Customer Ratings & Reviews

I am giving 4 stars because it did clean my carpet, but overall I am a little disappointed... This machine is not lightweight. It is bulky, heavy, awkward and loud! It does not suck up the water like I expected. The floor stays wet. I would stick with a steam mop. On the carpet, the suction isn’t as good either so I suggest using it during summer so the carpet can dry faster. It was easy to set up and to clean after. It might be perfect for pet owners though...

I have used the larger carpet cleaning machines (that retail for several hundred dollars more), and I have to say that I am impressed with results from the FlexClean. I have been able to use it on carpet, hardwood, tile, and upholstery (with optional upholstery tool - sold separately). I actually enjoyed using the machine mostly because it wasn't as cumbersome as the larger floor cleaners. The deep clean setting really brightened my carpets up in heavy use areas, and the quick clean setting worked pretty well on a fresh pet mess (furball). The Good: - Dirty carpets (see pictures) came out substantially cleaner. I used Rug Doctor Pre Treat Spray, and used the Rug Doctor Oxy Shampoo for the actual cleaning. - The machine is fairly maneuverable - not as good a vacuum, but much better than the full size cleaners. - It was fairly simple to use and user friendly - assembly was a breeze and the manual tells you everything you need to know for operation - It cleaned my tile and hardwood much better than a certain spray mop - I can't speak to the comparisons to steam mops because I have never used one - Using the All-in-One solution I transitioned from my hardwoods to my area rug for a quick clean. No need to waste the leftover solution from the hardwood. The OK: - I wish the clean water tank was bigger. 1 gallon goes pretty quick in deep clean mode. I understand the reason - more water means more weight to move around. - The machine is loud. I didn't expect silence, but it was loud enough that I wore ear plugs. - The All-In-One solution was not available in any store around me. The only way to get more is to order online. I learned this the hard way, but I found that you can use any Rug Doctor solution in the FlexClean. I picked up the Oxy carpet cleaner, and that worked well. The Not so Good: - My only gripe with the machine is the clean water tank. When its empty you can carry it by the nice handle on top. However, when its full you have to carry it upside down until you can flip it down onto the machine. The valve leaks when you carry it by the handle, and have it full. It would be nice to see a handle incorporated for carrying it upside down. The tank can be slippery, and it would be a disaster if it slipped out of your hands.

Set up: The set up was very easy. See the picture for all of the items that come in the box. You even get a container of all in one cleaner to use. The cleaner had the carpet nozzle already attached. This was great as this was the one I needed to use. Undo one screw. Screw in the handle. Take off a bunch of protective plastic and I was ready to go. I did try changing the nozzle to the hard floor nozzle and this was easy as well. Use: I opted to do the carpet deep clean. This requires 3 ounces of the cleaning solution per gallon. The clean water reservoir is one gallon. There were no markings on the container so I measured and made my own. I ended up using two containers for the area I wanted to clean. Tip – put the water in first and then the cleaning solution. If you do not, you will get lots of bubbles once you are getting close to the top of the reservoir and make a mess. Removing and filing the reservoir is easy. Just make sure you have a tall faucet to fill it with. Emptying the dirty water is very easy as well. Tip – water is heavy. The more often you empty the dirty water, the easier the unit is to maneuver. I really liked how the handle/wand pivots. This makes it easier to move it around. After applying the cleaning solution I went over it again with no solution. And after that I went over it one more time. You want as little cleaning solution left in your carpet as possible. If you do not empty the dirty water often enough there is a safety mechanism that disengages the suction. If you leave it attached you will hear it. As stated earlier it is much better to operate if you empty often. See the picture showing how much solution I still took out of the carpet after I was “done”. 4 hours later it was still damp. The next morning it was totally dry. I even tried to do a few stairs. Not an easy task but I got it done. Not recommended to try in general but I was determined. I mainly focused on an area my dog likes to get sick or any other bodily functions (rare occurrence thank goodness!). This is my main interest in this unit as clean-up is not fun. I bought the 32 ounce pet solution for this Rug Doctor for future use. It was only $13. I also focused on a high traffic area from the mudroom to the kitchen. The unit worked well and removed a lot of dirt as you can see by the pictures of the dirty water reservoir. Final cleanup of the two reservoirs was easy. Just rinse and you are good to go. It comes with a very long cord (instructions say to never use an extension cord). It wraps well on the pieces provided on the handle. Conclusion: A very useful device that is very easy to put together and use. It is effective at cleaning carpet based on the amount of dirt (and dog hair) in the dirty water reservoir. I would recommend this product. I look forward (sort of) trying this on the next time the dog has an accident.

