Did you know a lot of carpet cleaning companies claim they steam clean your carpet but the water they use is actually just hot water and not a gas?
The primary difference between hot water extraction vs carpet steam cleaning is the temperature of the water used during the cleaning process. It’s basic science, really.
Carpet steam cleaning must actually use steam. I know—who would have guessed? The water must be boiled by a truck mounted unit to the point that it can transform into a gas. Therefore, the temperature has to be over 212 degrees Fahrenheit (the boiling point for water).
Hot water extraction process, on the other hand, only requires hot water. How hot? Hot enough that it cleans the carpet to show a difference on the surface of the fibers, but not so hot that it changes into another state of matter. Basically, water used in hot water extraction carpet cleaning is always under 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Always remember, natural fibers have to be cleaned with hot water extraction process in order to prevent shrinkage, the same with upholstery.
If you use a carpet cleaning company that uses the steam cleaning process you can almost guarantee your carpet will be cleaned deeper in the fibers along with a faster dry time overall. This is because the steam is going to evaporate quicker than hot water will.
We use high-powered truck mounted units that have an enormous amount of suction power to help the drying process along with our extreme temperature of steam produced.