Carpets are a significant investment in any home, providing comfort, style, and insulation. However, they also take a beating from foot traffic, spills, pet accidents, and general dirt and grime. Regular vacuuming helps, but to truly extend the life of your carpets and keep them looking their best, occasional deep cleaning is a must. For many homeowners, renting a carpet cleaning machine from a retailer like Lowe‘s is an attractive option. But what exactly does Lowe‘s offer, how does it compare to other options, and what do you need to know to get the best results? Let‘s dive in.
Why Rent a Carpet Cleaner?
Before we get into the specifics of Lowe‘s carpet cleaner rentals, let‘s discuss why you might choose to rent a machine rather than hiring a professional service or buying your own. There are several key benefits to renting:
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Cost-effective: Renting a carpet cleaner is significantly cheaper than hiring a professional service. According to HomeAdvisor, professional carpet cleaning typically costs $25-$70 per room, or $0.25-$0.50 per square foot. Renting a machine from Lowe‘s costs $29.99-$59.99 total, depending on the rental period.
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Convenient: With a rental, you can clean your carpets on your own schedule without having to accommodate a professional‘s availability. This can be especially helpful for busy households or those with pets who need to clean more frequently.
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Effective: While rental machines may not be quite as powerful as professional truck-mounted units, they are still highly effective at removing dirt, stains, and allergens from your carpets. The Bissell Big Green machine that Lowe‘s rents is a commercial-grade cleaner that can yield professional-level results.
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Eco-friendly: Renting a carpet cleaner can be more environmentally friendly than owning one. It reduces the number of machines that need to be produced and stored, and it ensures that each machine gets maximum use over its lifespan.
Of course, renting isn‘t the best choice for everyone. If you have a large home with a lot of carpet or frequently need to clean due to pets or children, owning your own machine may be more practical and cost-effective in the long run. But for many households, renting is an ideal balance of convenience, effectiveness, and value.
Overview of Lowe‘s Carpet Cleaner Rental Service
Lowe‘s has been offering tool and equipment rentals, including carpet cleaners, for many years. The service is available at most Lowe‘s locations that have a tool rental department. You can typically rent the machines for 4-hour, 24-hour, or 48-hour periods.
The primary machine that Lowe‘s rents is the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine. This is a professional-grade, commercial-sized cleaner that offers several advantages over typical consumer models:
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Powerful motors: The Big Green has two motors – one for the brush roll and one for suction. This provides greater cleaning power and faster drying times.
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Large capacity tanks: The machine has a 1.75-gallon clean water tank and a 1.75-gallon dirty water tank. This allows you to clean larger areas without stopping to refill or empty the tanks.
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Wide cleaning path: The cleaner has a 10.5-inch cleaning path, which is wider than most consumer models. This means you can cover more area in less time.
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Adjustable handle: The handle can be adjusted to different heights for comfortable use by different users.
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Tough stain tool: The machine includes a 9-foot hose and a 6-inch tough stain tool for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and hard-to-reach areas.
The Big Green is designed to handle large areas and heavily soiled carpets, making it an excellent choice for annual deep cleans or tackling tough stains and high-traffic areas.
Lowe‘s Carpet Cleaner Rental Cost
The cost to rent a carpet cleaner from Lowe‘s is as follows (prices may vary slightly by location):
| Rental Period | Cost |
|---|---|
| 4 hours | $29.99 |
| 24 hours | $39.99 |
| 48 hours | $59.99 |
These prices are for the machine rental only. You‘ll also need to purchase or provide your own cleaning solution. Lowe‘s sells Bissell cleaning formulas specifically designed for use in the Big Green machine:
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| 48 oz. Bissell Professional Deep Cleaning Formula | $19.99 |
| 48 oz. Bissell Professional Pet Urine Eliminator Formula | $24.99 |
| 48 oz. Bissell Professional Oxy Deep Cleaning Formula | $24.99 |
One bottle of solution can typically clean 1,200-1,500 square feet of carpet. For an average home, one bottle is usually sufficient, but larger homes or heavily soiled carpets may require more.
There may also be additional fees for damage/cleaning of the machine, late returns, or failure to empty and clean the machine before returning. Be sure to familiarize yourself with all terms and fees before renting.