I have used the rug doctor a few weeks now and I genuinely like it. The set up was pretty simple and the operation of the cleaner is just as simple. I used it mainly on hardwood (sealed) floors and tile floors. I didn't think my tile or wood floors were that dirty since I do clean them frequently. After the first initial use I poured some of the water in a jar and I was surprised. The tile floor did not seem dirty but the water came out very dirty. It did a nice job cleaning the tile. The picture attached shows the right tile clean and the left tile not cleaned. I couldn't give it 5 stars because the plastic squeegee /carpet cleaner attachment is not that easy to line up and attach. It consistenly pop off if even the slightest bit off when attached. Also when cleaning the hardwood floors, the squeegee attachement still left a little too much water after the suction. The correct hardwood floor seting was set but it still left a little too much water. The other thing to note is if the tile has design or engraved designs the suction will not take the water out of the crevices and leave more water in those areas. It's a small price to pay for considerable cleaner foors. I would definitely recommend it.

Just got done using the Rug Doctor - FlexClean Upright Deep Cleaner and overall not terribly impressed. The unit come basically assembled, you just need to attach the handle, fill the tank and go. It has three different settings that control the amount of solution that is applied to either a floor (less solution) normal (for carpet) and heavy duty cleaning (lots of solution). We used the standard setting on our not overly dirty carpets (we don’t have pets). First off the unit is loud and heavy, theoretically it should be maneuverable since it has a handle that provides a lot of directional ability. However the unit is so heavy that it was difficult for my wife to push (it actually was easier pulling back as opposed to pushing forward). As for the cleaning, the tank that holds the used (sucked back up solution) was not very dirty and there was a substantial mismatch on solution dispensed on the carpet and the amount that was picked back up. If I was cleaning a carpet in a humid environment (as opposed to an air-conditioned house) I would be very wary about the amount of solution that was left in the carpet. In any case I really was not impressed by the cleaning power of this unit, I might try the cleaner on my vinyl flooring, however I probably would not on my hardwood floors given how the unit seems to do a marginal job recovering the cleaning solution. Overall I wanted to recommend this unit, however I did not really think it did a satisfactory job in performing it’s core job….cleaning. Pros: - Easy to assemble - Conceptually on par with units your rent - Swivel handle Cons: - Hard to maneuver - Heavy - Does not do a good job of sucking up used cleaning solution - Less than impressive cleaning results.

Long gone are the days when you had to go to the store to rent a Rug Doctor. With technology getting better, it was only a matter of time before it was affordable enough to actually keep a floor cleaner at home. We recently had a baby and wanted to try to keep the floors a little cleaner if possible. Enter the Rug Doctor FlexClean. We chose this unit because it adapts to all floor types. I have used this on tile, carpet, and hardwoods with great results on all three. There is an adapter included for both hard floors and carpet that snaps onto the front of the unit easily. All tanks and and parts that attach or detach are very easy to manage. It reminds me of a standard sized vacuum and even pivots gracefully around corners. The attached photo was the tank after cleaning a section of carpet in the basement. The carpet was installed in 2006 and had never been steam cleaned until this unit arrived. All in all, I am very happy that this machine can get the job done on all of my floors. It's a keeper!

Amazing upright with apparently the same power as the full size rental units. It really pulled a great deal of dirt from my closet carpet I didn't know was there. After it dried, you could see a night/day difference. Weight is about the same as a vacuum cleaner; rolls easily forward/reverse, turns are difficult on carpet. Works considerably better on both floor surfaces than my previous unit from another brand. Water reservoir and waste tank easy to load/unload. I did 100sf with half gallon of mix with 3 passes. Included bottle of concentrate should be good for 3+ gallons. Refills are easy to find and not expensive. Works better than expected!

