In this review, we’ll look at the pros and cons of the Rug Doctor portable spot cleaner. This portable spot cleaner is designed specifically to pick up stains in one location, not clean an entire room like the large Rug Doctor carpet cleaners. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this product?
Pros of the Portable Rug Doctor Spot Cleaner
This unit has much better suction than the comparable Bissell spot cleaner. It will pull stains that are deeper in the carpet out in one or two passes, and it won’t leave as much moisture in the carpet after use.
The Rug Doctor’s tanks are easy to remove so you can fill them, empty them or clean them. The only annoyance is that the tank doesn’t contain the dirty water very well if it sloshes, so don’t wait until the dirty water tank is filled to the brim before waiting to empty it.
The Rug Doctor spot cleaner weighs around twenty pounds, but between the wheels on the bottom and handle on top, it is very portable. Better yet, the handle is retractable. This makes it more convenient to store than some of its rivals. It has wheels to make it easier to roll around the house. In short, it is very portable – and not all portable carpet cleaners actually are.
This unit doesn’t lift up the stain while redistributing some of the residue in a larger stain in the area under the spot cleaner. This carpet cleaner is safe for your very light or white carpets.
Cons of the Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner
The sprayer sometimes works sporadically, and this can be a prelude to the sprayer not working at all. You don’t have control over the spray except on and off.
The oscillating brush cleans best in the middle, so getting the scrubbing action requires moving the unit around.
After extended use, the Rug Doctor spot cleaner is prone to leaking.
Observations
It comes with a two year limited warranty. The warranty includes labor if the defects are based on manufacturing errors, not regular use. A downside of utilizing the warranty is that you have to return the unit for repair or warranty – and the customer has to pay the freight to return it. Expect to pay at least fifty dollars to return it, and there is no guarantee that they’ll fix the problem even after you pay the shipping. Given the cost of the unit, a major repair – especially if they say it isn’t a manufacturing defect – risks costing as much as getting a newer albeit cheaper replacement.
The unit’s noise level is typical.
Summary
While this isn’t the cheapest carpet spot cleaner on the market, it is one of the few safe for very light carpets. It is also one of the few that won’t leave a soggy mess unless and until it leaks. The Rug Doctor carpet stain cleaner isn’t lightweight but it is eminently portable and easy to use.