What is hot water steam cleaning and aren't all steam cleaners the same?

Hot water steam cleaning uses a machine that heats water to a high temperature (around 250°F), producing highly pressurized steam that is then sprayed onto surfaces to clean and sanitize them. Unlike some basic steam cleaners that use only boiling water, hot water steam cleaners utilize this higher temperature and pressure for more effective cleaning, particularly against grease, grime, and bacteria. Not all steam cleaners are the same; they vary in their temperature and pressure capabilities, cleaning power, features (like attachments), and overall quality, resulting in different cleaning outcomes.



Basically, there are three types:

1. Do It Yourself - You rent a small portable machine, use lukewarm tap water with 100 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure and a vacuum of 2hg. It may take you four to eight hours of hard work and your carpets will be wet for days. If you're lucky, you won't ruin the carpet. And, they will resoil quickly so you should clean them three or four times a year ($120).

2. Hired Portable Machines The major difference between this and "Do It Yourself" is someone else does the work, but they still use a portable machine. The result is the same-the cost is often double ($240).

3. Professional Truck-Mounted Hot Water "Steam" Extraction - The major difference is in the POWER.... The water is heated to 200o F, pressurized to 500 PSI and vacuumed up with a suction 10 times that of a portable machine, so carpets are normally dry in hours, not days. (This process does absolutely NO harm to your carpets if done correctly.)