We Tested the Best Carpet Cleaners for Tackling Stains, Dirt, and More

Best Overall : Bissell Jetscrub 25299 Upright Pet Carpet Cleaner

4.7

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bissell.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Versatility
  2/5
• Noise Level
  5/5
• Usability
  4.5/5

The Bissell Jetscrub 25299 Upright Pet Carpet Cleaner is our top pick for a carpet cleaner, hands down. It has multiple cleaning modes, a pre-treatment feature, and a LED light on the floor head. It's portable enough that you'll actually use it in your home to suction up stains, dirt, and more.

Our testers gave the upright appliance a 5-star rating for ease of assembly since it was ready to go from the moment they opened the box. It came with a storage mat and collapsible handle for stowing it away in a small closet when not in use. It was also incredibly easy to fill the water tank and add solution since there were lines indicating how much of each to add. In addition to the simple and straightforward setup, the cleaning modes were clearly labeled on the machine. The carpet cleaner has an express clean setting for surface cleaning, a deep-clean setting for stains, and a CleanShot feature to pre-treat tough stains. In our testing, we found that all modes dried in under an hour.

A floor head LED light helps illuminate any stains that might be hard to see, and the machine self-propels so you don't have to put in a ton of elbow grease to have clean carpets. This feature earned it a perfect, 5-star rating in maneuverability, especially when compared with bulkier machines that require a full-body effort to push forward. This one quickly turned and maneuvered almost on its own, which really impressed our testers. It sucked up the fresh coffee stain in one forward and backward swipe and a set-in orange juice stain in two back and forth swipes.

For the tougher ketchup and potting soil stains, we used the built-in CleanShot feature to pre-treat the area. After a few minutes of letting the pre-treatment set in, we ran this machine over the stains. It amazed us as it completely cleaned those areas in a few swipes. The only thing it didn't suction up was the synthetic hair that was mixed in with the wet potting soil. However, you could easily vacuum that up pre- or post-clean.

Emptying the dirty water was easy and mess-free. An included brush helps clean the tank, but we found we didn't need to use it. There are no hoses or other special attachments, so the cleaner isn't the most versatile, but it works so well with the two available settings and has a small floor head for concentrated cleaning. Not much is left to be desired. It's also relatively quiet (similar to an average vacuum) and more lightweight than other models we tested. All in all, this carpet cleaner is highly effective, easy to use, and more portable than similar machines, so it's well-deserving of our best overall spot and your money.

Best Budget: Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner

4.5

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Home Depot

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  3.5/5
• Versatility
  2.5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5
• Usability
  3/5

The Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner is designed to loosen and suck up pet hair from your carpets as well as attack tough stains. For the lower price, we believe it's a great value. Pet parents will appreciate the PowerSpin Pet antimicrobial brush roll that drives bristles into the fibers of carpets and rugs to loosen and collect hair. Cleaning this brush roll can be a challenge, though Hoover includes a cleaning tool to assist with the dirty job.

We tested this pick at home and in The Lab. In product testing at The Lab, this carpet cleaner sucked up the fresh coffee stain in only one forward pass, but it required more effort for set-in stains. It dragged the potting soil, so we recommend thoroughly vacuuming up any noticeable 3D stains beforehand. Our tester loved that this machine was lightweight and easy to maneuver but wished it came with attachments to help tackle tougher stains.

However, for the affordable price, this is still an excellent pick for pet owners or those that need to clean small spaces. When cleaning large rooms or area rugs, the half-gallon water tank requires more frequent pauses to stop, empty, and refill. However, in exchange for a smaller capacity, the machine is more compact and easier to store than many other carpet cleaners.

Best Portable: Bissell 1400B Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

4.6

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bissell.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  3.5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Versatility
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5
• Usability
  5/5

The Bissell Little Green rose to fame on TikTok, as users filmed themselves cleaning impossible-looking stains on carpet, couches, and chairs while posting with the tag #littlegreenmachine. When we brought the portable carpet cleaner into The Lab (on multiple occasions), we had low expectations that it would live up to the hype. We were wrong.

This machine impressed our tester as it cleaned perfect 3-inch paths through each stain. You could see the Little Green sucking up the fresh coffee spill, and with a little bit of elbow grease, it was able to clean the set-in stains of orange juice, ketchup, and potting soil with no pre-treatment and only a faint stain left behind. As a result, we think it works best on fresh stains, but it still worked well enough on set-in stains to score a 4.5-star rating for effectiveness.

