How To Clean; Before You Begin; After Cleaning - Hoover F5871 Owner's Manual

2-17
UNLOCK
LOCK
Raise handle to carrying position
(straight up) to unlock tank from base of
carpet cleaner. Lift tank from carpet
cleaner and carry it to a sink or drain.

3. How to clean

Before you begin

cleaning
a. Vacuum thoroughly - For carpet, use
a vacuum cleaner with an agitator for
best results. Vacuum upholstery with a
vacuum cleaner with cleaning tool
attachments. Use a crevice tool to reach
into tufts and folds. Do not use the
SteamVac™ carpet cleaner as a dry
vacuum cleaner.
b. For upholstery, check cleaning code
- Use your HOOVER SteamVac™ carpet
cleaner only if the upholstery fabric is
marked with a "W" (for "wet" clean) or
"S/W" (for "solvent/dry" or "wet" clean).
Do not clean fabric marked "S" ("sol-
vent/dry" clean only). If your upholstery
does not have a code, seek professional
assistance.
c. Test for colorfastness - Mix detergent
and water according to the instructions under
"Fill clean solution tank", Figs. 2-8 to 2-16.

After cleaning

a. Allow carpet or upholstery to dry. To
help prevent matting and resoiling the
carpet, keep children and pets away
from surface until it is completely dry. If
it is necessary to walk on damp car-
pet, place towels or white cloths on the
traffic areas.
If furniture must be replaced before the
carpet is dry, use plastic or aluminum
foil pads under legs of furniture so metal
slides or wood finishes will not stain the
carpet.
b. If desired, the carpet may be rinsed.
Rinsing is not necessary for cleaning,
but it may Improve the surface's appear-
ance after it is dry.
If rinsing is desired, be careful not to
over-wet the carpet or upholstery.
2-18
To remove tank lid, lower handle com-
pletely toward back of tank and lift off
lid.
Empty the tank and reposition the lid.
Wet a white absorbent cloth with the solution.
In a small, hidden area, gently rub the surface
with the dampened cloth. Wait ten minutes
and check for color removal or bleed with
white paper towel or cloth. If surface has
more than one color, check all colors.
d. When cleaning entire floor, move
furniture out of area to be cleaned
(may not be necessary if only high traffic
areas are to be cleaned). For furniture
too heavy to move, place aluminum foil
or wax paper under legs. This will pre-
vent wood finishes from staining carpet.
Pin up furniture skirts and draperies.
e. Pretreat spots and heavy traffic
areas with HOOVER Spot & Stain
®
Spray Cleaner*- Test Spot & Stain Spray
Cleaner for colorfastness by first spray-
ing it on a hidden area; wait ten minutes
and blot with white paper towels or cloth.
If no color change is visible, spray Spot &
Stain Spray Cleaner onto spots and traffic
areas. Wait at least ten minutes. Use your
SteamVac™ carpet cleaner to pick up Spot
& Stain Spray Cleaner and spot. Repeat until
spot is removed; carefully scrub with a
household scrub brush if necessary.
Allow time for carpet or upholstery to
dry completely between cleaning and
rinsing. To rinse, follow the same proce-
dure for cleaning only using hot tap
water with no detergent in the upper
clean solution tank.
c. Empty tanks, rinse with clear water
and let air dry. Rinse the solution tank
cap and recovery tank lid and let air dry.
3-1
d. Remove lint from filter screen located
inside recovery tank.
For full suction, it is important that
the recovery tank lid is properly
secured before cleaning.
Raise tank handle to carrying position to
place it into base of cleaner. Move han-
dle completely forward to lock tank into
place (see Fig. 2-17).
Raise handle of carpet cleaner to
upright position and reposition upper
clean solution tank.
Do not saturate carpet or upholstery with
PreCleaner.
If you do not have access to the Spot
& Stain Spray Cleaner, double the
amount of HOOVER Detergent (use 2
capfuls or 10 oz. per 1 gallon) in the
clean solution tank.
No cleaning solution removes all stains from
all carpets. Stain removal varies with the
type of spill, time elapsed before removal,
carpet material, and carpet type.
f. To prevent staining, use plastic or alu-
minum foil to protect wood or metal sur-
faces from possible water spray.
g. To avoid wetting and possible damage
to wood floors underneath area rugs/car-
pet, either move area rugs/ carpet to a non-
wood bare floor surface or place waterproof
material (e.g. plastic) underneath them
before cleaning.
See pages 10-13 for instructions on various
cleaning tasks.
*Available at additional cost if not included
with your model.
e. If desired, vacuum thoroughly after
carpet has completely dried. This will
help reduce any shading left by the car-
pet cleaner's brushes.
To clean nozzle
If lint or other debris becomes lodged in
nozzle, do not attempt to remove
nozzle cover.
Pour one to two cups of clear water on a
non-carpeted floor. Do not pour water
onto a wood floor.
Pick up water with your SteamVac™
carpet cleaner. Repeat as necessary
until debris is flushed out of nozzle.
Continued §
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