whilst you cannot get away from the fact that chemicals are needed when cleaning your carpet, it’s important to choose a cleaner that will thoroughly rinse the fibers once you’ve washed them so make sure this option is available to you if you’re worried about chemical residue being left behind. Whilst I recommend (as many manufacturers do) that you clean your carpets at least twice a year, you don’t want to spend all day doing it. So, when you’re looking for a carpet cleaner take into account the following. Before you dive straight in and order a carpet cleaner because it looks “cool” and the price is something you can’t resist, make sure you think about what suits your needs. Not all carpet cleaners are created equal. As mentioned, consider how large the area you have is, think about the type of carpet you have and what model will suit it best and most importantly how versatile it is.