Sorry - anyone know anything about carpet cleaners?
Discussion
Dull subject I know but having had builders, decorators et al in the house for weeks (all with a sanding fetish it seems!) the carpets are in serious need of a good clean. The question is this - would I be better off getting in professional cleaners or should I buy a cleaner and do it myself? I've looked at a 'Bissel' cleaning thing that should do the job considering they want 250 quid for it - although that would be about the same as a one off professional's visit and I'd have the machine for good. I've looked on the various review sites with no joy hence posing the question here. Anybody any ideas?
DO NOT pay someone to do, unless you are lazy then fair dos I can understand it.
Don't buy a domestic machine, hire the proper thing, and do it yourself, all you get when you call in the "professionals" is a monkey with a machine. I know, when I was training to be a upholsterer I got carpet cleaning duties because I was the shop boy. look on ebay, how many people are selling carpet cleaning businesses, the reason being it takes no skill and one machine, and thats it, new business.
There is no skill what so ever, only real difference is the person doing ( ie you ) will give a toss what it looks like at the end as opposed to the guy who gets paid minimum wage.
Hire it yourself, save your money and end up with as good if not better results.
Don't buy a domestic machine, hire the proper thing, and do it yourself, all you get when you call in the "professionals" is a monkey with a machine. I know, when I was training to be a upholsterer I got carpet cleaning duties because I was the shop boy. look on ebay, how many people are selling carpet cleaning businesses, the reason being it takes no skill and one machine, and thats it, new business.
There is no skill what so ever, only real difference is the person doing ( ie you ) will give a toss what it looks like at the end as opposed to the guy who gets paid minimum wage.
Hire it yourself, save your money and end up with as good if not better results.
We hired one from the local supermarket for about £25 for 24 hours and you pay about £10 for the solution on top of that. We have beige carpets and grey cats (I know, I know I picked them 
) and they brought them up really well (they were vile - carpets not cats 
). Gonna do this again over Xmas.
However I would suggest that you go over with the soapy stuff then do it again a couple of times with plain water to get all the soap out. Also if you can treat nasty stains beforehand with something like Vanish, or there is a carpet cleaner stain foam you can get from B&Q which is awesome (but I cannot remember the name - soz) it will come up pretty good.
Cheers
Ace-T
) and they brought them up really well (they were vile - carpets not cats ). Gonna do this again over Xmas. However I would suggest that you go over with the soapy stuff then do it again a couple of times with plain water to get all the soap out. Also if you can treat nasty stains beforehand with something like Vanish, or there is a carpet cleaner stain foam you can get from B&Q which is awesome (but I cannot remember the name - soz) it will come up pretty good.
Cheers
Ace-T
I would recommend the domestic units. Until some scrote nicked it, I had a Hoover one, about £250 from Argos. It worked just as well as the hire shop units, and had several benefits:
- It was there when you needed it, whether an emergency stain, or for the regular washing (they do recommend every few months).
- No messing about going to or from the hire shop, or having to pre-book
- No hurry to finish the job
- On hand for clearing up spills (e.g. broken washing machine)
- Pays for itself in just a couple of years
- You become very popular with friends and neighbours
It did the business on carpets, and worked well on upholstery, car seats, etc.
- It was there when you needed it, whether an emergency stain, or for the regular washing (they do recommend every few months).
- No messing about going to or from the hire shop, or having to pre-book
- No hurry to finish the job
- On hand for clearing up spills (e.g. broken washing machine)
- Pays for itself in just a couple of years
- You become very popular with friends and neighbours
It did the business on carpets, and worked well on upholstery, car seats, etc.
Prof Beard said:
I cleaned our lounge carpet with a Vax. It worked very well BUT was VERY hard work. Next time I'll pay someone else to do it...
The ones that you can hire from dry cleaners are much less effort than a Vax and give a better result.
Take you an afternoon to do a "normal" size house, possibly twice over if need be.
we hired one recently - £20 plus chemicals. Did a good job on the carpets and a reasonable job on the cream, 10yr old, sofa. The upholstry cleaning wasn't as good as 'professionals' (eg dri-chem) we've used in the past but a sofa often costs around £60-70 to get someone else to do. I did the sofa, bits of another sofa and all the carpets for all-in £35. Worth a go, then if you think it's good enough, buy yourself a machine. You said it's only to clean after the builders so I'd hire one if I were you.
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