The Best Carpet Cleaners We've Tested and Reviewed

Tackling tough stains on carpet and upholstery requires a deeper clean that a household vacuum simply can't provide. A dedicated carpet cleaner, on the other hand, is designed to handle stubborn stains like red wine, coffee, and pet accidents.

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“When shopping for a carpet cleaner, it’s important to consider what you need and which model best suits your specific messes,” says Ken Doty, COO and cleaning expert at The Maids. For instance, are you looking for a cleaner ideal for spot treatment, or do you need one for larger stains in high-traffic areas like stairs or rugs?

To help you find the best carpet cleaners for any task, we tested several models in our lab and at home, assessing each on its effectiveness, ease of use, setup, and other key features for quickly eliminating stains and odors. We also consulted Doty for expert tips on selecting the right carpet cleaner.

Our Best Selections

Best Overall:

Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner at Amazon $227

Best Budget:

Hoover PowerDash Pet Advanced Carpet Cleaner at Amazon $140

Best for Pet Stains:

Bissell Big Green Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner at Amazon $443

Best for Carpet & Upholstery:

Bissell Little Green HydroSteam Pet at Amazon $230

Best for Stairs:

Bissell Little Green Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner at Amazon $200

Best for Spot Cleaning:

Shark CarpetXpert Carpet Cleaner at Amazon $270

Best Pretreatment:

Bissell Oxy Stain Pretreat at Amazon $15

1. Best Overall: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner

Our top carpet cleaner pick is one of the highest-scoring uprights we’ve tested, effectively cleaning 95% of tough stains. The bristled hand wand attachment easily removes remaining residue, leaving the spot 99% to 100% clean.
Filling the water tank is simple: just lift it off, unscrew the lid, and fill it to the marked lines for water and solution. The two-tank system keeps dirty water separate and easy to empty via a rubber stopper.
While not the quietest model (it hits 89.3 decibels, between a blender and a hair dryer), it’s manageable. Assembly is easy but requires a screwdriver for the cord wrap. Weighing 17 pounds empty (25 pounds full), it may require some effort to carry upstairs, but its wheels make it easy to move around rooms.

PHOTO: amazon

Weight: 17.5 lbs | Cord Length: 22 ft | Dirty Water Tank: 1 gallon | Clean Water Tank: 1 gallon | Cleaning Path: 11 inches

YES or NO?

What We Liked: This user-friendly machine and its attachments removed up to 100% of fresh stains with ease.

What Could Be Better: The setup process was tricky and took longer than expected.

2. Best Budget: Hoover PowerDash Pet Advanced Carpet Cleaner

This carpet cleaner efficiently removed tough stains like coffee, wine, and chocolate in just a few passes. It’s easy to maneuver under high furniture but requires moving lower items. The water tanks are simple to use, with minimal refills needed.
Assembly was quick, and the attachments—upholstery tool, hose, and nozzle cleanout tool—helped with stains and debris, though the hose attachment instructions were unclear, causing minor leakage.
After six months, it noticeably improved room freshness and removed stubborn stains. It’s one of the louder models at 94.7 decibels but still tolerable due to its effectiveness.

PHOTO: amazon

Weight: 18.4 lbs | Cord Length: 20 ft | Dirty Water Tank: 0.62 gallons | Clean Water Tank: 0.62 gallons | Cleaning Path: 7.5 inches

YES or NO?

What We Liked: This strong option is lightweight and quick to assemble.

What Could Be Better: It’s one of the louder models on our list.

3. Best for Pet Stains: Bissell Big Green Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner

This Bissell model is designed for pet owners, effectively removing pet stains as well as messes like coffee and wine. While bulky at 60 pounds when full, it's easy to maneuver, even with full water tanks, making it great for larger households. However, its size and lack of attachment storage may not be ideal for smaller homes.
The cleaning power is impressive, especially for tackling carpeted stairs, stubborn stains, pet odors, and worn spots. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s a heavy-duty cleaner. The dirty water tank is easy to clean, but the hose is better washed outside to avoid mess.
With a decibel rating of 91 (similar to a power tool), it’s a bit noisy but performs well.

