I didn't realise how filthy my carpets were until I used this at-home Rug Doctor – it's hard to beat for professional-looking results
I was mortified at the dirt it pulled from my carpets
The Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner delivers genuinely deep, professional-level carpet cleaning at home. It's powerful, ready to use straight out of the box, and it produces instantly visible results - the kind that make you question how clean your carpets ever were to begin with. It is heavy, and while it may be the brand's most affordable model, it's still an investment to buy. But these feel like small trade-offs for the level of performance on offer.
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Delivers professional-looking results
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Powerful suction visibly lifts deep-set dirt
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Very easy to set up
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Includes additional tool for upholstery and mattresses
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Dries carpets within a few hours
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Long power cable provides extra reach
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Collapsible handle makes the unit more compact to store
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It's still expensive to buy
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It's very heavy and not the smoothest to manoeuvre
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Clean water tank will need frequent refilling
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As someone who's previously relied on getting my carpets professionally cleaned twice a year, I was genuinely excited to try the Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner. Better known for its rental machines, Rug Doctor promises expert results in a domestic, everyday model.
After putting it through its paces around my busy family home, it's fair to say it didn't disappoint - it lives up to the brand's reputation as one of the best carpet cleaners on the market.
In a nutshell
I was nothing short of mortified at the dirt the Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner lifted. I knew my carpets were looking dull and tired, but the colour of the water tank after testing it on my living room carpets completely humbled me. Even on the first pass, it made a noticeable difference, and the Super Boost mode is ideal for giving high-traffic areas a deep clean.
Set up couldn't be easier - it's practically ready to use straight out of the box. The collapsible handle and convenient carry handles make storage and lifting straightforward. Although it is heavy, it's much more compact than a Rug Doctor machine you'd typically hire, so it won't hog cupboard space.
The main drawbacks are its weight: it's much heavier than most upright carpet cleaners, and it requires effort to manoeuvre. That said, the adjustable handle does make steering it easier. My other main niggle is that the clean water tank is on the smaller side, and it's worth noting that it will run out quicker in Super Boost mode.
The results are unmatched, though. This is a machine that delivers professional-level results at home, and it's more versatile than I was expecting. The upholstery tool means you can use it to refresh stairs, mattresses and sofas, and even car interiors. So, whether you're considering buying or renting a carpet cleaner, the Rug Doctor really doesn't disappoint.
Specifications
- Weight: 14.25kg
- Dimensions: 110.5 (H) x 31.7 (W) x 47.7 (D)
- Power: 1300 W
- Clean water tank capacity: 3.8L
- Dirty water tank capacity: 4.2L
- Power cord length: 8.5m
- Upholstery tool length: 2.4m
- Included: Carpet cleaning machine, upholstery tool attachment, removable tool caddy, trial-size solution, user guide
- RRP: £319.99.
How I tested
I write freelance content for Ideal Home, and I'm always on the lookout for home upgrades that make my home life smoother (especially with three young children!). I've tested a range of floor care appliances, including mops, spot cleaners and steam cleaners.
I tested the Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner in my three bedroom home, using it to deep-clean my carpets, stairs, mattresses and sofas.
Unboxing, set up and first impressions
The Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner arrived in a very large, branded cardboard box, so there was no mistaking what had landed on my doorstep. Although the box had carry handles, I struggled to lift it alone because of its size and weight.
I opened the box to find the upholstery tool attachment wrapped in plastic packaging and secured between two polystyrene blocks. Beneath this sat another layer of polystyrene, and underneath that was the Rug Doctor itself. The machine was wrapped in plastic packaging and secured in place with a further layer of polystyrene.
The polystyrene was labelled 06 PS, which, after researching, I discovered is technically recyclable, but rarely accepted in household kerbside collections. There were also two types of plastic packaging used - one which needed to be taken to a specialised recycling point, and another that is widely recyclable. I always prefer an unboxing experience where the packaging is as eco-friendly as possible, so while this wasn't fully recyclable, I was pleased to see it wasn't completely wasteful either.
