Frequently Asked Questions

You can clean Berber carpet with Rug Doctor; however care must be taken not to over wet it. Berber carpeting's tight, looped weave tends to hold much more moisture than cut pile carpets. Over wetting can create drying problems so you should make sure you are limiting your cleaning passes to one only. It's a good idea to go over Berber a second time without pressing the spray button to give it an extra vacuuming only pass.

Wool carpeting can be safely cleaned with Rug Doctor using hot tap water in the machine and following the standard instructions. Do not use Rug Doctor machines or products on anything that states dry clean only.

You can clean area rugs; however, you should remove them from any areas where flooring under the area rug can be damaged by water such as hardwood or laminate flooring. The best way to clean your area rugs is by taking them outside or to your garage on a concreted floor and cleaning them there with a Rug Doctor. Once they are completely dry the rugs can be returned to the hardwood flooring or carpeted area.

You can use a Rug Doctor machine to clean shag pile carpeting, the same instructions apply as cleaning Berber carpeting, make sure you don't stay on an area too long with the machine and make sure you are vacuuming up as much or close to the amount you are putting into the carpet.

DO NOT use Rug Doctor Machines or Rug Doctor products on Persian rugs, Oriental rugs, Silk hand-loomed rugs, Braided rugs, or Non-colourfast fabrics. Some stains require professional treatment.

No. Do not use the Rug Doctor machine on tile, cement or any other hard surface. (1) At the front of the machine is a hard metal surface that may scratch the hard surface flooring. (2) There is nothing on the machine to capture the water from moving about when sprayed on the surface; the machine does not contain a squeegee.

To clean the stairs you use the Upholstery/Hand Tool attachment. Set the machine to “ON” for Upholstery/Hand Tool cleaning and use Rug Doctor Carpet Cleaning solution in the tank.
Position the Machine at the top or bottom of the stairway.

Act quickly. Clean the area as soon as possible to prevent it from soaking through to the backing and to avoid any permanent bleaching.

To eliminate pet urine use Rug Doctor Stain Remover. For pet odours use Rug Doctor Odour Remover.

Cats and dogs make wonderful companions and are very trainable. However, they sometimes develop habits that can damage your carpeting. With this simple cleaning tip you can remove the sources of existing cat urine stains and odours and, by removing the source, you can discourage future marking.

When a cat or other pet urinates on carpeting or furniture upholstery there is both a stain and odour problem to eliminate. Pet urine stains can have a permanent bleaching effect on some types of carpet depending on how they are dyed. Disperse dyed Polyester, solution dyed Olefin or solution dyed Nylon generally do not bleach with pet urine. Pet urine is more likely to have a bleaching effect on Nylon carpets coloured with acid dyes. Bleaching may actually not become apparent until the carpet is cleaned at which point the carpet dyes previously released by the pet urine are removed and suddenly a light spot appears. This is generally more visible in darker carpets. So, to avoid bleaching, address the problem as soon as possible.

Once you identify the problem area, apply Rug Doctor Stain Remover to penetrate into the carpet. Its active formulation seeks out the source of the stain to eliminate it. Following the instructions on the reverse of the label treat the stain accordingly. Then apply Rug Doctor Odour Remover to the same area. Generally the stain and odour will be resolved after one treatment. If for some reason they are not, reapply using the same steps. It is important to be thorough in cleaning cat urine spots because the dissolved crystals may release the strong scent of feline pheromones (glandular secretions contained in the urine to mark the cat's territory). Partial cleaning can actually make the odour seem worse as the stain may wick up from the backing and re-crystallise on the carpet fibre tips. Look for urine stains on adjacent walls or furniture and be sure to clean these areas as well.

Although pet accidents are never pleasant, they are a lot more manageable with this simple cleaning tip.

For safety reasons we recommend only cleaning in an area that is flat, clean, and dry hard floor surface. For cleaning mats, it would be preferable do this on your concrete floor. Avoid using on any other outside surfaces.

You can easily clean your mattress using the Rug Doctor carpet cleaning machine with the Hand Tool attachment and Rug Doctor specialty Upholstery Cleaner product.

Rug Doctor Machines with Hand tool are recommended on most mattresses with the exception of mattresses or mattress toppers made with memory foam, foam or goose down.

It is very important in cleaning mattresses not to over wet them and allow plenty of dry time. We recommend you first set your mattress up on its side. Clean one side of the mattress, making sure you go over your cleaning paths a second time without squeezing the Hand Tool lever so that the second pass is vacuum only. Once you have finished one side of the mattress, leave the mattress on its side and let it dry completely before continuing to the next side.

The Mighty Pack Machine weighs approximately 15 kilograms empty.

Rug Doctor's upholstery cleaner can be used to clean car seats. For best results clean with the Rug Doctor Machine and hire the Hand Tool attachment for using on the car seats.

Yes, for fabric upholstered seats and bunks use the Rug Doctor Machine and hire the Upholstery / Hand Tool attachment.

Deep clean your mattress by using Rug Doctor's specialty upholstery cleaning product to effectively eliminate deep stains and odours. For best results, mattresses should be cleaned with a Rug Doctor carpet cleaning machine along with the Hand tool attachment.

