Carpet Cleaner? Steam Cleaner? Which One and Why!

My favorite part when getting into this line of business was finally getting an answer on the difference between a “Steam Cleaner” and the carpet cleaners you can buy at your local department store that produces nothing resembling steam. Most machines available at an affordable price often spray a detergent mixed with water then immediately sucks it out of the carpet. Meanwhile, it makes you wonder where the name “Steam Cleaning” comes from.

Steam Cleaners are more formally known as Hot Water Extractors. These machines similar to what you see below. They are equipped with powerful heaters intended to supply heated water and/or solutions at temps ranging between 120ºF-220ºF. We’ll get into detail on optimal temps with rug types for another post, but do know some carpet and rugs are more sensitive to heat than others!

Whether a Hoover, Bissell, or Rug Doctor carpet cleaner, th