Hiring a steam cleaner for sofas and carpets

[bigbutsrus1]

Can anyone recommend or have hired a really good steam cleaner to do their own carpets and sofas? I have been reading about steam cleaners but don't want yo take the plunge and buy one unless I know it's good!

Steam cleaners wont actually clean the carpet, it refreshes it and can make the room smell fresher but it wont clean it as such.

What olbas said. If you want to clean your carpets/upholstery you need a proper carpet cleaner - one that sucks the dirt and washing medium from the carpet/upholstery.