[legion]

I've found that "steam cleaner" can refer to two very different things.

1) A machine that heats water past its boiling point and sprays steam.

I've used one of these for peeling wallpaper, getting spots out of clothing, and de-wrinkling clothing. They can cause damage to certain materials. They are also only generally suitable for small projects. (It would take you years to clean a carpet with a consumer grade one, and a professional-grade one is cost-prohibitive.)

2) A machine that uses whatever temperature water you dump into it with some detergent and spray and then sucks the water out of carpeting.

I've rented some of the big Bissel's, and own a Bissel SpotBot.

Before SpotBot: "Crap, the cat threw up. Guess I'll go collect the carpet cleaner, then dab and spray for the next 45 minutes, and again tomorrow after more of the stain comes up."

After SpotBot: "Crap, the cat threw up. Guess I'll go grab the SpotBot, set it on the stain, and set it for 'set-in stain'. It will beep in 20 minutes when it is done, and I will put it away."