We’re definitely not professional cleaners or machine operators, but we gave the carpet cleaner rental machine a whirl last week. Here’s what we thought of the process & its effectiveness. We filmed the whole thing and posted the video, so make sure to check out the YouTube video on the DIY fabric sofa cleaner if you haven’t already!
DIY Fabric Sofa Cleaner Solution
There was this hilarious day when I thought I would train the dogs to not sit on the couch. (Insert crowd laughter) This is where the DIY fabric sofa cleaner method comes in handy. Try as I might, I just didn’t have the heart or pet-parenting backbone to keep the mutts off the couch for good. And when we aren’t home, they certainly don’t have the wherewithal to stay off the couches themselves.
Carpet Cleaner Rental Experience
I used to get so frustrated when I’d see them on the couches, thinking that each time they were on the couch, it meant the life of the couch was shortened. I never came across a good DIY fabric sofa cleaner method growing up, so I didn’t really think one existed. However, one day we decided to try the carpet cleaner rental from Home Depot. We used the Rug Doctor brand. The upholstery attachment that came with it got my wheels turning.
The DIY fabric sofa cleaner rental did a pretty darn good job on the basement carpet that we’ve dirtied up over the years with remodel projects. It was definitely a workout, but it was well worth the time and money it took to rent the machine. What made it even more valuable, in my opinion, was its DIY fabric sofa cleaner potential. I couldn’t believe what a fantastic job it did cleaning our upholstery.
The Magic Upholstery Attachment
The carpet cleaner rental comes with an upholstery attachment which is perfect for cleaning fabric sofas and couches. If you’re not already familiar with how carpet cleaner rentals work, they’re essentially a hose and a vacuum in one. First you shoot the water & cleaning solution into the dirty surface, saturating the fabric completely. Almost instantaneously, the water & cleaning solution is sucked right back up into the vacuum, bringing heaps of dirt and grime with it.
DIY Fabric Sofa Cleaner Solution Cost
I paid about $300 to have our basement carpet and two sofas professionally steam cleaned a couple years ago. The job they did on the carpet was alright, but the “professional” steam cleaning of the upholstery was definitely lacking. And it wasn’t a cheap add-on! I love this DIY fabric sofa cleaner method because I can roll my sleeves up, get my hands dirty, and work at the job until it is done right. Sadly, I haven’t had the same success with hired help. Not only does this DIY fabric sofa cleaner do a better job than the professionals we hired, but it saves us a ton of money, too.
We pay about $35 for a 4 hour DIY fabric sofa cleaner machine rental. The cleaning solution was about $20. In this time, we are able to wash the basement carpets, as well as the two fabric couches in the living room. We do love our affordable leather chairs, as they don’t absorb dirt from mutts. Their cleaning routine is a simple wiping down. If rented by 6pm, our Home Depot actually lets us keep the machine overnight for no extra fee. You can rent similar machines from Lowes or even local grocery & hardware stores, but we’re happy with this brand.
Cleaning Couches at Home
If you’re looking to easily clean your couches at home, I do recommend the carpet cleaner rental with upholstery attachment. So far, both times we’ve rented this machine, we’ve been happy with the results. For two couches and one basement room, it takes me at least 4 hours. We broke it down more in our YouTube video, so make sure to check that out if you want to see the couch cleaner in action!
All in all, it was super easy, very effective, and dare I say, somewhat enjoyable? Have you used one before? What are your upholstery & carpet cleaning experiences like?