Carpet Extractor vs Steam Cleaner: Difference Between Carpet Extractor and Steam Cleaner

Both carpet extractors and steam cleaners are used for thorough cleaning. But what's the difference between carpet extractor and steam cleaner? We've written this guide to answer that question to help you weigh the differences between a carpet extractor vs steam cleaner.

The short answer is that carpet extractors are used to clean carpets, while steam cleaners clean and sterilize hard surfaces. But since both play an important role in commercial cleaning, you may find that you need both. 

SweepScrub specializes in commercial cleaning equipment. Whether you’re looking for a self-contained carpet extractor, carpet extractor with wand, a carpet spotter, or the best commercial carpet cleaning chemicals, you’ll find them here. 

We’ve empowered many cleaning companies and janitorial teams with the cleaning equipment they need for success. This guide will help you find the cleaning equipment you need for thorough cleaning and productive workflows. 

What Does a Steam Cleaner Do?

A steam cleaner cleans and sterilizes hard surfaces using a pressurized water tank that creates superheated steam. The steam loosens dirt when it is blasted through a nozzle or brush attachment. 

The hot steam will kill most germs, bacteria, and allergens upon contact. It also loosens stubborn messes like sticky grease or built-up soap residue. All you need after the steaming is a quick rubdown with a cloth.

Heat, Pressure, and Vapor

A steam cleaner heats water in a pressurized reservoir, and that vapor then blasts away dirt and kills germs on contact. It flows over the surface and lifts away dirt from small cracks and pores that sponges or cloths would miss.

Ideal Use Cases for Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaners are best for hard, non-porous surfaces. They can clean vinyl or tile floors, remove baked-on kitchen grease, and clear away soap scum from bathrooms. 

Steam cleaners also come with attachments that make them useful for many other jobs. You can use your steam cleaner to clean mirrors and windows, detail car interiors, and sanitize upholstery, curtains, and mattresses. 

The Blue Evolution S+ J19911 Commercial Steam Cleaner is available at SweepScrub, and actually works pretty well for cleaning fabric in some cases. It’s not necessarily great for cleaning carpeted surfaces, but it’s worth looking into more. 

What Does a Carpet Extractor Do?

A carpet extractor washes the carpet from the bottom up. It removes ground-in soil and gives the carpet a true deep cleaning. As we explain in our article on carpet cleaner vs extractor, carpet extractors are the gold standard for keeping commercial carpets clean. 

Here’s a quick rundown of how to clean commercial carpets with a carpet extractor. 

Spray, Agitate, Extract

The carpet extractor sprays water and cleaning solution deep into the carpet. It then agitates the carpet fibers with a spinning brush that knocks grime loose. Finally, the vacuum motor extracts the dirty water, cleaning formula, and grime. This leaves the carpet looking brighter and smelling like new and helps the carpet to dry more quickly.

Ideal Use Cases for Carpet Extractors

Carpet extractors are frequently used in buildings with heavily trafficked wall-to-wall carpeting. They restore the look of hallways and rooms and help keep large commercial spaces looking professional and clean. 

You can also use extractors to clean other fabric items, particularly upholstered furniture like couches and office chairs. A carpet extractor can remove built-up oils and spills and can also be used for detailing fabric seats and floor mats in company vehicles.  

Steam Cleaner vs Carpet Extractor: The Difference Between Carpet Extractor and Steam Cleaner

The biggest difference between a carpet extractor vs steam cleaner comes down to how they use water. A carpet extractor uses large amounts of water to flush out dirt. A steam cleaner uses superheated steam to create a low-moisture cleaning vapor.  

Carpet extractors are designed primarily to remove heavily embedded soil from carpets and upholstery. A steam cleaner is intended primarily for hard surfaces. While you maybe able to use a steam cleaner for spot cleaning fabric, you can’t use it to wash carpets. 

Ultimately, your decision on purchasing a steam cleaner vs carpet extractor comes down to your cleaning needs. Use a carpet extractor for dirty carpets, and a steam cleaner when you want to clean kitchens, bathrooms, and hard surfaces without chemicals. 

