best rated carpet cleaner 2021

by Percival Thompson Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Best Overall: Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner Machine
Best Portable: Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
Fastest Drying: Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner
Best for Pet Hair: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro Full-Size Carpet Cleaner

Full Answer

What are the top 10 carpet cleaners?

Best carpet cleaner for upholstery: Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Deep Cleaner Best carpet cleaner for portability: Swan Dirtmaster Pro Best carpet cleaner for versatility: Kärcher SE 4001 Carpet ...

Which carpet cleaner is best?

Best Overall: Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner Machine; Best Portable: Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner; Fastest Drying: Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner; Best for Pet Hair: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro Full-Size Carpet Cleaner

What are the top rated carpet cleaners?

Best Overall: BISSELL Powerfresh Slim Steam Mop Best Value: PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner Best For Hardwood Floors ... Not to mention that it’s safe to use on laminate, hardwood, tile and carpet and can convert into a built-in handheld device.

What is the strongest carpet cleaner?

Thus, the Bissell solution removes al carpet stains and spots, including tough ones, as well as:

odors;
mildew;
mold;
beverage stains;
mud and dirt;
oil and grease.

What is the best carpet cleaner out right now?

Our Top Carpet Cleaner PicksBest Overall: Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner.Best Portable: Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner.Best for Pet Stains: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus Carpet Cleaner.Best Budget: Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner.More items...•

What kind of carpet cleaner do professionals use?

Hot Water Extraction Otherwise known as steam cleaning, this is easily the most common professional carpet cleaning technique. Steam cleaning uses hot water at high pressure to penetrate into carpet fibers, breaking down the dirt and bacteria stored deep within.

Is VAX or Bissell carpet cleaner better?

Although Bissell has won more awards than Georg Solti, it's the new Vax Platinum SmartWash carpet cleaner that wins our top spot. That's for its efficiency, ease of use and sheer cleaning power. However, don't rule out the Bissell HydroWave, a lightweight compact option for smaller abodes.

What is the difference between a carpet cleaner and a carpet shampooer?

A carpet shampooer uses a combination of detergent and water to clean carpets. A rotating brush loosens dirt in the carpet fibres while its powerful suction lifts dirt, stains and grime. On the other hand, a steam cleaner simply uses the power of hot water. It works by injecting hot, vaporised water into your carpets.

How do you clean a really dirty carpet?

Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax and 1/4 cup vinegar, then apply this paste to deep stains or heavily soiled sections of carpet. Allow the paste to sit on the carpet for several hours until it dries completely, then vacuum it away.

Is steam cleaning good for carpets?

Steam cleaning is a really effective and efficient way to lift build up from the carpet fibers, including mold and pet scents. It also is effective at improving the appearance of carpets that have been neglected over time.

Is VAX a good brand?

Vax is the UK's best-selling floor care brand, specialising in items such as mops, steam cleaners, air purifiers and of course, vacuums. Vax was founded in 1977, and has gone on to become a household name for many people looking for a good quality vacuum cleaner in Australia.

Are heated carpet cleaners better?

Q: So when it comes to cleaning, is the hotter the better? A: As a general rule yes. And in carpet cleaning specifically, you want to maximize the heating performance of your truckmount or portable extractor.

How often should carpet be shampooed?

every 12 monthsHow Often Should You Shampoo Your Carpet? You should consider cleaning your carpet at least every 12 months to remove dirt, grime, and allergens. However, this schedule can vary depending on several factors in your household. If you have children or pets, you might shampoo your carpets more regularly.

Do you use hot or cold water in a carpet cleaner?

After you get out your carpet cleaner, fill the clean tank to the line with hot (not boiling) tap water. Hot water does a better job cleaning than cold but, if you boil it, you run the risk of melting parts of your carpet cleaner. Add formula to the tank according to the bottle directions.

Is steamer or shampooer better?

Steam cleaners provide deeper cleaning, extracting with enough force to pull the dirt from the bottom of the carpet fibers. Shampooers basically bury the dirt in foam and often have brighteners that make your carpet look cleaner than it really is. Eventually this can lead to yellowing, which can't be removed.

