Is a STEAM cleaner the same thing as a wet vac?

Question

I have a steam cleaner that I borrowed to get rid of cat pee. But online they are telling me to use a wet-vac with no soap to push water through the carpet and pull it back out. Are these two the same thing or do I need to RENT a wet-vac?

Answer 1

They are not the same.  The steam cleaner generally uses a soap solution to help with the cleaning.  A wet-vac is good for picking up water.  Now I never considered using a wet-vac to pick water up from carpet, but in principal it should work.  Now if you have a steam cleaner some times it takes more than several application to clean up different types of stain.  In this cases you have to decide how much cleaning you should do.  Good Luck

Answer 2

A steam cleaner is not the same thing as a wet vac.  And a vapor steam cleaner is not the same thing as a steam cleaner.  All three are different.   A wet vac (or a wet/dry vac) allows you to pick up liquid spills or dry debris.  A steam cleaner is a cleaning device for things like carpets.  A vapor steam cleaner is used to clean, sanitize and deodorize just about anything.  What is great about the vapor steam cleaner is the fact that you don’t have to use toxic chemicals.

Answer 3

A steam cleaner doesn't really use steam, just hot water.  It sprays the water down and vacuums it back up hopefully along with dirt or whatever else you might be trying to get rid of.

A wet vac is commonly a shop vacuum.  It is just a vacuum with a tank that can vacuum up water or dry material.  It doesn't spray anything into the carpet.

For the cat pee and a wet vac, you'd have to spray water or something into the carpet.  There are products available that help neutralize pet urine that you can spray on and pull back out with either a wet vac or a so-called steam cleaner.  

The wet-vac or shop vac is much less expensive than a steam cleaner, if you  don't already own either.  Places like Lowes have a good selection of shop vacs.  

Since you already borrowed the steam cleaner, it will do the job.  I would probably get a good cat stain & odor spray too and  spray it in, let it sit per the instructions, then use the cleaner.

Answer 4

A steam cleaner will have a tank and will heat the water which it sprays into the carpet, have a place for cleaning solution to be added, and has wet vacuum features. You don't need anything else for your needs. 'A wet vac' could, however, just refer to a shop vacuum capable of picking up water / fluids.

I would run some Nature's Miracle through the machine too, the enzymes in it are the best I've used at breaking down cat pee.

At least on the Rug Doctor machines you can rent at most supermarkets, the heat / spray / vacuum are three separate controls.

Answer 5

A wet vac is not a "steam cleaner". A steam cleaner ( its not really steam it hot water extraction)  shoots water with some kind of cleaning solution into the carpet and remove it with extraction (suction). Cat urine is difficult to remove, its very concentrated and once it gets into the pad it tough to remove. the smell. A wet vac uses suction to remove water or what ever is under the scrub wand, to keep it in a holding tank.

Answer 6

same