Technological innovations have made home cleaning easy and less time-consuming. Manual mops and water buckets are a thing of the past now. Steam mops, vacuum cleaners, and dust blowers have taken center stage in the realm of home cleaning.
Steam mops are best for cleaning vinyl, linoleum, porcelain, tile, and marble flooring. They remove dust, debris, and stuck particles in blink of an eye, and steam is a great way to kill bacteria and other germs on the floor.
Shark steam mops are one of the best ones available in the market. Shark is the go-to brand for steam mops, air purifiers, robot vacuums, hair care, and many other household use appliances for millions of Americans.
This article is about Shark steam mops. We will discuss how to clean the nozzle on the Shark steam mop and why it gets clogged. If you know the reasons behind the problem, you can prevent it from happening in the near future.
How to Clean Nozzle on Shark Steam Mop?
Before discussing the remedy for a blocked nozzle on a Shark steam mop, we must highlight why this happens.
Reasons for Sharp Steam Mop Blocked Nozzle
The nozzle on a steam mop is the most important part of the machine. It releases steam that softens the dust and debris on the floor and makes sure that you get a spic and span floor right away.
Over time, the jet on the steam head can get blocked due to mineral deposits. To understand this, you need to know about water chemistry. Tap water consists of hydrogen, oxygen, and minerals. The minerals in water like calcium and magnesium are the main culprits behind the nozzle blocking.
When the heating element in the mop heats the water, the steam is released from the nozzle, but minerals like calcium stay in the water tank and attach to the jet on the nozzle. As you continue using your mop, the calcium particles keep on building, and ultimately the nozzle gets blocked. An overly blocked nozzle will not allow steam to go out.
This process is known as calcification and is pretty similar to hard water deposits on your appliances and plumbing. One way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to clean your steam mop regularly after 10-15 days or after every cleaning session.
Cleaning Blocked Nozzle on a Shark Steam Mop
The following remedy will only work if the heating element is working all right. The mop makes a noise like a boiling kettle. The heating element has likely gone bad if you don’t hear this noise. Moreover, a blocked nozzle is visible to the naked eye as well.
Cleaning the nozzle head on a Shark steam mop is a simple DIY task. You will need some basic household items like vinegar, cotton swabs, paper clips, or the manufacturer-provided nozzle cleaner tool.
Basic Method
The method listed below is the easiest of all. Slight variations in this method can improve the efficacy of the process. We recommend you try these variations after trying the method listed below.
- Unplug the mop and make sure that it is not hot.
- Empty the water tank.
- Straighten out a paperclip or use the included nozzle cleaner tool to remove the stuck debris or calcium deposits. Move it back and forth vigorously to remove all the particles. Keep doing it unless you notice that the paper clip is moving freely.
- Pour some vinegar over the nozzle and wait for 2-5 minutes. Clean with a cotton swab or a cloth.
Test your machine. Follow the steps listed below if you didn’t get the desired results.
- Mix equal parts vinegar and distilled water and fill the water tank up to its fill line.
- Let the mop sit overnight with the solution in it.
- Turn on your steam mop and place its nozzle on a piece of cloth.
- Set the mop on its highest setting and wait for a few seconds. The mop will burst out all the calcium and stuck debris on the nozzle.
- Empty the remaining solution and wash the nozzle with tap water. Dry it with a clean cloth before using it.
- This method will hopefully clean the nozzle of all the stuck debris.
If the problem persists, you can resort to a more potent way of cleaning the nozzle. Known as the CLR method, it uses a commercial CLR liquid that is very effective against blocked nozzles and blockages due to calcium, lime, and rust.
CLR Method
You will need commercial-grade calcium, line, and rust cleaner for the CLR method. It is best to use warm water instead of tap water in this method. The directions for this method are given below.
-
- Fill the water tank with CLR and warm water in equal parts.
- Let the solution sit for at least 6 hours.
- Shake the contents a bit and turn on the mop.
- You will see a big steam burst from the nozzle that will clear all the debris and calcium deposits on the nozzle.
- Empty the tank and clean the nozzle with vinegar. Make sure that it is not hot before you use vinegar on it.
How can I prevent my Shark Steam Mop Nozzle from blocking?
Follow the tips below to ensure that your steam mop isn’t blocked frequently.
- Use distilled water instead of tap water.
- Clean the machine regularly after 10-12 days or every cleaning session.
- Vacuum the area before using a steam mop. It ensures that hair, dust particles, and debris don’t get stuck on the nozzle.
- Inspect the steamer for cleanliness before using it.
Final Words
A high-end steam mop like the Shark can last for 5-6 years. To make sure that it works for a long time, you need to keep it clean. Regular cleaning of the nozzle will reduce pressure on the heating element and other components in the unit. This will lead to a longer lifespan and better cleaning results.
Leave a Reply