Buying, Hiring, or Renting Carpet Cleaners - What Is the Best Option? - CarpetGurus (2024)

It is time to clean your carpet. One of the most common household upgrades is keeping the house clean.

There are many different ways to clean carpets as a homeowner:

Rent professional equipment for the occasion, hire someone to clean your carpets, or buy a professional-quality machine and do it yourself.

Why Should You Rent a Carpet Cleaner?

Rental machines are cheaper than hiring a professional cleaner and buying equipment.

How Much Does Renting a Carpet Cleaner Cost?

According to home advisor, hiring a professional carpet cleaning service costs between $0.20 and $0.40 per square foot. That is about $80 to $120 per room.

Compare that to home depot carpet cleaner rentalat $29 a day. And renting a Rug Doctor at Walmart costsabout $35 per daywith all accessories and attachments included.

Advantages of Rental Carpet Cleaners

You have a better chance of getting the professional machines you want by renting rather than buying them. It is also cheaper than buying, as you can test out several machines at your leisure, rather than buying with just a few days’ notice.

In some situations, buying a machine may not be the best choice. Generally, these would include homes with primarily wooden floors and very mildewed carpets that do not need much cleaning.

Cons of Renting Commercial Carpet Cleaners

So if renting is cheaper than hiring, why not rent?

You must still do the cleaning yourself when you rent. The lack of time is a good reason to hire a professional.

You cannot guarantee the quality of work. This is especially important for those with pets and foot traffic. Without the necessary skills, chances are high that you will finish the job with a wet carpet. This may lead to mildew, stains, and odor.

Though it’s cheaper than buying, chances are high that you leave your carpets worse off. In this case, you save a little money in the hope that you do a good job. Sometimes this does not work out.

Another disadvantage is that renting a carpet cleaning machine typically involves the expense of having it transported from the store to your house and back again.

So, either you will have to drive yourself or rent a truck. Bear in mind these types of carpet cleaners can be heavy and bulky which may not fit in a small car.

Also as the renter, you are responsible for repairing or replacing any damaged items.

Of course, this can be avoided if you purchase your own carpet cleaning machine.

When Are Rental Cleaners Worth the Cost?

Carpet cleaner rental makes sense when you have a small area to clean, have the time to put in the work, and do not need to clean that often. If the cost and quality of work are unnecessary, renting makes more sense than buying or hiring.

Why Should You Hire a Cleaning Service?

Who wants to work on the weekend? By hiring a professional carpet cleaner, you can skip the hassle of cleaning your own carpets and enjoy some time off. A professional cleaning service will handle the dirty work for you and leave your home looking and feeling fresh.

Advantages of Hiring Carpet Cleaning Professionals

Professionals guarantee thorough carpet cleaning and no carpet damage. You don’t have to guess the amount of water or detergents to use. Neither do you have to learn carpet cleaning skills. All this you leave to the company.

One of the biggest carpet cleaning mistakes is forgetting the extra costs of DIY carpet cleaning. You need regular cleaning, cleaner machines, deep cleaners, detergents and more to get rid of pet messes. By hiring, you do not have to worry about the additional cost.

In addition to preventing bacteria, you can save time and money by hiring an expert carpet cleaner. The benefit of this is that it can reduce the cost of cleaning solutions when renting.

Professional carpet cleaners have highly specialized tools and use expert carpet cleaning methods. You need powerful equipment to obliterate bacteria and deep cleaning. This is especially true if you have pets or need to remove tough stains.

Cons of Hiring Carpet Cleaning Services

Unfortunately, hiring professionals is still more expensive than cleaning your own carpets and rugs. That is also true if you pay by the hour because it is still cheaper to buy. Ensure you get a carpet cleaning service quote that makes sense to you.

Is Professional Cleaning Better Than Doing It Yourself?

In situations where you have pets and kids, it’s time for deep carpet cleaning. Cleaner carpets indicate less bacteria and pests. Having your carpet professionally cleaned will not only remove dirt and hairs, but it will also remove the hidden allergens that accumulate in your carpet over time.

Why Should You Buy a Carpet Cleaner?

Cost is one of the main reasons to buy a carpet cleaner. They can range from anywhere between $200 and $3000, depending on the model. Frequent use makes it more cost-effective.

For example, a rug doctor rental costs an average of $49 for 48 hours. You can hire a professional carpet cleaner, but their fees can add up. Let’s compare buying and renting the Pro Deep Commercial Pro.

Renting it costs $49, whereas buying it costs $600. In 10 uses, you will have paid it off. Buying would be a better alternative for those who clean their carpet frequently.

Among the carpet cleaners we recommend for home use is the Bissell Big Green Carpet Cleaning Machine. It is easy to operate and provides considerable suction power, as well as being affordable.

Advantages of Buying a Carpet Cleaner

When you buy cleaning equipment, you have the potential to save more money. Professional cleaners demand a higher price upfront than equipment rentals.

Besides saving money, you have control over when you need your home furniture or upholstery cleaned. Since you are not limited by the cost of a cleaner, you can clean as many times as you want.

If you own a pet, you know you need a carpet cleaner anytime a pet mess is created. Getting a professional carpet cleaner is not always feasible. Having your own cleaning supplies handy means you can tackle the mess and odor immediately.

Cons of Buying Commercial Machines

DIY cleaning is challenging because you have to do all the work yourself. Consistency is difficult when cleaning is pushed back for another day.

Many homeowners don’t know how to use carpet cleaners correctly. That’s why they often find it difficult when trying to clean their homes. Unfortunately, the more expensive the equipment, the harder it is to use.

The initial cost can be challenging. Even with the need to have beautiful carpets, choosing the right cleaning machine is still a headache.

How Much Should You Clean Your Carpets?

Most carpet manufacturers advise deep cleaning of carpets regularly. But what if you don’t have a deep cleaner? Owning a carpet cleaner is an awesome idea, even if it’s a portable model.

When you use your own cleaner, you can do frequent cleanings and tackle wine stains. That way, your hard floors and carpet will last longer, and carpet care is more manageable.

Do Rental Carpet Cleaners Work?

Rental machines are a smaller version of commercial machines. They work but not as well as professional machines.

How Can We Stop the Need for Frequent Cleaning?

Whether renting or hiring, it’s crucial to avoid frequent cleanings. Some of the things you can do include regular vacuuming. This not only cleans but prolongs the life of your carpets.

You should also clean the toughest stains immediately. They become harder to remove even with a steam cleaner.

Renting, hiring, or buying your own carpet cleaning machine depends on your type of carpet and needs. Renting professional equipment can be convenient. While hiring someone to clean your carpets is often more cost-effective. However, if you are handy with machines, buying your own carpet cleaning machine may be the best choice.