Home carpet cleaning

[Doomspark]

My lease states that carpets must be steam-cleaned once a year at tenant's expense (last year was $180.00), or the landlord will do it for them and charge a premium fee ($250.00). Last week, my landlord sent me a notice that my annual steam-cleaning was coming due. So I went out and bought a home carpet-steamer:

http://hoover.com/products/details/f5918900/steamvac-pet-complete-carpet-washer-with-clean-surge/

Got it on-sale at Walmart for $110.00.

It did a fantastic job, and only took a couple hours to do the entire carpeted area of the place.  Landlord has no clue that I did it myself; just got a note from them thanking me for promptly attending to it.

[steadierfooting]

We bought one at kohls when we moved into our house last 2 years ago.  It saved us from having to rip up the carpeting from the disgusting smell from pets.  We use it once a year and occasionally for spot spills and love the outcome.  Its amazing seeing the black water at the end.  Our last landlord before buying stipulated it had to be professionally done.  Blah.

[FrugalZony]

I rented one from Safeway a few months back.
Less than $25 with a bottle of cleaner and a spot cleaner thingie (used coupons)
Worked like a charm and I don't have one of those bulky things sitting around.
I know at a $110 purchase with a yearly requirement I'd break even pretty quickly,
but I don't have a yearly requirement for this and did not want extra stuff sitting around
So renting one is definitely an option ;)

[DarinC]

I love carpet cleaners. I picked up two rug doctors from Kohls a whole back. One for $15, and the other for $85. They are awesome to have around for large rugs/carpet.