Comparing Lowe‘s to Other Carpet Cleaner Rental Options
To see how Lowe‘s stacks up to other carpet cleaner rental options, let‘s compare prices for a 24-hour rental period:
| Retailer | 24-Hour Rental Price |
|---|---|
| Lowe‘s | $39.99 |
| Home Depot | $42.00 |
| Publix | $45.00 |
| Menards | $44.99 |
| Kroger | $39.99 |
In terms of price, Lowe‘s is one of the most competitive options, tied with Kroger for the lowest 24-hour rental rate among major retailers.
Of course, price isn‘t the only factor to consider. The Bissell Big Green machine that Lowe‘s rents is a higher-end, commercial-grade cleaner compared to the machines available at many other retailers. For example, Home Depot rents the Rug Doctor Pro, which is a step down from the Big Green in terms of power and features.
Convenience is another consideration. Not all Lowe‘s locations offer tool rentals, so you may need to travel further than your local grocery store. However, Lowe‘s generally has more extensive rental hours than grocery stores, which can be helpful if you need to pick up or return the machine outside of typical business hours.
The Rental Process at Lowe‘s
Renting a carpet cleaner at Lowe‘s is a fairly straightforward process, but there are a few things you should know:
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Reservation: You can reserve a carpet cleaner in advance to ensure availability. This is recommended, especially during peak cleaning times like spring and fall. You can reserve online, by phone, or in person at your local Lowe‘s tool rental department.
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Pick-up: When you arrive to pick up your reserved machine, you‘ll need to provide a valid form of identification and a credit card for the deposit. The rental associate will go over the operation of the machine and any additional terms and fees.
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Usage: Be sure to follow all instructions provided by Lowe‘s and in the machine‘s user manual. Only use Bissell cleaning solutions in the machine. For heavily soiled areas, pre-treat with a carpet stain remover before using the machine.
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Return: The machine must be returned clean and with an empty dirty water tank to avoid additional fees. Be sure to return the machine on time to avoid late fees.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
To get the most out of your rented carpet cleaner, follow these expert tips:
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Vacuum first: Always vacuum your carpets thoroughly before deep cleaning. This removes surface dirt and debris, allowing the cleaner to work more effectively.
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Pre-treat stains: For tough stains, apply a carpet stain remover and allow it to sit for the recommended time before using the machine. For pet stains, use a formula specifically designed for pet odors and stains.
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Use the right amount of solution: Follow the instructions on the cleaning solution bottle for how much to use. Using too much solution can leave residue in your carpet and lead to faster re-soiling.
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Go slow: Pass the machine slowly over each section of carpet to allow time for the solution to work and the machine to extract the dirt and water.
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Overlap passes: Slightly overlap each pass of the machine to ensure you don‘t miss any spots.
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Allow for drying time: Carpets can take 6-12 hours to dry fully after cleaning, depending on humidity and airflow. Use fans and open windows to speed up drying time, and avoid walking on the carpet until it‘s completely dry.
Customer Experiences and Reviews
Here are a few more customer reviews of Lowe‘s carpet cleaner rental service:
"I‘ve rented the Bissell Big Green from Lowe‘s several times now and have always been impressed with the results. It‘s a bit of a beast to maneuver, but it really does an amazing job at lifting out dirt and stains." – Karen L.
"The staff at my local Lowe‘s rental department are always very helpful and knowledgeable. They take the time to explain everything and make sure you‘re comfortable with the machine before you leave." – David T.
"I appreciated that Lowe‘s offers a 48-hour rental period. It gave me plenty of time to clean my entire house without feeling rushed. The results were fantastic – my carpets look brand new!" – Emily G.
The vast majority of customer reviews for Lowe‘s carpet cleaner rentals are positive, with customers praising the cleaning power of the Bissell Big Green and the helpful service provided by Lowe‘s staff. The most common complaint is that the machine can be heavy and unwieldy, particularly on stairs, but this is a common issue with most commercial-grade carpet cleaners.
Conclusion
Renting a carpet cleaner from Lowe‘s is a cost-effective and convenient way to keep your carpets looking their best. The Bissell Big Green machine that Lowe‘s rents offers superior cleaning performance at a price that‘s competitive with other rental options. While it may not be the best choice for everyone, it‘s certainly worth considering for your annual deep clean or tackling tough stains and high-traffic areas.
To get the most out of your rental, be sure to follow the tips and instructions provided, and allow plenty of time for the cleaning process and drying. With proper use and care, a rented carpet cleaner from Lowe‘s can leave your carpets looking refreshed, revitalized, and ready to stand up to another year of wear and tear.