Do professional carpet cleaners vacuum first?

Yes, vacuum before a professional carpet cleaning. In short, yes, carpet should be vacuumed before a professional carpet cleaning and YOU should be the one to take care of the cleaning.

How often should carpets be cleaned?

Ideally, cleaning your carpet should be done based on a number of factors. For instance, if your home has lots of traffic, say with pets and more k...

Which carpet cleaning method is best?

There are several carpet cleaning methods, with new innovations springing up every now and then. As to which of these cleaning methods is best for...

Does cleaning carpet ruin it?

Cleaning a carpet regularly does not necessarily ruin it as not cleaning regularly does. It is recommended that carpets are vacuumed at least twice...

Can you shampoo a carpet?

Absolutely. Shampooing is one of the popular and most common methods of carpet cleaning and is also effective in getting rid of stubborn dirt on yo...

What type of carpet cleaners work best for heavy stains?

A carpet cleaner with rotating brushes is usually the best option for heavily soiled carpets. It scrubs the carpet fibers very effectively to loose...

Is there a risk of carpet damage with a carpet cleaner?

If you purchase a carpet cleaner with rotating brushes and have a carpet with fragile fibers, such as Olefin or PTT, the cleaner may tear or rip th...

How long does it take for the carpet to dry after using a carpet cleaner?

The type of carpet, the thickness of the pad, and how wet you’ve gotten it will determine;how long it will take the carpeting to dry. In general, i...

Benefits Of Home Carpet Cleaning?

Perhaps it sounds like a dumb question – you clean the carpets because they are dirty, but there are numerous benefits to carpet cleaning that at least might be interesting for you to know.

Best Home Carpet Cleaner Reviews

If you thought that this list could go without a Hoover, you were wrong – and there is a reason for it. Hoover carpet cleaners are one of the best on the market because they have an innovative approach to cleaning. Their inventions often set industry standards. This brand model is a good entry unit that will get your carpets clean, with ease.

How Dirty Can a Carpet Be?

Well, we will start with a simple question – Do you actually know how dirty our carpets are? The answer will shock you. According to a study, more than 70 percent of people admit that they cover the stains on the carpet with furniture instead of cleaning them. Far from the eyes, far from the heart apparently also works in carpet cleaning.

How Do Carpet Cleaners Work?

They don’t – you have to work them. Joking aside, carpet cleaners have a way of functioning and perhaps it will be helpful to know how they make your carpets look brand new. Carpet cleaning falls under the extraction cleaning method, where a carpet cleaner extracts deeply embedded dirt and stains. Every carpet cleaner consists of:

Home Carpet Cleaner Buying Guide: How to Choose a Carpet Cleaner?

Rugs are wonderful inventions. If you ask your kids, they will even tell you that carpets and rugs are magical, and sometimes as hot as lava! Luckily, you know that it’s a great way for them to play with their toys and not catch a cold. Which is why it’s important to keep them clean.

How To Use a Carpet Cleaner?

Okay, we understand how this sounds, but there’s more to carpet cleaning then just turning the cleaner on and starting the ordeal. Well, that is an option too, but if you want to make the most of the carpet cleaning, and do it as soon as possible with the most satisfactory results, then keep reading to find out all the steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Home Carpet Cleaners

It depends on your needs and whether you are willing to clean your carpets. It’s easier to just pay the professionals to get the job done, but it’s also quite costly. You should do it at least once a year to extend the lifetime of your carpets, hold the warranty and generally, have super-clean and bacteria-free rugs.

The winner is the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro

Erica Puisis writes about home products for The Spruce and specializes in interior design and plant care. She's contributed to Forbes and smart home blogs like Smart Home Solver and TechDigg.

