carpet cleaning: Machine hire or Cleaning pro?

[cooa99]

I am thinking of having the carpets cleaned. we have not cleaned it for a few years.

If we hire a machine, it would have to be either rug doctor from Morrisons supermarket or what ever brand is on offer at Speedy or HSS hire. Just wondering what your thoughts are about hiring a machine compared to getting a pro in to do the cleaning. Will the end results be the same?

I've only had 1 quote so far from a cleaning pro, that was £350 for steam clean of 3 rooms , landing , stairs and a rug downstairs.

My understanding is that a water(hot) clean is actually better than a steam clean though will take longer to dry

Also which is the better hired machine for the job?

Thanks

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

We've had them done a few times, never paid £350, get some other quotes.

 

[fourtytwo]

I have used the bigger rug doctor several times in different houses and it is very good BUT you have to lug all the furnature around that is the hardest part. Perhaps if you pay someone they do the lugging around!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I have used the bigger rug doctor several times in different houses and it is very good BUT you have to lug all the furnature around that is the hardest part. Perhaps if you pay someone they do the lugging around!

Not in my experience but then maybe that's why they were cheap.

 

[foxhole]

Bought a George , great carpet cleaner , cheaper than paying someone to do it , payed for itself very quickly.
Henry W3791 George Wet and Dry Vacuum, 15 Litre, 1060 Watt, Green, Green / Black, 40 x 40 cm https://amzn.eu/d/26xTDKh

 

[cooa99]

I’ll try and get another quote tomorrow. I’ve only got this coming week to get it done before the weather completely changes.

 

[foxhole]

H

I’ll try and get another quote tomorrow. I’ve only got this coming week to get it done before the weather completely changes.

How does weather affect your carpets?

 

[cooa99]

H

How does weather affect your carpets?

I was thinking of the time it will take to dry since we will try and leave the windows open …. I am guessing that the hired machines leave more water in the carpets than the steam cleaned carpets

 

[foxhole]

I was thinking of the time it will take to dry since we will try and leave the windows open …. I am guessing that the hired machines leave more water in the carpets than the steam cleaned carpets

Carpets dry in an hour or two.

 

[Diver Fred]

We have a Vac machine (presently on offer) wife is pleased with it.
Big thing with any carpet cleaner is learning how much liquid to allow the machine to spray into the carpet. Roughly spray on one pass - dry on three passes.

 

[justigator]

When I moved four years ago into a house with four rooms, one landing and two staircases carpeted, I bought - direct from the makers - a Vax Platinum Power Max cleaner, heavily influenced by Which? magazine rating it higher then the best (Rug Doctor) hire-able machines, and by the cost and inconvenience of occasional hire. £249 including at that point a free steam cleaner (about £100 stand-alone at the time) which is good for my two lino surfaces. The carpet cleaner works very well, as evidenced by the amount of carp it lifts off even after a vigorous vacuuming. Seems to be still available and cheaper too (about £200). Only downside is it's a bit heavy and bulky to move around, but I have the space to store. Vax cleaning solution is pricy but no difference whether you own or hire the machine.

A good few years before in a different house with a ceramic tiled floor, I bought a refurbed professional floor polisher for £250, not wanting to pay at least £40 a time to hire. Worked brilliantly and when I moved I sold it on eBay. For £250. Downside: even heavier and bulkier than the carpet cleaner.

So both appliances saved, or have saved, much more than they cost.

 

[justigator]

Forgot to say that the Vax cleaner sucks back up so much liquid that the carpet can be walked on again almost immediately.

 

[flameport]

Vax cleaning solution is pricy

Don't buy that.

This: https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-carpet-cleaning-detergent-5ltr/70509
is far preferable. Although it's a Screwfix branded item it's actually a commercial carpet cleaner made by ZEP.
Note that it can be diluted 1:100, so that one bottle is the equivalent of 500 litres of cleaning solution which will do a typical house dozens of times.