Bissell Rental Carpet Cleaner versus Rug Doctor
I headed out this morning to Lowes to rent a Rug Doctor Carpet Cleaner. I was surprised to find Lowes no longer rents the Rug Doctor; they instead rent the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine rental unit by Bissell. I was disappointed by not getting the reliable Rug Doctor, but decided this Bissell rental machine was worth a try. Expecting the worse, based on my previous experiences with Bissell Carpet Cleaners, I was pleasantly surprised.
The Bissell Rental (http://bissellrental.com) machine is very different from the Rug Doctor. The clean and dirty water tanks are both removable, larger, and easy to clean. It also has a beater brush instead of the vibrating pad. Even after a through vacuuming this machine still removed a lot of dog hair…more than I ever recall with the Rug Doctor. It also seemed to leave the carpet drier. When using the machine you apply cleaner both forward and back, then repeat to suck up the solution and dirt. The upholstery and stair attachment is very similar to the Rug Doctor. It also has a flow indicator to let you know when you are out of cleaning solution.
Bissell Rental offers 4 different cleaning solutions (Advanced with Scotchgard, Pet, Oxy and Allergen). They also offer a few different pretreatment products. I used the Oxy formula. It cost $19.95 for 52 ounces (10 dollars more for the Advanced formula). The smell was nice and left the carpet soft when dry.
Pros: Easy to Use, Cleans Great, Easy to Clean, Dryer Carpet and Nice/Neutral Scents, and easier on the back
Cons: Bit pricier rental and products, need to clear a larger area due to the long size of the machine and handle, and slightly narrow path.
Overall I was impressed with Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine and will never rent the Rug Doctor again.