Rug Doctor?

[vacmaster0000]

Has anyone used on nd are they good? I've heard they're pretty good buy heard bad things too.. So just give me some info nd are they better then my bissell proheat? Also are they worth buying? Just let me know. Thanks

 

[scvacuumguy]

Cheaply made- I'd rather use the Bissell Pro Heat because, believe it or not, it is better constructed. Stick with a Hoover or a Royal for an extractor.

With those two machines you have two fat girls and you have to choose one to take to prom....

 

[baglessball]

I love mine, its the fastest domestic machine I have had to use. Minimal repeated passes. Easy to fill and empty ad low maintenance!

 

[joshdonnell]

rug doc

They would out clean a silly TTI Crap

 

[thevacuumman]

Actually I agree with the Royal extractor because my sister's fiancée has one and i used it the last time i was at their house and it did clean well

 

[vacfanatic]

Approve Rug Doctor

I own one and love it. I do disagree with the statement about it being better built than a Bissell because I actually threw a Bissell Pro-Heat in the trash after it would stop spraying. Heater block got all corroded and leaked black water all over my white carpet - not cool There is absolutely no comparison in suction at the hose / floor nozzle either.

We all have our opinions - the Bissell is better than the Hoover Platinum Carpet Cleaner which is a rickety cheapy plastic piece of work to put it nicely. After both it and the Bissell Pro-Heat, I got something that will last me.

See the video demo I did of mine in use a while back.


Andrew

 

[goadie12]

I would have to say that rug doctor would be better than almost any other extraction unit on the market. They are built better stronger with better thicker plastic and a stronger motor. I also notice that with some cleaners that have that flimsly plastic bladder they just arnt made to last just my opinion on the topic thanks. Zach

 

[bagintheback]

I really enjoy using the Rug Doctor. I have personally rented a unit with over 500 hours on it and it ran perfectly.

The Rug Doctor is great at cleaning carpets. It has some trouble removing set-in stains, but definitely brightens our 15 year old white carpets when used with right solution. When cleaning upholstery, the Rug Doctor does an acceptable job, but still much better than my Bissell Proheat. Although Rug Doctors are no longer made in America, they will still last decades. Much better than Hoover or Bissell has ever offered.

Scvacuumguy's comment is biased. He owns a vacuum repair shop and is a TTI dealer. Since he does not sell new Rug Doctors, the only machines he will ever see are the units that are in need of repair. He only sells TTI machines, so of course he will tell you to go with a Royal. I have heard good things about the Royal, but the model originated as a Dirtdevil in the mid-2000s so I question it's reliability.

If you have the money and you need a carpet extractor, a Rug Doctor is an excellent choice.

 

[sarasvacshack]

Extractors

As I have said before, I get units in after they have been used for 2-5 years. From my experience dealing with extractors, the Bissell Proheats are garbage and poorly made. The old school cheap Hoover Steam Vacs sure do seam to hold up well though. We rent out the Bissell Big Green Commercial Shampooers and have had rave reviews on them from our customers. Used with the Big Green Complete formula (smells great), they do an excellent job and are very simple to use. I absolutely do not enjoy working on extractors...



http://www.bissell.com/Big-Green-Deep-Cleaning-Machine/

 

[gsheen]

while it hasn't been out here long We became bissel agents when the brand was relaunched in SA earlier this year.


 


I bought a pro heat x2 for myself to replace my ageing hoover steem vac.


 


From a user point of view It is fantastic,. I used to own a carpet cleaning company with a truck mount carpet cleaner , I sold the business to my dad but he still cleans my carpets for me . the bissell proheat leaves the carpets so nice and fresh, its twin brushes really do work wonders and I prefer using it than the truck mount when I clean my carpets.


 


However I think they are a pain to repair . 

 

[kirbylux77]

Hoover Steamvac F5914-900

I agree with the majority of people on here that the Bissell Proheat shampooers are cheaply made, & don't last long, nor clean well. However, I would NOT buy a Rug Doctor instead.

I did rent a Rug Doctor back a few years ago, to clean a house I was living in that had brown, medium cut pile carpet thruout, that was filthy & in dire need of cleaning. The Rug Doctor did do a good job. I liked the solid construction, build quality, & the vibrating brush was very good. BUT, compared to the Hoover Steamvac, & most other extractors that use 4-litre tanks, the Rug Doctor uses TWICE that amount-8 litres- and it cleaned the same amount of carpet approximately as the Hoover, with a full tank of solution, when used as directed. And, despite going over the carpet a couple of times after extracting, to make sure it picked everything up, the carpet was still very soaked! Much more than if I was to use my Hoover Steamvac. Took about 8 hours for the carpets to completely dry....and this was in the middle of summer, with all the windows open. That kind of soaking to me is unacceptable.

I personally own a Hoover Steamvac F5914-900, and another Hoover Steamvac before that, & have always gotten great cleaning results with the Hoovers. This is the ONLY residential carpet extractor I would buy besides the Rug Doctor....the others in the marketplace are too poor quality machines for my liking.

Rob

 

[bagintheback]

The reason the Rug Doctor uses more water than a Hoover is because the Rug Doctor uses a 28psi pump to dispense the cleaning solution while the Hoover uses gravity. I too have found the Rug Doctor left my carpets a little damp, but it still dried in under four hours.

 

[joshdonnell]

Rug doc

@kirbylux77 well its was a rental those are nasty ! So thats why it cleaned like crap haha , i personal like rug doctor but then again never used one just saw videos . I just use my kirby

 

[vacfanatic]

Theory

8 hours for carpets to dry by anything is too much for sure. I have a theory on some Rug Doctor rentals that get bad reviews. Imagine how many people operate it without the intake filter properly in place. Over time, hair, lint, carpet fluff, etc goes through the motor fan. I bet that the fanblade is caked with debris and hair resulting in reduced suction. Another thing could be internal hoses cracked with age (I find that they are under tension in mine when I peeked under the cover), or that the nozzle may have schmutz stuck up inside it.

