Steam cleaning is good for cleaning your automobile engines, concrete driveways and house siding. Steam cleaning is also useful for disinfecting your counter tops and toilet bowls.

     Steam cleaning can be very bad for your wall to wall carpeting. There are two serious complications that can develop when steam cleaning your carpeting. The home user should be aware of these issues before steam cleaning their expensive carpeting.

     To produce steam your steam machine must boil water to 212 degrees Fahrenheit and maintained the water at this very high temperature.

     The first issue is that improper or aggressive steam cleaning of wall to wall carpeting can result in carpet shrinkage. The second issue is that steam cleaning any wall to wall carpeting before all stains and odors are completely removed will typically lock those stains and odors in.

     Most home users will try to steam clean their wall to wall carpeting themselves using small steam machines they have purchased online or at their local small appliance retailer. Other users will rent a steam machine at their local grocery store. Steam machines are also referred to as vapor cleaners. Some consumers will hire a professional carpet cleaning company that specializes in truck mounted steam extraction cleaning.

     Any existing urine stains must be carefully identified with a black light and completely treated with a professional quality cleaning product before the hot steam is applied to your valuable carpeting. If you do not completely remove the pet urine the steam cleaning will set the urine stains and odor permanently by spreading out the pet urine over a much larger area.

     Steam cleaning wall to wall carpeting or upholstery before all urine issues are completely resolved will typically lock the urine odors in. Even if your carpet cleaning contractor treats your wall to wall carpeting by spraying perfume the urine odors are likely to return much stronger after the perfumes wear off.

     Once carpeting and upholstery have been steam cleaned it is virtually impossible to remove cat and dog urine. Those stains and odors will be permanently locked in so you should consider steam cleaning very carefully before proceeding. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

     Reference the urine removal, carpet cleaning, cleaning agents and the overview carpet cleaning  pages before starting your steam cleaning project.