My Opinions On The New Rug Doctor

[crazykirbydude]

Some of you may or may not be aware of Rug Doctor's recent design changes. They binned the old tried-and-true design in favor of a new design. I rented one and wasn't too happy with it. For starters, they have ditched their famous vibrating brush in favor of a rotating brush. The thing about the rotating brush is that it gets nasty really quickly. I never had a problem with a hair wrapped brush on the old model, but with the new model, I had to stick my hand into other people's nasty wet hair and dirt to clean out the brushroll. They also made the dirty water tank really hard to clean. The old model had a white tub that slid into the front of the machine, and then a clear plastic hood with an easily removable hair screen was clipped in place on top of the tub. The new model has a tank with a small hole smack dab in the middle on the back of the cleaner. This makes it super hard to empty out dirt and water, and it starts to smell really bad after only a couple uses. Also, the filter screen is built into the tank, and unless you have small hands, you're not going to get that filter clean. Even if you can get your hand in there, you're going to be scraping dirty, nasty globs of wet dirt off of that filter. The new recovery tank tends to drip a bit when it is removed from the cleaner for emptying, meaning that you will get dirty drips all over your clean carpet that you will have to go over again. They also changed the process too. This new model cleans on both the forward and backwards strokes, but somehow it takes longer than the old machine that only went backwards. With the new method, you need to make two forward and back strokes with the soap and scrub on, and then two dry suction passes. With the old method, you just do one backwards stroke with the soap and brush and one backwards dry suction stroke. I think they made this change because the new model has a weaker suction motor. Regardless, this new method takes 2X the time. Also, they updated the hand tool to include a motorized brush. This still has the stupid rotating brush, but they added a gas pump style handle, making the whole hand tool a heavy, clunky mess. It used to be easy to clean your car with the old hand tool, but it was an absolute pain with this new tool. The only positives that I can think of are the removable clean water tank and an easier tool hose connection, both of which the old model did not have. Overall, I am disappointed by this new Rug Doctor, and I prefer the old version.

 

[henrydreyfuss]

Ouch!

That's disappointing to hear. Although heavy and outdated, the old Rug Doctors at least did a decent job. I've seen these new models in stores, and I figured Dr. Rug was trying to emulate something more like Bissell's EXCELLENT Big Green upright carpet cleaner. I own a Big Green, and it seems rugged enough that I don't mind lending it out to friends and family. All of them have been blown away by the performance, and generally tell me their carpet "looks new," or it was the best carpet cleaner they've ever used.

 

[kirbyklekter]

So many people are raving about

Bissell's Big Green that I'm surprised they didn't go that route when re-designing this machine. Was this supposed to replace the big blue and white residential cleaner which mimics their red and white commercial cleaner?

 

[henrydreyfuss]

All the things CKD mentioned aren't an issue with the Bissell. The Big Green does an astounding job, and it's low-maintenance. The dirty water tank opens up completely, and there's no baffles or fins to catch dirt. Just dump it out, rinse it out, let it dry, and put it away. The brushroll is a huge diameter, and resists hair wrap well-enough. It's got great tools, too! [this post was last edited: 4/14/2019-23:17]

 

[superocd]

Wow...

crazykirbydude's description of his experience with the new RD cleaner made me real glad that I nabbed a Mighty Pro X3!

Are they doing away with their traditional machines (blue/red X3 style machines) in favor of this one? I've seen the new ones at grocery stores...they don't look like they would hold up well.

 

[electroluxxxx]

It looks like it lacks in the durability department too, how did the build quality for the main unit seem? I was fortunate to have gotten a brand new RD (currently on the shelves at Walmart) for free. For what it is, it cleans well but then again it definitely doesn’t feel all that great. I feel like the handle will snap on the backwards pass

Awesome description by the way!

 

[kirbyklekter]

I almost feel as though I should

go and buy the Bissell Big Green now even though I'm covered on carpet cleaners. I'm afraid they might eventually cheapen them down to cut costs and they won't be as good as they are now. Not that that has ever happened before.

 

[crazykirbydude]

They're made in China now. They did feel quite a bit cheaper than the previous generation. I've noticed that more of them are out of service compared to the previous generation. Also, I had a bad experience with a rental Bissell leaving a nasty streak on my carpet.

 

[joerwheeler]

