Cleaning textile floor coverings
Patent Information
- Application Number
- AU2025224514
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AU · AU
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-02-24
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-08
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
comfortable to walk on. They are used particularly indoors. They are also rough and have gaps. Unlike smooth floor coverings, textile floor coverings can absorb larger amounts of dirt without people walking over them perceiving this. Well-known textile floor coverings are carpets and carpeting. The invention is particularly suitable for cleaning floor coverings with an area of more than 1.5 m2. According to the invention, textile floor coverings of different types and properties can be cleaned. Preferred are carpets made of synthetic fibers, either with open pile made of fibers or fibers guided in loops. Examples of synthetic carpets are velour carpets. Depending on the type of premises in which the floor coverings are laid and the degree of wear, different fiber materials and fiber lengths are used. According to tests to date, the invention is particularly suitable for synthetic fiber carpets with a pile height of between 1 and 15 mm. The device according to the invention is particularly well suited for the rapid yet intensive cleaning of larger areas, such as exist in public buildings. With a single device according to the invention having a working width of 20 cm, a carpet with an area of 1 m2 can be cleaned in two minutes. Correspondingly, with a device having a working width of 1 m, an area of 5 m2 can be cleaned in two minutes. An entrance area of 150 m2 area in a hotel could thus be intensively cleaned in approx. 60 minutes. Cleaning textile floor coverings serves to remove solid or liquid dirt that has accumulated over time in the floor covering, especially in its gaps. Common dirt contains, for example, particles such as sand or dust, or liquids or dried liquids such as beverage and food residues, including fats. The dirt can be present loosely in the floor covering or bound to the textile fibers. The cleaning takes place on and from the top side of the textile floor covering, the pile side, by moving the device according to the invention over it. Therefore, the floor coverings can remain in their original place on the floor during cleaning. An aqueous cleaning agent is a liquid containing water and to which further substances are admixed, dissolved, emulsified, or suspended. Preferably it is a liquid solution. The cleaning agent serves to detach dirt from the textile floor covering. For this purpose, the floor covering is moistened with the cleaning agent and, for the most intensive possible cleaning, worked into the floor covering. During an exposure time, dirt that is soluble in the cleaning fluid or physically or adsorptively bound dissolves from the floor covering and can subsequently be removed from the floor covering. Aqueous cleaning agents are described in the prior art. These essentially contain surfactants, salts of acids, such as phosphates and citrates, or / and enzymes. However, these have the disadvantage that they are non-volatile and remain in non-negligible quantities even after removal of the majority of the soiled cleaning agent in the floor covering. In a special aspect of the invention, the aqueous cleaning agent is a cleaning agent without non-volatile components or with a content of non-volatile components of less than 1 wt.%. These non-volatile components can serve, for example, to fulfill non-cleaning purposes, such as odorization. Substantive non-volatile components are defined as substances with an evaporation rate (measured according to DIN 53170) of more than 500. Preferably, the cleaning agents according to the invention contain a cleaning-active content of volatile solvents, preferably volatile organic solvents. Volatile solvents are solvents with an evaporation rate (measured according to DIN 53170) of less than 80, preferably less than 50, particularly preferably less than 33. Such volatile solvents are in particular water-soluble C1-C5 alcohols. The cleaningactive content of volatile solvent is in particular up to 50 wt.%. Particularly suitable cleaning agents are explained in more detail below in connection with a method according to the invention. In addition to the aforementioned units dispensing unit, steam generation unit, and hot gas outlet unit, the device according to the invention comprises further units that are required for carrying out the cleaning of the textile floor covering and may feature additional units that support cleaning or enable or facilitate use of the device. Such units are described in more detail below. A unit is understood to be a structural component of a device with a specific function. The device according to the invention preferably has a housing in which these units are accommodated and an operating element, for example a handle, with which the units can be activated and by which the device can be moved over the floor covering. In the housing, the units are preferably movably mounted; in particular, one or more units in the housing can be displaced vertically relative to others in order to be moved toward or away from the floor covering, i.e. lowered onto the floor covering or raised from the floor covering. The device further has rollers or wheels on which the device with its units can be moved horizontally over and on the floor covering in a raised or lowered state. The purpose of the unit for dispensing the aqueous cleaning agent is to moisten the textile floor covering prior to treatment. Uniform moistening is desired. Suitable dispensing units therefore contain one or more nozzles that can be directed onto the floor covering and with which the cleaning agent is sprayed as uniformly as possible onto the floor covering. Such units are known from the prior art. The dispensing unit is positioned in the device according to the invention such that it can be guided over the floor covering to be cleaned. To ensure that the applied cleaning agent actually reaches the floor covering, the dispensing unit should be spatially separated from units for extraction, for example by skirts extending down to the floor covering and surrounding the dispensing unit or the extraction unit. Alternatively or additionally, the dispensing unit in the form of one or more nozzles can be positioned outside the device housing, for example in front of or next to the housing. Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises a storage container for the cleaning agent. Its size and capacity are measured by the duration for which the device is to be operated without refilling the cleaning agent, and the consumption quantity. If several cleaning agents are to be used, several storage containers can also be present. If the cleaning agent consists of several components, these can also be stored in separate storage containers and mixed together only shortly before use. This allows an adapted mixing ratio of the components to be set. If the cleaning agent or its components are temperature-sensitive, or at high ambient temperatures, the storage container can be thermally insulated or / and cooled, particularly against units with elevated temperatures. The dispensing unit further optionally has a wetting unit for mechanical distribution of the cleaning agent in the floor covering. Suitable for this is the use of one or more coarser rotating or vibrating bodies adapted to the nature of the floor covering, which have the task of wetting the soiled fibers with the cleaning agent in depth over the entire covered area and releasing existing adhesions, preferably mechanically, to conserve resources. These can be rotatable about an axis parallel or perpendicular to the floor covering plane. Rotating bodies in the form of brushes are known from the prior art. Suitable for incorporation are, for example, brush rollers with bristles made of plastic, as in the device 'Lavor Sprinter' from the company Lavorwash. Devices with brush incorporation are less preferred for floor coverings with fibers that tend to form more fluff, such as coverings made of virgin wool, since they clog up faster and the mechanical cleaning effect diminishes faster. In one aspect of the invention, the dispensing unit is mounted in a height-adjustable manner in the housing so that it can be raised from the floor covering, does not touch the floor covering, and thus offers no frictional resistance during other processing steps when moving the device over the floor covering. Details of a vertical movement unit suitable for this are described further below. The device according to the invention further optionally comprises an incorporation unit with one or more softer or bristle-free rotating or vibrating bodies for intensive processing of the wetted surface of the floor covering and for loosening the dirt. Suitable for this is, for example, a roller covered with a microfiber cover fitted with outwardly projecting textile threads. In a simple form, the cover consists of the material of a car wash mitt. Loosening the dirt from the fiber does not necessarily lead to removal of the dirt, since the materials of the brushes or surfaces absorb practically no dirt when wet. The degree of moistening and the time of incorporation can vary depending on the carpet type and the risk of fluff loss during mechanical processing. In the most favorable case, more intensive processing can compensate for lower moistening, leading to improved resource conservation with earlier walkability. In one aspect of the invention, the incorporation unit is height-adjustable so that when not in use it can be raised from the floor covering, thus does not touch the floor covering and offers no frictional resistance during