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Home and car upholstery can start to look old and tired because of stains, pet hair, and normal wear and tear. If your couches, chairs, and the back seat of the car need to be refreshed, it may be time to rent a carpet cleaner. The best rug cleaner can double as the best upholstery cleaner rental if it has an upholstery attachment, or if it’s small enough and easy to use. A carpet cleaner rental allows you to clean furniture, upholstery, carpets, and rugs. Since furniture is an expensive investment, keeping it clean and looking like new with one of the best carpet cleaner rentals can extend the life of the furnishings. Here, we’ll cover our top picks for the best upholstery rental cleaner brands, what to consider when deciding on a steam cleaner rental, and answer some frequently asked questions regarding upholstery cleaner rentals.
- BEST OVERALL: Rug Doctor
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Bissell Rental
- ALSO CONSIDER: Karcher
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Upholstery Cleaner Rental Brand for You
When deciding on the best upholstery cleaner rental for your needs, there are few factors to consider. These can include individual cleaning needs, cleaner model capabilities, tank capacity, ease of use, pricing, rental periods, and rental locations.
Cleaning Needs
It’s important to weigh cleaning needs against the available types of carpet cleaner machines. Options include renting a machine that has an upholstery cleaning attachment or using a small, portable cleaner. The smaller machines are typically easy to use on upholstery, but be aware that they have smaller tank capacities. The smaller cleaners are ideal for cleaning a few pieces of furniture or car upholstery, and a larger machine will work well if both furniture and carpeting need to be cleaned. A customer will want to rent a cleaner that can help them accomplish their cleaning goals. If a customer has children, pets, or allergies, it’s important to examine the cleaning solution to ensure it’s safe to use within the home.
Cleaner Model Capabilities and Availability
Different cleaner machines have specific capabilities and features. Before renting, a customer should consider if the cleaner is right for their needs. After finding a rental location, a customer can choose the type of machine that will work the best for them, review pricing, and discover availability. Some upholstery cleaner brands even offer home delivery and coupons for discounted rates.
Tank Capacity and Ease of Use
When considering which carpet shampooer to rent, customers will want to take tank capacity into account. How much water the cleaner can hold will directly affect the weight of the machine. It’s more important to check the tank capacity than the weight of the overall machine, since one cleaner might have a heavier starting weight but a smaller tank capacity, and another may have a lighter starting weight but a larger tank capacity.
Some carpet cleaners are easier to use than others, and this has to do with their portability, size, and maneuverability. When renting a machine, customers shouldn’t be afraid to ask to pick it up and move it around. If a customer cannot operate a heavy and bulky cleaner successfully, the cleaning won’t get done. Those who physically cannot use a carpet cleaner may want to consider hiring one of the best couch cleaning services.
Pricing, Rental Periods, and Rental Locations
The pricingt o rent an upholstery cleaner can be found on the brand’s website. Customers can enter their ZIP code to find rental locations, pricing, and machine availability. Rental periods are typically available in 24 or 48 hour increments, although some brands rent out machines for 4 hours for minor projects, and others will rent cleaners for 1 week to a month at a time. Some stores allow customers to reserve a machine ahead of time, while others won’t. Be aware that pricing can vary from location to location, and some brands provide delivery and pickup services. Customers will want to check the brand’s website for discounts and coupons to potentially save on carpet cleaner rentals.
Our Top Picks
We researched upholstery cleaner rentals and narrowed down our list to the top offerings. Our favorite upholstery cleaner rentals were selected after careful consideration of the cleaner models available, pricing rates, rental periods, and rental locations. We also evaluated the available types of cleaning solutions and the brands’ websites for ease of use. Here are our top picks for the best upholstery cleaner rental brands.
