It isn't so much as a stream machine as it is a humidifier. Steam is actually hotter than boiling water, hence the reason it actually chemically separates and goes from a liquid to a gas form. In any case, it's supposed to be hot. Whatever this thing is doing the "steam" is cold and whatever cleaning properties bissell markets it having, it cannot possess. It otherwise functions like their other spot cleaners where you honestly have to massively pretreat old stains and vacuum them several times. Their steam setting is just a gimmick.