How to rent a carpet cleaner (and what it costs)

Carpets need a deep clean once or twice a year, before guests, after a pet accident or at the end of a lease. Nobody needs to own the machine for that. The grocery-store rental counter and a neighbor with an upright cleaner both solve it; the difference is what you get for the money and how much of the day you spend.

What it costs

• Store rental counters charge a daily rate for the machine, then sell the cleaning solution separately, and the solution is usually the more expensive half.
• A neighbor’s machine on Rentsome is priced per day by the owner, plus a 15% service fee (minimum $2) and sales tax, all shown before you confirm. Many owners include some solution or tell you which one they use.
• A refundable security deposit is held on your card and released automatically 72 hours after return.

What to check at pickup

1. 1Tanks: the clean-water and dirty-water tanks should be empty, rinsed and free of odor.
2. 2Attachments: the upholstery tool and hose are what make stairs and sofas possible. Confirm they are included.
3. 3Brushes: run it for a few seconds and watch the brush roll spin.
4. 4Ask which solution the owner recommends and whether you should bring some back.

Getting it actually clean in one day

• Vacuum thoroughly first. A carpet cleaner is not a vacuum, and grit turns to mud under water.
• Pre-treat spots ten minutes before you start.
• Work in slow, overlapping passes and do extra dry passes. Most disappointing results come from leaving too much water in the carpet.
• Open windows and run fans. Carpet should be dry in six to twelve hours; walking on it wet re-soils it.
• Empty and rinse both tanks before returning the machine. Owners notice.

Other short-term appliance rentals work the same way; see renting appliances short-term and browse appliance listings near you.