Our favorite carpet cleaner is the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro. This machine comes from the same company that makes the rental carpet cleaners you see at the grocery store, in fact, it’s the same high quality machine! For the average homeowner the Rug Doctor may be a little overkill, but if you’ve got a second home or rental homes this is the machine to have, hands down!
The Hoover SteamVac is a less expensive machine, yet still does a great job. The SteamVac is as easy to use as an upright vacuum cleaner.
The cleaning solution and method you use to clean the carpet is just as important as the machine itself. Our tests show that the Rug Doctor brand of cleaning supplies work the best to deep clean your carpets and are the most economical, especially when purchased from warehouse retailers. You should only use products that are specifically designed for cleaning carpet. Never use laundry detergent or other soap products as they can damage your cleaning equipment and carpet, as well as leave behind a residue that will cause the carpet to soil more quickly. It is equally important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions on both the cleaning solutions and carpet cleaner usage.