Best Overall
Tineco iCarpet
AMAZON
- Setup5/5
- Effectiveness4.7/5
- Noise Level5/5
- Ease of Use4.5/5
- Portability5/5
- It operates quietly and effectively on fresh stains.
It operates quietly and effectively on fresh stains.
- It can be difficult to maneuver, and there’s not much difference between power modes.
It can be difficult to maneuver, and there’s not much difference between power modes.
We were impressed to see that the Tineco iCarpet Spot Cleaner completely removed the fresh dirt stains and nearly all the wine and coffee—if we looked closely, we did see some traces left behind. While it did remove a good amount of the set-in dirt, there was still a noticeable brown stain on the carpet. However, it seemed to fare much better with the set-in coffee and wine.
The machine does make noise while operating, but it was quieter than the others we tested. After a quick check of the manual to see how to switch modes, we found the Tineco fairly easy to operate, though we didn’t distinguish much of a difference between the Eco and Max modes. The cleaner moves forward quite easily, but it’s pulling the machine backward on the carpet that requires a bit more effort.
After the 10-minute test, about 80% of the clean water had been used, while the dirty water tank was only a little over half full. The cleaner has ample capacity for tackling smaller stains, though be prepared to refill/dump the tanks for bigger carpet areas.
The rug was cleaner after using the Tineco, and the texture of the fibers seemed softer, too. There was a faint smell of detergent that lingered after cleaning, and there were some streaks on the carpet at the sight of the suctioning, but it’s a better alternative to a stained carpet.
Overall, we thought the machine is a good value for the price. It was very effective on the coffee and dirt stains and with some pretreatment, it might be just as effective on dirt.
Product Details: Weight: 28.2 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and upholstery | Cord Length: 21.3 feet | Capacity: 2 liters clean water; 1.5 liters dirty water | Decibel Level: 84 db(A)
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Budget
Hoover Pro Clean Pet Carpet Cleaner
WALMART
- Setup4.8/5
- Effectiveness4.5/5
- Noise Level4.4/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Portability4.5/5
- It’s intuitive to use and good at removing food stains.
It’s intuitive to use and good at removing food stains.
- It takes effort to maneuver, plus tougher stains need pretreating.
It takes effort to maneuver, plus tougher stains need pretreating.
The Hoover Pro Clean worked like a charm on coffee, with no traces remaining from either the fresh or set-in stains. There was a bit of discoloration after the first stain test, but the wine left a stain even after five minutes of cleaning. Overall, the carpet was cleaner after all the tests, and all stains were visibly reduced if not gone completely.
The assembly was easy, though you do need a bit of muscle to click the hose in place. We liked the light citrusy scent of the solution, but not the noise of the machine itself. It didn’t hurt our ears, but we were surprised by just how much of a racket this thing made while in operation.
That said, it was very intuitive to use, thanks to a simple tank design and clearly labeled buttons and controls. This carpet cleaner is quite heavy when filled. It wasn’t hard moving it in straight lines, but get ready for a strength workout when turning it. The water tank is roomy enough that we only had to empty it once during cleaning, though this will likely change when cleaning large carpet areas.
For its price and effectiveness, this carpet cleaner is an incredible value. It’s important to note that Hoover does recommend pretreating certain stains—we did not do that during the test, so this only leaves room for improvement,
Product Details: Weight: 26.1 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and upholstery | Cord Length: Not listed | Capacity: Not listed | Decibel Level: Not listed
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Splurge
Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Commercial Carpet Cleaner
AMAZON
- Setup5/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Noise Level2/5
- Ease of Use3.5/5
- Portability3/5
- It gets rid of tough carpet stains easily.
It gets rid of tough carpet stains easily.
- The upholstery tool is sold separately.
The upholstery tool is sold separately.
There might be countless other things you’d rather splurge on aside from household appliances. But when it comes to keeping your carpets looking fresh and new, the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Commercial Carpet Cleaner is well deserving of this spot on our list.