Best Overall
Rug Doctor
Pros
- Rental periods as short as 4 hours
- 30,000 rental locations nationwide
- Wide range of cleaning formulas
Cons
- Relatively high daily rental prices
- Models available: Pro Deep Cleaner, Pro Portable Detailer & Spot Cleaner
- Pricing for 24-hour rental: $29.99 to $34.99
- Rental periods: 4 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours
- Rental locations: The Home Depot, Walmart, Ace Hardware, Dollar General
Why It Made the Cut: With its noteworthy name recognition and wide availability of rental locations, Rug Doctor is a standout choice for the best upholstery cleaner rental. Rug Doctor provides professional-grade cleaning machines that anyone can use. With over 30,000 rental locations nationwide, Rug Doctor likely has a rental location that’s convenient to most customers. On the Rug Doctor website, customers can enter their ZIP code into the rental location finder and discover which cleaning machines are available. Some locations even offer convenient machine delivery and pickup. As an industry leader in carpet cleaning and cleaning solutions, Rug Doctor offers a variety of pet- and allergy-friendly solutions, such as pet cleaner, urine eliminator, fabric and upholstery cleaner, spot and stain scrubber, odor remover, and more. Customers can choose from the Pro Deep Cleaner with the upholstery attachment or Pro Portable Detailer & Spot Cleaner for their upholstery cleaning needs. The cleaning machines can be rented for 24 or 48 hours, and the Pro Portable Detailer & Spot Cleaner is available for 4 hour rentals (at participating locations) for small upholstery cleaning projects. Although the 24-hour rental rate can be pricey, there are coupons and discounts available on the Rug Doctor website, so customers will want to utilize those offers. Rental locations include The Home Depot, Walmart, Ace Hardware, Dollar General, and more. Keep in mind that machine availability and rental rates can vary according to location, so be sure to double-check pricing and what cleaning machines are available for rent.
Best Bang for the Buck
Bissell Rental
Pros
- Relatively low daily rental price
- Expedited rental process via online rental form
Cons
- Separate upholstery tool rental may be required
- Models available: Big Green, Pawsitively Clean, Little Green Pro
- Pricing for 24-hour rental: $14.99 to $29.99
- Rental periods: 24 hours, 48 hours
- Rental locations: Lowe’s, PetSmart, True Value, H-E-B, Winn-Dixie
Why It Made the Cut: Bissell Rentals provides a budget-friendly option for upholstery cleaning projects. The Bissell Rental website offers the option to download the rental form online and bring it to the store to expedite the cleaner rental process. The models available for rent include Big Green, Pawsitively Clean, and Little Green Pro. The cost to rent the Big Green cleaner is $29.99 for 24 hours and $39.99 for 48 hours. The smaller Little Green Pro typically rents for $14.99 for 24 hours and $19.99 for 48 hours. Prices vary by location, so be sure to double-check rental rates for the nearest stores. The upholstery tool is an extra charge of about $5, but it’s necessary for cleaning couches and chairs. Customers can rent machines for 24 or 48 hours at Lowe’s, PetSmart, True Value, H-E-B, and Winn-Dixie locations. Pawsitively Clean machines can be rented at PetSmart stores in all 50 states, with convenient rental kiosks located in the front of the store. For a Lowe’s rental, look for the Bissell rental rack in the front of the store located near the customer service desk.
Also Consider
Karcher
Pros
- Flexible rental periods ranging from 4 hours to 4 weeks
- Convenient online rental reservation
Cons
- Only available at The Home Depot
- Models available: Carpet Cleaner and Detailer
- Pricing for 24-hour rental: $27
- Rental periods: 4 hours, 24 hours, 1 week, 4 weeks
- Rental location: The Home Depot
Why It Made the Cut: The lightweight Karcher Carpet Cleaner and Detailer is designed for cleaning spots and upholstery. The handheld Karcher Carpet Cleaner and Detailer is a Home Depot carpet cleaner rental, and it’s perfect for cleaning upholstery, removing spots, and detailing cars. Prices start at $19 for 4 hours and go up to $27 for 24 hours, $108 per week, and $324 for 4 weeks. Pricing varies from location to location, and the exact cost will be determined at a local store. The Home Depot offers convenient online reservation for the cleaning and detailing machine so customers can get the machine when they want from the store they want. Other brands don’t provide the reservation option, so this provides some peace of mind regarding the availability of an upholstery cleaner when it’s needed. The cleaning machine comes with a 4-inch clear view cleaning hand tool to show cleaning results. Although this cleaner is only available at The Home Depot, there are over 2,300 locations in the United States, so customers shouldn’t have a problem finding a rental store near them.
Our Verdict
Based on the available rental locations, the types of cleaning machines, rental rates, pricing, and website ease of use, Rug Doctor is our top pick for the best upholstery cleaner rental. With its budget-friendly 24-hour rates, Bissell Rental is our pick for best value.
How We Chose the Best Upholstery Cleaner Rental Brands
To determine the best upholstery cleaner rental, we reviewed each brand’s availability, number of rental locations, types of cleaner machine models, range of cleaning solutions, upholstery attachments, and machine portability. We also examined the brands’ websites for ease of use, flexibility of rental periods, and customer reviews. Each upholstery cleaner brand provides a much-needed service, has satisfied customers, and has an excellent reputation.