movement of the device over the floor covering in other processing steps. Dispensing unit and incorporation unit are always separate from each other. Incorporation unit and hot gas outlet unit can be present separately from each other or combined in a simple embodiment. Advantageous is accommodating the units in a part of the device housing that is structurally separate from the other units in the housing, but connected to them. In a simple embodiment, the cleaning agent is sprayed onto a rotating body (brush roller) and dispensed by it into the fibers of the floor covering, then distributed and worked in by vibration by the combined incorporation and hot gas outlet unit, thereby loosening the dirt. In the event that both a dispensing unit and an incorporation unit are present, these can be activated together or separately using a control system, for example switched on and off, or adjusted in height. In the case of two rotating bodies, these can be operated, for example, at different rotational speeds or directions in order to cause different processing intensities. In terms of the device aspect of the invention, the device according to the invention has a design of a gas outlet unit, namely a hot gas outlet unit. As an essential component, it has a unit with a hot gas-permeable textile movable over the textile floor covering, preferably in the form of a so-called pad. This hot gas outlet unit has two functions: On the one hand it serves to apply hot gas through the pad onto and into the wetted and prepared floor covering, on the other hand to absorb dirt onto the pad. Pads for absorbing dirt are known from the prior art. On the other hand, according to the invention the pad is sufficiently permeable to hot gas. For this purpose, the pad has a plurality of pores through which the hot gas can penetrate the pad. Preferably it is a textile fabric with fringes on the side of the pad facing the textile floor covering. Suitable textiles (also those from the prior art) are commercially available, e.g. known for the 'steam mop' from manufacturer Vileda, or can be determined by a person skilled in the art through simple tests. It is important that the amount of hot gas penetrating the pad is sufficient to ensure adequate steaming of the part of the floor covering lying under the pad. Control variables for the permeability of the pad are in particular the pore size of the pad, the applied pressure, and the mechanical strength of the pad. Suitable hot gases within the meaning of the invention are superheated water vapor or mixtures of water vapor with other gases, for example air, hereinafter referred to as diluted water vapor or unsaturated water vapor. The amount of hot gas flowing through the pad in the tests carried out at a pressure between 7.7 bar and 8 bar was measured as pulsating from 500 g / min to 600 g / min at maximum bursts at 155 g / min to 180 g / min continuous hot gas discharge quantity between maximum bursts. The hot gas outlet unit, both in its combined variant with the incorporation unit and independently, is height-adjustable in the housing so that it makes contact with the carpet flooring only when activated via the control unit for hot gas dispensing and absorbing the loosened dirt or previously for incorporation by means of vibration in the combined variant. Particularly suitable as pads are textiles that have a large surface area for absorbing dirt. Here materials known from the prior art for steam mops are suitable. Suitable pads generally consist of microfiber cloths on which there are textile threads made of microfibers. The textile threads are flexible and differ from plastic bristles of brush rollers in that they do not elastically return to their original shape after deformation. The length of these textile threads can be between 0.2 and 2 cm. They usually have a thickness of between 1 and 5 mm. Commercially available mops have textile threads with a length of approx. 1 cm. The density of the textile threads on the microfiber carrier is approximately between 5 and 20 textile threads per cm2. The pad is attached near the floor covering to be cleaned, preferably on the underside of the hot gas outlet unit and device, so that the textile threads can point in the direction of the textile floor covering. It is attached such that the textile threads can be brought into contact with the floor covering. In a first embodiment, the pad is stretched onto a brush roller, as is also used for working in the cleaning agent. Moving the brush roller in a lowered position on the floor covering, for example by turning, simultaneously allows mechanical loosening of the floor covering during application of hot gas. Preferably, however, it is attached in the device such that the textile threads of the pad lie flat on the floor covering during operation of the unit in the lowered position. The pad can be attached in various ways to the underside of the unit facing toward the floor covering. The hot gas outlet unit can have a motor for generating vibration and a vertical movement unit with which the pad can be actively or passively lowered in the housing onto the floor covering. In order for the pad to have a sufficient service life, it should be heat-resistant for the duration of use in the temperature range of the hot gas passed through. In a preferred embodiment of the hot gas outlet unit, the pad is pulled onto a body that in the initial state of the steaming process rests on the surface of the floor covering to be steamed. The body is preferably movably mounted and heavy enough that when hot gas is applied, it lifts like a steam cushion due to the pressure exerted through the pad onto the floor covering, so that the hot gas outlet unit can be moved easily, almost weightlessly, across the textile floor covering by pulling and pushing. The body can also be a horizontally and vertically movable vibrating body. In one aspect of the invention, the hot gas outlet unit is height-adjustable so that it can be raised from the floor covering and no longer touches the floor covering, thus offering no frictional resistance when moving the device over the floor covering during other processing steps. The pads are attached in the unit such that they can be replaced if desired or upon exhaustion of their dirt absorption capacity. This can be achieved by known measures, for example by elastic tensioning or by means of springs or clamps. In the simple embodiment with combined incorporation and hot gas outlet unit, absolute adhesion of the pad to the unit should be ensured to enable vibration. In other embodiments with separate units for hot gas outlet and incorporation, alternatively the pad serving here only for dirt absorption and not used for vibration for incorporation can be attached in forms that do not have to satisfy the increased adhesion requirements during vibration, e.g. it can also be pulled onto a supply roll from which it is moved further, for example via rollers, on the body so that fresh textile can be made available if needed. Thus the pad can be contained, for example, in a cassette in which the pad can be moved further, automatically or manually, to provide a fresh, unsoiled part of the pad and which can simply be replaced when the dirt absorption capacity of the entire pad is exhausted. Contactless further transport of the pad has the advantage that the cleaning process does not need to be interrupted for cooling the pad, which is hot from previous steaming. Particularly suitable are pads made of microfibers, as known from mops. These consist of very fine textile threads and can absorb dirt particles well. The hot gas outlet unit can have additional functions. For example, it can also be used for working in the cleaning fluid if it has built-in components suitable for this, such as rotating or vibrating bodies. These are then preferably located on the side of the textile / pad facing away from the floor covering and facing the steam space. For working in the cleaning fluid, the rotating or vibrating bodies can be set in motion before or during application of hot gas. The textile is thereby also moved and ensures working of the cleaning agent into the floor covering and detachment of dirt in the floor covering. If the movement occurs during application of hot gas and the pad is in contact with the floor covering, the hot gas can be better distributed in the floor covering and absorb and carry away dirt and cleaning agent. Moving the pad and applying hot gas can also occur alternately and several times in succession. Another essential component of the device according to the invention is a unit for generating water vapor (steam generator or steam generation unit). The generated water vapor serves either directly as hot gas or for generating hot gas. Steam generators are known for other purposes, for example for steam cleaning surfaces. Their capacity must be dimensioned such that the generated steam suffices for applying hot gas to the pad and for intended drying of the floor covering. Therefore, the required performance capability of the steam generation unit depends on the area of the pad, its permeability to hot gas, the desired speed of movement over the floor covering, and the desired degree of drying of the floor covering. This can be determined using simple manual tests. For a pad area of 300 cm2 and a gas flow of around 200 g / min, an electric steam generator with a power of 2500 W has proven sufficient. This makes it possible to generate pressures of between 5 and 10 bar. Such steam generators are known, for example, from steam irons or steam cleaners. Steam generation preferably takes place depending on the processing state of cleaning and movement of the device. For this purpose, operators can start steam generation manually or it can be controlled independently by a microcomputer. For