Anyone ever hired a Rug Doctor carpet cleaner?

[NappyChange]

My cream carpets in the bedrooms are looking a bit shabby and our local Homebase are hiring them out for 24hrs for £20 + about £8 for the cleaning fluid.
Has anyone every used one and if so, what were the results like?
Did the carpets take a while to dry?

[kinki]

We hired one, never again. There was a blockage in the pipe that takes the water off the carpet. Consequence was the carpet got drenched and we couldn't get the water up. The carpet was wool and shrunk about 2 inches from the walls. We tried to claim damages, but there was a clause in the small print which meant we couldn't claim a penny off them. It cost us over £1000 to replace the carpet.

If you do it, make sure the pipes are clear and don't oversoak the carpet. I'd never use one again on principle. I'm planning on getting someone in to do my carpets. It'll cost a bit extra but it will be worth it for the insurance.

[prettybird]

We've hired one a few times anf never had any problems. The carpets are left relatively dry - but if you can do it just before going out, then that is better.

It's scary how much dirt comes out.

[EricL]

Yeah - they are good. They don't wet the carpets that much either as the water just passes through the carpet fibres really.

It takes longer than you think though and once you have done it you end up wanting to do it every month.

[ReadySteadyTrickOrTreat]

I've used one before, and got on really well with it. Would agree with Prettybird - it is scary seeing the colour of the water afterwards and if you can go out and leave them for a bit, then probably a good idea. My carpets at the time were a biscuit beige colour, and they came up brilliant, I did clean out the pipes before I used it, as kinki suggests, but then I am fussy like that

[octavia]

They are great and the carpets come up beautifully clean and the tools that come with it are great for doing the stairs/corners/settee.The only thing I didn't like was having to fill/empty the tank so often.Its only a small tank and the novelty wore off after a while! Did think about hiring an industrial one but then we decided to have wooden floors downstairs so problem solved

[lilymolly]

I know this is an old thread but thinking of hiring in one of these.

Anyone else any experience and how easy is it to do when you are 22 weeks pregnant (but relatively fit and not at all wimpish about lifting things)

How difficult is the stairs?
Ta very much x

[Pennies]

I'm not sure I would have done this when 22 weeks PG (and had very normal pregnancies). It is quite tiring work, the machine is very heavy (difficult to get in and out of the car) and you do ned to keep emptying it and refilling it so that means lugging buckets of water around too.

Can you get your DH / DP to do it whilst you shout instructions supervise?

[lilymolly]

Is it really that heavy?

I am sure I will be capable of shouting instructions supervising dp

Will hire it over a weekend so that he can help

What are they like on the stairs?

[guyFAwkesreQuiem]

oh god I hired one a few weeks ago - amazing stuff - took marks out that were there when we moved in 4yrs ago (and I was convinced were the sort that even the pro's would say "impossible" to remove).

[Pennies]

It is quite heavy - all the weight is at the base of the machine which is what makes it so difficult to get in and out of the car.

Works a treat though.

[lilymolly]

All of my carpets are upstairs, so would I be correct in getting dp or other hunky man to help lift it upstairs?

[Thejim27]

Just hired rug doctor from morrisons I have a think pile carpet and have now had to throw it away due to the smell it left my advice is don't don't use it if you have an expensive carpet don't need this just before Xmas not a very happy person would give rug doctor a zero out of ten leaves to much water in your carpet and underlay