Renting a rug doctor?

[mommyluv]

I have been in my home for about two years now. Three kids and two dogs are starting to show its wear. There is no way that new carpet can fit into the budget. And at this point I do not think that buying a carpet machine is worth the cost. Has anyone ever used a rug doctor and do you think it was worth the cost? It is not a big space but I really don't like the way the carpet looks. We have a no food or drink rule in the front room with the kids and there has only been one animal accident. It is one of those builder light carpets. I cannot stand how light it is but I really need to clean it. Any ideas other then the rug doctor?

[tfjonas]

We rent Rug Doctors from Price Chopper all the time. It gets the carpet pretty clean. I suggest it!

[gematree]

Have it cleaned by Sears or Steamwhatever, find out if they can "dye" the carpet darker. You asked for other ideas and that's mine.

[honeypie]

You might get an estimate from one of those "steam cleaning" companies. It might cost less than renting for a small space. Just be sure it's a firm bid and don't opt for anything more.

[GabiesNana]

I have rented Rug Doctors in the past, and did last summer also. They are getting hard to find, they used to be everywhere, even Walmart, but about the only place I found one last year was at Price Chopper. It is a quick fix for small places, but the easiest is to call one of the "steam" people. The major one in our area advertises like $99 for 3 rooms. I like that better than having to go rent it, move my own stuff and drag it back. But I like the simple things!

[mommyluv]

I ever knew you could dye a carpet!! I will have to check into that. I think I am also going to price around for some ideas. I have used a carpet machine in the past in our old house. But I have never rented one and at this point, I am looking to keep the cost down. New carpet is completely out of the picture, until I finish school. Thanks for the ideas and the opinions!!

[PartyofSeven]

I'd rethink the whole "not buying" a carpet cleaner idea. We bought one many, many years ago for $100. We use it several times a year and have even cleaned other family members' carpet. We've definitely gotten our money's worth out of it. I remember renting one one time before we bought it and we ended up spending OVER $100.

[hotmomma]

If it's just your front room that's bothering you, a LOT of those steamcleaner companies will do one room free. We get that a lot.

[mommyluv]

Thanks so much for all the input. The way things are looking I am going to rent one. I went to walmart this morning to price some machines and as much as I could probably use one, it is just not in the budget. I am hoping that maybe we can when taxes come around. I had one years ago and they do come in handy with kids and animals. I got my moneys worth, I ran it into the ground. Since we moved it has been on the list but it is gaining dust with everything else we are dealing with. Let's see how things go next week!

[hankyspankymom]

We had that light carpet that showed everything and you will not beleive what I did. I put 1/2 warm water and 1/2 ammonia into our carpet shampooer and it got my carpets so white. Problem was that they kept getting dirty and I had to clean them about once a month. I hated dealing with that dirty water in that machine and I always feared that I was destroying the carpets with that ammonia. It did work though!