Best way to clean carpets???

[missseptember]

I live in a rented house that has a brown carpet. It's brilliant for toddler spills etc as they don't show so much but I'm having to admit defeat and admit that it does really need a clean. Carpeted area is only living room, stairs and dd's bedroom.
Does anyone know that best way to clean the whole carpet rather than just the odd stain?
Is it worth renting something like a 'rug doctor' (are they expensive/easyto use?) or are there things I can buy from supermarket that do the job just as well?
Am a bit , first time I've had to clean a carpet!
Thanks

You can hire carpet shampoo machines, often from drycleaners. Supermarkets with drycleaners have them too. Pay by the day, cleaning solution, instructions, all you need included. You can do this yourself with a bit of organisation, move as much furniture a you can, and hoover first to get up the loose dirt.

I've rented carpet cleaning machines in the past and they work fine. The instructions are easy to follow, and as long as you devote yourself to the task you should be done in a day, but the carpets take a bit to dry, so plan on staying out while this part of the process happens.

I couldn't believe the dirt that came out of the carpet -- it didn't look too bad before I cleaned it .