The Market for High-Temperature Steam Cleaners in the Pet Services Industry

I.The Market for High-Temperature Steam Cleaners in the Pet Services Industry

China's pet economy has surpassed 300 billion yuan, with the cleaning and care products market accounting for 12 billion yuan. This seemingly prosperous market hides deep-seated contradictions that constrain its development. Since 2024, more than a dozen chain establishments, including Le Rui Pet Hotel, have closed, with prepayment disputes and service complaints remaining high. The lack of standardization in cleaning services is one of the core factors contributing to the trust crisis.

Traditional cleaning methods are no longer able to meet the demands of industry upgrades. Fecal matter and food debris in the cracks of pet shop cages breed E. coli and fungi, creating a pungent odor that is a major source of customer complaints. Pet hair entangled in the cracks of washing stations and residual shower gel foam on the floor not only increase the cleaning burden on store staff but also increase the risk of pets slipping and injuring themselves. The invisible threat of mites and bacteria on cat climbing frames and pet toys in public play areas is directly linked to the incidence of pet skin allergies. Of even greater concern is the fact that 75% of small and medium-sized businesses lack standardized disinfection procedures. Some shops directly use chemical agents such as 84 disinfectant, leaving residue that poses a potential health hazard to pets and deterring 68% of safety-conscious consumers.

The implementation of the "Guidelines for Cleaning and Disinfection of Pet Business Premises" (GB/T 45204-2025) in August 2025 sets clear red lines for the industry: disinfectant contact time must be 10 minutes or longer, and towels in different areas must be categorized and labeled. This makes the traditional model of manual wiping and chemical disinfection unsustainable. Against this backdrop, high-temperature steam cleaners, which combine efficient cleaning, deep sterilization, and safety without residue, are becoming a key solution to the industry's challenges.

II. Technology Empowerment: The Core Competitiveness and Application Penetration of High-Temperature Steam Cleaners

Leveraging its technological advantages of temperature control, synchronized spraying and extraction, and adaptability to multiple scenarios, high-temperature steam cleaners precisely address the five major cleaning pain points in the pet service industry, and their market value has been fully demonstrated in specific scenarios.

(I) Cage Cleaning: A Double Breakthrough in Efficiency and Safety

Pet cages are core living spaces, and the quality of their cleaning directly impacts pet health and customer satisfaction. The traditional "brushing with a brush and wiping with a damp cloth" method takes 30 minutes to clean a double-layer cat cage, and odors and residues in crevices are recurring problems. The steam spray-extraction cleaning machine achieves efficient cleaning through temperature gradient control and a specialized nozzle combination. For fecal residue on the cage bottom, it uses 80-90°C medium-temperature steam to soften dirt. A fine-caliber nozzle penetrates deep into crevices, and the simultaneous spray-extraction technology instantly removes dirt and moisture. For plastic cages, it uses a low-temperature setting of 70-80°C and a soft nozzle to prevent deformation.

Data from one pet shop shows that using the equipment doubled cage cleaning efficiency (only 15 minutes per set), and odor complaints dropped from 12 to 2 per month. The sterilization rate reaches 99.8%, completely eliminating the risk of chemical residue, making it a key factor in improving service reputation.

(II) Washing and Care Areas: Ensuring a Dry and Safe Environment

Tangled hair and residual wastewater on wash basins, bathtubs, and floors are frequent cleaning challenges for pet shops. These not only breed mold but can also easily cause pets to slip and get injured after bathing. The steam cleaner's splash-proof nozzle and rotating nozzle complement each other: 70-80°C medium-temperature steam flushes the wash basin, while the spray extraction system instantly removes hair and foam. The rotating nozzle uses high-temperature steam to dissolve bathtub soap scum, while the wide, hand-push nozzle cleans the floor, keeping the moisture content below 5% and drying it within 30 seconds.

This solution directly contributed to safety improvements in one store's washing and care area, reducing slipping incidents from 3 per month to zero, reducing the hair removal burden on staff by 80%, and saving significant labor costs.

(III) Public Areas and Tools and Equipment: Comprehensive Disinfection and Protection

Cloth cat climbing frames and pet toys in public play areas are hotbeds for bacterial growth, and cross-contamination of tools and equipment can spread skin diseases. Steam cleaners achieve comprehensive coverage through specialized scenario-specific designs:

Cat climbing frames use 70-80°C medium-temperature steam combined with a soft fabric nozzle, achieving a 99.5% mite removal rate, leaving fabrics fluffy and odor-free.

Dog runners use 90-100°C high-temperature steam to decompose ammonia residue from urine, completely eliminating recurring odors.

Combs, scissors, and other tools use 60-70°C low-temperature steam, with ultra-fine nozzles that penetrate deep into the crevices of the comb teeth to prevent cross-contamination.

After upgrading tool cleaning, one store's pet cross-contamination rate dropped from 15% to 3%, and tool life doubled, reducing operating costs while providing a reassuring service experience for customers.

III. Market Opportunities: Growth Logic Driven by Policy and Consumer Awakening

The market penetration of high-temperature steam cleaners in the pet service industry is being driven by both policy dividends and consumer demand. Its growth potential can be analyzed from three dimensions:

(I) Policy Compliance Generates Rigid Demand

The implementation of the new national standard GB/T 45204-2025 marks a shift from "voluntary upgrades" to "mandatory compliance" for cleaning in pet service facilities. Traditional cleaning methods struggle to meet disinfectant usage regulations and disinfection effectiveness requirements. High-temperature steam cleaners, with a 99.9% pathogen inactivation rate (killing pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus at 120°C for 20 seconds) and zero chemical additives, have become the preferred equipment for store certification. Data from Zhubajie.com shows that inquiries regarding "standardized pet cleaning solutions" increased by 280% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, with 80% of merchants specifically inquiring about steam cleaning equipment compatibility.

(II) Consumption Upgrades Drive Service Upgrades

As pet owners shift from basic feeding to intensive care, 68% of users prefer SGS-certified zero-additive services, placing higher demands on transparency and safety during the cleaning process. High-temperature steam cleaners' "visual cleaning" feature perfectly meets this need. Store staff can demonstrate the high-temperature sterilization process on-site, and the equipment's disinfection records and performance data can be synchronized with customers via a SaaS system, effectively addressing the industry's trust issues. One chain reported that after introducing steam cleaning equipment, customer repurchase rates increased by 25%, and willingness to make large deposits significantly increased.

(III) Cost Optimization Activates the Small and Medium-Sized Merchant Market

To address the cost concerns of small and medium-sized stores, equipment manufacturers are introducing innovative models such as "rent-to-buy." These, combined with minimalist operation features like "one-button start and intelligent temperature control" (which store staff can master in just 5 minutes), significantly lower the barrier to entry. Compared to the average price of over 20,000 yuan for commercial drying ovens, steam cleaners offer a shorter payback period—based on labor cost savings and reduced complaint rates per store, most stores can recoup their equipment investment within 3-6 months.

IV. Conclusion: The Industry Restructuring Behind the Cleaning Revolution

The widespread adoption of high-temperature steam cleaners is essentially a microcosm of the pet service industry's transformation from "extensive operations" to "standardized services." Driven by both regulatory policies and consumer demand, cleaning equipment is no longer simply a tool; it has become a core asset for building brand trust, optimizing operational efficiency, and ensuring service safety.