Steam cleaning is the process of removing dirt, dust, grime-based substances, and other taints via the incorporation of water vapor, also known as steam. The benefits of using this method are countless although, like many other great inventions of human ingenuity, it carries potential risks (I will explore this more elaborately later in the article). Steam cleaning is invaluable in the battle against domestic contamination. If you want to wage war on potentially hazardous and malicious micro-organisms, this procedure is the best course of action.  However, there are certain distinctions to be made if you want to pick the right kind of steam cleaning that will best suit your needs.

Carpet Steam Cleaning

This is not steam cleaning at all. This is a common misconception made by people who are in the cleaning business or have otherwise shown disinterest in the subject. What most folks might mistakenly call “steam cleaning” is actually a cleaning method called hot water extraction. The differences between the two methods are significant. As the name suggests, one works with steam and the other one works with hot water. Even though it might look as if hot water extraction was employing the use of steam (due to the thin jet of hot water coming out of the device), this is no minor detail. You see, in order to vaporize the water, the steam cleaner has to bring it to its boiling point (about 100 degrees Celsius). After the water has transformed from its liquid to its gaseous phase, it’s streamed out of the steam cleaner with steam temperatures of about 120 degrees Celsius. This can essentially ruin some types of carpets.

Hot water extraction, on the other hand, works with much lower temperatures, making it essentially a safer procedure. It is, in fact, one of the most recommended methods by both professional carpet cleaners and carpet manufacturers, alike. The help of other substances might be called in the process in order to ensure the complete and utter demise of those pesky microbes hiding in your carpet, waiting for your immune to let the guard down so they can strike you with full force. Hot water extraction is also great for carpet maintenance as the procedure is completely safe.

All of this is to say that you have to beware what you choose (or do, if you’re the DIY type). Steam cleaning can severely damage your carpet whereas hot water extraction is not only completely safe, but also recommended by experts in the field.

Cleaning with a Steam Mop

Steam mops are the type of steam cleaner you usually use on your floor. As I’ve already specified, due to the high temperatures they are recommended for delicate carpets. However, unlike regular steam cleaners that jet the steam directly, steam mops instead moisturize a microfiber pad underneath the jet. Different types of pads can be used for different types of floors. Steam mops are vastly superior to traditional mops in the sense that they don’t require any additives (just clean water will do) and they don’t leave a mess afterwards (not even a trace of residue). The downside of steam cleaners as far as carpets are concerned are actually their greatest strength when it comes to killing germs – the temperature of the steam is high enough to kill almost all bacteria, dust mites and other malicious microbes. However, this same temperature can be dangerous for you if you’re not careful, because you can easily get burned. Overall, though, you can rarely go wrong with steam cleaning or hot water extraction and now that you know the differences, the benefits and the downsides, you can finally make an informed decision.

Author bio: July Minor is passionate freelancer blogger and writer. She is keen on home improvement topics. She currently works at http://www.endoftenancycleanerslondon.com/w2-paddington/ and she is really satisfied because she has enough time to write on different articles.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.