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Banish dust and grunge with the best manakin we tested from top brands like Bissell .
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Better Homes & Gardens
Carpeted floors can make for a cosy environment , but they can also behard to strip . Just one spillage can make a permanent stain if it ’s not treat immediately . But that does n’t entail every pet mess or fry ’s art labor gone wrongrequires a professional cleanup .
If you have carpeting or rugs in even one room , an at - home rug cleaner is as all-important as avacuum cleansing agent . For the easiest way to keep carpet looking as good as Modern , we essay the best carpet dry cleaner for your home .
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
What We Tested
We tested over 100 carpet cleaners in our lab and at household on both fresh and dried stains and grass them on cistron likeeffectiveness , portability , repose of use , andnoise levelin rules of order to find the respectable fashion model . For more on how we tested carpet cleaners , seeour examination processbelow .
Our Top Picks
Best Portable
Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner
One of the most effective blot remover we tested , the small machine murder every trace of mickle .
We wish well it had a larger water storage tank , as larger cleans require frequent refilling .
The Bissell Little Green Max was one of thestrongest stain removerswe tried out . The small but mighty auto cleaned both dry out and unfermented stains all , and leave behind therugs as good as new(with no textural modification ) when it was done .
Credit: Target
While it removed everything with simplicity , it worked specially well on dirt , and it did n’t leave behind odors , either . We also liked that , with a full pre - solution weight of 8.2 pounds , it was still loose to expect around with just one hand when sate .
The carpeting cleaner is wide-eyed to operate , with a tank that easily fit under a spigot and has two fill lines , one for small messes and one for gravid ones . There are separate army tank for clean water and for dirty water , and you could see how much water system is forget at a glance .
With only two options ( spray and ego - cleansing ) , it ’s a simple motorcar . It also only comes with two attachments — a recondite - clean brush and a brush for pet hairsbreadth .
The Bissell Little Green Max Portable Carpet Cleaner is pretty bare bones, but that’s what makes it so user-friendly.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
When clean up bombastic messes , we needed to refill the tank evenhandedly often — as many as four time in one cleansing academic term . While it ’s meant for small stains orpet spate , it would be prissy if the water storage tank were slightly larger . Still , the lightweight , effective machine is heavy for little plate and quick clean .
Product detail : Weight:8.2 lbs . |Surface Types : Upholstery , carpeting , rugs |Cord Length:15 ft . |Capacity:.25 gal .
Key Terms to Know
Best Upright
HOOVER ONEPWR SmartWash Carpet Cleaner
This upright rug cleaner forget the rug even fresher than it was before our tests .
It ’s cloggy to choke up around , particularly when filled with H2O .
This cordless just model is the best carpeting cleaner for large area . With multiple modes including blot - clean-living and wry , it ’s a versatile auto . The .5 - gallon tank lasts for about 10 minutes of continuous cleaning . The machine needed to sit for a few second on each stain .
While it cleaned grime and peanut butter the riotous , it removed most dirt ( refreshing and dry out ) completely after some clip . The one exception was cultivated carrot juice , which was still more or less visible after five minute of continuous cleaning .
The cleaner stood out because it left thewholecarpet significantly clean after testing ; it ’s not justgood for grime removal , it ’s honest for overallcarpet cleanliness . The smart setting detects discolouration and debris you did n’t screw were there , so it ’s a must - have for rest home with kids or deary .
It ’s comfortable to use , with an visceral digital screen door and a water tank that derive out with the pull of a handle . It mechanically shell out clean answer when the auto is pushed forward , and then dries when the auto is draw backward — and the powerful brushroll is great for more touch on grime .
However , it ’s heavy at 15 pound ( and even heavier when you sum up solutions ) , which makes it a bit bulky to point around or stock up the stairs . And while the tankful is larger at .5 gallons , it still will need replenish during a large line . But for maintaining carpet and rugs , not just cleaning one - off stains , it ’s a large option .
production Details : Weight:15 lbs . |Surface Types : Carpet , rugs |Cord Length : N / A |Capacity:.5 gal .
Best Attachments
Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet Cleaner
This portable cleaner has a number of brush attachments , including a orotund option that has a reservoir in spite of appearance to catch hair’s-breadth .
This did n’t work well on impacted dirt stains .
The attachments on this Shark StainStriker vary in size to cleanse stains large and small ; it come with a 3.5 - in bristle brush and a 7 - inch brush .
The large clash has a source within meant to catch debris and hair before it insert the tank ( so it ’s great for pets ) , and there ’s an mix crevice tool that we like forcleaning upholsteryand squiffy space . The bristle brush also has a rubber side that works well on softer fabrics .
We found that this did well on the succus and peanut butter stains ; it left the carpet smell fresh , and with no detectable divergence in texture afterwards . It did n’t do as well on dry out dirt , as it became mud when pissed and ended up propagate around , making it hard to clean .
Although the tank is little , we did n’t require to replenish it during spot - cleaning , and it easy treat a number of passes . The machine is also light to use and operate , with just one on / off clitoris and only one push ask to activate the spray .
