I understand there is more than one method for commercial carpet cleaners to clean carpet; steam, chemical, soap and water, is one method better than the other? My tap water is loaded with minerals (mostly calcium and magnesium) so I don’t want to use it.

My grandmother in laws house has wood paneling in her front room. She is a heavy smoker and I have been trying to get the nicotine out of the wood. I tried using bleach and hot water, 409 which seems to work well on the painted walls and soap and water with an sos pad and all it does is leave the blue residue. I dont know what else to try.. I was thinking about getting one of those hand held steam cleaners that I seen on an infomercial that comes with the H20 mop. I dont know if it will work tho. Any Ideas??