While a vacuum removes everyday dust and dirt, it can’t tackle stubborn stains, deep grime, or persistent odours. Steam cleaners can freshen carpets, but for a truly thorough clean especially on set-in stains or pet messes an upright carpet cleaner is essential.

After testing top models on real-world spills and high-traffic areas, here are our top picks:

Vax Platinum Power Max ECB1SPV1 – Our overall best carpet cleaner for deep, powerful cleaning.
Bissell Hydrowave 2571E – Runner-up, offering strong suction and easy handling.
Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet Pro – Best for pet owners, tackling hair and odours with ease.
Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Deep Carpet Cleaner – Ideal for upholstery and multi-surface cleaning.
Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner – Perfect for stairs, spot cleaning, and tight spaces.
Russell Hobbs Aqua RHCC50AS01 – Best budget-friendly option without sacrificing performance.

Whether you’re dealing with muddy footprints, pet accidents, or everyday messes, these carpet cleaners deliver professional-level results at home.

What are the best carpet cleaners available in 2025?

After testing top models, these carpet cleaners stood out:

Vax Platinum Power Max ECB1SPV1: Deep-cleaning powerhouse for stubborn stains and everyday messes.
Bissell Hydrowave 2571E: Strong suction, modern features, and easy to maneuver.
Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet Pro: Perfect for pet hair, odors, and tough messes.
Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Deep Carpet Cleaner: Versatile for carpets and upholstery.
Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner: Compact and ideal for stairs and spot cleaning.
Russell Hobbs Aqua RHCC50AS01: Budget-friendly with reliable performance.

Why They Stand Out: Deep cleaning power, easy handling, useful attachments, and long-term reliability make these the top choices for 2025.

What is the purpose of a carpet cleaner?

Carpet cleaners penetrate deep into your carpet pile with a mix of carefully designed cleaning chemicals with hot water and strong brush heads, pulling filth and ground-in debris away. In many situations, the carpet cleaners will help repair and elevate the carpet, making it appear new again.

They function by having a clean and dirty water tank. The water and cleaning solution are stored in the clean tank. This solution is sprayed over the carpet and then sucked up into the filthy water tank once you pull the trigger.

They’re also a versatile piece of equipment, with several of the models we tested capable of cleaning hard floors, upholstery, and even stairwells.

What features and specifications should be considered when choosing a carpet cleaner?

Tank Size: Larger water tanks mean fewer refills ideal for big homes or heavy foot traffic. Brands like Rug Doctor and Bissell excel here.
Water & Cleaning Modes: Adjustable settings let you switch between deep cleans, light washes, or rinse-only cycles for quick touch-ups.
Special Features: Some machines offer targeted stain treatment, steam cleaning, hot air drying, or even automatic dirt-sensing suction handy for pets and high-traffic areas.
Practical Considerations: Weight, cord length, and included attachments matter, especially for stairs, upholstery, or tight spaces.
Ease of Maintenance: Sturdier, commercial-grade units often have easily replaceable parts, making long-term upkeep simpler.

Bottom Line: Knowing your needs and comparing these features ensures you choose a carpet cleaner that’s powerful, versatile, and easy to use whether for daily messes or deep-clean days.

How important is suction power in a carpet cleaner and how is it measured?

Suction power determines how effectively a carpet cleaner lifts dirt, moisture, and cleaning solution helping carpets dry faster and look fresher.

We measure it in two ways:

Maximum Suction: The peak power when the tool or hose is sealed useful, but not always reflective of real-world performance.
Usable Suction: The strength while moving across carpet, showing how well it picks up embedded dirt, pet hair, and residue.

Brands like Vax, Bissell, and Rug Doctor excel in both. For the best results, choose a model with strong, consistent suction.

Water Tank Size: Finding the Right Balance

The size of a carpet cleaner’s water tank affects both efficiency and ease of use.

Large Tanks: Fewer refills great for big rooms or whole-house cleaning but heavier to push when full.
Small Tanks: Easier to maneuver, ideal for spot cleaning or stairs, but require more frequent refills.

Choose a tank size that balances your cleaning needs with portability for the best results, whether using Vax, Bissell, or Rug Doctor.

How does tank size affect which carpet cleaner you should choose?

Tank size impacts both efficiency and ease of use:

Large Tanks: Ideal for big rooms, wall-to-wall carpet, or high-traffic areas fewer refills needed. Machines like Rug Doctor or Bissell ProHeat 2x make marathon cleaning easier.
Small Tanks: Perfect for spot cleaning, stairs, or tight spaces. Lightweight and easy to maneuver, though more frequent refills are required.

Bottom Line: Choose a tank size that balances your cleaning needs with portability. Big tanks for large areas, small tanks for quick, precise cleanups.

Why Does Water Tank Size Matter?

Water tank capacity affects how efficiently you can clean:

Large Tanks: Clean more carpet in one go with fewer refills ideal for big rooms or high-traffic areas.
Small Tanks: Require frequent topping up, better suited for spot cleaning or smaller spaces.

Brands like Vax, Bissell, and Rug Doctor offer options to match your cleaning needs and workflow.