It ’s lightweight for carrying around , but because it has a hosepipe , you ’ll take to habituate two hands to run it — one to steady the machine and one to operate the snoot .
Our favorite feature is the crevice tool , which operates with a brawny spray and would be fantabulous forcleaning couchesor in the niche of a carpet way . And the larger brushwood can be taken apart to make clean thoroughly , which is a dainty feature .
Product Details : Weight:8.5 lbs . |Surface Types : Carpets , carpeting , upholstery |Cord Length : N / A|Capacity:.18 gal .
Best for Pets
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner
This good carpeting cleaner also has a hose fastening that allows it to houseclean upholstery and stains like a portable alternative would .
At 25 pound with solution , this is a expectant rug cleaner .
Pet proprietor will love this Bissell ProHeat carpet dry cleaner ; it in effect remove filth and stains on carpet and couches . The hosiery attachment allows it to shape as both an erect rug cleaner and a portable option , which is great for speedy messes , cryptical cleans , and upholstery .
We found that the upright simple machine removed 95 % of the stains , and the remainder came out completely with the hired man verge . Afterwards , the carpet count freshman and clean than it did before the trial run . favorite owners will revalue the include Bissell cleaning solution , which leave a spring scent behind .
There ’s a lot to like about the Bissell ’s feature film and accessories . The 1 - gal tank has heatwave engineering science that keeps water fond throughout cleansing . At the vacuum ’s base of operations , the brushroll cover can be remove , which is expectant for those with pet , as hair can sometimes get tangled there .
It comes with a designated favourite stigma tool , a 3 - column inch scrub brush for inscrutable stains , and a 7 - foot accessory hose . The bighearted drawback is its heft — with the piss add , it weighed 25 pound sign . And we should note that while assembly is easy , you ’ll need a screwdriver to put together the cord wrap .
Product Details : Weight:17.5 lbs.|Surface type : Carpet , upholstery|Cord Length:22 ft . |Capacity:1 gal .
Best Budget
Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Plus
It ’s lightweight and cordless for easy utilisation .
It ’s effective for lighter / smaller stains .
When your adorable favourite makes a less - than - adorable muckle on your rug , you do n’t desire to neutralise time worrying about how to put together a complicated carpet cleaner . With the Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Plus , there ’s no assembly necessary — just plug it in and you ’re ready to clean .
The Bissell may be small , but make no error — it ’s working hard . It take out the wine and burnt umber stain , while the dirt stain left just a faint reminder that a good deal was there . The cocoa stain was the hardest to lift ; it was still noticeable after clean . However , this carpet cleaner is bill for favorite , not food for thought stains .
The Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Plus uses cleaning solution ( available throughBisselland other retailers ) . We found it wanton to fill , empty , and clean the armored combat vehicle , so it ’s definitely worth hold on hand for pet mishaps . At just 3.3 pounds , this automobile is about the same weight as a hand-held vac , so it ’s no fuss to reach for in a pinch .
We like that this Bissell model was cordless and lightweight , which made it well-fixed to carry and use . At just around $ 100 , it ’s one of the most cheap option on our inclination , so it ’s worth it for cleaning up modest spots , though you ’ll postulate something bigger if you ’re attempt to take on larger - scale household messes .
Product item : Weight:3.3 Syrian pound |Surface Types : Carpet and upholstery |Cord Length : Cordless |Capacity:8 ounces |Decibel Level:70 decibels
The Bottom Line
For point stains or smaller domain , the best portable rug cleaner is theBissell lilliputian Green Max Portable Carpet Cleaner ; it was one of the most in force models we screen . If you ’re looking to cleanse large area of carpeting at a time , we recommend theHoover ONEPWR SmartWash Cordless Carpet Cleaner .
Our Testing Process
We tested over 100 carpet cleaners using both fresh and dry stains — for each individual cleansing agent , we make two separate spot of mud , cultivated carrot succus , and goober butter , allow one stain dry for 10 minutes before we cleaned it .
Each smirch was then tested with one pass ( one spray of answer followed by one swipe over the mark with the machine ) and we immortalize how much of the stain was entrust behind . We clean the area for up to five minutes or until the stain was removed .
After cleaning , we emptied the dirty piss tank and pressed a paper towel onto the carpeting to see how much wet was left . We read observations around ease of frame-up , relief of economic consumption , effectiveness , haphazardness layer , portability , and value for the price .
We also regard how lowering the car felt once we supply water , how easy it was to empty the pee tank , how utilitarian the included accessories were , how well the carpeting cleaner maneuvered around the carpet , and more . Once we compiled all the data , we take the top four options .
What to Know About Carpet Cleaners Before Shopping
Weight
exercising weight is an important factor in the convenience of a carpet cleaner . Portable machines are lightheaded and easier to move around , while upright carpet cleaners are heavier . For example , the portable carpet dry cleaners on our inclination count around 8 lbf. each , while the upright cleaners around 15 to 17 pound .
