Steam Cleaners...

[96Lude]

Hello all,

I am looking into purchasing a steam cleaner for my interior and I was wondering how exactly it's used. I know that the hot steam is what will kill bacteria and odours, however what happens once you shoot a carpet with steam? Does it wet the carpet? I have a Shop Vac that I can use to **** up water. I am just basically trying to get a better understanding of how it works.

Thanks.

[Accumulator]

The steamers I've used didn't wet the carpet all *that* much, it's more like they dampen it. I usually don't have to get out the extractor to dry them unless I've been dealing with something unusually bad where I had to keep going over the area numerous times.

Note that one of the reasons to use the steamer (as opposed to an extractor or other "conventional" carpet cleaning methods) is the way the steam's heat emulsifies some kinds of [mess]. You can then blot/extract the stuff while it's still in a softened/liquefied state. This can work great on stuff like grease, but you want to watch that you don't just liquefy the mess and then let it soak deeper into the carpet.

Another thing it's handy for is blasting built-up crud out of tight spots where it's hard to reach.

[JG_Detailing]

I use this Bissel steam cleaner for the car's I detail. And it work's great. The carpet's are only damp after using it.

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by chevyman2001
I use this Bissel steam cleaner for the car's I detail...

Isn't that an extractor as opposed to a steamer? It's been a while since I had a Bissell LGM, but the ones I had sprayed solution/liquid and didn't produce steam.

Sorta like my mis-named "Hoover Steamvac Jr.", it' doesn't really turn liquid water into *steam*; it's an extractor, not a steamer despite its name.

I *think* 96Lude is asking about machines that turn water into high pressure steam. But between our posts he's covered on both fronts

[JG_Detailing]

The Little Green is a cleaner. It work's great for cleaning the carpet and upholstery

No need to worry about stairway spills and dirty, hard-to-reach areas anymore. The Bissell Little Green will get it all clean! This compact, multipurpose deep cleaner is versatile, so cleaning is a breeze.

Powerful spray and suction clean and also help dry, all in one, easy step
Stores ready to use for spur-of-the-moment needs
Long power cord and flexible hose make cleaning easy
Tanks are easy to remove, empty and fill
Comes with a tough-stain brush and a trial-size bottle of cleaning formula
Also available in most Wal-Mart stores
Model No. 1400



Floor Type: Carpet,Stairs

Cleaning Function: Quick Cleaning,Auto Care

Cleaning Path Width: 3"

Suction Amps: 3

On Board Tools: Yes

Brushroll on/off switch: No

Cord Length: 15'

Headlight: No

Tank Capacity: 48 ounces

Heated Cleaning: No

Brush type: Upholstery Brush

Unique feature: Stores ready to use for quick cleanup of spots and spills

Shipping Weight (in pounds): 14.0

Assembled in Country of Origin: Imported

Origin of Components: Imported

Wal-Mart No.: 001556761

[96Lude]

Accumulator is correct, I was referring to the machines that actually turn water into hot steam. Are these machines more effective than the Bissel LGM? I would think that the high temperature of the steam would lift stains much better and also kill any odours that would be present.

[JG_Detailing]

The Little Green got some tough stain's out of carpet in a truck I did.

[Accumulator]

I don't know if you can really say which is better/worse, at least not categorically. The steamer does stuff that an extractor can't do, but the extractor does the "wet vacuum"/****-it-out thing.

IMHO both have their place and I suppose if I had to choose I'd go with the extractor, if only because it seems to come in handy more often, for all sorts of stuff (dump some liquid on the carpet in the house? Have pets? etc.).

But yeah, the things a steamer does are unique to the benefits of steam. Tough choice, huh?

I do find that the sprayers on extractors like the little Bissell/Hoover units often leave something to be desired. I also prefer heated extractors (but they cost a lot more and have more to go wrong) and find that the "turbo brushes" don't work all that well. Still, you can get carpet brushes for the G-100/PC/Cyclo polishers, you can spray solution from a bottle, in other words you can work around a small extractor's limitations pretty well and I wouldn't want to be without one. I got by for years without a steamer, much as I love the one I have now.

[Mark2]

I have been reading about the LGM here, but never really understood how it works. What are those small brushes, do they rotate or something? And since my english isn't great I don't understand the word extractor either. Does extracting mean it's spraying water/soap and then vacuume it up?

[JG_Detailing]

Originally posted by chevyman2001
I use this Bissel steam cleaner for the car's I detail. And it work's great. The carpet's are only damp after using it.

The one brush is used for spraying and extracting. And the other one is for spraying, extracting and scrubbing.

[35th Anniversary SS]

Im gonna have to get one of those LGs!

[JG_Detailing]

You can get one at Walmart for $70.00.

[35th Anniversary SS]

I just ordered one! At my work we get award points for above and beyond performance and with the points you can order all kinds of items. They had the top of the line LG with turbo brush and water heater built it... I had plenty of points so I went for it.

Should be here next week!

[/thread hijack]

[35th Anniversary SS]

Originally posted by chevyman2001
You can get one at Walmart for $70.00.

I was going to get one from Walmart but it looks like Walmart only sells the lower end one which doesnt have the turbo brush or heater. IMO the heater and brush seem like the better thing to have vs a cold water no rotating brush.

[JG_Detailing]

The one I have doesn't have the heater but it has the rotating brush on it.