How to you deep clean your area rug?

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I have wood floors except for one large area rug (3x3m) which is white (I know!)

After a year we have done a good job of keeping it clean but it now does look slightly faded/grubby in places and needs a good spring clean.

Got a quote for £230!!!!!

Does anyone have any advice for how to do this cheaply? I don't want to simply scrub it myself as I want to really get a deep clean done. Is it worth hiring one of those rug doctor things, or even buying a steam cleaner? What will really get the grime out and make it white and fluffy again?

I have one that goes in the washing machine.

Keep ringing round for more quotes - £230 is very expensive - i had a similar sized rug, my stairs carpet, landing, 2 bedrooms, a chair, ottoman and a sofa cleaned last summer for around £200.

I took my rug to a laundrette and it was £50 for them to put it through their big washing machine. Mine is patterned so stains etc are less noticeable. It wasn't perfectly clean but it was a pretty crappy laundrette tbf.

It's far too big to carry to a launderette or put in the washing machine!

I will keep phoning for quotes but just wondered if there were other hireable or buyable gadgets that actually work.

Rug doctors are really handy if it’s not really thick pile. You can hire them for not too much money. I do my sofas at the same time.

I was also going to suggest hiring a rug doctor. They're usually £20-£30 and you can get them in places like Homebase or some supermarkets like asda.
It's really satisfying seeing all the dirt in the carrier when you tip it away.