Steam mop with grout cleaning tool and method
View Patent ↗A surface cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning pad and a grout cleaning tape. The grout cleaning tape can be provided as a replaceable grout cleaning cartridge containing a supply reel of grout cleaning tape that can be rolled across grout line grooves with an applicator roller. The grout cleaning tape can include a composition therein that is configured to be activated or enhanced by steam and transferred into the grout line to be cleaned when steam is applied to the tape.
1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
a foot movable along a surface to be cleaned;
a handle coupled to the foot for maneuvering the foot along the surface to be cleaned;
a cleaning pad adjacent to a lower surface of the foot and positioned to contact the surface to be cleaned;
an applicator roller carried by the foot and positioned to contact the surface to be cleaned;
a supply reel rotatably carried by the foot; and
a grout cleaning tape wound around the supply reel;
wherein the grout cleaning tape wraps around the applicator roller such that advancement of the foot along a surface to be cleaned advances the grout cleaning tape around the application roller and into contact with the surface to be cleaned.
2. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the grout cleaning tape comprises a substrate of non-woven fibers comprising at least one of polypropene, polythene, and poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers.
3. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the grout cleaning tape is provided with a grout cleaning composition.
4. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the grout cleaning composition comprises a hydrogen peroxide component in combination with an anionic detergent.
5. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the grout cleaning composition comprises a heat-activated cleaning composition.
6. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the grout cleaning tape comprises a dissolvable membrane that is configured to release the cleaning composition when exposed to steam.
7. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the applicator roller comprises a deformable elastomeric material.
8. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the applicator roller comprises a tacky outer surface that engages the grout cleaning tape.
9. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , and further comprising a take-up reel rotatably carried by the foot wherein the grout cleaning tape is coupled to the take-up reel.
10. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the applicator roller, the supply reel, and the grout cleaning tape are provided as a replaceable grout cleaning cartridge that is mounted on the foot.
11. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , and further comprising a steam generator for producing steam.
12. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 11 , and further comprising a first steam outlet provided in the foot in fluid communication with the steam generator to deliver steam to the cleaning pad.
13. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 12 , and further comprising a second steam outlet provided in the foot in fluid communication with the steam generator to deliver steam to the grout cleaning tape.