When it comes to steam cleaning you can use it for many different applications. There are two basic types of steam cleaning. One of them is your basic steam cleaning where the steam gets hot enough so that the heat generated emulsifies the grease and dirt then the cleaning unit sucks that stuff into the unit where it can be emptied out when the job is complete. The other basic form is steam vapor cleaning where the unit generates a steam vapor which essentially performs the same function. The difference is that steam cleaning generates a bit more water whereas vapor cleaning is just that, vapor.
You can rent one of these cleaner units or you may choose to purchase your own unit. Whichever route you take, if you use a cleaner that steams when it cleans you will have to let the items such as a rug or carpet dry for twelve to twenty four hours before you can walk on it or otherwise use it. You can also hire a company to come in and clean your home with a cleaning unit that uses either steam or vapor to clean.
If you carpets or upholstery is exceptionally dirty, then a steam cleaner may be the only way to go to clean them thoroughly. The steam cleaner puts steam deep into the fibers of the carpet and steams them clean. Some cleaners use a solvent others only use the jet of hot water. A good operator will carefully determine how much hot water they need to properly steam clean the carpet. A novice user like you may overwater the carpet and that can cause problems.
After the carpet steaming machine jets in the hot water, the machine will have a powerful suction that will suck up the loosened grease, dirt, mild, dead bugs, or whatever else may have been residing in the carpet pile. A good operator will get the whole carpet almost dry so drying time will be a minimum.
You can use this form of cleaning on different areas other than fabric covered areas. You can clean with steam tile or other hard surfaces.