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djackman's avatar
djackman
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014

Rug Shampooer?

We have a 2003 Winnebago Sighseer that has light green rugs throughout the coach. We lived in it for 3 months last summer when we made our trip to Alaska (the trip of a lifetime!). When we had our motorhome serviced last fall, we asked to have the rugs shampooed again. We would have had to bring it back at a later date and were quoted a cost of $400.00 to shampoo the rugs. No way were we paying that! I have been on the search for a small steam rug shampooer and can not find one! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

20 Replies

  • When we have the carpets cleaned in our house, we have the motorhome done at the same time. We use Stanley Steemer and they charge us $60.00 extra to do the motorhome.
  • Don't use a shampooer. If you ever wondered why a carpet that has been shamppoed stinks and is tiff andd dull looking it is because the dirt and shmppoer or chemicaals is still there. The Rug Doctor or the carpet cleaner you have at home will clean it and suck up the dirt and water. Only thing that concerns me is the gloors, in an RV maybe getting damp and delaminating and buckling etc. I've seen some that were constructed out of the wood chips stuff. Clean and then use a strong wet/dry vacuum and windows open and fans or closed and air conditioner and dehumidifier getting rid of moisture quick.
  • We also have a 2003 sightseer with the same color carpet and we aren,t having much success either.
  • we have the Bissell pro heat machine- works great, after I finish I put in a fan to help it dry faster.
  • Strongly recommend renting a rug doctor with an upholstery tool. You can control how much water you use and will not harm the sub flooring.
    I do mine every year.
  • azdryheat wrote:
    I've got one of those Bissell upright machines that I do the house carpet and toy hauler carpet with. Works great.


    X2.. I have a Bissell Pro, Clean Shot. It vacuums the hot water out pretty well..
  • Like most of us, you probably have particle board under the carpet. As a result, I would suggest a "dry" carpet cleaning machine, which uses a sawdust material. They are available for rent here at supermarkets. The other option would be to use just a little water and quickly vacuum it up, using the least amount of shampoo or soap you possibly can.

    I've used Simple Green, but only a tiny amount, to get stains to dissolve in the water to be vacuumed up. I've then had to re-moist and re-vacuum over and over again to get all the soap up. So, if you decide on this method, to save you a lot of work, try just using warm/hot water sprayed on the carpet, a small section at a time, and then vacuum it up. I do sections of about a foot or two foot square each time.

    Just be careful not to use a lot of water. And, the less soap the better. Much less soap. No matter how much soap you use, it will be too much. Soap residue attracts dirt like a magnet.
  • I bought my own rug doctor and do our motorhome carpets.....just like the ones that you can rent........

    So, if you don't want to own one..........why not rent one?
  • I've got one of those Bissell upright machines that I do the house carpet and toy hauler carpet with. Works great.