Patent ID: 8585828

Claim:
A method of cleaning an area of flooring, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an apparatus comprising: (i) a pump, (ii) a cleansing fluid chamber, wherein a first fluid passageway connects the pump and the cleansing fluid chamber, (iii) an applicator, wherein a second fluid passageway connects the cleansing fluid chamber and the applicator, (iv) a waste fluid chamber, wherein a third fluid passageway connects the applicator and the waste fluid chamber and a fourth fluid passageway connects the waste fluid chamber and the pump, (v) a first one-way valve configured to permit flow through the first fluid passageway in a flow direction from the pump to the cleansing fluid chamber but inhibit flow through the first fluid passageway in a flow direction from the cleansing fluid chamber to the pump, (vi) a second one-way valve configured to permit flow through the third fluid passageway in a flow direction from the applicator to the waste fluid chamber but inhibit flow through the third fluid passageway in a flow direction from the waste fluid chamber to the applicator, and (vii) a base, wherein the first and fourth fluid passageways extend within the base, with the applicator being located to a first side of the base, and with the cleansing fluid chamber, the waste fluid chamber, and the pump each being located on a second side of the base opposite the first side; (b) filling the cleansing fluid chamber of the cleaning apparatus with a cleansing fluid; (c) positioning the apparatus over the area to be cleaned with the applicator covering the area of flooring to be cleaned, and with the cleansing fluid chamber, waste fluid chamber, and pump extending upwardly from the base away from the flooring; and (d) actuating the pump of the apparatus such that air from the waste fluid chamber of the cleaning apparatus is pumped into the cleansing fluid chamber of the cleaning apparatus and, commensurate therewith, suctioning waste fluid from the area of flooring while applying cleansing fluid from the cleansing fluid chamber to the area of flooring, the waste fluid suctioned from the area being received and retained within the waste fluid chamber of the apparatus.