Removing the machine from the box was manageable thanks to its carry handle, though it felt noticeably heavier than other carpet cleaners I've tested. Once I'd unwrapped the plastic packaging, I was pleased to see the contents were kept fairly minimal - containing the main unit itself, an upholstery tool attachment, a removable tool caddy, a bottle of cleaning solution, and a paper manual.
Set-up was refreshingly straightforward. The only assembly required was to fix the hand-tool caddy onto the back of the machine, which stores the upholstery tool when not in use.
The hose wraps neatly around the caddy and clips securely into place, with the hand tool locking it firmly so everything feels compact and well organised once assembled. And while sliding the caddy into place on the back of the machine felt fiddly at first, once secured, it felt solid, and I was pleased to see it didn't add any unnecessary bulk.
Once the hose was secure on the caddy, I was able to appreciate the Rug Doctor in all its glory. The first thing that struck me was that it wasn't as bulky as I was expecting.
The design is relatively slim, with an adjustable handle that folds down when not in use - a particularly handy feature if you're short on storage space. If you're buying, it's reassuring to know it's more compact and lighter than the Rug Doctor models you'd typically hire. There's also a main carry handle built onto the unit, as well as a rear carry handle, which both feel genuinely practical.
The two large wheels on either side of the machine are prominent features and are clearly designed to make manoeuvring easier. While carpet cleaners rarely win awards for their looks, I was pleasantly surprised by the Rug Doctor's appearance, and I found it more appealing than I was expecting.
The first thing I did was remove the clean water tank from the machine. This was really simple; I just gripped the tank handle, which is conveniently labelled, and it came away from the main unit easily enough. At 3.8L, the tank is around average in size for a domestic carpet cleaner, but given the overall weight of the machine, I had expected it to hold more. Its wide shape makes it appear deceptively larger than it is.
The tank has a large screw-on lid, with measurements clearly printed, making it easy to fill. After filling the tank with lukewarm water, I used the supplied solution, following the instructions to fill to the halfway mark on the cap, recommended for 'normally' soiled carpets. While my living room carpets were in desperate need of a refresh, there weren't any deep-set stains I needed to tackle. And while the solution is marked as non-toxic, I tend to use as little chemical cleaner as possible with young children at home.
The trial size solution is 266ml, with 60ml recommended for a 'normal' clean and 120ml for a deep clean. It is an additional cost to consider, although Rug Doctor sells a range of options on its website - the largest being a 4L bottle priced at £21.99.
Using the Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner
On carpets
To get started, I plugged the unit in and was pleasantly surprised by the generously sized cable, which made moving it around the room much easier. Before switching it on, I spent a moment adjusting the handle to a comfortable position.
The power button then sits at the centre of the handle, and switches left for carpet cleaning, and right when using the hand tool. Once I'd familiarised myself with this, it felt intuitive.
Once the Rug Doctor was in carpet mode, the first thing that struck me was the noise. It's undeniably loud, but not surprising given the machine's size and power.
As I started working it over the carpet, straight away it felt considerably heavier than other carpet cleaners I've used. Manoeuvring it did take some practice, and it's worth bearing in mind that people with back pain might struggle with it. That said, once I'd settled on a comfortable position for the handle, I found it easier to steer when it was set lower, and it became much more manageable.
One of the machine's stand-out features is the dual cross-action brushes, which deep clean all sides of the carpet fibres. So, to activate these, I pressed the deep clean button on the top of the handle.
I was initially concerned the Rug Doctor might leave behind a noticeable chemical-cleaning smell (something I try to avoid with young children at home), but it was surprisingly fresh and not unpleasant at all. The tank ran out faster than I was expecting, though.
I had to refill it twice just to cover the carpets in my modest-sized living room. This was partly because I was using the Super Boost function, which the user guide recommends for cleaning heavily soiled and high-traffic areas.
