Renting a Bissell Big Green Carpet Cleaning Machine – Review of the Rental Experience

Bissell just recently started offering their carpet cleaners for rent at RONA stores, and as part of their launch program I was offered a RONA gift card so that I could test out one of their machines. So last night I headed over to my local RONA to rent one of Bissell’s Big Green deep cleaning machines.

I wandered around for a bit before I found the Bissell rental station. I stopped at the service desk to ask for directions and that ended up being just the place I needed to be, as it turns out that the customer service desk is where you need to go to sign up.

Be prepared to provide ID, as well as a credit card.  A $40 credit card deposit was required in order to rent the machine.  I also had to provide my full name, address and telephone number.  The very  helpful clerk filled out all of the forms for me, and I just needed to sign in a few spots.

You need to hang onto these receipts and bring them back with you when returning the machine.

I have had some pretty ho-hum experiences with customer service at RONA in the past, so I was pleasantly surprised to have a clerk that rather rocked.  She was pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable. When I explained that this was my first time renting one of Bissell’s Big Green machines, she walked me through exactly how to use it, step-by-step and was extremely patient with my questions (as an aside – She had no clue I was renting for a review, so that’s not why I received great service). As well, she prompted me to grab an instructions brochure, just in case I forgot anything.

She also flagged down a co-worker and asked him to help me bring the machine to my car. I felt awkward about having someone walk me to the car, so I turned down the offer for assistance.  Bad idea!  The Big Green carpet cleaning machine is, well, BIG.  It rolls nicely, and I was able to easily push it through the store and out to my car, but lifting it into the trunk was quite the feat. This sucker is HEAVY. If the clerk at your local RONA store offers you assistance with getting this beast in the trunk say yes!

Does this give you an idea of the scale of the machine? It’s not huge, but it is pretty big.

Not only did they give me an in store tutorial on how to use the machine, and provide me with a brochure to take home, the instructions are also labelled all over the machine.  They’ve really managed to make this as simple and idiot proof as possible.

The rental unit costs $29.99 a day, and by day they mean a true 24 hour period. I signed out at 5:55pm yesterday, and if I return it by 5:55pm today that will be counted as one day’s rental. It was an extra $3 to rent the accessory kit, which includes the hose attachment for use on stairways, couches, etc.  There is also a $15 penalty fee if you return without rinsing and cleaning it out first. You do not pay anything for the rental until you return the machine. When I picked it up I was charged the $40 credit card deposit and that was it.

For an extra $3 you get to rent to hose attachment, which comes conveniently packaged in this Bissell bag.

Bissell provided me with free cleaning solution, but I took a look at pricing while I was at the store and a  bottle will run you $22.99 (I wish I had thought to note the exact size in ml, but I can tell you that it seemed to me to be a very large bottle).  That sounds pricey until you discover that you only use 2-3 capfuls of the solution each time you fill the tank.  I’m eager to test out the machine today and see how long a full water/cleaning solution tank lasts.  (You can find Part 2 of my Bissell Big Green Carpet Cleaning machine review HERE.)

Keep in mind that you need to first vacuum the floors with a regular dry vac, before using the Big Green machine. I actually didn’t consider this and had to scramble to borrow a vacuum from my mom (yes, it’s true, I don’t actually own a vacuum cleaner).

Bissell’s Big Green carpet cleaning machine is available for rent at select RONA stores. Take a look at the online Bissell Rental Locator to find a nearby participating Rona location.

From how to stack the furniture, to where to corral the kids;  I would love to hear any carpet cleaning tips you have.  In the meantime I’ll be putting Bissell’s Big Green carpet cleaning machine through it’s paces (and reporting back with a full review).

Disclosure: Bissell provided me with a Rona gift card and some free cleaning solution so I could test out their Big Green deep cleaning machine. As always, the opinions stated are my own and were not influenced by the free product received.