While this machine is bulkier than others on our list, there’s no assembly required. If you’re concerned about the “commercial” aspect of this machine, don’t worry. There are detailed instructions—and they’re also written right on the machine for easy access—so you can get to cleaning very quickly.
If you were thinking of hiring a pro cleaner to come in and take care of those stains, this machine gives you the power to DIY. The tester found that all stains disappeared fairly quickly. The wine and coffee stains were among the easiest to remove (just six passes with the carpet cleaner), while the tougher potting soil and chocolate stains took double the work. Still, when you consider that you are avoiding near disaster for your carpet, doing double work to get rid of tougher stains seems like a fair trade.
The commercial grade of the machine means it’s both louder and heavier, so there’s no time for small talk—or any talking, really—while it’s in use. That’s fine because you’ll likely be mesmerized seeing how it lifts up your mess from the carpet. You might have to get used to using the machine because it’s so big—our tester noted that it can feel a bit awkward having to push it forward and pull it back to clean at each pass. However, it is easy to figure out and once you get going, it does move smoothly.
It bears noting that this machine is built for cleaning entire floors, not just small spots. (Although, there is an upholstery tool that’s sold separately.) In fact, we found that the base was so wide that it was difficult to see whether it was actually covering the smaller stains.
The Rug Doctor’s bigger price tag is rather reasonable for the bigger results. If you allow yourself a bit of time for trial and error, you’ll get the knack of it soon enough—and the clean carpet you’re left with will be worth the work.
Product Details: Weight: 47 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and upholstery (must use an attachment, sold separately) | Cord Length: Not listed | Capacity: 3 gallons clean water, 3.9 gallons dirty water | Decibel Level: 106 decibels
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best for Pets
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner
WAYFAIR
- Setup4.8/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Noise Level3.8/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Portability4.8/5
- It is very effective on fresh stains especially when using the hand wand attachment.
It is very effective on fresh stains especially when using the hand wand attachment.
- It’s loud and can be challenging to attach the hose.
It’s loud and can be challenging to attach the hose.
Pet owners have particular needs when it comes to stain removal, and we’re happy to report that the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner fulfills those needs.
The assembly was intuitive, but we did need a screwdriver to attach the cord wrap and some help from a partner to attach the hose. We were impressed to see that nearly all of the fresh stains were removed before we even attempted the brush attachment—they were completely gone when we did.
Maneuvering this machine requires a bit of a learning curve. We found that the suction was more effective when moving the cleaner forward than backward. It was also more effective to keep the machine over the stain rather than taking passes over it. It was easy to fill and empty both the clean and dirty water tanks. We found that we only needed to empty the tanks once during testing.
The cleaning solution was effective and has a nice scent that lingers for a while; it also leaves a white residue on the carpet as it dries. The machine is loud, and since there’s only one speed, it will stay loud. But it’s a small price to pay if you’re a pet owner who values clean carpets.
Product Details: Weight: 18 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and upholstery | Cord Length: 22 feet | Capacity: 1 gallon | Decibel Level: Not listed
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Portable
Bissell Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner
AMAZON
- Setup5/5
- Effectiveness3.5/5
- Noise Level5/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Portability5/5
- Included tools and attachments make it even more effective.
Included tools and attachments make it even more effective.
- Keep some dry rags around to mop up spilled water during and after use.
Keep some dry rags around to mop up spilled water during and after use.
This lightweight Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner with its long hose and power cord make it easy to carry around and fight stains wherever they might be, which is why it nabbed the Best Portable spot on our list.
Though this carpet cleaner is small, the directions for assembly are a bit tricky—we advise keeping a screwdriver handy during setup. Still, you won’t mind getting all those attachments in place, especially when you see how effective the stain trapper tool and 3-inch scrub brush are.
