Where to rent a steam cleaner (And should you?)
If you can’t think of the last time you cleaned your carpet, maybe it’s time to check that off your to-do list. With so many options and tools nowadays, you may wonder which makes the most sense: shelling out the money for a professional to do the job, investing in the purchase of a steam cleaner, or the happy medium of renting one? And then where to rent a steam cleaner in the first place?
The Home Depot, for example, rents a variety of floor cleaning machines, including carpet cleaners, floor cleaners, and extractors. You can also rent the BISSELL Big Green carpet cleaner, one of the top machines on the market, from retailers like Lowe’s and PetSmart.
In an effort to reduce chemical use in the home, many households are switching to more natural solutions like steam-based cleaners. Benefit-wise, they beat every other option on the market. So, it comes as no surprise that the tools that go with this method can do things that other cleaning devices simply can’t.
Owning a steam cleaner may be more cost-effective if you plan on cleaning your carpet often, but what about renting? Does it pay to rent over buy?
Keep reading to find out how steam cleaners work and the key points to consider while making your decision.
How does steam cleaning work?
Did you know that steam technology was found to have an advantage over the 2-step procedure of cleaning and disinfection? That’s because it avoids the use of chemicals and reduces water consumption, as well as costs for cleaning. A steam cleaner is an appliance that uses vapor steam to clean and sanitize any surface without the use of chemicals. They’re ideal for hard surfaces such as tile and sealed floors, as well as cleaning soft materials such as carpets. The steam is produced by heating up water that is then forced out as pressurized steam through a nozzle, brush, or other attachment. The vapor loosens dirt at very high temperatures and kills dust mites, mold, allergens, and harmful bacteria. Some steam cleaners work with detergents and cleaning solutions while others include vacuums.
Can you rent a steam cleaner?
The short answer is yes! It may seem scary at first, but renting one of these machines is super easy. Just make sure to do your research beforehand. Here’s exactly what you need to know:
How many days you’ll need it – Most of these machines rent by the day. So, if you’re tackling minor stains on every carpet in your household, a day is enough. However, if you’re cleaning a much larger area, that will take a few days at minimum. Speak to your preferred rental company about what financial incentives they offer for long-term rentals. That way you can work within your budget.
Use a machine that meets your needs – Make sure you know what you’re looking to accomplish with your carpet cleaner before you rent. Different machines will offer different results. Higher-end carpet cleaning machines can make a real difference. When renting a carpet cleaning machine, don’t shy away from asking the rental specialist all the questions that will be beneficial to your DIY carpet cleaning routine.
Ask about the detergent – When you pay for carpet rental services, you usually get only the machine. Any other additional things like detergent come at your own cost. It’s best if you use the right kind of detergent for that specific carpet cleaning machine. Using the wrong one can lead to machine damage. If you aren’t sure which to use, you can always ask the company.
How much does a steam cleaner rental cost?
Carpet cleaner rentals are available at grocery stores, hardware stores, and superstores. This way if you’re renting, you actually save on shipping and delivery costs. The prices themselves may vary. Professional carpet cleaning services cost between $300 and $600 on average. If you decide to rent a carpet cleaning machine, that will cost around $35 to $50. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to pick up detergent. That will cost another $15 to $25. This brings the total cost to around $50 to $75.
Clearly, renting a steam cleaner is cheaper than paying the professionals, but what is your time worth? At the end of the day, it’s you doing this work. You’re likely to spend more time tackling the project than professionals would. Also, you may not get the same results as you would from a professional.
Should I rent a steam cleaner?
After all the information we shared so far, the question remains. Should you rent or buy a steam cleaner? Both have their own pros and cons. Know that the importance of purchasing a carpet cleaner or renting one may depend on the size of the household, your specific needs and if there are kids and pets living inside the house.
Investing in a carpet cleaner can mean a higher expense initially compared to renting. But with rentals, you have to pay a rental fee for each day you rent them. So, if you do the math, that means you’re actually paying more in the long run. If you’re looking to do a one-time cleaning, it’s cheaper to rent. However, since your carpets should be deep cleaned regularly, the smarter thing is to buy one.
The other benefit of buying is the detergent you need for your cleaner. If you will be using it several times, you can buy the carpet shampoo in bulk and save a bit of cash on that.
If you choose to rent, you will usually bear the cost of transporting it from the dealer to your house and back. Essentially, that means renting the vehicle or paying the additional cost for gas. That can be avoided if you buy your own steam cleaner.
Also, rentals don’t give you many options in terms of models you can use, so you may not get the machine model of your preference. Whereas when buying for one, you make a decision on what features and quality you want, and how much money you’re willing to spend to get them. If you’re in search of one, you may want to take a look at this handy guide to find the model that’s going to suit your needs.
As you can tell, there are many benefits to buying a cleaner and perhaps one too many drawbacks associated with renting.
In conclusion, if you suffer from allergies, asthma, or a weak immune system, using a steamer is a great alternative to using chemicals. Not to mention it’ll extend the life of your flooring. If you rent a carpet cleaning machine, you may actually end up spending way more money and time compared to buying one. Save yourself from the stress and consider investing in a good steam cleaner – it’ll save more in the long run.