My Rug Doctor has a TON of suction at the hose and tool end, even at the floor nozzle. My carpet dries in about 2-3 hours normally with my Rug Doctor.

 

[floor-a-matic]

I rented Rug Doctor machines in the past & carpet BARELY damp within 2 hrs after shampooing.

However, I still prefer my good ol' Hoover Steam Vac SpinScrub 50 Classic, which I have for 12 yrs & very happy with results.

btw, I'd like to try a Bissell Big Green?

 

[floor-a-matic]

"Although Rug Doctors are no longer made in America, the

I didn't know they're no longer made in USA? Or are they still? Most of the RD machines that I've rented don't even have the county of origin.

 

[bagintheback]

floor-a-matic

I believe Rug Doctors are now made in Mexico. I know for sure that the new X3 in made in Mexico.

 

[kirbylux77]

Josh- I made sure the rental I took was clean before I took it. Even if it had been dirty, that has nothing to do with it's capabilities as a cleaner, & I could have easily cleaned it before I used it on my carpets.

Andrew- I made certain the machine had nothing wrong with it before taking delivery of the rental from the grocery store. When I got it home, I checked for suction at both the nozzle & with the attachment hose in place; both were perfectly fine, TONS of suction. My theory is this....It simply sprays too much water for the suction to pick up at one pass, thereby leaving the carpets too damp. I also have to wonder whether the nozzle was properly designed....It is my opinion that the Rug Doctor seems to work best on low-pile carpets, not thick or heavy pile.

Rob

 

[joshdonnell]

Rug doc

Use a dry clean foam or host

 

[mysterymanbob]

eww.

I never liked the idea of other people's filth in my home.
rug docters are great, but I think I'm
better off using the one I BOUGHT at sam's club

 

[tolivac]

I am also gunshy of dirt picked up by a machine used in someone elses place-best to have your OWN.and its ready right when you need it.But--as collectors--we buy or get vacuum cleaners used in someone eleses place-but with the floor-carpet cleaners-just more "ick" to me.

 

[sanitaire]

I have a hoover carpet machine and a rug dr. and a 8 gallon heated box extractor....
each one one has there pros and cons. I can make them clean better if you use commerical grade soap.

 

[floor-a-matic]

@sanitaire
Does that box extractor have a powered brush? If so, it'll do a MUCH better job with less effort; also saves your back.

 

[joerwheeler]

Video showing Rug Doctor in use...

Controversial as the Rug Doctor is, I used an X-3 on this really badly stained carpet and it worked pretty well. The secret is pre-spray (Simple Green in this instance), and dwell time (about ten minutes or so).
Using only water in the machine (which protects the pump, seals, and o-rings), thoroughly remove all the stain, and the cleaning agents, to ensure long lasting clean carpet. Residue will cause rapid re-soiling, and not vacuuming enough water out leads to wicking, and browning.
The machine is capable of fantastic results. Most complaints of soaked carpets are due to improper handle adjustment, which allows the front (suction) edge to be lifted off the carpet from the handle being too high. And some accidentally switch the toggle to "tools" instead of "carpets" setting, which sprays continuously, which will soak carpets.
Careful adjustment and practice is key to getting good results...just my two cents. Watch the video and see that they can work quite well.

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsfkD5z17xY

 

[seanc]

Yes, I have a Mighty Pro and find it to be a very good machine.
It will transform my parents carpet back to cream from the current muddy brown colour very shortly. I was amazed the first time I used it.

I bought the unit second hand and I've replaced the pump already, not a particularly easy job.

 

[gsheen]

The biggest issue with rentals and diy machines is overwetting. It not the machines fault but rather the user. The thought process is that more water will clean and it just isnt so. Like said above pre spray is important. I owned and opperated a Truck mount machine and I could have carpets dry in minutes. I would walk into each room using a chem lance and spray the carpets first with a fine mist. Then using the wand and water only clean.Their are very few bad work8ng machines out their, bad chemicals are more the issue. If you have a Good chemical you can get a carpet clean using a garden pressure pump spray can,A broom and a Shopvac.

 

[seanc]

On that point gsheen, you've reminded me of my annoyance with the Rug Doctor, if you want to activate the agitator brush, the pump runs too, you can't turn the pump off and just agitate the carpet.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

NOT bashing at all.............

but,  a good friend (ALWAYS had SEARS vacuums) awore by Rug Doctor.  He moved,  couldn't get a Rug Doctor.  I loaned him my Hoover Steamer.  He HATED to admit  that it did a great job.


  My uncle (69 Convertible)  had a Big Green Machine by Bissell.......  did a so so job (might have been the operator), also had a Regina... again..............................


  I know people who LOVE Rug Doctor... 

 

[joerwheeler]

Hoover Steamvac Carpet Cleaner

I worked for a motel that used Hoover Steamvacs with spin scrub brushes. Had to clean 30 rooms one night when a storm with straight line winds drove gallons of water under the doors and flooded the rooms.
Except for having to empty it after about a minute (several hundred times it seemed...long night), it sucked up most of the water. did a good job overall.
I used it quite a bit because they insisted on using that machine (they bought refurbished units), and it did a good job on glue down carpets. But they wore out pretty frequently.
Motel 6 uses Rug Doctor in most of their in house situations. They are good machines, but many absolutely hate them with a passion. It's all cool!
Most of the available machines for home use work fine, but aren't very durable. Using pre-spray and letting it dwell a few minutes improves most any machines performance. It us as the operators that mess up the results, not the machines.