Steam Cleaner or Carpet Extractor

[Wax Gorilla]

Bite the bullet - Spend $700 or so dollars and get a crevice tool nozzle also. There are other ways to clean carpets and mats - None will work as well and as QUICK ! Time is money buy the right tools if you are in this as a professional. I make as much cleaning interiors as I do exteriors. Remember for most folks the interior is what they will see most of on their own cars !

[Woob]

A steamer is a dry vapor machine. I wish people would stop calling hot water extractors steamers.

Drying time, the steamer (dry vapor) dries almost right away.

This is the unit I have: AllBrands.com - Vapor Clean Unilux 3000 Commercial Steam Cleaner 1500W, 5Bar 72+PSI, Pressure Gauge, 9'Hose, 315°F, 1-3Hr Cleaning, 1YrParts Lifetime Boiler & Element I would have got a better one, but this does a great job for the money.

How has it been working for you? I got my VX5000 and love it, though its a bit scary strong.

[tomwiller]

Steamers and extractors both have their place.

Steamers are great for cleaning many things, especially the interior cracks and crevices. Every cleaned a really nasty interior? Steam is a life-saver for these. Contaminants just melt away. Steam is also great for cleaning leather, carpets, and upholstery.

Extractors are great for getting out the deep down dirt and grime. You wouldn't believe what you can take out with an extractor.

With that said, I can't imagine not having one or the other. For carpets and upholstery, use steam first to melt all the dirt and grime. Then, take your extractor and suck all that gunk out. You'll be amazed what what the two machines can accomplish.

I agree this 2 are great in cleaning wet and dry cleaning. Nice information there...Well said.