energy-saving use, the steam generation unit can be thermally insulated. The steam generation unit is preferably accommodated in the housing of the device and operated electrically. It is connected via a steam pressure line and a controlled valve to the space of the pad facing away from the floor covering, so that when the valve is opened, the generated hot gas can emerge through the pad onto the floor covering. Preferably, the device according to the invention has a storage container for water, which is heated in the steam generation unit and converted into steam. The size of the storage container depends on the desired operating time of the device without refilling. The storage container is connected via a controlled metering pump to the steam generation unit. The water vapor generated in the steam generation unit can be made available to the hot gas outlet unit directly as superheated water vapor or, after mixing with other gases, preferably air, as diluted water vapor. With direct use of water vapor, the device according to the invention preferably has a steam generation unit suitable for generating superheated water vapor. This must be capable of generating water vapor with a pressure of between 5 and 10 bar, for example 7.7 bar. The valve for opening the steam pressure line from the steam generator to the space behind the pad is controlled such that the superheated water vapor can escape explosively in bursts from the steam generator and be applied through the pad onto the floor covering. The control system ensures that the valve is closed again as soon as the overpressure is substantially dissipated. The valve opening time is therefore expediently between 0.2 and 2 seconds, preferably between 0.5 and 1 second. The valve is kept closed until sufficient overpressure has built up again. The closure time is therefore dependent on the steam generation performance of the steam generator and is expediently between 0.5 and 10, preferably between 1 and 5 seconds. As soon as sufficient overpressure exists, the next steam pressure burst can occur. These steps can be repeated until the desired cleaning is achieved. The control system can also be coupled with movement of the device so that new floor covering to be treated is covered by each burst of steam. In the event that the hot gas is hot gas not saturated with water vapor (unsaturated water vapor), gas, preferably air, is admixed to the water vapor generated in the steam generation unit before application to the floor covering. For this purpose, the device preferably has a mixing valve with which air is admixed to the water vapor generated in the steam generator. In order to reach the required temperature in the unsaturated hot gas, there are several possibilities. Either the supplied air is heated so that mixing together with the generated steam results in the desired final temperature, or the hot gas is subsequently brought to temperature, for example via an electrical controlled heater. The latter option allows a more precise setting of the temperature of the hot gas, which is important, for example, for sensitive floor coverings that cannot tolerate gas at a temperature of 100°C. In the embodiment of the invention with diluted water vapor as hot gas, the control system is preferably set such that a continuous stream of hot gas is made available. Between the embodiment with superheated water vapor and the embodiment with unsaturated water vapor as hot gas, mixed forms are possible, for example with unsaturated, superheated water vapor as hot gas, or by controlling both embodiments sequentially. Furthermore, it is possible to realize both embodiments with continuous or intermittent hot gas flow. The hot gas is supplied in the space behind the pad, from which it is conveyed through the pad. The hot gas is preferably under pressure for this purpose, which is generated by the steam generation unit. By means of the saturation level, pressure, burst frequency, quantity, and temperature of the hot gas, the drying speed of the floor covering can also be set. The lower the saturation level upon application of hot gas, the more liquid, e.g. water, can pass from the floor covering into the gas during exposure to the gas and be carried away, and the faster the drying. The greater the pressure, the more dirt and cleaning fluid the hot gas stream can absorb from the floor covering. This in turn has a positive effect on possible processing speed during cleaning and walkability of the floor covering. By increasing the temperature of the gas, drying can also be additionally accelerated. The device according to the invention can further optionally contain a dry vacuum unit that can be used before dispensing of the cleaning agent has taken place. This allows pre-cleaning to take place on floor coverings heavily contaminated by dry and mechanically loose dirt, thereby saving energy and cleaning agent. Suitable units are known from the prior art for so-called vacuum cleaners. The device according to the invention further advantageously or also for reasons of occupational safety comprises an extraction unit with which hot gas and cleaning fluid with dirt dissolved from the floor covering can be extracted. This is particularly preferred for alcohol-containing cleaning agents if the alcohols are not to reach the environment. Preferably this unit lies near the hot gas outlet unit and is structurally separated from the unit for dispensing the cleaning agent, for example by skirts or by control system, so that when moving the device over the floor covering mainly the dirt-laden hot gas is extracted. For this purpose, extraction nozzles are preferably attached laterally on the device or on the side facing away from the dispensing unit. For cleaning a floor covering requiring care, the device according to the invention can further optionally contain a unit for applying caring or impregnating substances. Application occurs, for example, by applying suitable compositions onto the floor covering. When using alcohol-containing cleaning agents, using a lanolin-containing care product to replace wool fat removed during cleaning has proven advantageous for compensation. In a particularly environmentally friendly embodiment, the device according to the invention further has a condensing unit for the extracted hot gas with a collection container for the condensate. Here the hot gas is cooled in a known manner. The condensate can then be properly disposed of or recycled. Optionally, the condensing unit can also contain means for prior removal of entrained dirt, for example a filter or a centrifuge. The purpose of the condensing unit is to prevent the environment from being burdened with ingredients of the cleaning agent and dirt contained therein dissolved from the floor covering, as well as supplied water vapor. In this embodiment, the device can also be operated in public without noticeable environmental burden. Escape of alcohol from the floor covering into the environment can be reduced even further by cooling the storage vessel for alcohol or / and for the alcohol-containing cleaning agent. This reduces the vapor pressure of the alcohol from application of the cleaning agent to application of hot gas. The more it is cooled, the more vapor pressure is reduced. Cooling to a temperature between 0°C and 15°C, preferably between 2°C and 5°C, is sufficient for this purpose. The device according to the invention can therefore have a cooling unit for the cleaning agent or its components. The device according to the invention can advantageously be operated electrically. Electric motors can serve on the one hand to operate the included units, but also to propel the device on the floor covering. The housing of the device is conveniently mounted on wheels or rollers so that it can be moved easily horizontally over the floor covering. The device according to the invention is moved over the floor covering for cleaning the floor covering, so that the units are guided together over the floor covering and cleaning takes place exclusively from the pile side of the textile floor covering. By the amount of cleaning agent applied, the penetration depth of the floor covering can thus be set. Preferably first the dispensing unit, if desired the wetting unit and incorporation unit, thereafter the hot gas outlet unit and if desired the extraction unit are guided over the part of the floor covering to be processed. If cleaning was not yet complete, the device can be guided over the floor covering again. In the simplest case, the process is repeated in the same order. However, it is also possible to return the device over the already cleaned floor covering without activating the units and thereafter pass over the already processed spot again in the previous order with activated units. It is further possible, during the second pass over the spot, to no longer activate the dispensing unit and activate only the hot gas outlet unit and if desired the other units. Thereby a particularly thorough removal of dirt and remaining cleaning agent can be achieved. The speed of movement is adapted to the type of floor covering, the desired degree of cleaning, the amount of cleaning agent to be used per unit area, and the intensity of processing. For smaller areas, the device can have a shape similar to a classic handheld vacuum cleaner (e.g. Vorwerk or Hoover makes), for medium areas the shape and size of a standard cylinder vacuum cleaner or floor cleaner with a handle, and for large areas devices with a seat for the operator are possible. The sequence of individual work steps of the method according to the invention is advantageously regulated via a control unit. Control can occur manually, semi-automatically, or automatically. Such control systems are known in principle and can be programmed accordingly on the basis of the described work steps. Preferably, the control system is designed such that for a specific partial area of the floor covering the step of dispensing the cleaning agent is initialized before the step of steaming. For controlling the hot gas outlet through the pad, on the one hand the steam generation unit must be initialized, but on the other hand also the valve for releasing hot gas into the hot gas outlet unit must be initialized. Temperature and pressure measuring devices are advantageous for this purpose, which pass the measured values to the control unit. