I've only used a rental machine once or twice, so no real experience to share on which one is best. I bought a Hoover Steam vac. and am happy with how it works on my carpets. To me, the key is to use really hot water when filling it. You are right, the carpet that is exposed will look different than where the furniture covers it anyway, so wouldn't worry about moving the heavy pieces. Just move what you can to make it easier to maneuver since the cleaners are rather bulky. You can control how wet you get it, the vacuum part does a pretty good job of sucking up the water. Mine usually dry within just a few hours. Just go slowly, and let the machine do the work. I always do small sections at a time, then run the machine back over that area one more time to suck up any additional moisture. Good luck with your project. Luvs

I have a Ladybug steamer and although there are some uses, it certainly doesn't do what I was expecting. The promotional info made it seem like it would remove stuff like magic (like the scruffy, buggy aluminum window noted above). Not so, while it does loosen things, it doesn't remove them, you still have to do that the old-fashioned way, with a rag, while handling the very hot, slightly awkward machine and hose assembly. For me it's faster to just vacuum, scrape or wipe the stuff away. It can't really be used on painted wood; it will lift the paint off. (In fact I sometimes use it to strip paint.) Its ability to steam a carpet is notional, at best. The idea that it can "steam clean" upholstery is exagerated. The idea that is sanitizes toilet bowls and tooth brushes (who would want to do both with same tool, anyway?) is a fantasy. The toilet bowl never gets hot enough to be "sanitized" because of the toilet bowl's inherent thermal mass. It does a so-so job of cleaning britework in the bath and kitchen. It's far faster to use a damp cloth, with or w/o vinegar. The idea that it will kill dust mites on mattresses is laughable since they exist not just on the surface of a mattress and you can sheild your hand with an inch of fabric and not be burned by the steam so the mites are probably in there laughing their heads off while enjoying the free sauna. So, why don't I toss it? Well, it cleans my non self-clean oven like gangbusters. I find it terrifically useful for cleaning my plaster and painted walls and it's useful for cleaning gunky greasy front of the stove on wood floors. If I had vinyl or tile floors I think it would be more useful. So, it has it's uses, but IMO it's vastly over-sold. If you already have a very clean house having the steam will make you feel like you are doing great things, but in most cases in my experience you are not doing more than you are alreadya doing. It's one of those things sold to desperate people with fearful allergies who are trying to breathe better. Prices are silly, for what you get. It pays to shop around, too. And ask vendors for open-box items as they get a lot of these back. Molly~ Here is a link that might be useful: Here's the model I have

The good form of carpet cleaning is always prevention. Taking proper care and maintaining your carpet clean will save you money from having to buy expensive cleaning products. Never rub rashly and carelessly at a carpet stain, this may only cause it to smear and become permanent. Also, doing this will weaken the fiber causing your carpet to wear out quicker.

Well it seems we have more than just a padding issue. First off echoflooring, I agree now that the padding under berber should be no more than 3/8... Last night my wife pulled out a sample of the Karastan she had in the closet and a piece of the carpet scrap from the install. There are differents which make us think, either a substitute or a lower grade Karastan (?) has been installed. The backing on the carpet has similiar patterns as our sample, however, the threading on the back of the install scrap is significantly different and the loop on the berber is not the same...on the sample there is a "shaved" pattern on some of the piles and the pattern in the berber is pronouned. On the scrap there is no shaving, nor is the berber pattern very pronouced. Now I understand it has been in a roll and compressed, but no matter what we do to try and fluff up the scrap, brush it, rake it or whatever, it does not display like our sample. We are really upset with this and will head back to the store today. All along we have been dealing with the owner of this Carpet One store, but now don't trust them. Not only do we think there is a problem with the product, the installer cut the carpet wrong and tried to hide a patch. They have ordered replacement, but now we are concerned the whole job is flawed, from pad to carpet and install. Frustrated!