About Hot Water Extraction Steam Cleaning

Cleaning carpets using "steam cleaning" does not actually use steam in the cleaning process. This cleaning method, also known as "hot water extraction" or HWE, uses a combination of high-pressure hot water, agitation and suction to provide the cleaning power in both residential and commercial applications.

Hot Water Extraction Steam Cleaners

A machine called a "steam cleaner" applies a mixture of very hot water and cleaning solution under pressure to the area of carpet you wish to clean. The machine has either a set of brushes or an agitator bar to help loosen the dirt and suspend it in the cleaning solution. The vacuum portion of the cleaner picks up the dirty solution and deposits it into a holding tank. By working the steam cleaner back and forth like a vacuum cleaner and applying solution to each new area in turn, the machine can clean an entire room of carpeting in a short period. Since the vacuum portion of the steam cleaner extracts the dirty solution almost immediately after application, the carpet does not get soaked or waterlogged.

Types of Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaners range in size from small hand-held models designed to do emergency spot cleaning to large commercial-grade machines mounted in trucks. The two most common versions are the spot cleaners with a hand-held applicator for quick cleanups and the standard uprights that look and weigh about the same as a household vacuum cleaner. Each type has its uses and its drawbacks.

Benefits and Drawbacks

While the hand-held version does a great job of spot cleaning, it does not have the power or capacity for much more than simple spot removal. It also works best when the stain is fresh and has not had time to absorb into the carpet fibers. The upright versions have large capacity tanks for both the cleaning solution and the extracted water. Many of the upright models have built-in heaters to keep the solution at the optimal cleaning temperature. They do an excellent job over a wide area while accomplishing the task in a short time. Their bulkiness, lack of maneuverability for cleaning hard to reach areas and difficulty in storage become the major drawbacks to these units.