PHOTO: amazon

Weight: 44 lbs | Cord Length: 25 ft | Dirty Water Tank: 1.75 gallons | Clean Water Tank: 1.75 gallons | Cleaning Path: 10.5 inches

YES or NO?

What We Liked: This carpet cleaner is easy to maneuver and effectively tackles stubborn stains.

What Could Be Better: It doesn’t have built-in attachment storage, which may make it take up more space in smaller homes.

4. Best for Carpet & Upholstery: Bissell Little Green HydroSteam Pet

The Bissell model is highly portable, making it easy to move between spaces and effectively clean tight spots with its attachments. However, it struggled with stubborn carpet stains like red wine and marinara sauce, leaving slight discoloration even after 40 passes. Upholstery cleaning showed similar results but required fewer passes—up to 10.
Despite lacking wheels, the machine was easy to maneuver, and the upholstery cleaner was lightweight and convenient for moving around furniture. We appreciated the three cleaning modes and a hose trigger for spraying solution while vacuuming.
Setup was simple, with no assembly needed—just fill the tank with cleaning solution. The machine also stored the hose, attachments, and power cord neatly.

PHOTO: amazon

Weight: 18.07 lbs | Cord Length: 15 ft | Dirty Water Tank: 51 oz | Clean Water Tank: 64 oz | Cleaning Path Width: 5 inches

YES or NO?

What We Liked: The self-contained attachments worked well for cleaning upholstery.

What Could Be Better: Certain stains weren't fully removed.

5. Best for Stairs: Bissell Little Green Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner

The Bissell Little Green is ideal for cleaning stairs with its lightweight, compact, and cordless design, offering freedom of movement. Setup is easy, with parts snapping into place, and you just fill the water tank to the appropriate line for the cleaning task.
It includes an attachment for hard-to-reach areas. However, while effective on odors, the cleaner struggled with fully removing wine stains, even on the highest setting. Finding the right cleaning solution may take some trial and error.
You can choose between eco and turbo modes, with eco for upholstery. We tried turbo on a tough wine stain, and it didn’t damage the cushion.

Weight: 7.2 lbs | Dirty Water Tank: 37 oz | Clean Water Tank: 33.8 oz | Cleaning Path Width: 4 inches

YES or NO?

What We Liked: The machine is highly portable and offers strong suction.

What Could Be Better: The spray width isn't ideal for focused cleanings.

6. Best for Spot Cleaning: Shark CarpetXpert Carpet Cleaner

This carpet cleaner excels at spot cleaning, with a built-in spot cleaner that reaches stairs, upholstery, and tough stains. It quickly suctions up liquid messes, making it ideal for pet owners. Wine stains were removed almost instantly, though tougher stains like coffee and dry chocolate took extra time and passes, with some remnants still visible after cleaning.
While it brightened the rug, it left a strong ammonia/detergent smell and a sticky texture. Setup was easy, but some sections lacked clear diagrams, requiring a bit of intuition. The machine is quiet and intuitive to use, with helpful instructions printed directly on it and its attachments.
One drawback is the dirty water tank, which fills up quickly. During a 12-minute test, it was nearly full, so longer cleaning tasks require frequent tank checks.

Weight: 16.98 lbs | Cord Length: 20 ft | Dirty Water Tank: 30.4 gallons | Clean Water Tank: 0.53 gallons | Cleaning Path Width: 10 inches

YES or NO?

What We Liked: The machine and attachments have instructions printed on them, making it easy to use.

What Could Be Better: The dirty water tank needs to be emptied frequently.

7. Best Pretreatment: Bissell Oxy Stain Pretreat

This Bissell pretreatment effectively tackled tough wine, soda, and marinara stains. While mustard stains left some traces, allowing the treatment to sit longer may help improve stain removal.
The bottle was easy to use, with an adjustable mist or spray option for different treatment needs. It’s also fragrance-free, making it a good choice for those sensitive to scents.
After use, no odors remain. Considering its price and performance, we found it to be a great value and would even consider paying more for it.