Extraction with heated cleaning fluid

1. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a cleaner head for movement along a surface to be cleaned;

a fluid supply system, including at least one fluid dispenser mounted to the cleaner head and adapted to apply a fluid to a surface to be cleaned;

a suction nozzle mounted to the cleaner head;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for removing fluid from the surface through the suction nozzle; and

a heating element associated with the cleaner head for heating the fluid comprising a cylinder that is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis;

wherein the heating element is positioned between the at least one dispenser and the surface to be cleaned for heating the fluid subsequent to discharge from the at least one dispenser.

2. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dispenser is mounted for discharge of the fluid onto the heating element prior to the fluid being applied to the surface.

3. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a chamber that has at least one fluid outlet, the chamber is fluidly connected to the at least one dispenser whereby the fluid passes from the at least one dispenser into the chamber to be heated and the heated fluid passes through the at least one fluid outlet to the surface.

4. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is adapted to generate steam.

5. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising a rotating brush assembly mounted in the cleaner head for scrubbing the surface to be cleaned.

6. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the heating element is positioned between the suction nozzle and the rotating brush assembly.

7. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is adapted to contact and thereby heat the surface to be cleaned during movement of the cleaner head along the surface; and wherein the heating element is positioned so that the fluid is heated at least in part by the heated surface as the cleaning fluid is applied to the surface to be cleaned.

8. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a cleaner head for movement along a surface to be cleaned;

a fluid supply system, including at least one fluid dispenser mounted to the cleaner head and adapted to apply a fluid to a surface to be cleaned;

a suction nozzle mounted to the cleaner head;

a vacuum source associated with the cleaner head for removing fluid from the surface through the suction nozzle; and

a cylindrical heating element mounted to the cleaner head adjacent the at least one dispenser for rotation about a horizontal axis and adapted to contact the surface to be cleaned during movement of the cleaner head along the surface;

wherein the heating element is positioned so that the fluid is heated at least in part by the heated surface as the cleaning fluid is applied to the surface to be cleaned.

9. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the heating element comprises a rectilinear body that extends horizontally and parallel to the suction nozzle.

10. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one dispenser is positioned to discharge cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid dispensing system into contact with the heating element prior to the application of fluid to the surface to be cleaned.

11. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the heating element comprises a heated chamber that has at least one fluid outlet and a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet is fluidly connected to the at least one dispenser, and the fluid is discharged from the fluid dispensing system into the chamber to be heated and delivered through the at least one fluid outlet to the surface.

12. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the heating element is adapted to generate steam.

13. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , and further comprising a rotating brush assembly mounted to the module for scrubbing the surface to be cleaned.

14. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the heating element is positioned between the suction nozzle and the rotating brush assembly.

15. A method for cleaning a surface such as a carpet or a bare floor comprising the steps of applying a heated fluid to the surface and recovering soiled fluid from the surface by the application of suction to the surface, and further comprising the step of heating the fluid as it is applied to the surface to be cleaned.

16. The method for cleaning a surface according to claim 15 , wherein the heating step comprises heating the surface to be cleaned prior to the application of fluid to the surface.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the heating step further comprises heating the fluid before it is applied to the surface.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the steps of heating the fluid prior to application of fluid to the surface and the step of heating the surface to be cleaned prior to the application of fluid to the surface are carried out by a common heater.