Has anyone ever rented a "Rug Doctor" - and do they do a good job???

[FAQ]

These carpets badly need cleaning - properly. Obviously renting a machine is going to work out cheaper than getting someone in - but are they any good???

pg3 - Berber Carpets

We used to hire the rug doctor every year from Homebase.Costs around £25(plus the shampoo)and brings the carpets up a treat.Well worth hiring one imho.

Thanks FAQ!

Morrisons Dry Cleaners also hire them.

Can I ask anyone with a VAX - does this do a similar job or should I used a rug doctor first and then buy a VAX to maintain it as this is bound to work out cheaper in the long run?

fizzpops - I have a vax (very new) - and although it did sort of clean them ok - it wasn't brilliant (lots of yucky brown/black water emptied out of it) - although I guess if I'd done it daily for a week or so it may have looked better I decided it would be better do a one off "deep clean" and then use the Vax to maintain it.

But my carpets were/are in an AWFUL state so it may be different if you only have slightly mucky carpets

Thanks FAQ. Our carpets were only put in in January but we have had the builders in and a number of accidents with coffee etc which have left conspicuous marks.

Think getting a one off deep clean is a good idea and then we can decide whether to invest in a VAX. Have always had a yearning for one . Think it must be the idea of the yucky water and how sparkling my carpets will be afterwards.