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Banish dust and grime with the best models we tested from top brands like Bissell.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Just one spill can cause a permanent stain if its not treated immediately.
But that doesnt mean every pet mess or kids art project gone wrongrequires a professional cleaning.
For more on how we tested carpet cleaners, seeour testing processbelow.
Credit: Target
We wish it had a larger water tank, as larger cleans require frequent refilling.
The Bissell Little Green Max was one of thestrongest stain removerswe tried out.
With only two parameters (spray and self-cleaning), its a simple machine.
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
It also only comes with two attachmentsa deep-clean brush and a brush for pet hair.
Still, the lightweight, effective machine is great for small homes and quick cleans.
Product Details: Weight:8.2 lbs.
|Surface Types: Upholstery, carpet, rugs |Cord Length:15 ft. |Capacity:.25 gal.
Its heavy to lug around, especially when filled with water.
This cordless upright model is the best carpet cleaner for large areas.
With multiple modes including spot-clean and dry, its a versatile machine.
The .5-gallon tank lasts for about 10 minutes of continuous cleaning.
The machine needed to sit for a few minutes on each stain.
The one exception was carrot juice, which was still slightly visible after five minutes of continuous cleaning.
And while the tank is larger at .5 gallons, it still will need refilling during a larger job.
But for maintaining carpets and rugs, not just cleaning one-off stains, its a great option.
Product Details: Weight:15 lbs.
|Surface Types:Carpet, rugs |Cord Length:N/A |Capacity:.5 gal.
This didnt work well on impacted dirt stains.
The bristle brush also has a rubber side that works better on softer fabrics.
And the larger brush can be taken apart to clean thoroughly, which is a nice feature.
Product Details: Weight:8.5 lbs.
|Surface Types:Carpets, rugs, upholstery |Cord Length:N/A|Capacity:.18 gal.
At 25 pounds with solution, this is a heavy carpet cleaner.
Afterwards, the carpet looked fresher and cleaner than it did before the test.
Pet owners will appreciate the included Bissell cleaning solution, which leaves a spring scent behind.
Theres a lot to like about the Bissells features and accessories.
The 1-gallon tank has heatwave technology that keeps water warm throughout cleaning.
The biggest drawback is its heftwith the water added, it weighed 25 pounds.
Product Details: Weight:17.5 lbs.|Surface Types:Carpet, upholstery|Cord Length:22 ft. |Capacity:1 gal.
We cleaned the area for up to five minutes or until the stain was removed.
Once we compiled all the data, we chose the top four options.
Portable machines are lighter and easier to move around, while upright carpet cleaners are heavier.
The corded electric options on our list have 15- and 22-foot cords.
Capacity
Water tank capacity is another important factor in the usability of a carpet cleaner.
Upright carpet cleaners typically have larger water tanks, with some even reaching up to a gallon in size.
Portable tanks are smallerourtop pickis .25 gallons, for example.
Decibel Level
Most carpet cleaners are about as loud as a vacuum would be.
Remember that youre only using these devices for a few minutes at a time.
With a run time of only around 20 to 30 minutes, it also needed hours to recharge.
Credit: The Home Depot
Your Questions, Answered
What key in of carpet cleaner is the most effective?
But upright vacuums are objectively more powerful.
The bigger head is more aggressive so you tend to get a more thorough cleaning, McAllister says.
The Hoover ONEPWR SmartWash made a significant difference in the discoloration and odor from stains.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Do carpet cleaners remove old stains?
Are there disadvantages to steam cleaning a carpet?
One advantage over a carpet cleaner is a carpet steamersability to kill germsusing only water.
She heavily researched carpet cleaners for this piece.
Additionally, she analyzed our testing insights and spoke toSarah McAllister, founder 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.
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
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
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