Best Overall: BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner

Best Budget: Bissell 2089 PowerForce PowerBrush Carpet Cleaner

Best for Pet Owners: Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner

Best Portable: Bissell SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner

Best for Fast Drying: Hoover SmartWash Advanced Pet Automatic Upright Carpet Cleaner

Best Professional: BISSELL Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner

The Best Carpet Cleaner

A great upright carpet and rug cleaner machine should be light, powerful, able to cover a large room, and have lots of useful attachments. It also shouldn’t clean out your bank account. The Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Washer hits all those beats.

Carpet Cleaner Buying Guide & FAQ

Weight - The weight of a carpet cleaner should interest you greatly if you are looking to buy one, as it determines how fast and convenient you can get the cleaning done.

Types Of Carpet Cleaners

Commercial - Commercial Carpet Cleaners are usually ideal for public spaces with more traffic, like schools, conference centers, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and more.

Carpet Cleaner FAQ

A: Ideally, cleaning your carpet should be done based on a number of factors.

How does a carpet cleaner work?

Most carpet cleaners employ a tank that holds water and a compartment to hold a cleaning solution. As you roll the cleaner over the carpet, it emits the water and cleaning solution. Meanwhile, brushes scrub at the carpet fibers to remove embedded dirt and stains.

What are the benefits of a carpet cleaner?

While vacuuming regularly removes surface dirt and debris from your carpet, there may be deeply embedded grime and stains that you’re not able to see. Using a carpet cleaner periodically freshens your carpeting so your home is cleaner and healthier.

Feature considerations for carpet cleaners

Some carpet cleaners can weigh as much as 50 pounds, while others weigh less than 20 pounds. The weight and size of the machine greatly affect how easy it is to use because large, bulky cleaners are difficult to push.

How much should you pay for a carpet cleaner?

Carpet cleaners are available at a variety of prices, but you can typically expect to pay between $99 and $400 for one.

Tips and tricks

Avoid getting your carpet too wet when using your carpet cleaner. Some cleaners don’t have enough suction power to fully extract the moisture, which can lead to the growth of mildew and bacteria.

Bissell Big Green Machine Professional Carpet Cleaner

This is the most user-friendly professional home carpet cleaning machine we've found: The large 1.75 gallon sized tanks are super easy to fill, carry and replace, it's simple to operate and the spinning flow indicator on top takes the guesswork out of knowing when the cleaning solution needs refilling.

Bissell CrossWave Floor and Carpet Cleaner

Low pile area rugs are easy to clean because dirt stays mostly on the surface, so you don’t need a stiff brush to get deep down. The Bissell CrossWave gently cleans area rugs with a soft microfiber and nylon brush, so there’s no fear of damaging the short pile or fraying the loops.

Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush Plus

This cordless Bissell has a built-in rotating brush for deep cleaning that's easy to switch off when cleaning delicate fabrics. It comes with a nubby rubber pet tool to tackle messes from furry family members. Since it's so lightweight, it's incredibly easy to pull out and use the minute a pet accident happens.

Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner

This Rug Doctor is a real workhorse that powered through our stain tests and did the best job removing both stains and odors. Its large tanks hold 64 ounces of cleaning solution meaning there's less refilling and emptying during big or multi-room jobs.

Hoover ONEPWR Spotless Go Cordless Spot Cleaner

If the upholstery and carpet in your car seem to need constant cleaning, this cordless Hoover is the must-have appliance to keep in your garage. The removable battery recharges in under three and one half hours and works in other Hoover ONEPWR devices like the leaf blower and vacuum cleaners.

Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3

If you're really serious about carpet cleaning, we think the Rug Doctor is the next best thing to a professional cleaning. The rental option is best if you don't want to own or don't have adequate storage space for your own carpet cleaner.

10. BISSELL DeepClean Premier Pet Carpet Cleaner

The BISSELL DeepClean Premier Pet Carpet Cleaner is specifically designed to remove pet-related stains and odors from your carpets. This machine is also powerful enough to clean up dirt from everyday use of your carpeted floors.

9. BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full Size Upright Carpet Cleaner

The BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Upright Carpet Cleaner works well in homes with pet messes. This full size carpet cleaner is lightweight when compared to commercial rental machines but still cleans just as well.

