Carpet cleaners

[MrsCadwallader]

I'm hiring a DIY carpet cleaner from the dry cleaners tomorrow . We have it for 48 hours and will need to use it around three children.

Has anyone used one? Can you give me any idea how long it is likely to take me to clean the carpets in one modestly-sized three-bedroomed mid-terrace? I'm aiming to do sitting / dining room (dire need ) stairs and landing, and the 3 bedrooms. I'm trying to work out what's the best order to do the rooms in - especially as the sitting room, dining room and stairs might benefit from 2 goes.

So - will it be easy to use? Is it really dry in 2 hours like the blurb said? Would we be better off cleaning through the night rather than in the day??! Any tips generally?

Feeling rather about this whole urge to clean thing. Something has gone wrong in my brain.

I own one. Well a Vax one, but I guess the one you are getting will be Rug Doctor?

Yes they do dry quickly, but not quite 2 hours.

They are very, very noisy so you'd definately be better off doing it during the day. It's dry enough to walk on immediately. It sucks up the water as it goes so your carpets don't get sogging wet.

My only tip is don't use 1001 carpet solution. It's rubbish. do rinse if the solution you are using says it's required. Otherwise your carpet wil be left with a 'film' of cleaner on it that will attract more dirt to it. I'd rinse anyway tbh. I always do, but mine has a rinse button, so it's easier than having to empty and refill the whole machine. I don't know about Rug Doctor.

Rinse??!

Never thought of that.....

[way out of her depth already emoticon]