This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rug Doctor for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

You’ve likely seen Rug Doctor in your local supermarket or home improvement store, tucked away in a little corner, looking like a fun-size version of Zamboni.

And you’ve wondered: can that thing really get my carpets cleaned? I mean, I have kids (or pets…or both), so is it actually up for the challenge or will this be a waste of money?

Well, let me tell you about my experience using Rug Doctor, and a few tips I have for maximum success.

I went to my nearest Rug Doctor rental location (1 mile from my house! There are 40,000 locations nationwide so odds are good that your nearest place is super close, too). I then picked out my Rug Doctor, I asked for the accessory devices so that I could do my upholstery…they don’t give it to you if you don’t ask, so be sure to request it!) and my cleaning supplies. Go ahead and go for the larger container of stuff. I’ll tell you why in a minute.

The instructions are impossible to lose because they are on the handle of the machine (excellent design!). You need hot water and the cleaning solution, a plug, and a surface that has already been vacuumed, and you are good to go. The device seems to spray the solution onto the carpet or upholstery and then very quickly vacuum it back up into the reservoir where all the dirty water is held. This is what doing half…just HALF of my 5×7 living room rug resulted in. EWWWW!

The recommendation was to dispense of the dirty water in the toilet, so that’s the route I took. It was super humbling to see just how much dirt and grime was built up in my carpet. My carpet looked dingy, to be sure, but I couldn’t tell that it was THAT dirty just by looking at it. And honestly, now my living room not only looks better, but smells better, too.

I cleaned another area rug in a different room, and then I turned my attention to my cream colored couch, peppered liberally with stains, courtesy of my children. This was perhaps the most satisfying thing to clean because the difference was so dramatic.

In fact, once I saw just how great it looked, I realized that I was going to be keeping the Rug Doctor for another 24 hours (at my location, you are only charged $10 for another whole day) and would be cleaning my dining room chairs and all the carpet in my upstairs rooms. This is why I recommend that you go ahead and buy the larger cleaning fluid, because once you see how well Rug Doctor works, you are going to want to clean pretty much anything and everything you can. Our plans tonight before we take it back definitely include cleaning the upholstery in the car.

If you are super savvy you can get all of this done in just one day, but it will take some prep work before you head to the store. But whether you spend $30 to rent the machine for a day, spend another $10 to make it a weekend project, or go all in and purchase the Deep Carpet Cleaner or Portable Spot Cleaner (available on Amazon), you are going to LOVE the deep-clean results, and you’ll also love spending a fraction of what you would pay a professional for the same service.

And the actual cleaning is quick (most rooms can be cleaned in 20 minutes). It’s all the picking up you have to do before you use The Rug Doctor that takes forever! 😉 I highly recommend the Rug Doctor experience; find a rental location near you!