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the device has a display unit on which parameters essential for operating the device according to the invention can be displayed. These include operational readiness, steam pressure, fill level of storage containers, fill level of waste containers, and operating time of the pad. In the tested embodiments in which particularly little resistance is generated when moving over the floor covering, only the currently activated unit is ever lowered onto the floor covering. Lowering occurs in particular for units intended to come into contact with the floor covering. This is the incorporation unit and the hot gas outlet unit. Raising and lowering can occur depending on or independently of the direction of movement of the device. Raising and lowering of units is fulfilled by a vertical movement unit. Likewise object of the invention is therefore an apparatus for cleaning a textile floor covering comprising: a. one or more units selected from: i. a unit for dispensing an aqueous cleaning agent onto the textile floor covering (dispensing unit) ii. ii. a unit for incorporating an aqueous cleaning agent into the textile floor covering (incorporation unit), iii. b. a hot gas outlet unit with a hot gas-permeable pad movable over the textile floor covering, and iv. c. a unit for raising and lowering the units from a. and b. onto the floor covering (vertical movement unit). Operation of the units is facilitated by actuation of corresponding actuators. Control can occur by the control unit, which is conveniently controlled via buttons or an operating panel. The size of the device according to the invention depends on the function and number of usable units as well as the size of the area to be processed. Thus a simple handheld vacuum cleaner-like device for cleaning smaller hotel rooms can have a width of 20 to 50 cm and a length of 40 to 60 cm, a simple floor device for cleaning larger rooms a width of 40 to 60 cm and a length of 50 to 80 cm, while large or ride-on devices for cleaning large areas can have a width of 50 to 100 cm and a length of 60 to 150 cm. In the following, suitable devices according to the invention for cleaning a carpet floor are explained by way of example with reference to the drawings, which also contain optional units. The devices described below according to variants Mini, Midi, and Maxi have the following features in common (reference signs with reference to FIG. 1-4): A box-shaped device standing on wheels / rollers (11) has in each of the three different variants at least one vertically lowerable and retractable flat hot gas outlet unit (13) for unsaturated water vapor, which is supplied by a steam generation unit (3) via a hose line. Via this, a constant gas stream of approx. 155 g / min with a pulse-like adjustable maximum burst of approx. 500 g / min water vapor at around 7.7 bar pressure is dispensed downward onto the carpet floor at the required frequency of hot gas by means of a steam outlet valve (4). Stretched on the outlet surface is the textile for catching and absorbing previously loosened dirt. This textile, as part of a large textile roll, is replaced as needed after dirt saturation by advancing the textile roll using a lockable roller technique with an unused part of the textile roll. The dispensed hot gas preferably does not leave the box-shaped unit, but directly after penetrating the textile and touching the wetted carpet floor is sucked via an extraction device (18) through openings (15a) in the device base into the interior of the hollowed device base (15), condenses, and the condensate is returned to the tank for cleaning fluid (1) for reuse. A skirt (15b) around the device base additionally provides a seal between the box-shaped unit and the carpet floor. Common to all three device variants described below is keeping two fluid tanks provided with hose lines and pumps, one of which contains the aqueous-alcoholic solution (1), the other (2) pure water for steam generation. Hose lines lead the aqueous-alcoholic solution to several outlet nozzles (6 and 7), which exit the device wall of the box-shaped unit on one side in the operating direction, but are simultaneously directed into the interior of the box-shaped unit and there moisten a rotating body (12) intended to cause deep moistening of the carpet floor. The second tank (2) provided for steam generation is connected to the steam generation unit (3), which is connected to a steam outlet valve (4). Furthermore, all device variants have one pump each for the two tanks and their hose system for transporting fluids to the required location. Likewise common to all variants is a control unit (17) that controls and activates all other units, and at least one electric motor (9) that drives the rotating or vibrating bodies for dispensing (12) and incorporation (14) of the cleaning fluid into the carpet. Likewise common to all variants are actuators (8) connected to the control unit and enabling individual raising and lowering of rotating or vibrating bodies as well as the hot gas outlet unit. The box-shaped unit has in all variants a further, but smaller third fluid storage tank (5) including pump. From this, a separate hose line system leads to a third outlet nozzle (10), which depending on the device variant leads onto the incorporation rotating or vibrating bodies (14). The task of this third tank (5) is keeping and dispensing agents for re-oiling or impregnating the carpet floor after completion of the cleaning work steps, which must be worked into the carpet floor before it has dried completely. The manner of incorporation follows that for the carpet cleaning agent. Variant Mini (FIG. 1): This variant has, in addition to a rotating body for fluid dispensing and distribution, no separate rotating body for incorporation (14) of the cleaning agent and requires due to compact construction and better maneuverability only three wheels / rollers (11), two wheels rear and one roller forward in operating direction. The task of incorporation is performed here by vibration of the suitable and stretched textile on the hot gas outlet unit (13), which forms a fixed unit with it. For the different work steps, which begin with dispensing of the cleaning agent, the rotating body (12) and the hot gas outlet unit (13) are each lowered onto the carpet or raised from it. For this purpose, both units are suspension-connected to controllable actuators (8). Fundamentally there exists a functional separation between brush use and dispensing of the cleaning agent on the one hand and dirt absorption by hot gas use and textile on the other hand. This separation is realized differently in the different device variants. In variant Mini, the operating direction decides on brush use with manually (optionally also via program automation) dosed dispensing of the cleaning agent or hot gas use for dirt removal. In the first work step, the rotating body (12) is lowered onto the carpet and simultaneously wetted with cleaning fluid, while the hot gas outlet unit (13) with textile cover is raised so that there is no longer contact with the carpet floor. Control of actuators (8) changes in this device variant with operating direction: If variant Mini, comparable in size to a handheld vacuum cleaner, is pushed forward, rotating body (12) is lowered onto the carpet floor. It is recommended that rotation begins with initial lowering, but ends only when the phase of cleaning agent dispensing and distribution with brush use is completed. It is unharmful if the phase of hot gas use sets in by pulling back in the operating direction while still during this phase, as long as raising of the brush during hot gas use is ensured. Constant changing between switching on and stopping rotation is not required. In the lowered state of the brush and before its use, both nozzles (6 and 7) ensure sufficient moistening of the carpet floor upon manual control. Pulling back variant Mini triggers a command to change working unit to both actuators (8), so that rotating body (12) rises and hot gas outlet unit (13) lowers onto the carpet. Here, by manual additional control depending on work progress due to the dual function of hot gas outlet unit (13), switching occurs between the two functions vibration for incorporation and steaming for dirt absorption. Variant Midi (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3): The box-shaped unit has centered the hot gas outlet unit (13) with stretched textile and next to it on each side (before and after in operating direction) a rotating body. All three working units are connected to actuators (8) that enable individual lowering and raising of the units. Also in this variant, activation of the respective working unit changes with operating direction as described under variant Mini. Independent functionality of the two rotating bodies for dispensing and distribution of cleaning agent on the one hand and for incorporation on the other hand must be ensured. This can be caused only individually by manual command of the user depending on the work situation. The user must be able to choose between further moistening of the carpet and localized, thorough dirt loosening by incorporation. The rotating body not needed at any time must thus be able to be