Spot cleaner machine for carpet?

Kaiterz

After spending half of yesterday cleaning my carpets, a cup of milk is spilled in the living room this morning.     So the time has come to buy a spot cleaner.  Do you have one you love?  Are they as convenient as they advertise to be?

stargirljulie

I have the Bissel SpotBot, and I was told by a carpet cleaning professional to not use it because it really doesn't get the carpets clean (I'll elaborate in a sec) and it just pushes the mess around into the carpet.

I had to get my carpets professional cleaned after the turkey incident (the cleaner is a good friend of DH's) and he told us that those things just rub the mess into the bottom of the carpet fibers. 

I use my SpotBot when a cat pukes or a dog pee's on the floor and it's true. I've had that thing for several years but I use it anyway. It helps get the majority of the mess out, but if you don't run the thing several times over the same spot, it'll still smell (which is tough when it's a big stain that doesn't fit into the SpotBot cleaning area). I think it does an okay job at getting a color stain out, but again, if it's a smelly stain, it'll still stink. 

Sometimes puke chunks will get stuck in the hose too, so you'll have to run water through it to try and clean it out. 

It's hard to say if I'd recommend one or not. If you've got the extra money to spend on one, sure, and if you have a lot of little messes to clean up. But the professional cleaning is what really did the job, and I'll be saving up to get them professionally cleaned more often and I use the SpotBot only if needed.

lucylea

I have the SpotBot and love it.  It worked wonders when our dog was extremely sick at the end of her life and puking, peeing, and pooping everywhere.  Rarely did I have to run it more than once and it never left behind a smell.  I do use vinegar instead of carpet cleaning solution, though, so maybe that is part of the difference.  We do still rent a Rug Doctor once or twice a year to do the entire carpet, but "Spot" has saved us from some nasty stains.  

stargirljulie

lucylea:

I have the SpotBot and love it.  It worked wonders when our dog was extremely sick at the end of her life and puking, peeing, and pooping everywhere.  Rarely did I have to run it more than once and it never left behind a smell.  I do use vinegar instead of carpet cleaning solution, though, so maybe that is part of the difference.  We do still rent a Rug Doctor once or twice a year to do the entire carpet, but "Spot" has saved us from some nasty stains.  

Yeah I don't use vinegar in mine just the normal cleaning solutions. That very well could be the difference.