Rug Doctor

[GoinAllTheWay]

These things worth renting? Only have one room to do that I'm finishing up renos in. Any alternatives that may be better? I keep seeing those units at Coop and Rona. They look kinda big and clumsy, just want to make sure they are actually effective before I start wrestling one around my place.

Any tips/advice in their use?

[kevman]

They are big and clumsy but, from my experience, they do work decent. Just make sure you move it to a "safe location" (hardwood, linoleum, etc.) before you shut it off or it's going to dump a bunch of wet sludge it just vacuumed on your otherwise clean carpet...

[WilsonFourTwo]

Honestly - no, don't bother. Over the years I have rented them (several times), bought my own, and hired a cleaning company.

For the cost of renting one (and buying chemicals) you're already close to buying a cheap residential grade cleaner. They're handy for basic cleaning and are (imo) ultimately far better value than renting the equipment.

Your best bet/value though - hire a professional. I had my (small, apartment style) condo done for about $100. The results were FAR better than anything I'd ever been able to do myself. A professional crew could do a typical home in a couple of hours, with fantastic results, for $250ish.

[troutman]

Steaming mad at dirt!

[Traditional_Ale]

Shaggy rugs are gross. Luckily, most reputable doctors know how to use shavers.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Honestly - no, don't bother. Over the years I have rented them (several times), bought my own, and hired a cleaning company.

For the cost of renting one (and buying chemicals) you're already close to buying a cheap residential grade cleaner. They're handy for basic cleaning and are (imo) ultimately far better value than renting the equipment.

Your best bet/value though - hire a professional. I had my (small, apartment style) condo done for about $100. The results were FAR better than anything I'd ever been able to do myself. A professional crew could do a typical home in a couple of hours, with fantastic results, for $250ish.

We did look at that too, our problem is we can really only do the one room right now. Once the renos are done and we don't have a ton of crap in every spare room we will have the whole house done. For now we just want to clean the carpets in the masterbedroom before moving everything back in.

[phaneuf_train]

I once knew somebody we liked to call the Rag Doctor.

[Rerun]

Ram Cleaning Service will do a room the size of a bedroom for $32, and they have discount coupons out there all the time for multiple room jobs.

I've had them do work for me in the past. They do a good job.

IMHO, this is the way to go.

http://ramservice.com/residential_cc...hp?residential

[Peanut]

We rented one from Safeway. It didn't work well at all. And for goodness sakes, whatever you do, return the thing ON TIME. We got it back 2 days late and they charged us an extra $60. So after all that, we may as well have just paid for a professional to come and do it.

[C Squared]

I was under the impression this thread would deal with the topic of gynecologists.

[You Need a Thneed]

The ones I've rented have worked pretty good, but depending on how much you need done, it sounds like hiring pros might be a better idea.

[dj_patm]

If you go into this thread thinking about what a Rug Doctor could be in the dirtiest way, its much more entertaining.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Anyone ever bought a Steam Cleaner? Bissel and Hoover seem to have a number of reasonable priced models. May be handy to actually own one.

Anyone own a Bissel or Hoover steam cleaner? Thoughts on the product?

[RW99]

Another no for the Rug Doctor here. First one was broken and the second one caused some stains and did nothing for the ones already there. I say if you can cover them up, wait till you get enough for the professionals to have it done right.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Anyone ever bought a Steam Cleaner? Bissel and Hoover seem to have a number of reasonable priced models. May be handy to actually own one.

Anyone own a Bissel or Hoover steam cleaner? Thoughts on the product?

I think my buddy has a Hoover. He actually stores it at my place as he lives in a condo, and it has been a handy investment. I think he paid about $300 10 years ago for it, and I have used it in 3 different apartment moves; him the same number... and it is handy to be able to clean the carpets every few months.

But I think the key here is storage; do you have a place to keep an oversized vacuum that you only use every few months?

[GoinAllTheWay]

/\/\/\/\

Yep, sure do. Bought a Bissel one for just under $300. Pretty impressed, it took out stains that had been there for years and the water, oh my God the water, it was as black as midnight.

Blasts through the cleaning solution pretty good but certainly improved the condition of the carpet. Bought this place when I was 25, haven't ever had the carpets cleaned. Can't wait to do the rest now, carpet looks so fresh and smells clean. Seems to have removed the smell of smoke too.

[fredr123]

We bought a Hoover a couple years ago on sale for just under $200. It's not in the same class as the more robust models you rent but it still does the trick. With light colored carpets and two kids, it has come in hand more than once.

I wish it had a higher capacity though as it seems we're always emptying/filling the dern thing but I suppose that's what we get for getting a cheaper/smaller model.

The amount of hair and dirt and black water that thing picks up is disgusting...

[GoinAllTheWay]

/\

That seems to be common on most of the ones I was looking at. I couldn't even finish one room without having to refill it. Not a biggie really, not something I'm going to worry about.