22/06/2026
‼️ ESSAY ALERT ‼️
Most of us know about rentable carpet cleaning machines from supermarkets and alike… and a fair few people still use them.
Not only are they hugely substandard, but have you ever wondered what happens to the machines once returned? 🤔
Do you ever wonder what it was used for on the job before you?
Urine? Blood? Faeces? Vomit? Mould? Milk/Dairy Products? Fleas/Infestations?
Whose hair, dead skin cells, odours & sweat are potentially still in the machine? 👹
Do the supermarkets/rental services ask what it was used for?
Would the renters tell the truth?
Do they care?
The terms for a certain branded machine state that machines are to be returned clean or charges will be incurred - How many people renting these machines have antimicrobial products and would spend the time properly cleaning a rented machine?
Does that mean if they’re “clean” and no costs are added, then they see no cleaning required, therefore, no costs to add to cover staff wages to clean it?
How about the SELF-SERVICE LOCKERS you can rent the machines from? 🤯
Mould and Bacteria thrives in humid conditions and being enclosed in a metal locker box seems to be an ideal place for this!
Now, do you think they have been thoroughly cleaned out, flushed through and properly sanitised ready for the next customer, or sent out to the next customer right away if they look clean?
Off the shelf/rented detergents are generic, alkaline based, foamy and claggy… this isn’t just bad for quick re-soiling of your carpets/upholstery as it leaves a film that attracts dust and grime, but it will also be coating the extraction hose & wand, which will inevitably start to spread bacteria and cause even less suction, which in turn spreads the grime from yours and previous users homes into yours.
Then there’s the motor cooling fan, which blows out the hot air from inside the machine to keep it cool every second it’s on.
Allergens and odours get trapped inside the machines waste tank and can be effectively blown forcefully around your house without you even knowing!
How do WE deal with the above?
* Firstly, we use professional industrial equipment with massively far superior power, PSI and suction, which minimises the chances of anything getting left behind in pipes
* Rinse the waste tank after EVERY job
* Run de-foamer through the vacuum extraction pipes to rid any residue extracted from self cleans/off the shelf stain removers, which then goes straight into the waste tank, where it will continue to do its job
* Use professional grade products and never leave carpets, rugs or sofas in an alkaline state
* Thoroughly clean and professionally sanitise the machine, pipes and any wands/equipment used for bio-hazard jobs before heading to the next job and in most cases, these will be booked as the last/only job of the day
* Try and leave the machine outside where possible when working
* Dry out the vacuums & waste tank to completely rid any left over water after rinsing and then antimicrobial deodorise waste tank
* Leave the waste tank lid off during jobs and overnight storage as the heat created by the machine internally could cause condensation leading to odours/bacterial growth
* Weekly deep clean and sanitise all machinery, pipes, wands, bottles etc
* Boil wash or replace towels, pads & brushes used after each use
PLUS, after all of this, renting one costs £27.99 for 24 hours, “detergent” starts at £11 per litre for the basic formula, you have to drive to pick up and drop off and YOU have to “clean” the carpet yourself!
That’s over £40 including fuel, plus your time and effort to do maybe one room yourself with a substandard machine and generic product! 😳
And finally, no, unfortunately shop bought carpet cleaners and “stain removers” are no better 😬
Potentially for your everyday spills to suck up some moisture, but every spot & stain still needs a specific treatment, not a generic “cleaning detergent” and you can end up setting the stain permanently with attempts.