raised individually in phases by command of the user. As described in variant Mini, there exists also in variant Midi the functional fundamental separation of dispensing / distribution of cleaning agent and use of hot gas. Application change should here in principle also be possible via manual command in addition to operating direction, in order to accommodate individual work situations with increased need for moistening or incorporation also by changing operating direction without hot gas use necessarily being connected therewith. Application of hot gas occurs after completion of the first two work steps with the respective rotating bodies such that both rotating bodies are raised beforehand and only hot gas outlet unit (13) is used. Variant Midi is characterized in that a larger area is wetted in the first work step, onto which an equally dimensioned incorporation then occurs, wherein operating direction is determined by a guide bracket (16) swiveling by about 140 degrees. In this way, operating direction can be determined with two options: If desired, swiveling the guide bracket triggers the command to change between the two basic functions rotation or hot gas use, thereby avoiding the necessity to pull the entire device toward oneself against the previous operating direction for dirt absorption. Likewise avoided is the necessity to turn variant Midi in the desired direction around its own axis by 180 degrees if desired by work situation to work in longer paths and too little space exists to turn the entire device (e.g. hotel corridors). In this case, swiveling the guide bracket also gives a command to change rotational direction of brushes in order to avoid working by pulling the device. FIG. 3 also shows a cassette in which the pad is moved from a fresh pad roll (19a) onto a soiled pad roll (19b). Variant Maxi (FIG. 4): The box-shaped unit has two working units of one hot gas outlet unit (13), one dispensing unit (12) with a rotating body, and one incorporation unit (14) with a further rotating body in series, wherein the order in operating direction is determined by work steps already described: dispensing unit (12), incorporation unit (14), textile-covered hot gas outlet unit (13). In variant Maxi, work is performed as a large device in both directions by pushing similar to variant Midi with function change device (manual or with program automation) to avoid turning the device. In ride-on devices, the function change device is omitted and work is performed in only one direction and manually controlled. Activation of the respective working unit for the scheduled work step occurs exclusively according to programmed device software depending on distance traveled. A further object of the invention is a method for cleaning a textile floor covering comprising: • dispensing an aqueous cleaning agent onto the textile floor covering, and • moving a gas-permeable pad over the textile floor covering wetted with the cleaning agent, characterized in that the aqueous cleaning agent has a cleaning-active content of one or more volatile solvents. Volatile solvents are components of the aqueous cleaning agent that can be driven out of the floor covering using hot gas. A volatile solvent is therefore a solvent with an evaporation rate (measured according to DIN 53170) of less than 80, preferably less than 50, in particular less than 33. The evaporation rate should be greater than 1 for practical reasons. Such volatile solvents are in particular organic solvents. Advantageously, the volatile solvents are liquids soluble in water. The cleaning-active content of volatile solvent or cleaning-active content of mixture of volatile solvents is preferably up to 50 wt.%. This content is also limited by the fact that the volatile solvent or mixture should be soluble in water at this content to achieve uniform application. Active as cleaning is defined as a content at which due to solvent content dirt or dirt particles, in particular organic compounds such as fats, can dissolve in the cleaning agent from the textile floor covering. In the following, a percentage for components is understood as weight percent (wt.%), unless noted otherwise. The cleaning agent used in the method according to the invention is characterized as a liquid in that it contains mainly volatile components and at most small amounts of components that remain in the floor covering after removal of the majority of soiled cleaning agent. The cleaning agent can contain non-volatile additives in small amounts to fulfill non-cleaning purposes, for example for odorization, or if desired that these can or should remain in the floor covering after cleaning. Examples are fragrances, such as perfumes, or textile care agents, such as re-oiling agents or other fiber protection agents. The content of nonvolatile additives is usually less than 1, preferably approximately zero %. Non-volatile additives are defined as substances with an evaporation rate (measured according to DIN 53170) of more than 500. In this aspect of the invention, the content of non-volatile additives in the aqueous cleaning agent is less than 1 wt.%, preferably approximately zero wt.%. Preferably, the cleaning agent contains no toxic components in the formulation used. Water is preferred as the main component of the cleaning agent, since many frequently occurring components of dirt, such as salts, can dissolve in it. Furthermore, cleaning agents have proven advantageous that can dissolve and absorb liquids or dried liquids, such as dried beverage residues. These conditions are fulfilled in particular by cleaning agents containing as volatile organic solvents one or more organic alcohols with a chain length of between 1 and 5 carbon atoms. These are referred to below as C1-C5 alcohols. Particularly suitable are C2-C3 alcohols, such as ethanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol. Because of extensive non-toxicity and high volatility, particularly in combination with water, their solubility in water and their dissolving power for organic substances, isopropanol and ethanol are outstandingly suitable as volatile solvents. The cleaning agent can further contain other volatile, non-cleaning components. The content of C1-C5 alcohol can be between 5 and 45% and depends both on soiling type and purpose of cleaning as intensive or intermediate cleaning. Preferably, the content of C1-C5 alcohol should be not more than 39 wt.%. For generally occurring soiling, a content of between 15 and 39% has proven suitable. The alcohol content can also be selected depending on degree of soiling. For example, in a variant of the method for mere intermediate or maintenance cleaning, the alcohol content for areas where rather water-soluble soiling predominates (such as hotel entrance halls in winter due to road salt entry) can be lower, for example 5-15%. Areas contaminated rather with food or beverage residues (such as in restaurants) are to be processed at a higher alcohol content, for example 25-39%, in any case in intensive cleaning. For particularly good intensive cleaning, the alcohol content is as a rule about one third of the liquid. In a tested embodiment in which carpet floor in a household was cleaned, an alcohol content of the cleaning fluid of 33% isopropanol or 33% ethanol in water has proven very effective. Because of its good availability and largely biological production manner and degradability, ethanol is preferred. Escape of alcoholic vapors is already reduced to a minimum by design measures and functions, not least by cooling and thus delaying evaporation. Use in particular of ethanol contributes in a special way to keeping subjective odor nuisance low, which can be noticed as rather annoying for isopropanol. Hazard points of possible evaporation can be reliably avoided by intended application of the method. Use of the cleaning agent according to the invention in methods for cleaning textile floor coverings is also made possible by the fact that after a short exposure time it can be driven out quickly again from the textile floor covering wetted with the cleaning agent by hot gas. This is not possible with conventional cleaning agents. The (non-volatile) surfactants and enzymes usually used in carpet cleaning agents can be completely dispensed with. This has the great advantage that these cannot remain in the carpet and glue it together or do not have to be washed out of the carpet again. Thereby it is possible according to the invention to work with lower liquid quantities. Surfactants and enzymes are also more expensive than low-chain alcohols, which can be produced industrially on a large scale and cheaply. The method according to the invention has essential steps for cleaning success, which however depending on the floor covering to be cleaned can be supplemented by further steps. In an essential step, the cleaning agent is dispensed onto the textile floor covering to be cleaned. This serves to moisten the floor covering such that the cleaning agent can absorb the dirt to be removed. Here the method according to the invention does not differ significantly from known methods, except that a different cleaning agent is dispensed. The dispensed quantity of cleaning agent can be varied depending on type of floor covering (high-pile / low-pile, dense / loose) or desired cleaning intensity (deep-acting / surface, intensive cleaning / basic cleaning, heavily soiled, lightly soiled). By using the cleaning agent according to the invention, as a rule for the same floor covering the amount of required cleaning agent can be reduced compared to known methods, in preliminary tests by up to 90%, in individual cases depending on degree of soiling, nature of the carpet, and use of the method for intermediate or intensive cleaning even up to 95%. Dispensing can occur in known manner, for example by spraying