Spot cleaning system and method

A method for substantially self-contained spot cleaning of soiled garments, comprising:

• providing a self-supporting workstation supporting thereon a generally upright vacuum arm with a vacuum area at which vacuum force applied to said vacuum arm is focused, an electric water boiler means for generating steam at a steam output thereof, a controllable steam spray gun and steam hose operatively interconnected with said boiler means steam output, and vacuum means for supplying a relatively high vacuum force to said vacuum arm;
• placing a soiled garment to be cleaned onto said vacuum arm with a spot or stain on such garment situated at said vacuum area;
• and
• operating said vacuum means and manipulating said steam spray gun so as to apply steam to such garment while also applying said relatively high vacuum force thereto so that the garment is steam cleaned and dried.

A method of commercially spot cleaning soiled garments without the use of chlorinated solvents, said method comprising:

• pretreating spots on the soiled garment to be cleaned by the application of water-based nonchlorinated cleaners thereto;
• applying a relatively high vacuum force to the pretreated spots;
• directing a flushing agent onto the pretreated spot of the garment being cleaned while continuing to apply said vacuum force thereto, so as to remove both soil and pretreatment cleaner therefrom;
• and
• subsequently drying the garment being cleaned.

A system for commercially spot cleaning soiled garments without the use of chlorinated solvents, said system comprising:

• a user workstation;
• means for pretreating spots on the soiled garment to be cleaned by the application of water-based nonchlorinated cleaners thereto;
• vacuum means for selectively applying a relatively high vacuum force to the pretreated spots;
• and
• spray means for selectively directing a flushing agent onto the pretreated spot of the garment being cleaned while continuing to apply said vacuum force thereto, so as to remove both soil and pretreatment cleaner therefrom as such garment is dried with said vacuum force.

A method for commercially cleaning spots from garments using a water-based nonchlorinated solvent, said method including:

• providing a substantially self-contained user workstation operating on electrical power supplied thereto, said workstation having an upper work surface;
• a stand-up vacuum arm;
• an electrically powered self-contained water boiler steam generation system having a supply of water and an associated controllable steam spraying gun and steam hose;
• means for resting said steam spray gun when not in use;
• an electrically powered self-contained vacuum means for selectively supplying at least about 80 inches of mercury of static pressure vacuum force to said vacuum arm;
• a vacuum exhaust waste collector for collecting debris and dirty liquids vacuumed up with said vacuum force;
• and an electrically powered self-contained air compressor with an associated air spray gun and air hose;
• providing electrical power to said workstation;
• penetrating spots on a garment to be cleaned by applying a water-based nonchlorinated cleaner thereto;
• operating said steam generation system so as to generate steam available to a workstation user through operation of said controllable steam spray gun;
• placing the pretreated garment to be cleaned onto said vacuum arm;
• applying said vacuum force of at least about 80 inches of mercury of static pressure to the garment to be cleaned by activating said vacuum means;
• with said vacuum force applied, operating said steam spray gun for working the pretreated garment spot with steam, so as to clean the garment of its spot and flush the cleaner therefrom to be received under said vacuum force in said vacuum exhaust waste collector;
• and
• drying the garment by operating said air spray gun so as to direct compressed air into the garment while continuing to apply said vacuum force to the garment, which garment is thereby cleaned and dried with a water-based solvent in a substantially self-contained system and without use of chlorinated substances.

A system for commercially spot cleaning soiled garments without the use of chlorinated solvents, said system comprising:

• a user workstation;
• means for pretreating spots on the soiled garment to be cleaned by the application of nonchlorinated cleaners thereto;
• and
• vacuum means for selectively applying a relatively high vacuum force to the pretreated spots, so as to flush both soil and pretreatment cleaner therefrom as such garment is drying with said vacuum force.