How often should your carpet be cleaned?

According to the carpet Institute, you should thoroughly clean all of your carpets once a year. If you have allergies or pets, however, thorough cleaning should be done every six months.

If a stain emerges on your carpet, fix it right away, especially if it’s a notoriously difficult stain like wine, mustard, or curry.

What does a decent carpet cleaning cost?

A decent carpet cleaner can set you back between £100 and £300, but it will save you a lot of time and effort. Vax, Bissell, and Rug Doctor are among the best-known brands.

You may hire professional carpet shampooers to conduct a deep clean on your carpets for approximately £200 if you don’t want to buy a machine. Alternatively, you may hire a machine for approximately £20 per day (plus £10 for detergent) from firms like Rug Doctor.

What are the common drawbacks of budget carpet cleaning machines?

Budget-friendly models from brands like Vax, Bissell, or Russell Hobbs are tempting, but they have some trade-offs:

Smaller Tanks: Require more frequent refills, slowing down larger cleaning jobs.
Fewer Features: Often lack heated cleaning, strong suction, or multiple modes.
Limited Tools: May not include handheld hoses or attachments for stairs, upholstery, or tight spots.

For light cleaning and quick touch-ups, these models are fine. For deep or versatile cleaning, spending a bit more can save time and effort.

Why are replacement parts easier to find for commercial carpet cleaners?

Commercial carpet cleaners, like those from Vax, Bissell, and Rug Doctor, are built with longevity and repeated use in mind. They’re often the go-to choice for cleaning professionals and rental services, meaning they’re produced at a much larger scale and designed for regular, heavy-duty operation. Because so many of these machines are in use especially in rental fleets manufacturers ensure there’s a ready supply of spare parts available.

This widespread use makes it simpler to source the replacement components you may need, whether from the manufacturer, a dedicated supplier, or even local hardware stores. So, if you invest in a commercial-grade machine, you’ll likely find it much more straightforward to keep it running for years with replacement hoses, tanks, or brushes as needed.

How We Test Carpet Cleaners?

At GHI, we test carpet cleaners using a consistent, real-world approach. Pre-measured dirt and soil are applied to carpets, hard floors, and upholstery, then trampled in and allowed to cure overnight. Each machine is then evaluated for:

Cleaning Performance: How effectively it lifts dirt and restores the surface.
Moisture Control: Whether the floor is left wet, damp, or dry.
Carpet & Upholstery Condition: Pile restoration, colour retention, and overall appearance.
Ease of Use: Setup, operation, and included attachments for convenience.

While many modern vacuum cleaners handle both hard floors and carpet, carpet cleaners go further they wash, rinse, and dry carpets for a professional-grade clean. For homes with mostly carpeted areas, these machines are invaluable.

Pet owners should consider cleaners designed specifically for removing hair and odors. For example, Hoover Power Scrub and Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro excel at handling pet messes.

Top Carpet Cleaners and Vacuums

Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe – Best overall.
Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner – Best portable option.
Hoover SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner – Fastest drying time.
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro – Best for pet hair.
Shark Navigator Freestyle Upright Stick Cordless Vacuum – Best cordless vacuum.
Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro All-in-One Wet Dry Vacuum & Mop – Multi-surface versatility.
Dirt Devil Endura Max Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner – Reliable, budget-friendly option.
Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner – Best professional-grade machine.
McCulloch Heavy Duty Steam Cleaner – Best steam cleaner.

These models, with thousands of five-star ratings from trusted brands like Bissell, Shark, Hoover, and Dirt Devil, consistently impress users for their cleaning performance, convenience, and value.

Best Portable Spot Carpet Cleaners How We Chose

Portable spot cleaners are perfect for quick spills, pet messes, and hard-to-reach areas like stairs or car seats. To pick the best, we looked at:

Performance on common stains (coffee, mud, pet messes).
Ease of use setup, filling, emptying, and portability.
Tank capacity to reduce refills.
Attachments like crevice tools or motorized brushes.
Drying time no one wants soggy carpets.
User feedback for long-term reliability.

Top models from brands like Bissell and Hoover stand out for power, portability, and versatility making them household favorites for tackling everyday messes.

Which Types of Carpet Cleaners Excel at Stain Removal?

Not all carpet cleaners handle stains equally well. Testing shows:

Upright & Professional-Grade Models: Best for deep stains with strong suction, powerful brushes, and adjustable cleaning modes.
Pet-Specific Cleaners: Designed to lift stubborn messes like accidents and tracked-in dirt.
Portable Spot Cleaners: Great for quick spill cleanups and targeted stain removal.
Budget-Friendly Options: Some low-cost models rival premium machines in stain removal.

Bottom Line: For lasting results, choose a machine with strong suction, deep-cleaning brushes, and adjustable modes your best defense against stubborn stains.

How do we measure stain removal performance?

To test carpet cleaners fairly, we apply tough stains like grape juice or fruit punch to clean white carpet and let them set for several days. Each machine uses the same shampoo-to-water ratio for consistency.