8. BISSELL DeepClean Lift-Off Deluxe Upright Pet Carpet Cleaner Machine

The BISSELL DeepClean Lift-Off Deluxe Upright Carpet Cleaner works efficiently to clean up pet messes and other types of dirt and stains on your carpets. This machine has powerful suction to help your carpets dry quickly.

7. BISSELL Turboclean Powerbrush Pet Upright Carpet Cleaner Machine

The BISSELL Turboclean Powerbrush upright carpet cleaner is budget-friendly and powerful to clean your carpets efficiently. This machine is lightweight and easy to maneuver.

6. Bissell BigGreen Commercial BG10 Deep Cleaning 2 Motor Extractor Machine

The Bissell BigGreen Commercial Deep Cleaning machine is designed for heavy duty use in a commercial or residential setting. This option would be ideal for those with lots of carpeted rooms that need deep cleaning and stain removal.

5. SpotBot Pet hands free Spot and Stain Cleaner

The SpotBot Pet from Bissell has a hands-free option to allow you to walk away while the machine does the work of removing tough stains. This machine is compact and lightweight so you can move it around easily.

4. McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Cleaner with 18 Accessories

The McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Cleaner provides you with an all-natural method of cleaning carpets and other surfaces around your home. This unit cleans with steam so you don’t have to use harsh chemicals.

What to Consider

There are several sizes of carpet cleaners, including commercial-grade, full-size, and portable models. Commercial-grade options are typically the models available to rent, and while they have large water reservoirs, they’re very expensive and heavy.

How We Selected

To provide carpet cleaners that fit a variety of lifestyles, we looked for the top-rated models in each available style and at a range of price points.

Our Top Carpet Cleaner Picks

If you plan to use a carpet cleaner regularly and most of your home is carpeted, then an upright cleaner, while pricier and bulkier, will be your best option. Upright machines, like vacuums, have larger tank sizes and more power. However, they're also noisier and more awkward to use than a smaller machine.

Best Overall Carpet Cleaner

For just $200, this relatively affordable upright cleaner checks all the boxes for us: ample tank size, powerful cleaning capability, simple assembly, automatic shampoo release and mixing, and easy to clean.

Best Portable Carpet Cleaner

We tested Bissell's larger Spot Clean Professional model and cordless Pet Stain Eraser, but Little Green was the perfect in-between in terms of size, tank capacity and price.

Best Carpet Cleaner for Pet Stains

Designed with pet owners in mind, our tester, a parent of two border collie mixes and two young adults, has relied on this machine for years to remove stubborn stains and general dinginess from her carpets and rugs.

Best Budget Carpet Cleaner

For quick cleaning in small spaces, this compact upright machine gets the job done. It's sturdy while still being lightweight and agile, perfect for a home with stairs or a carpeted apartment. While the trigger function for releasing the cleaning solution isn't ideal, it did at least feel well-made.

Best Commercial-Style Carpet Cleaner

This is a big, serious machine for big, serious cleaning jobs, and it won't be the right choice for everyone. But if you want perfect results every time and have the space to store a machine this large, then we can't recommend Big Green enough. The hefty price and size (It weighs 40 pounds!) are intimidating, but the suction power is unrivaled.

What is a carpet cleaner?

Carpet cleaners use a combination of specially formulated cleaning solutions and powerful brush heads to reach deep into your carpet pile, lifting away grime and ground-in dirt. In many cases, the machines also restore carpet, leaving it looking refreshed and almost new.

How often should you clean your carpet?

Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute recommend that you deep clean all your carpets once a year. But if you have allergies or pets, deep clean once every six months.

How much is a good carpet cleaner?

A good carpet cleaner costs between £100 to £300, and can save you a lot of time and hassle. Top brands include Vax, Bissell and Rug Doctor.

How we test

When testing carpet cleaners at the GHI, we lay out a pre-measured amount of dirt on carpet, hard floor and upholstery. We tread the dirt into the floor and leave it to set overnight. We then use each carpet cleaning machine a set number of times to see how well it cleans the dirty area.