Unsurprisingly, using this mode left the carpets noticeably wetter than the normal setting - it took around four hours for mine to dry completely. I was testing in winter, though, so I imagine in summer, when you can have the windows open, they'll dry much quicker.
By the time I'd covered all of the carpet in my living room, I'd worked up a sweat. Thankfully, the results were unbelievably impressive. I was blown away by how much fresher my tired, worn carpets looked - and the colour of the water tank was embarrassingly filthy.
It managed to pick up more hidden dirt than any other carpet cleaner I've previously used, and the Super Boost function really packs a powerful punch. But even in normal mode, it does a solid job.
I also used it on the carpets on my upstairs landing and in the bedrooms, but the biggest challenge was lifting it upstairs. Thankfully, the carry handle does make it easier, but it was still extremely heavy to lift by myself.
The space on my landing is fairly narrow, so it made manoeuvring the Rug Doctor trickier, but I only needed to give it a once-over here. I skipped the Super Boost setting, and I noticed the carpets felt lightly damp after, which was perfect for a quick refresh.
There were some stubborn black marks on my kids' carpet, which I've tried everything to remove, but with no joy. For this area, I decided to use the Rug Doctor Heavy Stain Pre-Treatment Spray first to give it the best chance of lifting the stains.
After turning the machine on, I pushed it over the area, then activated the Super Boost nozzle to spray additional cleaning solution before cleaning. Hitting the Deep Clean button on the top of the handle, I slowly pulled the machine backwards in a straight line. Almost immediately, I could see the marks lifting - and while the stains didn't completely disappear, the area was noticeably improved, which was really encouraging given how deeply embedded they were.
Using the upholstery kit
I was keen to try out the hand tool attachment on my carpeted stairs, as it's a high-traffic area that's always difficult to keep clean. After filling the clean water tank, I unwrapped the hand tool from the caddy on the back of the machine. There's a black rubber 'Tool Vacuum Connection' in the front of the wastewater tank, which pulls down to connect the hand tool.
The end of the hand tool has a plastic red nozzle which slots into the tank by lining up the “O” icons printed on both the tool and the tank. I then twisted it to the right to lock it into place. In the same way, I then connected the other side of the hose to the smaller 'Tool Spray Connection' outlet on the side of the machine, lining up the "O" symbols, before locking into place. Setting up the hand nozzle only took a couple of minutes in total.
The hose length felt generous at 2.4m, which made tackling my stairs promising. After switching the Rug Doctor on - this time flicking the power switch to the left for the hand tool - I squeezed the trigger over the first step.
Moving the tool back and forth, I made sure the carpet was fully covered. I realised using the hand tool for the stairs, although convenient, would take longer and require more manual effort than the upright machine. That said, it was satisfying to see the tool lifting the moisture from the carpet and the wastewater tank filling up.
The hose wasn't quite long enough to reach the top of the stairs, so I had to carry the machine up to finish the last few steps. It was a minor inconvenience - similar to using a spot cleaner - and manageable since it isn't a daily task. By the end, the steps looked noticeably fresher, felt only lightly damp, and were dry within a couple of hours.
I also have relatively new cream sofas in my conservatory, which you could say wasn't the most practical option with a house full of children! I'd spotted a couple of marks on one of the arms, so I was keen to put the Rug Doctor to the test here, too.
Using the hand tool attachment as I did on the stairs, I sprayed a generous amount of solution over the area before sliding the nozzle across the fabric.
After just a couple of passes, the marks were barely visible, and I could see a distinct difference in colour where I'd cleaned. Considering I thought my sofas were already fairly clean, I was genuinely surprised by how much fresher they looked after using the Rug Doctor.
The final test was on my daughter's cot bed mattress - and any parent will know just how easily they stain. After a recent sickness bug, there were a couple of stubborn marks I was keen to tackle - although I was slightly hesitant that it would take a while to dry.