The floors in my house are primarily hardwood and tile, with just the stairs and 2nd floor hallway having carpet. Because of the variety of flooring, I was never sure of what deep cleaner to use until I came across the Rug Doctor FlexClean Upright Deep Cleaner. This all-in-one deep cleaner works on both carpets/rugs and hard floors (laminate, hardwood, tile and stone). The cleaner can in a largish box and was very well packed to prevent any damage during transport. There is a brief Quick Start Guide with color pictures and large print. I love this since I have little patience for reading a 50-page booklet before being able to use the product. It laid out the directions for the two options: cleaning carpet/rugs and cleaning hard floors. Assembling the deep cleaner was a breeze thanks to the colored connector parts that are clearly labeled and easy to read. No kidding, this is a product that sets the assembly standard for all items I would ever want to purchase. All you need to do is remove the screw with a #2 Phillips screwdriver to connect the handle. There are two nozzles. One is for deep cleaning carpets and rugs. The other has a soft squeegee for delicate cleaning of hard surfaces. These nozzles are easily removable allowing for quick switching between them, and they are clearly labeled so you can’t confuse which is which! The hardest part about the initial setup is whether to start with the carpet nozzle or the hard floor nozzle, lol. It is important that when changing the nozzles that you align the tabs with the slots in the base and bring the top toward the machine. If you hear a click, you know you were successful. Otherwise you will see the nozzle hanging off a bit. There is a nice power cord wrap feature which makes it easy to wrap the cord while using the cleaner or when putting it away in a closet. The next step is to fill the clean water tank with hot tap water and cleaning solution, then secure it back onto the machine. Select the flow control on the back left by the floor. You can adjust the spray rate setting to floor type: deep carpet, hard floor, and quick dry (for lighter, routine cleaning). Plug in the machine, turn on the machine, release the handle, and press soap and scrub trigger. The directions say to make 2 slow wet passes (1 forward, 1 backward) over each area for hard floors. The suction that picks up dirt, stains, odors, etc., is due to the rotating brush. The brush cannot be removed, but it can be cleaned by hand. The brush can be replaced with a new brush roll using a screwdriver. Not sure how much “mileage” or use before needing to do that. Here is what I liked about the unit: There was a handle at the base for carrying the unit so you didn’t break off pieces when carrying it up or down stairs. The labeling of the parts and the “click in” components made it so easy to work with. The unit didn’t scrape or scratch my appliances or moldings. The tires helped to buffer. I used the unit on carpet, hardwood floors and ceramic tile. It did a great job on all three surfaces, even where there was some stuck on food in the kitchen. I thought the instruction manual was top-notch – clear & informative with writing I can actually read. There are also some “how to” videos you can watch on rugdoctor.com/flexclean. Here is what I found lacking: It is a heavy unit that is hard to lift. It requires some upper body strength. The amount of cleaning solution to a gallon of water is listed on the solution bottle, but there is no measuring cup provided. I am guessing the cap is about 1 ounce, but I am not completely sure. The handle release is nice to have, but it doesn’t make the steering the heavy unit that easy, especially with a full tank of water. I disagree with the statement on the box, “Pivots and handles like a lightweight vacuum.” There are times you need to click the handle back in place in order to move the unit. Due to the shape of the unit, it cannot get under kitchen or bathroom cabinets or get into corners. Things to keep in mind when you use it: Vacuum the surface you plan to clean to pick up the debris. You don’t want it to clog your machine. Remember to switch the flow control dial when going from hard floors to carpet. Quick dry option is for carpeting/rugs only. Clean the unit after each use, let the clean and dirty water tanks dry before reassembling and storing the unit. Once done, leave the machine on for an additional 15 seconds to collect all the used solution in the dirty water tank. While there is an upholstery and spot cleaning tool that easily attaches so you can deep clean the stairs, furniture, auto, interiors, etc., my box did not come with that. Personally, I think that is a huge benefit so you can spot clean these “hard to maneuver” into areas. Know how much you are going to clean and only fill up with that much water. Once done, you are to clean out both tanks before putting away. I wasted almost half a tank of clean water with cleaning solution. This goes without saying, but don’t back yourself into a corner with cleaning, and avoid stepping onto the cleaned areas while wet. Give enough time for the surfaces to dry.

We have the previous model and that one plugged up so we got the newest one. The suction doesn't seem to be as good as the old one but it seems to work ok. I am not completely sold on this model compared to the older one. Wish the handle folded down too. It is too tall for the storage space we have.

I was at first wary of buying a carpet cleaner that wasn't one of the square, boxy, rental units, as I wanted the best of the best, but my wife wanted this Rug Doctor unit, and we couldn't be happier!! It cleans deep, reaching down deep to get out so much dirt that I had to rinse out the dirty water holding tank with our hose, as it was really thick and muddy! It is a great purchase, and is the best of any carpet cleaner that we've ever had! 5 out of 5 stars! Works GREAT!

Did a good job on the carpets. As usual, be in the mood and take your time. Go slow, let it do it's job. We followed it with a clear water rinse. It seems to get that deep dirt out, and easy to switch out dirty water and add the clean with less mess. They don't make the tanks too big so they are not so heavy to change out. Have not tried it on our tile floor yet, but mostly wanted it for the carpet anyway. Very glad we got it. Will save money, as I usually have the carpets done at least 3 x year by the professionals.

This is an amazing floor cleaner. Our other cleaner made by Hoover had been replaced 2 times before finally deciding to leave Hoover. After reading a review about the rug doctor. I was sold! Stories sell that’s why I love using this product. I have 4 dogs and 3 kids and I’m constantly using this to keep dirty carpet and tile clean. I absolutely recommend this item.

Its heavy but works amazingly well . Tile floor features and carpet are great. Best buy

The Flex-clean works great on rugs and vinyl. Left hardwood floors streaky, also was a little difficult to steer. But was super easy to fill and empty.

This flexclean rug cleaner does great job cleaning carpets and hards floors. Easily change between the type flooring. Highly recommend

This cleaner is a lifesaver. With the majority of the house having hardwood floors (and a new puppy going through house training), and a few carpeted rooms mixed in, this is the best cleaner we've ever owned. Convenient, lightweight, and easy to use.

Works great on rugs, laminate floors but left streaks on hardwood floors. Hard to stear but easy to load and empty.

The FlexClean worked terrific on my carpet. Lightweight and easy to use! I wasn't sure how it would work on my floors but it was great! Not much water was left behind on the floors it got it off my wood floors and they really looked great!

Although it is a bit heavy. It works great. And for me, easy to clean the machine afterwards. And it is cleans my heavy area rugs great also. I just wish it had attachments.

This deep cleaner is very easy to use. It was designed with simplicity in mind. It performs a great deep cleaning job with its powerful suction and brush cleaning action. The motor does make a loud noise while in operation.