Carter's Carpet Restoration

Serving Placerville, El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Granite Bay, Cameron Park & Surrounding Areas

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Should I Clean My Carpet With A Rug Doctor

Karen Carter

DIY carpet cleaning, should i clean my carpet with a rug doctor,

Maybe your carpet is beginning to look a bit dingy.  Maybe you’ve just noticed that it could really use a deep cleaning.  Saturday looks clear and you’re ready to rent a Rug Doctor and tackle this task head on.  You’re obviously a do-it-yourselfer.  You obviously can clean your carpet with a rug doctor but the real question you may want to ask is:  Should I clean my carpet with a Rug Doctor?

Should I Clean My Carpet With A Rug Doctor?

Sorry to disappoint all you do-it-yourselfers, but no, you should not clean your carpet with a Rug Doctor.  You should never clean your carpet with any portable or rental machine.  Here’s why:

A portable or rental carpet cleaning machine, like a Rug Doctor, simply isn’t powerful enough to get the job done correctly.  Rental carpet cleaners or at-home units, like a Bissell, are great for spot carpet cleaning.  When you clean your carpet there are two main things to be aware of.  First, you want to make sure that you don’t leave a soapy residue in your carpet.  Carpet needs to be fully rinsed after a cleaning or the lingering soap will attract more soil, eventually making your carpet look worse that before you started.  Second, you want your carpet to dry as quickly as possible.  When moisture lingers in the carpet it gives the remaining soil deposits an opportunity to “wick” to the surface.  This means that remaining soil moves up the carpet fiber through the moisture and stains that you thought you removed begin to come back as the carpet fully dries.

diy carpet cleaning
There is a huge power difference between a DIY portable carpet cleaning unit and a truck mounted cleaning machine.

There is a huge difference power and suction when you compare a rental carpet cleaner to a professional truck mounted unit.   To get the best cleaning possible, go with a professional carpet cleaner who uses the steam cleaning or hot water extraction method.  If you’re really on a tight budget and need to clean with a rental carpet cleaning machine, do yourself a favor and avoid the cleaning solution that comes with it.  Fill the reservoir with a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar.

Being a do-it-yourselfer is something to be proud of.  So next time you’re wondering, should i clean my carpet with a rug doctor, just think about equipment, not ability.  It’s not that you can’t do the work, it’s about having the right equipment.

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