Rug Doctor?

[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.

 

[spiraclean]

Used to have the RD Wide Track and it's true, they do put out a lot of water. Part of the reason they work so well, but you do have to be careful about overwetting. Don't pull the machine back *too* slowly while spraying (particularly on berber type carpet), and be sure to follow up with plenty of dry strokes afterwards to lift out as much excess moisture as possible.

Mine was a Quick Dry version, with a knob at the rear allowing you to select either regular/quick dry mode. The latter reduces the solution flow rate, and I found that to be plenty for most jobs. Only for really heavily soiled carpets would I use the regular setting.

A lot of pro carpet cleaners are a bit sniffy about the RD, partly because it's something you can hire from the supermarket, but mostly because it doesn't cost thousands to purchase. Still has no bearing whatsoever on its capabilities though, and for domestic use it's hard to beat. In the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, or at least follows the instructions to the letter, it does an excellent job.

 

[mr_mom]

my neighbor had a rd the thing i dont like about it is ur hands go numb and it makes your arms feel like playing a nintendo wii

 

[hvrvaclvr]

My aunt rented a rug doctor and asked me clean her living room with it. I did, but the thing was SO LOUD and bulky. It left the carpet soaked, and when it finally dried, the carpet looked dirtier than it was before. I took my Hoover Steamvac up, and it did so much better.