I'm in the market for a carpet cleaner

[stayathomecristi]

Hi everyone, I think I'm ready to look into getting a carpet cleaner. We've rented before and had a couple of bad experiences.

Here's what I'm looking for:

1. It needs to do a good job (no sense in buying one that doesn't work well)

2. I need to be able to put my own cleaning solution into it because I have enviromental allergies to just about all the cleaning stuff out on the market.

Suggestions are appreciated!

[shelbean91]

We have a hoover upright cleaner- bought it when we moved into our new house 7 years ago and it still does a great job. It looks like a vacuum cleaner, so easy to use. Has hand attachments for smaller jobs. It was around $150-200, if I recall. We might have to replace it soon b/c one of the internal lines are starting to crack, but it's had heavy use. We have 3 dogs (one of which had a 'marking' problem) and 3 kids.

[jeniferm]

I think ours is also a Hoover upright, but I don't know the model.

www.epinions.com is often good for reading user reviews of various products. If you find one that you like, check www.overstock.com to see if they have a good deal. BIL got a $300 unit from them for $80 a few months ago!

[stayathomecristi]

Thanks for the info and links, ladies! Do either of you know whether you can use your own solution in there? Sometimes they say not to not just for $$$ reasons (if they can get you to keep buying their products), but that it could damage the machine if you do something different. I dunno.

Anyhow, if anyone else wants to chime in, feel free. I usually take a little while to make decisions like this.

[shelbean91]

I don't know if it specifically says you can or not- I haven't read the instruction manual in a LONG time. There is a chamber for water- I have put oxyclean, etc., in there before.