Should I hire a carpet cleaning service or just rent a rug cleaning machine from the hardware store?

If you hire the rug doctor, be prepared for hard work! If you don't mind that, and have a full afternoon to spare, then go ahead.

You can also hire carpet stretchers like the professionals used. Make sure you have some tacks and a hammer as well to nail it back down to the thin board which runs all around the perimeter of the room. Again it is not easy work, and you'll probably get back ache, but can be cheaper in the long run than a whole new carpet.

If it is as yuk as you say, it'll probably need doing over a few weekends to get it to at least just normal dirty looking rather than disgusting dirty looking!

So if you are prepared for hard work, go for it!

Hire Carpet Cleaning Machine

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I asked for and received a carpet shampooer for Christmas, but it broke while using it the fist time, so as much as I would like to recommend buying one...I'm sorry to say my experience hasn't been all the great! LOL! If you can afford it, go for new carpeting or have it professionally cleaned and re-stretched. If your married and your husband is willing, you can also rent a carpet stretcher and do that part of it yourself. It's not hard to do, but it can be hard on your knees. You'll also need a carpet knife to trim the excess carpet, other than that, you should be good to go! Good luck!

Spot cleaning might work but for very large stains there are places where you can rent machines for steam cleaning. Be sure to consult a professional as to what cleaning agent you will use as it might have different effects depending on the material of the carpet/rug.

Check this article for more carpet cleaning concerns http://homedecorcenter.com/article-whole-URL-takin...

Hope it helps.=)

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If you were to pull up some of the carpet from the flooring beneath, you would be aghast at the amount of dirt that filters through it. No amount of shampooing will clean that out. If you have an area rug, take it to be professionally cleaned. But, if you can afford it, replace the carpet.

I would purchase a machine for yourself. They cost around $150-200.

I've always had one; I clean the carpets every couple of years but I've

had it available for bad emergency spills a couple of times. Even used

it once to clean up flood in basement from broken washing machine.

if you have a pro come out and stretch it and clean it you will probably be happier,they can remove a lot of stains you cant and though it wont be new carpet,it will look a lot better for a while

Rent one, I had mine professionally cleaned, and after it had dried, I saw where the heavy traffic area was not really cleaned. So if I had done it myself I would know where to clean the most.

get a new carpet, paint the walls. its cheaper in the long run ( a new carpet will bulge and stretch)