Yes, we have been able to see a visible difference in the color of our carpet after renting a carpet cleaner. Also, when emptying the water in the cleaner every so often as you need to do, the water is usually pretty dirty so the rented carpet cleaner always seems to be doing a good job of getting rid of the dirt. We have been happy with renting a cleaner and doing the job ourselves, rather than paying a cleaning service to come and do the job. We have always been able to rent the carpet cleaner at our local grocery store, which seems a bit unusual but it has been really handy to just go there and get it.

I know personally that the Rug Doctor cleaners do a great job. You can rent them about anywhere, including Lowes.