Before You Use One of the Best Upholstery Cleaner Rental Brands
Renting a cleaning machine to freshen up the upholstery in the house is an easy and convenient way to clean dingy and stained couches and chairs. But before renting a machine to clean upholstery, there are a few things to consider.
- Rental period. Most carpet cleaning machines are rented in 24-hour periods. Examine exactly what needs to be cleaned, and rent the machine according to how long you’ll need it. If you have only an item or two that needs to be cleaned, take advantage of a shorter rental time. For larger projects, or if you don’t want to feel rushed, a longer rental period may be the best option.
- Find a machine that meets the cleaning needs. Renting a large carpet cleaner with no upholstery attachment won’t work for cleaning a dirty couch. Customers will want to research the available models for rent and use one that works for their particular cleaning needs. Consider tank size, cords, and hose lengths.
- Use the right cleaning solution. There is a wide variety of cleaning solutions available with carpet cleaner rentals. A spot cleaner or a pretreatment will work well for removing upholstery stains. A fabric and upholstery cleaner would be the best option (instead of a general carpet cleaning solution) for treating furnishings around the home.
- Consider dry time. If friends or family are coming to visit and a customer wants the furniture upholstery clean and fresh, they will want to leave enough time for cleaning and drying. Sitting on wet or damp furniture can be an unpleasant experience. Keep in mind that it takes approximately 2 to 6 (and sometimes more) hours for upholstery to completely dry after cleaning.
Cost of Using One of the Best Upholstery Cleaner Rental Brands
Cleaning furniture upholstery with a rental machine can save money compared to hiring professional cleaners. On average, the price to rent a machine for 24 hours ranges from $14.99 to $39.99 plus the cost of cleaning solution and upholstery attachments. Sofas and couches are typically the most expensive home furnishings to get professionally cleaned. They can range from $100 to $500, depending on size and upholstery material. Loveseats cost between $60 and $120, recliners run from $60 to $80, and ottomans cost from $20 to $50 on average. Armchairs cost between $40 and $80, office chairs are usually priced at $20 to $40, and dining chairs can run from $10 to $30 to be professionally cleaned. If a customer has the time it takes to clean upholstery and doesn’t mind putting in the effort, they can save a considerable amount of money when they clean their own upholstery.
The Advantages of Using One of the Best Upholstery Cleaner Rental Brands
Renting an upholstery cleaner can restore the look of couches, chairs, ottomans, and loveseats and extend their longevity. Some additional benefits of using one of the best upholstery cleaner rental brands are:
- Renting a cleaner to remove surface stains is more affordable than paying for a professional upholstery cleaner.
- Improving the air quality of the home by removing stains, odors, and dander.
- Accessing how-to videos on the brand’s website.
- Cleaning the upholstery on the customer’s schedule.
- Restoring the beauty of the furniture.
- Boosting the comfort of the home.
FAQs
When deciding on an upholstery cleaner rental, it’s helpful to know as much information as possible to make the best decisions. Here are a few frequently asked questions about upholstery cleaner rentals to make the decision easier.
Q. Is upholstery cleaning effective?
Yes. Cleaning upholstery on your own is effective to remove surface stains and refresh the look of the furniture.
Q. How do you clean upholstery with a steam cleaner?
To clean upholstery with a steam cleaner, the furniture needs to be vacuumed and the stains pretreated. After that, the cleaning solution needs to be added to the machine, and then you’ll use the steam cleaner to remove dirt and stains. Be sure to leave ample time for the furniture to dry before it’s used.
Q. How long does a couch take to dry after steam cleaning?
A couch can take between 2 and 6 hours to dry after steam cleaning. If the material has been oversaturated with water and cleaning solution, it can take much longer to dry.
Q. Can a carpet cleaner be used on a couch?
Yes, a carpet cleaner can be used on a couch. It’s recommended to check the cleaning instructions for the couch material and test in an inconspicuous spot before using the carpet cleaner on the entire couch.
Q. Can I steam clean my couch myself?
Absolutely. Renting an upholstery cleaner is a great way to clean a couch on your own.
Q: What happens to the dirt when you steam clean?
Steam cleaning breaks down the dirt and stains lodged in the upholstery material. It can be removed by using the machine to suck the dirty water into the dirty water tank, or it can be removed by using a cloth to wipe it away.
