Should You Use OxiClean When Steam Cleaning Carpets?

If you've ever been faced with a stubborn stain on your carpet or upholstery, you've likely tried all sorts of stain removal products and methods, including OxiClean. OxiClean is a powerful powdered stain remover that does not contain chlorine bleach, unlike many of its counterparts and that can be applied directly to your carpets to resolve tough stains and help your carpet look and feel fresh and new.

While OxiClean is excellent for spot-treating stains, you should never put it into your steam-cleaning machine, no matter how much deep cleaning your carpet needs. Read on to find out how spot treating with OxiClean and steam cleaning with water can help make your carpets as fresh as possible!

1. Perform a Spot Test

Since you'll be using OxiClean on your carpet, you'll want to perform a spot-test to ensure there are no negative effects on the look and feel of the carpet. To perform a spot test, simply create your OxiClean solution by combining 1 ounce of OxiClean with 16 ounces of water and spray a small amount on an easy-to-hide area of your carpet. Areas that are under furniture are often a good choice for spot testing. Let the OxiClean soak in for one to five minutes and then examine the spot to ensure it still looks as fresh as it did before you applied the OxiClean.

2. Pretreat the Stain

If your aim is to clean one specific spot on your carpet, you'll probably want to pretreat the stain before you steam clean. Pretreating the stain allows the OxiClean more time to work and will likely make it easier for you to remove the stain on your first try. To pretreat, simply apply the solution you created in Step 1 and allow it to sit on the stain for one to five minutes.

3. Blot the Stain With a Dry Cloth

Once the stain has had a chance to soak in the OxiClean solution, gently blot the area with a clean white towel. Avoid scrubbing roughly, as you don't want to drive the stain deeper into the fibers of the carpet. Blot the area until you have soaked up most of the OxiClean. If the area is particularly large, you may want to replace your towel with a dry one halfway through or whenever your first one becomes saturated.

4. Prepare the Steam Cleaner

After spot treating the stain, prepare the steam cleaner to go the extra mile. Add hot water to the appropriate compartment of your steam cleaner and close and lock the lid. Resist the urge to add OxiClean to your steam cleaner, as it may damage the machine, your carpet, or both since most steam-cleaning machines are meant to be used with only water.

5. Let Your Steam Cleaner Work Its Magic

Follow your specific machine's instructions as you gently work your steam cleaner back and forth over the entire area you wish to clean. When you're finished, simply let your carpet air-dry.