Additionally, the beloved Bissell machine took our tester around eight minutes to set up. The directions were a little unclear; however, once they followed the pictures, assembly made more sense and the large tank was easy to fill up. Just make sure you take note of which tank is for clean water versus dirty water. Our tester also noted the Little Green might feel a little cumbersome if you're carrying it around your home, but if it's sitting on the floor while you use the hose and attachment, it's easy (and, admittedly, a little fun) to use. So, add this machine to the list of TikTok hacks worth trying and carpet cleaners worth buying.

Best for Tough Stains: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner

4.9

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bed Bath & Beyond

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Versatility
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5
• Usability
  4.5/5

Anyone looking for a deep-cleaning machine with easy-to-use features and impressive cleaning power will be satisfied with the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro. This upright carpet cleaner features two cleaning modes. The Max Clean setting is ideal for deep-cleaning heavily soiled carpeting, while the Express Clean uses less formula and water for faster drying times.

This model undoubtedly cleaned the best in our product testing—once it was assembled properly. Due to the so-so assembly process and the fact that it's so large, it resembles a commercial carpet cleaner, this cleaner lost its previous spot as our best overall pick. However, if you frequently encounter tough stains, are looking to clean a large area, and have the space to store this machine in a utility room or garage, this is an excellent pick.

You'll need a screwdriver to assemble this machine, and be sure to follow the directions closely. Some parts come assembled, but double-check that they are locked in tightly. During testing at The Lab, our dirty water tank completely leaked out during the first test because we didn't double-check that it was locked in extra tight. Once it was in place, the machine powered through all of the stains with ease, and our tester loved utilizing the CleanShot feature to pre-treat tough stains.

The attachments that come with this carpet cleaner are very thoughtful and work well. The two-in-one pet upholstery tool can be used in wet or dry mode, and it has rubber bristles for capturing pet hair. A small bin on the attachment itself contains collected hair and dirt instead of sending this debris into the dirty water tank. Even people without pets will appreciate this useful tool when cleaning upholstered furniture. A 3-inch scrubbing tool is also included for hand-scrubbing stains along with a nozzle cleaning tool for clearing the brush head.

Best Spot Treatment: Hoover FH11300PC Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner

4.2

View On Amazon View On Hoover.com

Our Ratings

• Noise Level
  4/5
• Usability
  4.5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Overall Value
  5/5

The Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner was not only effective at cleaning fresh and set-in stains, but it was also one of the easiest devices to use. It has two separate tanks—one for dirty water and one for clean water. The tanks are clearly labeled, and the release button on top of the machine makes emptying the dirty water tank straightforward and mess-free. The center handle ensures it's easy to carry around your home, and the 5-foot hose wraps around the machine for compact storage when not in use.

Thanks to its powerful cleaning abilities, this one was a standout in our testing. It impressed our tester as it sucked up the set-in ketchup stain just as easily as it cleaned the fresh coffee stain. Since it's on the more affordable side, it scored a 5-star rating for overall value.

There aren't any additional attachments with this machine, but the one included is so powerful that it's all you need to make set-in stains disappear. At 84 decibels, it's a little louder than other carpet cleaners, so you won't want to operate this machine while trying to have a conversation.

Best Commercial : Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Commercial Carpet Cleaner

4.1

View On Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Versatility
  3/5
• Noise Level
  3/5
• Usability
  3.5/5

Of the three commercial carpet cleaners we tested in The Lab, the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 was our favorite. If you're looking to invest in a professional-grade carpet cleaner for your home or workspace, this is the one for you. In our testing, it cleaned the fresh coffee stain, set-in orange juice stain, and set-in potting soil stain in just one pass. It cleaned the set-in ketchup stain in two passes. This stellar performance earned it a 5-star rating for effectiveness. It also came out of the box ready to use, so setup was simple. And while it doesn't come with attachments, you can order a hose with an attachment separately.

This carpet cleaner is powerful, yes, but commercial carpet cleaners come with a downside. For one, they are bulky and hard to store. They are also noisy and heavy. This one was particularly difficult to empty because the clean water tank isn't detachable, so we had to place it in a large plastic tub and hold down the solution release button until it was completely empty. In your home, we'd recommend just using the machine until it completely runs out of solution. Ultimately, if you have wall-to-wall carpeting or find yourself renting a commercial carpet cleaner often, invest in this one.