It took a bit more effort than the sofa, likely due to the material of the mattress, but after a few passes, the Rug Doctor had successfully lifted the marks. Thankfully , the mattress only felt lightly damp after, and when I checked a couple of hours later, it was completely dry.
Cleaning and maintenance
While day-to-day maintenance is straightforward, I was initially surprised to see the fixed nozzle on the hand tool and the main floor head are fixed in place and don't appear to detach. After using the hand tool on a couple of areas, I could see a build-up of dirt and debris inside the hand nozzle, which I wanted to clean.
The manual does recommend leaving the machine on for 15 seconds after cleaning so any remaining solution is collected into the wastewater tank - likely to prevent clogs in the tube. If you're looking to rent a Rug Doctor, this won't be an issue, but if you're buying, it's something to be mindful of.
You can still clean the hand tool and floorhead by hand, using warm water, and a thin brush or tool will help to remove any stubborn debris. After each use, both the clean and waste water tanks should be emptied and rinsed. The waste water tank has a wide opening, making it easy to thoroughly rinse and dry before storing.
While I couldn't find any instructions for cleaning the roller brush, it can be wiped clean with a microfibre cloth to remove fibres and residue, keeping it fresh for the next clean.
How does the Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner rate online?
At the time of writing this review, there are currently no reviews on the Rug Doctor website itself. However, the carpet cleaner holds an impressive 4.8-star rating on Argos, based on 400 reviews. It’s frequently praised for its cleaning performance and ease of use, although users mention the small water tanks as a downside. Overall, reviewers consider it to be great value for money.
On Amazon, the Rug Doctor has a 4.4-star rating, from a total of 1,140 reviews. Positive feedback highlights its ability to remove deep-set dirt and refresh carpets so they look like new, along with good suction power and quick drying time. Opinions on ease of use are mixed, with some users finding it lighter and easier to manoeuvre than expected, while others argue it is quite heavy. The cost and the small water tank also receive some criticism.
How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors?
The Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner builds on the brand’s long-history of carpet cleaners. The Pet TruDeep Cleaner offers the same basic upright design, but adds specialist features aimed at tackling pet messes, while the Portable Spot Cleaner is a smaller, more compact alternative that’s better suited for quick-spill clean-ups and smaller areas - and it comes at a much lower price point.
It’s worth comparing to the Vax Platinum Smart Wash, which is currently crowned Ideal Home’s best overall carpet cleaner. Our tester was impressed by its cleaning power, and, like the Rug Doctor, it includes hand tools to tackle stairs and upholstery. That said, at 8.9kg, it’s noticeably lighter and also offers a useful dry-only function.
The Bissell Proheat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner has been voted the best option for families, praised for its deep-cleaning performance, while the Vax Rapid Power Divide takes the best-budget title, for delivering solid results at a more accessible price. By comparison, the Rug Doctor sits in the more premium price bracket, prioritising cleaning power over lighter weight and lower cost.
While most carpet cleaners are corded, I have tested the Vax ONEPWR Cordless Compact Carpet Cleaner, which is significantly lighter and easier to manoeuvre. It doesn’t, however, match the Rug Doctor’s cleaning power, and I found it struggled with more deep-set stains.
Verdict: Should you buy the Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner?
If you have a busy household, high-traffic carpets, pets or children, and regularly need to refresh your floors, the Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner is well worth considering. The results are genuinely impressive and on-par with what you'd expect from a professional clean.
That said, Rug Doctors are widely available to rent - although not this exact model - which can be a good alternative if you only need to deep-clean occasionally, and you're short on storage space. While the machine does have a collapsible handle and built-in storage for the hand tool, it is still fairly bulky to store. I'd also say if you do have limited mobility or back pain, you may be better investing in a lighter, more upright model, as it is heavy.
Overall, whether you choose to rent or buy, Rug Doctor is a standout option when it comes to delivering serious cleaning power.