Clean one side of the mattress, making sure you go over your cleaning paths a second time without squeezing the Hand Tool lever so that the second pass is vacuum only. Do not over wet your mattress once you have finished one side of the mattress, leave the mattress on its side and let it dry completely before continuing to the next side.

The damaging effects of dirt, grit and grime to your beautiful carpet is something that you don't always see. Grit wears away and cuts at carpet fibres as they are walked on or where kids frequently play. High-traffic paths in your home will mat over time because of fibre abrasion, which can eventually lead to fibre loss.

Regular deep-cleaning not only removes allergens, dirt, and grime, but can add years of life to your carpet by removing the abrasive grit that harms carpet fibres.That's where Rug Doctor comes in - with the power to go deep so you can clean like a pro.

Cleaning your carpet regularly not only maximizes the life of your carpet, it also is very important for the health of your family. Studies show that your carpet actually serves as a magnet for all kinds of pollutants, contaminants, bacteria and odours, not to mention nasties such as fleas, cockroach eggs and dust mites, a major cause of asthma in children.

To remove these you need to clean carpets deep down, it's easy with Rug Doctor.

For most carpets the best cleaning comes from hot-water extraction. It's the method recommended by most major carpet manufacturers and used by professional carpet cleaning services.  Regular deep-cleaning not only removes allergens, dirt, and grime, but can add years of life to your carpet by removing the abrasive grit that harms carpet fibres.

That's where Rug Doctor comes in - with the power to go deep so you can clean like a pro.

The Rug Doctor machine is available for hire at the following rates:

To hire a machine you need at least 2 forms of ID which include:

One photo ID from this list:

• Current Photo NZ Driver's License
• Current NZ Passport
• Current Photo NZ 18+ Card/Kiwi Access card

And one ID from this list:

• Debit / Credit card
• Vehicle registration

Although Rug Doctor does not state that you need a credit card as one of your ID’s, most stores will not hire a machine without suitable ID.

A refundable bond of $50.00 is required at every store. The bond may vary in some stores. The bond will be refunded upon returning the machine to the store clean and back by the due time.

No. The Upholstery / Hand Tool for cleaning staircases & tight spaces or for furniture & upholstery is charged separately. This is an additional rate of $6.50 with a 4hr - 24hr machine hire. Remember to request the Hand Tool if required.

At Rug Doctor we are committed to protecting your privacy. Our booking system is designed to protect your information from others. Please see our other page on Privacy Policies.

Yes. It is recommended to book the machine in advance. More so when hiring during the weekend. To book phone or call into the store you plan to hire from and see them at the customer service desk.

Rug Doctor is not available by ordering a machine over the phone and having it delivered.

DO NOT use the Rug Doctor Machine and Hand Tool or Rug Doctor products on Silk, Leather, Suede Leather or Haitian Cotton.

Drying time is usually around two hours, dependent on weather and carpet thickness. Open windows and doors, or turn on air conditioning, dehumidifier or fan heater for faster drying.

To prevent stains, if replacing furniture before carpet is completely dry, place plastic or aluminium foil under furniture legs.

Rug Doctor carpet cleaning machines can be hired from your local supermarket or hardware store. There are over 550 stockists throughout New Zealand where you can hire a carpet cleaning machine from 4 to 24 hours, as well as buy specialty carpet cleaning products.

You can deep clean your carpets yourself by hiring a Rug Doctor carpet cleaning machine. Powerful, compact, and easy to use, Rug Doctor machines allow you to deep-clean your own carpets and get professional results in a cost-effective and convenient way.

Hire a carpet cleaning machine from 4 to 24 hours from your local supermarket or hardware store. There are over 550 stockists throughout New Zealand where you can also purchase our specialty cleaning and stain removal products.

Rug Doctor's easy-to-use carpet cleaning machines and specialty carpet cleaning products allow you to get professional carpet cleaning results yourself in a cost-effective and convenient way.

Rug Doctor’s power enables it to remove the dirt and stains normal vacuuming leaves behind

Our unique vibrating brush provides a one-pass clean that helps you get the job done fast. Tough commercial design at a very affordable price, our system is so easy to use.

There are over 550 stockists throughout New Zealand where you can also purchase our specialty cleaning and stain removal products.

The Rug Doctor is the best machine for giving your carpets a deep clean, whether for professional use or at home. Use our cost calculator to estimate how long you may need to hire a carpet cleaner and which of our cleaning solutions is best for your needs – we supply carpet, upholstery, and spot cleaner products.

Deep cleaning with a carpet cleaner is easy. You’ll need to vacuum the area in advance. Then, follow our carpet and upholstery cleaning FAQs for detailed instructions on using the machine.

It usually takes around two hours for your carpet and upholstery to be totally dry after using a carpet cleaner unit, though this can vary depending on your carpet thickness and the weather.

The cost to rent a carpet cleaner depends on how long you’re hiring the unit. The Rug Doctor machine is available for hire for 4, 8, or 24 hours. Use our cost calculator to determine how long you’ll need to hire the unit and get the best value for your money.

We offer carpet cleaner hire in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, and many other towns across New Zealand. Use our store locator to find the nearest Rug Doctor for hire near you. Contact us if you have a question – we’re here to help!