Here is a more detailed guide to the difference between carpet extractor and steam cleaner. 

Heat vs Extraction

Steam cleaners use heat to sterilize surfaces and loosen surface dirt. Carpet extractors wash and scrub carpet fibers, then extract the water with a powerful vacuum motor. 

Heat cleaning works well on a hard surface. Extraction removes sand, mud, and dirt from carpets and upholstery.

Cleaning Depth and Residue Removal

One difference between carpet extractor and steam cleaner is cleaning depth. Steam can reach into the pores of tile grout or countertops to kill germs, but won’t penetrate thick materials. A steam cleaner will only clean the top carpet fibers and won’t reach the ground-in dirt. 

The toughest grime and dirt lies at the bottom of the carpet. That’s why carpet extractors force water and cleaning solution down to the carpet base. They’re designed to remove soil and residue that’s been packed down for months or even years. 

Carpet Compatibility and Fabric Sensitivity

Steam cleaners should be used with extreme caution for spot-cleaning upholstery and should not be used at all on carpets. Their high heat can discolor or shrink fibers and weaken the glue that holds the carpet together. 

Carpet extractors are designed to clean the synthetic carpets found in most homes and offices. They do not use high temperatures so there is no risk of damage.

Water Usage and Drying Times

Another big difference between a steam cleaner vs carpet extractor is water usage. You can steam clean for hours with only a small amount of water. Because it is superheated, steam-cleaned surfaces dry within a few minutes.

A carpet extractor uses large quantities of water to flush away dirt and grime. While the extractor sucks away much of that water in the final stage, it will still take between 6 and 24 hours for the carpet to dry completely. 

Facility Type and Hygiene Requirements

A steam cleaner is a must if your job requires sterilized surfaces. Medical, food, and beverage facilities use steam cleaners to keep their workplace clean and compliant with all hygienic rules and regulations.

Carpeted commercial buildings get a lot of regular foot traffic, and that means lots of ground-in dirt on the carpets. A carpet extractor gets that dirt out and leaves your space looking clean and professional.

Can You Use Both Machines in Your Arsenal?

Absolutely! Carpet extractors and steam cleaners perform very different tasks. You will need a carpet extractor for deep cleaning carpets and large rugs. Hard surfaces will require a steam cleaner for sanitation and cleaning. 

Instead of choosing between a steam cleaner vs carpet extractor, many facilities use both for a complete cleaning program. If you need to clean both tile floors and carpets at your facility, or if you want your cleaning company to expand its operations, you need both machines. 

When you own both machines, you’re prepared for any cleaning challenge. Instead of thinking in terms of a carpet extractor vs steam cleaner, consider the different strengths of each machine and use each as needed on every cleaning job. 

Find All the Cleaning Equipment You Need at SweepScrub!

You need the right cleaning equipment for the most thorough and efficient cleaning. SweepScrub carries a broad selection of the industry’s best carpet extractors and steam cleaners. We can help you clean small businesses or large commercial facilities. 

You have many choices when deciding between a carpet extractor vs steam cleaner. Our expert customer support team is happy to give you informed advice. We’ll work with you to select equipment that meets your cleaning needs. 

Depend on SweepScrub for all your commercial cleaning equipment needs.

Closing Thoughts on the Carpet Extractor vs Steam Cleaner

Uncertain about your choice between a carpet extractor vs steam cleaner? Consider your workplace needs.

Choose carpet extractors if you mainly work with dirty, stained, or high-traffic carpeted floors. Use steam cleaners to clean hard floors like kitchens and bathrooms.

But you’re likely to find many jobs that involve both carpeted floors and hard surfaces. When you own both a carpet extractor and a steam cleaner, you’re set for almost every cleaning task. 

Whether you’re looking for the best commercial carpet extractor or want to add a steam cleaner to your arsenal, we can help. If you want durable and reliable commercial cleaning equipment at a fair price and with top-notch support, the choice is clear - choose SweepScrub!