the cleaning agent onto the floor covering from one or more nozzles arranged such that as far as possible the entire working width of the floor covering is moistened. The cleaning agent can then penetrate into the floor covering by capillarity of the pile. The dispensed quantity can be determined by the operator or coupled by control system with type of floor covering or / and speed of forward movement. Another suitable and known type of dispensing is processing the floor covering using wetted rotating bodies via which cleaning fluid is introduced into the floor covering. For brush rollers, bristles of the rotating body upon rotation of the brush cause unbundling and straightening of textile fibers of the floor covering and enable better penetration of cleaning agent between textile fibers of the floor covering. In this case, the rotating body can be lowered onto the floor covering. These possibilities can also be combined with each other. The other essential step is movement of a gas-permeable pad over the textile floor covering wetted with cleaning agent and into which cleaning agent is worked if desired. For this purpose, the pad can be lowered toward the floor covering. This step has at least two functions: On the one hand gas can be applied through the pad onto the wetted floor covering, on the other hand dirt from the floor covering can be absorbed by the pad. The first function is realized in that gas, as described above for the device according to the invention, is brought into the space behind the pad and guided through openings / pores of the pad onto the floor covering. This has the consequence that gas penetrates into the floor covering, flows through it, and leaves it again because of inflowing gas. Upon penetrating the floor covering, the gas absorbs cleaning fluid possibly laden with dirt as well as solids and carries them along. Depending on whether the gas is hot gas or cold gas, different execution options of the method according to the invention result, wherein the embodiment with hot gas is described as preferred. For the experimentally tested embodiment with hot gas described in the examples, the above descriptions for the device according to the invention apply. Application of hot gas can be realized according to the invention in two variants. In the first variant, (undiluted) superheated water vapor is used as hot gas, while in the second variant water-unsaturated hot gas (diluted water vapor) is used. Common to both variants is that water vapor is generated in a steam generation unit. For this purpose, water is heated in the pressure-tightly closed steam generation unit until overpressure of water vapor is reached. This pressure according to first tests is between 2 and 12 bar. The generated water vapor accordingly has a temperature lying at or above the boiling point of water of approx. 100°C (at atmospheric pressure at corresponding altitude). Water used for steam generation is preferably pure water, since water vapor leaves no traces on objects (and thus the floor covering) upon evaporation and drying. Small admixing of volatile ingredients, such as alcohols, fragrances, or disinfecting substances, does not impair this function. Use of deionized water is preferred in steam generation. In the first variant, superheated water vapor with a pressure of between 5 and 10 bar, for example 7.7 bar, is generated. This is applied, preferably in bursts, through the pad directly onto the floor covering. For this purpose expediently serves the valve for opening the steam pressure line from the steam generator to the space behind the pad, whereby superheated water vapor escapes explosively from the steam generator and is applied through the pad onto the floor covering. The valve is closed again as soon as overpressure is substantially dissipated. Valve opening time is therefore expediently between 0.2 and 2 seconds, preferably between 0.5 and 1 second. The valve is kept closed until sufficient overpressure has built up again in the steam generator. Closure time is therefore dependent on steam generation performance of the steam generator and is expediently between 0.5 and 10, preferably between 1 and 5 seconds. As soon as sufficient overpressure exists, the next steam pressure burst can occur. These steps can be repeated until desired cleaning is achieved. Here the device can be moved over the floor covering so that new floor covering to be treated is covered by each burst of steam. Without wishing to be bound by this explanation, it is assumed that cleaning fluid present in the floor covering is heated by expansion of superheated water vapor, mixes with water vapor, and is transported away with it. In a second variant of the invention, the hot gas guided through the pad is gas not completely, i.e. to more than 10%, but less than 95%, saturated with water vapor. The preferred saturation level (proportion of water vapor in gas) is between 20 and 90, particularly preferably between 25 and 70%. The hot gas preferably has a temperature of between 85 and 105 °C, preferably between 90 and 100 °C. Without wishing to be bound by this explanation, there is a presumption that hot gas hitherto unsaturated with water vapor is saturated both with volatile components of cleaning fluid, such as alcohol and water, and also displaces dirt portions, if applicable in cleaning fluid, from the floor covering. By this process, under suitable conditions cleaning fluid can be largely removed from the floor covering and dirt bound to the pad or if applicable absorbed by extraction unit. Mixed forms of these variants are possible, e.g. a hot gas from diluted superheated water vapor. A further function of applying hot gas through the pad is that the pad can glide more easily over the floor covering than in known pad machines. The higher the set pressure, the easier the device according to the invention can glide on a steam cushion over the floor covering. However, pressure should be only so high that the pad can still absorb dirt loosened from the floor covering. Required pressure can also be optimized by providing skirts around the hot gas outlet unit. The second function of moving the pad over the floor covering is absorption of dirt into the pad. Due to structure of the pad, dirt particles as well as droplets stirred up or liquefied by hot gas get caught in the pad, particularly on textile threads of the pad, and adhere thereto. If dirt droplets are not yet completely dry, they can be further dried by inflowing unsaturated hot gas and thus dirt portions dissolved therein can adhere even better in the pad. The second function of the pad can be further supported in that the pad is brought mechanically into direct contact with the floor covering. For this purpose, the pad can be attached to a rotating or vibrating body moved during application of hot gas. Textile threads located on the pad can thus pass through textile fibers of the floor covering. Thereby better penetration of hot gas into the floor covering can also be supported. Further steps can be added as optional or advantageous steps of the method according to the invention. For example, a dry cleaning step can be arranged upstream of the step of dispensing cleaning agent, such as a suction step with which in particular loosely present solids before dispensing of cleaning agent are removed from the textile floor covering, so that cleaning agent is saved, usage duration of the pad extended, or cleaning process accelerated. Intensity and depth of wetting can be improved in that cleaning agent is applied by processing the floor covering with textile-covered, wetted rotating bodies, such as brush rollers, or vibrating bodies. For this purpose, use of a rotating brush adapted to nature of textile floor covering with coarser bristles preferably serves, which has the task of deeply wetting soiled fibers with alcohol-containing cleaning agent, distributing it over the entire area so that uniform moistening of textile fibers is achieved, and releasing existing adhesions to conserve resources, preferably mechanically. This step expediently lies between dispensing cleaning agent via spray nozzles and incorporation using softer brush. If particularly intensive processing is desired, for example in heavily soiled floor coverings or very firmly adhering dirt, the work step of dispensing can be followed by a step of mechanical (intensive) incorporation by means of a second, softer brush or vibrating surface, which can also consist of a textile-covered rotating or flat vibrating body. Preferably it is a roller body covered with a pad whose surface is fitted with microfiber threads. By intensive contact of the body with the textile floor covering, for example turning the roller body on the floor covering, whereby threads of the pad press together and comb through textile fibers of the floor covering, dirt loosens better from depth of the textile floor covering. Details on nature are described above for the device according to the invention. Incorporation of cleaning agent can however also happen already during dispensing of cleaning agent, for example when using rotating bodies to which cleaning agent is applied. By applying hot gas to the floor covering, depending on intensity considerable quantities of hot gas can be generated and released to the environment. So that generated hot gas, if applicable with dirt and absorbed cleaning agent still contained therein even after separation of dirt at the pad, as far as possible does not reach the environment, hot gas escaping from the floor covering can be extracted. For this purpose an extraction step through extraction openings (in an extraction unit as described above) can be provided, which are arranged such that as far as possible not fresh hot gas, but dirt-enriched hot gas coming from the floor covering can be extracted. This can