My Good News First

I’m moving out on my own and I want to do a thorough carpet cleaning of the new apartment before I move in. I really don’t want a cleaner with too many bags and one that makes you buy expensive cleaning things all the time.

Rent a Rug Dr. That’s the name of it. I have bought my own cleaner and within 3 months the thing didn’t work. It cost me 250 bucks and now it’s worthless. I could have rented a Rug Dr. quiet a few times with that money and saved myself the aggravation. But honestly most apartments are steam cleaned before they are moved into anyway. It’s also possible to carpet may be new depending on the circumstances with the previous tenants.
The Rug Dr. is pretty contained and from what I can remember doesn’t have a crazy amount of hoses and bags

high sleeper beds

THEY WORK…BUT NOT AS WELL AS A COMPANY COMING TO DO IT AND CHARGE YOU ALOT OF MONEY…NOW IF YOU DO IT YOURSELF YOU MAY WANT TO GET YOURSELF A DISINFECTED THAT IS CALLED ODOR BAN…THE STUFF IS GREAT FOR ALL KINDS OF BUGS, SMELLS OF EVERY KIND……IT IS USED ALOT IN NURSING CARE HOMES TO MAKE IS SMELL ALOT NICER…GIVE IT A TRY…HAPPY CLEANING…………….

A lot of carpet cleaners are called steam cleaners or steamers but reading their literature there is no mention of how steam is produced or used.
It would seem a misuse of the nomenclature.

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Its not technically steam, usually you add hot water to it, it sprays or mists the solution onto the carpet and sucks it back out. Warm water is better than cold water since it mixes with the detergent better and loosens up the dirt.

But yes its not technically steam, good luck getting hundreds of manufactureres to rename something that’s been around 70 years

I have an older light colored wall to wall carpet with many spots and stains. It’s a real pain to treat the spots by hand. I’ve considered renting the "steam cleaners" from the grocery store or purchasing a hand held "carpet extractor". They both work the same way, spraying steaming hot water and detergent into the rug, then vacuuming it up along with the dirt or stain.

If you’ve used one of these – or both – please give me the benefit of your advice. How well do they clean mud and food spots, how easy are they to use, and how wet do they leave the carpet? Thanks!

There are good and bad portable cleaners, some refer to these as steam cleaners but generally they are hot water extractors. A good one with a heat exchanger and a powerful vacuum (cfm) which is what you need to get all the water out and have less drying time are expensive to buy and not for rent unless your in the profession. I would suggest calling a company that has a "TRUCK MOUNTED" steam system for your initial cleaning which are very powerfull machines and are real steam cleaners.and then you can maintain your carpet if you like with a portable extractor which also work great for your spot cleaning if you have one at hand, if not keep the stain damp with wet towels until you get one or call someone in to remove the stain. Don’t rub the stain into the carpet with cleaning solutions, extract it out.

I have tried oxi-clean, laundry stain removers, steam cleaners, carpet cleaners…….any home remedies??

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