We measure stain brightness scientifically with a spectrophotometer (CIELAB L value), taking five readings per spot and averaging the middle three to avoid outliers. Each cleaner makes four slow passes on its highest setting, then the carpet dries for 24 hours before we re-measure.

This objective approach ensures our recommendations are based on real performance, not just appearance, highlighting which machines truly excel at stain removal.

Why Weight, Cord Length, and Attachments Matter

Practical details can make a big difference in your carpet-cleaning experience:

Weight: Lighter machines are easier to carry upstairs and move between rooms, saving your back.
Cord Length: Longer cords reduce the need to switch outlets, making cleaning larger areas faster.
Attachments: Extras like upholstery brushes and crevice tools help tackle stairs, tight corners, and furniture.

Choosing a cleaner with the right balance of these features ensures effective cleaning with minimal effort.

What is the best way to use a carpet cleaner?

Prep the Area: Vacuum thoroughly to remove loose dirt and move furniture out of the way.
Protect Furniture: Place aluminium foil or wax paper under heavy furniture legs to prevent staining and make moving easier. Start cleaning from the farthest point from the entryway and work backward.
Ensure Proper Drying: Keep doors and windows open for air circulation to speed drying and prevent mold. Once dry, vacuum again to pick up any remaining dirt.

Hoover Smartwash Carpet Cleaner is an automatic carpet cleaner by Hoover.

The Hoover Smart Wash is a full-sized carpet cleaning machine that is easy to use. This cost-effective model comes with useful features that help you get the work done quickly and easily.

To use, simply push the cleaner forwards, and it will wash the carpet with a pre-mixed solution of water and cleaning solution. When you pull the appliance back, the moisture is removed from the carpet, allowing it to dry.

It’s one less thing you have to worry about because the right solution and water are automatically dispensed. If you’re concerned that your carpet is excessively wet, use the “dry only” setting and repeat the process. A hose and attachments are also included.

Carpet Cleaner Machine Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe

This is one of the most powerful carpet-cleaning machines available. With its 360-degree brush, dual tank for clean and dirty water, and heated drying system, it has over 10,000 five-star ratings and is capable of deep carpet cleaning with the toughest stains. With the supplied tools for stairs, upholstery, and crevices, you can clean hard-to-reach regions as well as typical carpeted areas.

Full-Size Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner

This carpet cleaner is a pet owner’s dream machine. The Bissell model gets rid of deep-seated stains and allergies, especially those left behind by your pets.

Its two-in-one upholstery tool removes not just pet hair and stains, but also odours that standard spot clean treatments can’t remove even it’s powerful enough to remove skunk odour! 12 rows of spinning brushes on the bottom of the carpet cleaner operating in combination with the CleanShot Pretreater function to target difficult spots

Bissell CrossWave Carpet & Floor Cleaner

Because dirt stays largely on the surface of low pile area rugs, you don’t need a hard brush to go deep down. The Bissell CrossWave gently cleans area rugs with a soft microfiber and nylon brush, ensuring that the small pile isn’t damaged or the loops frayed.

This lightweight Seal holder vacuums dry debris and operates on bare floors, making it ideal for low flat carpets. We also appreciated how it distributes just enough water to clean, but not so much that it dries up the carpet or the ground beneath it. It’s small and light, with settings that are simple to reach, so you can move from vacuuming to washing without missing a beat. There’s even a place to put the damp brush while it dries.

2003T Bissell Pet Stain Eraser

The Bissell Pet Stain Eraser combines a dry and wet vac with an extremely easy-to-use (and compact!) carpet stain remover. This Seal holder may be used indoors, but it’s also great for car seats and other on-the-go situations.

Not only is it cordless, but our testing revealed that the battery lasted 18 minutes. That should be plenty of time to remove any persistent spots. The Eraser effortlessly cleaned the grape juice and coffee off the white carpet.

It even removed stains that had been there for more than a month! It works well to remove unpleasant pet stains like pee, vomit, and faeces (yuck!). The cleaning solution is included onboard, as well as a brush nozzle for additional scouring.

Mighty Pro X3 by Rug Doctor

The Rug Doctor is the next best thing to a professional cleaning if you’re serious about carpet cleaning.

If you don’t want to buy or don’t have enough storage space, renting is the best alternative. You receive a hose and accessories for cleaning stairs and upholstery, as well as cleaning solutions if you buy them.

When you rent, you have to buy everything individually. The Carpet & Rug Institute, the carpet industry’s trade association, has given The Rug Doctor the highest grade for filth removal, water removal, and tenderness. It’s worth noting that it only works on the reverse stroke.

Shark Navigator Freestyle Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Nothing is more inconvenient than a power cord restricting your movement when cleaning from room to room, and this carpet cleaner is one of the finest for cord-free cleaning.

This multi-functional model, which can clean both hardwood and carpet, maybe the most practical for you if you have many types of flooring in your house. It’s particularly great for pet owners because of the motorised brush that lifts embedded hair.

Make every day feel fresh and clean! Book your professional cleaning in under a minute and see the magic.

What is the best deep carpet cleaner

Table of Contents