be achieved by sucking soiled hot gas through extraction nozzles attached around the unit for applying fresh hot gas and guiding it into a chamber inside the device. There hot gas is condensed by cooling or / and substances contained therein separated, for example by filtration or centrifugation. Upon successful separation of condensable components from gaseous and solid components, condensate can be recycled and reused, for example in cleaning agent or hot gas. It is known that some floor coverings require care treatment after or during cleaning. These are known to the person skilled in the art and can also be combined with the method according to the invention. Thus care steps, such as for example working lanolin into floor coverings containing virgin wool or dispensing impregnating agent using softer brush roller, can be additionally performed. After the device according to the invention with the pad has been moved over the area of floor covering to be processed, the floor covering has only low residual moisture consisting essentially of condensed water vapor. Because of heating of the floor covering by hot gas, this residual moisture also evaporates quickly. With the method according to the invention, manifold advantages can be achieved individually or in combination with each other. The floor covering compared with known methods based on spray extraction can be walked on unrestricted significantly earlier. This as a rule enables reoccupancy of a hotel room on the same day. Required moistening of floor covering with cleaning fluid compared with known methods based on spray extraction for basic or intensive cleaning of textile floor covering can be significantly reduced. The method according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for basic cleaning. Cleaning performance of the method according to the invention because of properties of volatile solvents in connection with outstanding dissolving power e.g. of alcohol (in particular of isopropanol) is superior to cleaning with surfactants, enzymes, and phosphates. Use of water vapor for dirt separation from dispensed cleaning fluid, which removes cleaning agent used in this method in physicochemical way itself residue-freely and environmentally friendly, avoids wastewater that would arise when washing out surfactants and enzymes. This also saves the valuable resource water to a considerable extent. Furthermore, (unsaturated) water vapor with its ability to absorb moisture ensures accelerated drying of wetted carpet, which thus becomes re-walkable faster. By rapid work sequence and absence of cleaning fluid residues, carpet cleaning according to the invention manages without further work steps for rinsing out used cleaning agent. The invention therefore exhibits greatly reduced work time requirement and causes also compared to spray extraction a, if desired strongly, reduced overall work time. Use of water vapor only on wetted textile floor avoids damage to fibers because in wet state they can withstand thermal heat better than dry textiles. Execution option of the method according to the invention using cold gas can be applied for textile surfaces that due to specific requirements do not permit stronger moistening. Unless noted otherwise below, method with cold gas uses same conditions as that with hot gas. One change is that pad is cold-gas permeable. As a rule, however, same materials will be suitable as for hot-gas permeable pads. As cold gas, gas with significantly lower temperature than hot gas described above is used. Here same gases come into consideration as described for hot gas. Temperature can lie between 25 and 50°C, preferably it lies at 30-35°C. In place of hot gas outlet unit comes a cold gas outlet unit capable of conveying cold gas into space behind pad and through pad onto floor covering. A steam generation unit is therefore as a rule not required or is set to generation of low-temperature steam. A further change is that method described above is performed at negative pressure generated by a suction unit. Here individual work steps take place sequentially not under movement of entire device, but under standstill of device in lowered position onto partial area of textile floor covering covered by device, wherein on this area between floor covering and device during or after operation of dispensing and gas outlet unit negative pressure is applied by a suction unit. After suction of majority of cleaning agent, negative pressure is removed again by control system, participating units raised again, and device moved to next partial area to be processed. This embodiment of method according to the invention with cold gas is characterized in particular by again increased thriftiness in use of cleaning agent with constant quality of cleaning performance. This is achieved by dispensing before incorporation a smaller quantity of aqueous cleaning agent with regularly higher concentration of volatile solvent onto textile floor covering, whereby carpet fibers are saturated, but carpet backing remains largely unwetted. Negative pressure ensures that all steps after loosening dirt from fiber, including application of cold gas, can take place at significantly lower temperature. Low temperature of gas allows intensive cleaning of unsaturated wetted fiber without any risk of harmful scorching, because cold gas leaving gas outlet unit is likewise capable of conveying dirt loosened from fiber into collection pad. Since dissolving power of alcohol with respect to soiled fiber is independent of temperature and for keeping alcoholic vapors low in previous device variants use of cooling devices for alcohol-containing tanks is also provided, reduction in temperature of steam is not opposed by reduced cleaning performance. This low-temperature variant of method at low moistening of floor covering makes this embodiment of method according to the invention applicable for watersensitive textile floor coverings, especially for sensitive carpet floors, such as with older, strained, or brittle pile or also older carpet floor with foam backing, where as a result of moistening risk of detachment from screed exists. A device suitable for described execution variant with cold gas shares outer dimensions with third device variant 'Maxi', but differs therefrom in that not two, but only one working unit is to be provided, but this is used on full width of device in corresponding order and on entire area of floor covering covered by device. In view of working of device at standstill, there is need in respective work steps for possibility through suitable technical solutions to arrange and control actuators used such that over full area covered by device work steps (dispensing and distributing cleaning fluid, unbundling and straightening fiber, incorporation for mechanical dirt loosening, and steaming and dirt absorption in pad) can be accomplished sequentially. Undesirable escape of components of cleaning agent, e.g. alcohol vapors, from wetted floor covering is avoided by rapid succession of step of steaming to work step of moistening and incorporation of floor covering with cleaning agent. Immediate absorption of burdened cleaning agent after moistening and incorporation and thus rapid working manner by guiding device over floor covering to be cleaned is made possible by steps according to invention. Saving of wastewater burdened with surfactants, phosphates, and enzymes, which are expensive, poorly biologically degradable, and responsible for increasing nutrient richness (eutrophication) in waters, is a further advantage of the invention. A further object of the invention is use of an aqueous solution of volatile cleaning-active organic solvents, e.g. containing one or more C1-C5 alcohols, wherein content of solution of C1-C5 alcohol should be not more than 39 wt.%, for moistening and cleaning textile floor covering. Preferred aqueous solutions are described above. A further object of the invention is an aqueous solution of volatile cleaning-active solvents, e.g. containing one or more C1-C5 alcohols, in which case content of solution of C1-C5 alcohol should be not more than 39 wt.%, for cleaning a textile floor covering. In a preferred use, aqueous composition is alcohol-containing and cooled as described above. Preferred aqueous solutions are described above. A further object of the invention is a method for cleaning textile floor covering with a device with at least two units for processing floor covering, wherein units are moved upward and downward during cleaning method by vertical movement units. Method according to the invention becomes particularly effective in that units used for cleaning are activated only precisely during time they are needed. Targeted lowering and raising of units is not required and also not described in known devices. Belonging thereto in incorporation unit is lowering rotating or vibrating bodies onto floor covering only during incorporation step or only onto part of floor covering in which incorporation is to take place. If they remained lowered while not needed, they would generate high frictional resistance. Same applies to hot gas outlet unit, which in particular for pads with large surface area would exhibit high frictional resistance if one did not raise them outside their activation. It can therefore be lowered onto floor covering upon activation. This lowering and raising of units is performed by vertical movement units. Vertical movement (upward or downward) is preferably accomplished by activation / inactivation of actuators with electromagnets and triggered manually with a switch or automatically by a control system. A further object of the invention is use of a rotating or vibrating body whose surface is provided with a pad with textile threads for cleaning a textile floor covering wetted with an alcohol-containing aqueous cleaning agent. Reference Sign List: 1 Storage container including pump for cleaning agent 2 Storage container including pump for water for steam generation 3 Steam generator 4 Steam outlet valve 5 Storage container including pump for re-oiling / impregnating agent 6 Outer outlet nozzle for cleaning agent 7 Inner outlet nozzle for cleaning agent 8 Actuator (8a, 8b, 8c) 9 Electric motor 10 Outlet nozzle for re-oiling / impregnating agent 11 Wheel / roller (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) 12 Unit with rotating body for applying cleaning agent 13 Hot gas outlet unit 14 Unit with rotating body for incorporating cleaning agent 15 Device base 15a Extraction openings 15b Skirts 16 Guide bracket 17 Control unit 18 Extractor / condenser 19a Pad supply roll in cassette, fresh, unrolling 19b Pad supply roll in cassette, soiled, rolling up Example 1 - Simple Prototype A commercially available brush scrubber machine with different brush rollers for hard and carpet floors 'Model LAVOR SPRINTER' from the company Lavorwash was modified as follows: Unless noted otherwise, all components of SPRINTER were retained. On the mobile unit of SPRINTER, nozzles for applying cleaning agent were attached laterally at the front. These were connected to lower collection container for extracted dirty water repurposed as storage container for cleaning agent via an additional pump. Further, a surrounding frame was attached to mobile unit at a height of approx. 