The Bissell Little Green Pet wasn’t loud—in fact, we found it “slightly muffled”—so it won’t give you or anyone else at home a headache while it’s in use. The machine completely removed a coffee stain, but it took 10 passes. Other stains faded but didn’t completely go away, so count on taking the time to use all those extra attachments to help you get rid of stains more effectively.
The Bissell does seem to have a lower suction ability and the water tends to dribble and leak out in some parts, so keep some dry rags on hand. However, for its price point, portability, and effectiveness at getting rid of stains, you might find it worth the added trouble.
Product Details: Weight: 14.97 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and upholstery | Cord Length: Not listed | Capacity: 48 ounces | Decibel Level: 78 decibels
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best for Spot Cleaning
Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner
AMAZON
- Setup5/5
- Effectiveness4.5/5
- Noise Level3/5
- Ease of Use4.5/5
- Portability5/5
- A retractable handle makes it easy to tote around.
A retractable handle makes it easy to tote around.
- Stains should be pretreated before use.
Stains should be pretreated before use.
When you need on-the-spot cleaning, it helps to have a portable device. We found that Rug Doctor’s compact cleaner fits the bill. It has a retractable handle so you can roll it, much like you would cart around a rolling suitcase. The hose is not very long, but keep in mind that this is really meant to be portable for on-the-spot carpet treatment. When it’s used for those types of treatments, it is an excellent product.
The half-gallon tank makes the Rug Doctor lightweight and easy to carry. We were prepared to refill it at some point while cleaning but were pleasantly surprised to see the tank was still half full, even after doing three cleaning passes on each of the four stains. You will need to pretreat the stain and wait five minutes before using the Rug Doctor, but it’s worth the wait. It’ll also take several passes to get rid of the stains, but they do come out.
We noted that there were no images in the instructions, which would have made setup a bit easier. The one design flaw we noted was that the clean water tank is curved on top and needs to be upside down in order to fill it with soap and water—we called in a helper for assistance to avoid spilling because it doesn’t sit steadily while upside down. The hand tool and spray trigger both take a bit of getting used to, so keep in mind that your first attempt with this device might be as awkward as it is effective.
Product Details: Weight: 18.89 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and upholstery | Cord Length: Not listed | Capacity: Not listed | Decibel Level: 90 decibels
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best for Deep Cleaning
Bissell Professional Carpet Cleaner
AMAZON
- Your home is mostly carpeted and needs regular deep cleans.
Your home is mostly carpeted and needs regular deep cleans.
- It’s pricier than most on this list.
It’s pricier than most on this list.
You certainly won’t confuse the Bissell Big Green with the Little Green version. While there’s no assembly required for this machine, it is rather heavy and awkward to remove from the box. The good news is that the hose attachment is easy to insert, so you can get to deep cleaning your carpets and area rugs fairly quickly.
With just three passes, we were able to remove the coffee stain completely, along with much of the other stains. The hand tool is indeed handy for cleaning stubborn spots, and soon, even the chocolate syrup was a distant memory.
The cord is 25 feet long so you can move this carpet cleaner easily throughout your space—it stores easily by wrapping around the machine. There aren’t many extra tools included, but there is a separate hand-held hose that is pretty effective at clobbering stains.
The tank is large, so you can clean more carpet in between refills. We found the unit to be extremely heavy when full—as in, it’s barely moveable unless you first remove the tanks. Pushing it around, however, is fine once you get used to maneuvering the machine. Despite its size, cleaning up the Big Green is “fairly easy.” There are some grooves in the dirty water tank that make it tricky to clean, though the tank is easy to empty. If you’ve got a small sink or are trying to clean this in a cramped space, you might have more of a challenge.
Again, because this carpet cleaner is rather hefty, it’s not good for smaller spots and stains unless you’re up for a workout. But if you’re ready to put this machine through a workout of its own by taking on a room (or rooms) full of dirty flooring, then this is a great choice.
