Owning a carpet cleaner machine is super handy for keeping your carpets fresh and clean. Over time with use, for cleaning carpets its bound to happen that your reliable machine will reach its end. Whether its losing its efficiency in picking up dirt or simply experiencing wear and tear there comes a point, in every carpet cleaners lifespan when its time to bid farewell.
Remove Any Remaining Chemicals
The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure there are no leftover cleaning chemicals still inside the carpet cleaner machine. Make sure those chemicals don’t spill into the environment. Begin by draining the solution tanks and washing them with water times to get rid of any leftover solution. Then use a cloth to clean both the inside and outside of the machine making sure to reach all the corners. Be thorough, in removing any spills or leaks that might have happened while cleaning carpets.
Disassemble the Machine
Now it’s time to take the carpet cleaner machine apart. Make sure to detach any accessories such, as wands, hoses or brushes. It’s important to unscrew the parts carefully. Organize them neatly to avoid misplacing anything. Categorize the components into groups, like plastic, metal and wiring. Disassembling the machine will simplify transportation and proper disposal in the future.
Recycle What You Can
Once the carpet cleaner machine is taken apart, sort through the pieces to identify what can be recycled. Things like plastic tanks and housing, metal frames, wiring – these types of materials should be placed in your curbside recycling bin if your municipality accepts them. Check with your local recycling center for specifics on what plastics and metals they accept. This is a great way to keep reusable materials out of the landfill.
Donate Usable Parts
While the whole carpet cleaner machine may be at the end of its life, some internal parts could still have some life left in them. Things like motors, pumps or hoses may be usable spare parts for someone else. Consider donating these components to a local repair shop, thrift store, or listing them on a site like Freecycle. Someone else can benefit from them rather than them going straight to waste.
Take Hazardous Items to Special Drop-Off
Certain components from the carpet cleaner machine like circuit boards containing metals or batteries need special handling due to their hazardous nature. Check with your city or county’s household hazardous waste program for e-waste and battery recycling drop-off events. Most municipalities offer these free disposal services a few times a year. This is the most environmentally-friendly way to get rid of items containing toxins.
Dispose of the Remainder at the Landfill
Once you’ve recycled, donated or properly disposed of any hazardous parts, whatever is left of the carpet cleaner machine frame or housing can go in the trash. Place these remaining non-recyclable pieces in a sturdy garbage bag or container and bring them to your local landfill for disposal in the municipal solid waste stream. Be sure to check landfill hours and disposal rules first.
Complete the Process
And just like that, you’ve fully disposed of your old carpet cleaner machine safely and responsibly! Taking the time to properly sort components for reuse, recycling or hazardous waste drop-off helps keep toxins out of the ground and extends the lifespan of our natural resources. Now you can feel good knowing it won’t end up polluting the environment. Hopefully these simple steps help make disposing of yours easy breezy!