3 cm. This was tiltably attached near wheels of mobile unit. On front side of mobile unit, frame was connected to mobile unit via an electromagnet with which front part of mobile unit can be raised by approx. 1 cm relative to frame. On frame, two wheels were attached at the front, serving to move frame on floor covering. Thus device in raised state (brush roller has no contact with floor) runs on 4 wheels. Front cleaning agent nozzles were connected via hoses to lower storage container of SPRINTER. In upper storage container for cleaning agent with outlet onto brush roller were filled 0.75 l of a cleaning agent mixture of 250 ml ethanol and 500 ml water. Original blower motor of SPRINTER for suction of soiled cleaning agent from carpet was removed. In container of SPRINTER originally used as wastewater collection container, a water pump with a suction opening in lower area of container was installed. Pump was electrically connected in parallel to dispensing pump of SPRINTER. From discharge opening of water pump, a hose was laid to auxiliary nozzles mounted in front of device for dispensing cleaning agent. Into wastewater container were filled 1.5 l of cleaning agent mixture (500 ml ethanol and 1 l water). Over entire soleplate of a steam iron 'Tefal Pro Express Ultimate GV9567', a pad of 'VILEDA Steam PLUS steam mop' was stretched by means of accessory part 'spacer for silk laundry' cut out to frame. This spacer serves on the one hand to stretch pad over steam outlet surface of iron so that it is firmly connected to soleplate; on the other hand distance of pad from soleplate with steam outlet holes ensures lateral admixing of air to water vapor. Switch for ejecting hot steam on iron was moved into handle of SPRINTER. Iron was attached at rear part of SPRINTER by means of a frame of size 40x40 cm attached thereto such that pad rested on carpet floor. Frame was mounted on mobile unit of SPRINTER via a hinge and a Bowden cable to be operated via a second electromagnet such that it could be raised far enough that pad no longer rests on carpet floor. In a basket above mobile part of Sprinter, steam generator of 'Tefal Pro Express Ultimate GV9567' was stored and connected to power supply of SPRINTER. Steam generator is pressure-tightly connected to steam iron via a steam hose. Example 2 - Cleaning method with ethanol-containing cleaning agent Device produced according to Example 1 was placed on velour carpet with pile height of approx. 4 mm and connected to power supply. Front part of SPRINTER was in lowered state so that brush roller rested on floor, while simultaneously frame with steam iron was raised from floor via second electromagnet. Under forward movement, cleaning agent was sprayed from upper storage container onto brush roller and from lower storage container via front auxiliary nozzles in front of device onto carpet. Device was pushed forward and back several times to roughly moisten carpet. For second step, brush roller was operated and device pushed forward and back several times again over wetted area, whereby cleaning agent was distributed uniformly on and in carpet pile by brush. For third step, brush roller was replaced by a second rotating body. It was produced by shortening approx. 1.5 cm long bristles of a brush roller by approx. 5 mm and wrapping resulting brush roller with a pad produced from a microfiber wash mitt, as usually used for car washing. Pad features, similar to pad of VILEDA steam cleaner, textile threads projecting toward floor covering. Brush roller was operated with lowered front part and raised rear part (frame with steam iron) and moved over carpet. Via textile threads, cleaning agent was worked into carpet pile. This step was performed at same movement speed approx. 4 times as long as second step. Carpet pile thereafter was completely and uniformly wetted with cleaning agent. Furthermore, fibers had straightened uniformly both in more and less walked-on areas. Floor had a distinct odor of ethanol. For fourth step, front part of device was raised via front electromagnet so that rotating body for incorporation no longer rested on floor covering, and rear part lowered via second electromagnet so that pad of gas outlet unit rested on floor covering. Then steam generation was started via switch on device. After a few seconds required steam pressure had built up. Then trigger for steam outlet valve of iron moved into handle of SPRINTER was actuated and thereby hot gas guided through pad onto floor covering for approx. 10 seconds. Here device was moved over floor at speed of approx. 5 cm / s. This process was repeated about as long as incorporation had lasted. After this step carpet was only slightly damp and had at most a slight odor of alcohol. After approx. 6 hours carpet was completely dried and re-walkable again. For extremely intensive cleaning of an area of 6.2 sqm carpet floor were consumed 2.25 l cleaning agent and about 1 l pure water (possible reuse was not considered). Carpet pile after drying was aligned very uniformly. Upon removing pad, discoloration showed that dirt had collected from carpet starting from tips of textile threads of pad continuing into interior. Dirt could easily be removed by washing pad at 60°C in washing machine and pad reused. Example 3 - Cleaning with isopropanol-containing cleaning agent Example 2 was repeated, using isopropanol instead of ethanol. The result was the same.
Claims
1. Method for cleaning a textile floor covering, comprisinga. dispensing an aqueous cleaning agent onto the textile floor covering, andb. incorporation of the cleaning agent and mechanical treatment of the textile floor covering, andc. moving a hot gas-permeable pad over the textile floor covering wetted with the cleaning agent while steaming the textile floor covering with hot gas through the pad,characterized in that the aqueous cleaning agent has a cleaning-active content of one or more C1-C5 alcohols of between 15 and 39 wt.%.
2. Method for cleaning a textile floor covering with a device with at least two units for processing the floor covering in a housing, wherein the units are moved upward and downward in the housing by vertical movement units during the cleaning method.
3. Use of an aqueous solution with a cleaning-active content of one or more C1-C5 alcohols of between 15 and 39 wt.% for moistening and cleaning a textile floor covering.
4. Use of an aqueous solution of one or more C1-C5 alcohols with a content of C1-C5 alcohol of between 15 and 39 wt.% for an intensive cleaning of a textile floor covering.
5. Use of a rotating or vibrating body whose surface is provided with a pad with textile threads for cleaning a textile floor covering wetted with an aqueous solution with a cleaning-active content of between 15 and 39 wt.% of one or more C1-C5 alcohols with hot gas.
6. Device for cleaning a textile floor covering with a housing comprisinga. a dispensing unit (12) for dispensing an aqueous cleaning agent onto the textile floor covering,b. an incorporation unit (14) separate from the dispensing unit (12) and height-adjustable in the housing for mechanical treatment of the textile floor covering,c. a steam generation unit (3) for generating superheated or unsaturated water vapor,d. a hot gas outlet unit (13) height-adjustable in the housing with a hot gas-permeable pad movable over the textile floor covering for passing water vapor through the pad onto the textile floor covering, ande. a vertical movement unit for lowering and raising the units.
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises an extraction unit (18) with extraction openings (15a) in the device base (15) for extracting liquids and vapors as well as skirts (15b) extending around the entire device.
8. Device according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that it further comprises a control unit (17) for controlling the dispensing of cleaning agent and generation of steam.
9. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises two dispensing units (12), two incorporation units (14), and two hot gas outlet units (13).
10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a guide bracket (16) swiveling in the operating direction.
11. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the pad is stretched within a replaceable cassette unrollable on a supply roll for fresh pad and rollable on a supply roll for soiled pad.