Rental rug cleaners--your experience?

[blondeatlast]

My puppy got a little sick and whil most of it has come up, there are faint stains. Carpet is less than 3 years old and teflon treated.

Do I need to call a pro or will a Rug Doctor or similar do the job (just one area less than 30 feet square)?

Thanks.

[MrCoffee]

1. I have found them to be nothing but a waste of time and money.

I worked for a bit as a carpet cleaner with a truck-mounted setup. Those Rug Doctor contraptions are completely useless, IMHO.

[blondeatlast]

2. I kind of thought they might be; just trying to save money.

I can find cheap carpet cleaning but they charge so much for treating the stains. Still, I'm leaning to the pros for this one.

Thank you.

[Shakespeare]

3. If you need to spot clean, this stuff is miraculous.

I bought it to use on upholstery, but it works wonders on carpet, too. I've never seen ANYTHING remove stains (bad ones, too) like this does:

http://home-solutions.hsn.com/professor-amos-5-piece-upholstery-cleaner-set_p-3350481_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=3350481&sf=hw&dept=hw0003&attr=1080&ocm=hw

It comes in a concentrate, so it also lasts a LONG time. The worse the stain, the less dilute you'll use it.

[blondeatlast]

4. Thanks--I'll try that! Snickering at the "lipstick" stains comment--

on the SOFA? :rofl:

[MajorChode]

5. Bissell Spotbot

My wife bought one of these and it works great. She uses enzyme cleaner in it which does wonders.

We have the carpets and rugs cleaned twice per year by a pro and use the spotbot for accidents. Since our dogs are very old they have quite a few of them.

[DeepBlueC]

6. I just call ChemDry cleaners

Let'em do the whole rug...their equipment does a great job and you'll find that they extract a fresh pet's worth of doghair. I'm just waiting for winter weather to subside to have mine done again. It's worth it to me to see my carpeting look like new again.

[applegrove]

7. I've rented one to clean an apartment as I was moving. Didn't do a good job. I had to hire

a cleaner as I left.

[SacredCow]

8. They don't do much for stains.

If the whole rug is just dirty and gross, they help a little (but only a little).

For the greatest part, Rug Doctors are a waste of money.

[flvegan]

9. If you can find it, Odaban Pet Stain Control spray.

Works miracles. Commercial grade. Most Home Depot stores (I know, the evil) carry it. $6/bottle.

[tigereye]

10. I usually use the services... just because I don't want to deal with it myself