It ’s crucial to note that adding water system to the tank will make the car feel hard ( a Imperial gallon of water weighs around 8 Lebanese pound ) . When determine if you’re able to feasibly express around a carpet cleanser , add together a few pounds to compensate for that .
Surface Types
Most carpet cleaner can undertake a compounding of carpeting , area rugs , and upholstery . cleanup curtains , couch cushion , or layer will likely ask separate attachments that not every carpeting cleaner has — particularly upright pick , which tend to be more modified with accessories .
Beforecleaning any type of furnitureor carpeting , you ’ll need to check the manufacturer ’s guidelines to see that your picky rug cleaner is safe to apply on the exceptional material you have in mind .
Cord Length
When choosing a corded carpet cleansing agent , cogitate about the size of the blank space you ’ll be pick and if the cord is long enough to comfortably reach , as moving carpeting around makes a unsubdivided cleansing chore much more complicated . The corded electric options on our lean have 15- and 22 - infantry cords .
Capacity
Water tank capability is another important cistron in the usability of a carpet dry cleaner . Upright carpet cleaners typically have turgid water tanks , with some even reaching up to a gallon in size . Portable tanks are lowly — ourtop pickis .25 gallons , for example .
count that refilling the water storage tank in a rug dry cleaner in the middle of a clean will take a identification number of footmark ; you ’ll take to empty the muddy tank , refill the clean tank car , and contribute cleaning solution before resume employment .
According toSarah McAllister , founder and CEO of GoCleanCo , a portable option “ is great for spot - cleaning when a spillway befall and you just ask to clean a little area of the rug , ” while uprights are " unspoilt for when you need to make clean large areas , orwhole rooms of carpet . ”
Decibel Level
Most carpet cleaner are about as loud as a vacuum cleaner would be . As an example , theBissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleanermeasured a dB point of 89.3 during examination , which isequivalent to a blenderor a lawnmower . Remember that you ’re only using these devices for a few minutes at a time .
Other Carpet Cleaners We Tested
Hoover ONEPWR CleanSlate Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner
The coppice onthis Hoover modelwas especially skilful , and it had a utilitarian boost modal value for late - set or heavier stains , but the battery life made it backbreaking to advocate . With a run prison term of only around 20 to 30 minutes , it also needed hour to recharge .
Shark CarpetXpert HairPro Pet Carpet Cleaner with StainStriker
Thiscarpet cleaner from Sharkdid a expert task remove soil during our tests , but was hard to steer thanks to an incredibly grueling base — even without the solution , the whole machine consider around 20 pounds .
Your Questions, Answered
What type of carpet cleaner is the most effective?
It depends on what you ’re look to clean — if you ’re attend to blot - fair release or deal with preferred messes often , a portable carpeting cleaner should function just ok . But vertical emptiness are objectively more powerful . “ The bigger principal is more fast-growing so you tend to get a more thorough cleansing , ” McAllister says .
If you require to deep - clean your whole rug , an upright piano is probably more effective overall , but both types will put to work on stain .
Do carpet cleaners remove old stains?
With that data from our tests , it ’s safe to say that the best carpet cleanser can remove old stains . We test cleaners on stains that had sunk into the carpeting fibers , and some of the cleaners leave alone the tested areas cleaner than they were even before the stains were add .
Though fructify - in stains like dirt come up relatively easily during our tests , darker substances likered wine stainsmay not be as easy to cleanse if they ’re deeply impacted .
Are there disadvantages to steam cleaning a carpet?
Despite what you might adopt , rug cleaners typicallydon’t use steam — therefore , carpeting cleaning is not the same as steam cleaning . While they do sell someat - home steam cleanersthat work for carpet , this is something more often done by a commercial-grade cleaning caller .
Carpet steamers , also known as spicy body of water extractors , study by heating plant piddle to an extremely mellow temperature to purloin stain out of fibers and hygienize without any cleaning products .
One advantage over a rug cleansing agent is a carpet steamer’sability to bolt down germsusing only water . However , it does n’t take set - in stains as effectively , it can damage raw cloth , and if done incorrectly , it can pull up stakes water system behind that allows for thegrowth of moldor mildew .
Credit: The Home Depot
Who We Are
Alida Nugenthas been a author , editor , and strategist for over six year in the shopping space , with over 10 years of medium experience overall . She heavily researched carpet dry cleaner for this while . to boot , she canvass our examination perceptiveness and spoke toSarah McAllister , founding father and CEO of GoCleanGo .
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list , you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval . Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous examination to verify they ’re worth a pip in your home . We grease one’s palms most of the merchandise we test ourselves , but occasionally we are provided sample by companies if purchasing is n’t an option . In these case , we apply the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased product .
The Hoover ONEPWR SmartWash made a significant difference in the discoloration and odor from stains.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Amazon
The Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet Cleaner includes four attachments to use on stains of varying sizes.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Amazon
The Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner effectively eliminated the fresh stains during our test.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Target
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
We tested each carpet cleaner on both fresh and dried stains to assess effectiveness.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
We found that a smaller capacity didn’t necessarily make for a less effective machine.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
