Best carpet cleaner

[BoBoo]

Can anyone recommend an amazing carpet clener? Bought Bissel Proheat a couple of years ago as it was a Which best buy, but I hate it. It's heavy and unweidly and it seems that every time I use it something different goes wrong - water doesn't come out, doesn't suck up the water, accessories bit doesn't work and while it makes a difference, it doesn't even seem to clean that well.

Unfortunately we have a beige carpet (not my choice) and children (plus two messy adults) so I think it's time to look for another one. Any recommendations

----

This thread is quite old now so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but if you’ve landed here looking for product recommendations, we’ve recently updated our guide to the best carpet cleaners with lots of options, as tried and tested by Mumsnet users and editors. We hope you find it useful.
MNHQ

[delasi]

Watching with curiosity as I have a similarly light carpet. However I will add that a rubber broom does wonders for getting out all of the dirt, dust and hairs, which in turn helps it to keep looking light and clean. The carpet comes up looking quite good with just using that.

Sorry, I realise it's not an actual carpet cleaner, but thought I'd share anyway.

[BoBoo]

Rubber broom? I hadn't even realised there was such a thing. Not sure it would make much difference, but worth a tenner to find out. Will give it a go; thanks delasi.

[addictedtolatte]

I have a light colour carpet and use large area carpet cleaner by vanish its fantastic. It actually works :-)

[Whereisegg]

We have a cream carpet, with a lovely path of dirt from one side to the other

Recently borrowed a vac rapide.
Used it 4 times and starting to notice a difference now, but I expected it to be quite a bit better than it is after 4 goes.
It is light and easy to empty though, so it doesn't fill me with dread every time.

[delasi]

addicted (sorry to hijack thread BoBoo ) I bought that Vanish carpet cleaner (well, I think it's the same) but then saw it said not to be used with a bagless vacuum - how did you use it? Did you have to vacuum it with a bagged cleaner or did you use it differently?

[BoBoo]

Don't worry about hijacking, it's all useful. Have decided to give the Vax Dual V a try as it seems to get good reviews and found a site with 25% off, so came out at £130. Will let you know how I get on with it...

[addictedtolatte]

Delasi I had a bagged Hoover but I never read the instructions that thoroughly so didn't realise it had to be bagged

[NoForkNKnife]

We have a pale cream carpet (why????!) wnd hire a rug doctor every 6 months. The last time I used it, it was a brand new one and it has made the caroet look brand new! Considering I was about to rip it up and throw it, it was well worth the £20 and a few hours work.
The cleaning products to go with it are at least another £10, but I always have enough to do anither go next time.
I've converted all my friends with carpets.
www.rugdoctor.co.uk/store-locator

[Somanyexcuses]

NO to the vanish.

RUINED our carpet when we used it last weekend. I cried for an hour. The carpet was dark brown, past its best so we got the vanish stuff hoping it would improve it.

We now have a dark brown carpet that is very 'bobbly' with hundreds of white specks and splodges on it, I assume there must have been dirty patches or invisible sticky patches (where dcs had spilt juice?) but the vanish stuck to these bits and it looks disgusting.

Wish we hadn't used it. The carpet looked worn before but at least it was all one colour!

[BoBoo]

I've used the rug doctor, with okay results, but we don't have a car so it's awkward to pick up and I need to use something more than every six months so really want something that's on hand. Our carpet is horrible and picks up dirt really easily and it awful to clean. As soon as we have some money it's gone.

Somany, the Vanish website says you may get some residue and to remove with a soft brush and vacuum again - have you tried that?

[Somanyexcuses]

Yes we have brushed and hoovered lots! I'm sure it's because dcs have spilt juice and where it's sticky it just won't dry. It looks truly horrendous.

We have just covered it up with a rug that we had upstairs as cant afford a new carpet. I tried to scrub off the patches that can still be seen.

[delasi]

Has anyone used any other types of carpet cleaner/shampoo? Surely there must be an old tried and tested method at least. Bicarb, vinegar and soda crystal are usually the answers to cleaning problems but not sure if they're suited to carpets!

[eggsandwich]

I've got a bissell pro-heat in fact I've had three and think they are brilliant, one of our bissell's we use for cleaning our rental properties as they are left quite often in a state, and the other I use at our home as we have cream carpets which do get dirty what with having two children, One of which has special needs. You do have to clean the filters out from time to time, but think you must of just been unlucky, though they do vary in price we have the more expensive ones but they are worth it.

[kazzawazzawoo]

I know this is an old thread, but I was just about to start my own, so wondered if anyone has any new ideas?

DDs carpet is filthy, big stains where she's spilt stuff, small stains. It's mainly juice and water, but Vanish spray on just isn't shifting it.

Can't afford to buy a carpet cleaner or hire a Rug Doctor thing really. Can I wash it with soda crystals or bio/non bio washing liquid? Any particular carpet spray that is really good and can deal with larger areas, say 1 foot by 1 foot approx?