Product Details: Weight: 48 pounds | Surface Types: Carpets | Cord Length: 25 feet | Capacity: 1.75 gallons | Decibel Level: 99.4 decibels
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best for Upholstery
Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner
WALMART
- Setup5/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Ease of Use4.8/5
- Portability5/5
- Noise Level3/5
- It is easy to maneuver and quite effective in removing stains from upholstery.
It is easy to maneuver and quite effective in removing stains from upholstery.
- This machine is quite noisy.
This machine is quite noisy.
Overall, we were impressed with the performance of the Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner. The upholstery cleaner made the wine and soda vanish from the carpet. When we looked very closely, we could see the faintest remains of marinara. Unfortunately, there was a stain left from the mustard, but it faded, thanks to this machine.
We had an even better experience with this pick when testing it on a cushion—the wine, soda, and sauce were completely gone and just a tinge of the mustard stain remained. We liked that there wasn’t a sticky residue left behind on the carpet or cushion, though there was some dampness on both.
The setup was simple, and we found it easy to operate and maneuver the carpet cleaner, even on the stairs, thanks to its portable design and long power cord. It did, however, take us a moment to figure out how to direct the stream of water without dousing everything.
We used the 4-inch attachment to clean the steps, which was convenient for getting into the crevices; there is a 6-inch attachment for larger areas as well. The attachments are helpful, though we noticed the button to attach them is rather stiff and there’s no place to store them on board the unit.
Still, we were impressed to see that not only was there water left in the tank after we finished testing, but there was still room in the dirty water tank. This is good news for those who need to clean larger areas of carpet without having to empty/refill often.
This machine is effective, but it’s loud, so you’ll have to plan your cleaning schedule accordingly. Those who are sensitive to smells will be happy to know that the cleaning solution has a very mild yet pleasant scent, though it doesn’t linger on the carpet or cushion after cleaning. For the price and performance, we think it’s a great value for home use.
Product Details: Weight: 13.25 pounds | Surface Types: Carpets, rugs, upholstery, and car interiors | Cord Length: 22 feet | Capacity: 0.75 gallons | Decibel Level: Not listed
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Upright
Bissell PowerBrush Pet Carpet Cleaner
BISSELL
- Setup5/5
- Effectiveness4/5
- Noise Level3/5
- Ease of Use3.5/5
- Portability5/5
- It’s lightweight and easy to maneuver like a regular vacuum.
It’s lightweight and easy to maneuver like a regular vacuum.
- It’s only for carpet.
It’s only for carpet.
The Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush’s instructions were easy to understand and the parts snapped together well. We found that the measuring cup was missing from the equipment box and the dirty water tank was leaking at the bottom after cleaning—keep a rag handy for cleanup if you find the same to be true for you. On the bright side, the clean water tank was easy to fill—not something that can be said for every carpet cleaner—and it clicked firmly into place.
The DeepReach PowerBrush Roll has four rows of bristles that push through carpet fibers to lift stains. With just three wet and three dry passes, the Bissell TurboClean completely removed two of the stains and did a great job at fading two others—though another few passes and they, too, were fully removed.
Overall, we found this carpet cleaner lightweight and easy to maneuver, much like an upright vacuum would be. There aren’t any attachments or extra parts—rendering it useless for cleaning upholstery or cars—but you won’t miss them anyway because this machine tackled carpet stains well.
Product Details: Weight: 12 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet | Cord Length: 20 feet | Capacity: 0.6 gallon | Decibel Level: 93 decibels
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best for Cars
Hoover Carpet Cleaner
AMAZON
- Setup4/5
- Effectiveness4.5/5
- Noise Level3/5
- Ease of Use3/5
- Portability5/5
- The Tight Spot attachment gets you out of a tight spot with car messes.
The Tight Spot attachment gets you out of a tight spot with car messes.
- Using it will likely require some trial and error.
Using it will likely require some trial and error.
Thanks to a built-in handle, lightweight design, and slender brush attachments, the Hoover CleanSlate carpet cleaner is perfectly suited to clean hard-to-reach spots in your car.