I own an X-3 and a couple of the older Mighty Pro models. I have seen the newest RD at rental kiosks, and available on Amazon etc. It's more expensive than the X-3, and imho not built to the same standards at all.
The RD company supposedly has changed their company philosophy, and is trying to move to a new type of consumer. They cleaned out their older employees, and hired "hipsters" to breathe new life into the company.
I think they've brought these machines out because they want to completely stop manufacturing in the America's and switch everything over to ROC.
So it is probably a case of yet another North American company abandoning their roots, and this country to move into a more global approach (ie cheaper manufacturing and labor).
This probably is just a result of profits leveling off with the old tried and true methods, and the easy profits of not paying for American workers...just like basically every other American company.
You can still buy the X-3, for the time being, but I believe it is going to be discontinued at some point in the near future, so if you think you'd ever want to own one of the last new ones, you'd better hurry. Soon they'll all be second hand only.
On the other hand, as a big supporter of Rug Doctor in the past (I made hundreds of videos using their machine), I feel that they never appreciated my efforts in the least. I called their service line a couple of times, and always found them rude and unwilling to help (and saw lot's of other people voicing similar experiences) so I don't necessarily feel all that sad to see them go away.
They made a great machine, but failed to give good instructions on how to best use it, and focused on selling people soap and other products (with instructions that would guarantee rapid resoiling and soaked carpets to sell more soap), and failed in customer support, and ruined their own reputation in the process.
An excellent machine, and the people who had a hand in that process, ruined by another department focused on setting up their customers to have to keep dishing out money to keep buying soap and having a bad experience, hence the terrible reputation they earned themselves, becoming a joke because they simply didn't care how they were perceived by the general public.
The new machines, and new vision of RD shows a little too little, little too late approach to salvaging a name brand that long ago lost its appeal, but they don't know the party's over.
Soon I think, we'll always refer to RD in the past tense, but it died a long time ago.
On the other hand, if they keep the X-3 in production, and get a better philosophy for their company, there may still be a chance...but no, they're too far gone I think.
Kiss this one goodbye, and throw RD on the pile, with all the other once great names that died, and later on we'll burn the lot (someone bring marshmallows) because life goes on.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Joe,

You are SO RIGHT, sadly. I know we all like to be right. Sometimes, it would be better to be wrong.
I KNOW that our/my beloved HOOVER'S finest hour is not now. But, step back and just look at all the wonderful history...the excellent products.
I have a friend (yes, I do), who always used Rug Doctor. You'd see them in the supermarkets all the time. They'd disappear around the holidays....people rushing to give their homes that 'sparkle'.
My uncle has a Big Green Bissel..................never uses it anymore. He also had a Regina steamer.
I stick to my Hoover.... made in USA.
Greed is a terrible thing. Progress isn't always 'progressive'.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I KNOW I spelled

Bissell wrong. Sorry.

 

[crazykirbydude]

It's sad really. While my local Home Depot still rents out the older style machines, it probably won't be long before they are replaced by the newer junk. My mother was an avid Rug Doctor fan, and would rent one of the old machines semiannually to clean the carpeting in our house. For the time being, I guess we will have to rely on Home Depot not changing their Rug Doctor machines. On the plus side, I might be able to snag a older Rug Doctor for cheap at the ReStore because of all of the older rental machines being sold off. Last time I was at the ReStore, they had a bigass Advance floor scrubber vacuum combo thing, so it wouldn't be impossible for them to have an old Rug Doctor for sale.

 

[kirby519]

I preferred their original rentals. The wand and tank design. Those machines were very good for the day. Far better than the Rinse and vac rental of the day.

 

[rwebb91]

John

I always have like using my Hoover Steam vac. It seems to do a great job and I love the upholstery tool. Its great for cleaning the carpets in my van.
I don't know why they call it a steam vac it doesn't have any steam at all lol.
So I either boil the water or put the tank in the microwave for a couple of minuets to get the water hot so now its a steam vac lol.

 

[rwebb91]

John

I really do like the newer Hoover carpet cleaning. It has 2 regular brush rollers and they spin very fast! I was impressed how well it cleaned up dog vomit.

 

[crazykirbydude]

I don't like those personal carpet cleaners. They're too weak to pull the water out that they put down. Plus, the pumps tend to break. The old style Rug Doctors were the best portable extractors, but they threw that out the windows with the new model. I think the best way to keep your carpet clean is to vacuum frequently, do a dry shampoo every six months or so, and hire a truck mount service bi-annually.

 

[ridgidwd0670]

I prefer the old R-40 canister 2-piece unit better than any upright 1-piece Rug Doctor

 

[kirby519]

If you chose to go to a service with a truck mount extractor be sure they know what they are doing. I have seen one disaster and heard of another. Both where people I cleaned carpet for one with the Original Rug doctor of the 80's. The "commercial carpet cleaners" left so much water in the carpet it took 4 days to dry and left black streaks in the carpet. The other one was for some one I cleaned carpet for with our commercial box extractors. She had a similar experience. She commented that she never had drying issues or black streaks in the carpet any time I cleaned them.

In today's hurry up and get it done mindset plus the lack of ambition by the work force these days it can and will happen. Not every time mind you but it will be an on going problem. As well as poorly maintained equipment or improper set up/usage

 

[tolivac]

Must of been improper use-the truckmounts have diesel or gas motors of up to 35hp and can turn the suction pump up to like almost 200 in suction and 600CFM.The motor also heats the cleaning solution and runs the solution pump.The suction pump takes the most power from the motor.Generally you chose a unit whose motor uses the same fuel as the trucks motor.In one unit I watched work-it ran from the trucks PTO-much like on a tractor.Some trucks do have PTOs for various uses.