We found that the Hoover was effective on both the wine and soil stains with very little trace remaining. The chocolate and coffee stains were gone completely. For the tougher wine and chocolate stains, the Tight Spot tool “really made a difference," so it seems to be a handy attachment for more stubborn spots and stains.
There’s no assembly required to get this up and running. But we did run into issues when removing the tank for cleaning—it was difficult to put it back in, and there was no real guidance from the instructions on how to do it. The attachments worked wonderfully once we figured out how to use them. We noted that there was no explanation in the user manual. However, the “how to clean hose” step was explained and still resulted in water spraying everywhere, so beware that some trial and error may be required—we recommend testing it outside first to avoid a mess.
Even though we had to wing it when using the attachments, they were the best feature of the Hoover carpet cleaner because they were so effective in removing stains. Even better? Very little water or cleaning solution was needed to clean the stains, so you won’t have to wait long for your car seats to dry.
Product Details: Weight: 9.4 pounds | Surface Types: Car and upholstery | Cord Length: 15 feet | Capacity: 40 ounce dual tank | Decibel Level: 92 decibels
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Quiet
Shark Stainstrike Carpet Cleaner
SHARK
- Setup4/5
- Effectiveness4.6/5
- Noise Level5/5
- Ease of Use4.8/5
- Portability4.2/5
- It’s super quiet and good for cleaning up pet stains.
It’s super quiet and good for cleaning up pet stains.
- The solution has a strong scent, plus it soaks in underneath the rug and takes a long time to dry.
The solution has a strong scent, plus it soaks in underneath the rug and takes a long time to dry.
It didn’t take long to get up and running with the Shark CarpetXpert—all it took was attaching the handle and the hose. We took some time getting to know the various attachments and functions, but we definitely needed to refer to the instructions, which are conveniently written on the parts themselves.
Once we got the gist of how to use it, we found it effective on stains—wine disappeared before our eyes before we even tried applying suction. Both dry and wet coffee stains only needed a couple of passes, though the dry chocolate and fresh dirt required more energy. We needed to spend more time on these tougher stains, and they still weren’t completely removed from the carpet.
The rug did seem brighter after cleaning, although it could have been just our eyes watering—it was the overwhelming scent of lemon and detergent that caused that. The rug was sticky, so we’d recommend rinsing or wiping with water when finished using the cleaner. The surface felt dry to the touch after just an hour, but it took around five hours for the underside of it to feel completely dry.
We tested the sound level at 87.3 dB, which is rather quiet for a carpet cleaner. Filling and emptying the tanks was easy, though their small capacity made it necessary to do it several times during testing. We would have liked a longer power cord, but it didn’t cause any issues during testing.
Product Details: Weight: 16.98 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and upholstery | Cord Length: 20 feet | Capacity: Not listed | Decibel Level: Not listed
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Cordless
Bissell Little Green Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner 3682
AMAZON
Portability was the standout featured of the Bissell Little Green Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner during our tests. We absolutely loved the cordless aspect, which made it even more user-friendly than other portable carpet cleaners we've tried. Battery life was impressive, lasting the entire four hours of the test without a recharge.
The device is lightweight—even with the water tank filled to max capacity it was under 10 pounds—which is a must for a portable carpet cleaner. We found it very easy to move between the rug and the sink, or to reposition when necessary.
Dark soda easily came up from the rug with this carpet cleaner, though mud and salsa were never completely removed. We think there's a chance that the cleaning solution itself might have impacted the results, and that it may have helped to let the solution soak into the stains before using the machine on them.
While we generally found corded upright carpet cleaners a bit more effective on tough stains, we were deeply impressed with this as an option to pull out for quick messes, like if your pet has an accident or you spill a beverage.
Product Details: Weight: 4.85 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and upholstery | Cord Length: Cordless | Capacity: 33 ounces | Decibel Level: 84
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK