Choosing a carpet cleaner is harder than it looks because the options do very different jobs. A full-size machine works through a whole room, while a portable spot cleaner handles one stain, one stair or one cushion at a time. Bottles and machines also cross over between carpets, rugs and upholstery, so the surface matters as much as the brand.
Start with three questions: how big the job is, what the surface is, and what the stain is. Then read the maker's list of surfaces the product is not for, since that list is where most mistakes happen. Match the machine or the bottle to your answers, and the choice gets much simpler.
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6 products
Our picks at a glance
- BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet CleanerBest overall for whole roomsWhole rooms of carpet · Area rugs that are not delicate · Pet beds and stairs with the hoseCheck price of BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner on Amazon
- BISSELL Little Green Portable Carpet & Upholstery CleanerBest for stairs and upholsteryStairs and steps · Furniture marked W or WS · Car interiorsCheck price of BISSELL Little Green Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner on Amazon
- Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 FlBest spot remover for carpetsSingle spots on carpet · Rugs after a colorfastness test · Protein and oil stainsCheck price of Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 Fl on Amazon
- Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Carpet CleanerBest for Berber and big jobsBerber carpet with single passes · Area rugs and stairs · Pet beds and car interiorsCheck price of Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Carpet Cleaner on Amazon
- Hoover CleanSlate Plus Portable Carpet + Upholstery Spot CleanerBest pet spot cleaner for carpetPet spots on carpet · Upholstery marked W or S/W · Portable spot cleaningCheck price of Hoover CleanSlate Plus Portable Carpet + Upholstery Spot Cleaner on Amazon
- Wine Away Red Wine Stain RemoverBest for red wine stainsRed wine on carpet · Orange and red stains · Single spots without a machineCheck price of Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover on Amazon
Best overall for whole rooms
1. BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner
BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner
This is BISSELL's full-size carpet cleaner, made for carpets and area rugs across a whole room. The maker says the hose and tools also reach stairs, upholstery, pet beds and car interiors, though you should check care labels first. It is the right pick when the job is big and the surface is a carpet or a sturdy rug.
Best for
- Whole rooms of carpet
- Area rugs that are not delicate
- Pet beds and stairs with the hose
Best for stairs and upholstery
2. BISSELL Little Green Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
BISSELL Little Green Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
The Little Green is BISSELL's portable carpet and upholstery cleaner for stains on carpet, stairs, furniture, car interiors and other hard-to-reach surfaces. Its maker lists it for these surfaces, so it suits the spots that sit outside the main carpet. It is the one to reach for when the stain is on the stairs or the back seat.
Best for
- Stairs and steps
- Furniture marked W or WS
- Car interiors
Best spot remover for carpets
3. Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 Fl
Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 Fl
Resolve Carpet & Rug Spot & Stain Remover is a spray-on spot treatment for carpets and rugs, with no machine needed. It is listed for protein, tannin, oil, body-waste and general soil stains. It is the practical choice for one spot on carpet or a rug, where a full machine is more than the job needs.
Best for
- Single spots on carpet
- Rugs after a colorfastness test
- Protein and oil stains
Best for Berber and big jobs
4. Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Carpet Cleaner
Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Carpet Cleaner
The Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 is a full-size carpet cleaner that its maker says works on most carpets, including Berber with single passes. It also covers upholstery marked W or WS, area rugs, stairs, pet beds and car interiors. It is the stronger choice when the carpet is Berber and the job covers a lot of floor.
Best for
- Berber carpet with single passes
- Area rugs and stairs
- Pet beds and car interiors
Best pet spot cleaner for carpet
5. Hoover CleanSlate Plus Portable Carpet + Upholstery Spot Cleaner
Hoover CleanSlate Plus Portable Carpet + Upholstery Spot Cleaner
The Hoover CleanSlate Pet is a portable spot cleaner for carpet and upholstery, and its name points to pet messes. Its maker says to use it on upholstery only if the fabric is marked W or S/W, and to skip any fabric marked S. It is a sensible second machine for a pet household, but the maker is clear it is not for grooming a pet.
Best for
- Pet spots on carpet
- Upholstery marked W or S/W
- Portable spot cleaning
Best for red wine stains
6. Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover
Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover
Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover is sold for red wine on water-washable fabrics and carpet. Its maker lists it for most water-washable fabrics, carpet and upholstery, which makes it useful for a single red spot. It is not a machine, so it suits one spot rather than a room.
Best for
- Red wine on carpet
- Orange and red stains
- Single spots without a machine
Match the product to the job
How to choose
Whole rooms of carpet
A full-size machine is the right tool when the job covers a room or a hallway. The BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro fits that case, and its maker covers carpets and area rugs.
The Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 suits the same job, especially Berber carpet with single passes, but it is not for wood or laminate floors. Pick one of these when the stain is not a single spot.
Stairs, cushions and car seats
Stairs and furniture are the jobs a portable cleaner handles well. The BISSELL Little Green is made for carpet stains, stairs, furniture, car interiors and other hard-to-reach surfaces.
Check the upholstery tag first, because it only applies to fabric coded W or WS. The Hoover CleanSlate Pet also works on upholstery, but only when the fabric is marked W or S/W.
Area rugs and natural fibers
Rugs are where the labels get strict. The ProHeat's HydroSteam mode is not recommended for pure wool, loop pile, viscose, jute, silk, leather or natural suede.
The Rug Doctor machine is not for natural-fiber oriental rugs or hand-loomed wool, braided, sisal or jute rugs. Resolve can treat a rug spot, but only after a colorfastness test in a hidden area.
Red wine and other orange or red stains
A red wine spill calls for a bottle, not a machine. Wine Away is sold for red wine on water-washable fabrics and carpet, which makes it the pick for that job. Keep it away from wool or silk, where the maker says it may leave a water ring.
One fresh spot on carpet
For one spot, a spot remover is usually enough and a full machine is more than the job needs. Resolve is listed for protein, tannin, oil and body-waste stains on carpet and rugs.
Test a hidden area first and follow the spray and blot steps, rinsing and repeating as needed. Wine Away is the better match when the stain is red wine.
Use it safely
Test any product on a hidden area first, because colorfastness and fabric codes decide what is safe. Never mix a cleaner with bleach, ammonia or another household product, and use only the formula the machine's maker names. Wear eye protection with Resolve, keep the room ventilated when using cleaners, and keep children and pets off the carpet until it is dry.
Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or other acids, ammonia or rubbing alcohol. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
Would a home method do?
For a single fresh spot on a sturdy carpet, a spot remover and a clean cloth are often enough, so a machine is not needed. Save a full machine for whole rooms, stairs and pet messes that have spread. Follow the maker's directions each time, since the same method does not suit every fiber.
How we chose
Every product here earned its place on fit, not on who pays: it is made for this job by its maker's own description, its maker doesn't warn against the surfaces this list covers, and its directions agree with the methods in our stain guides. We put the clearest, best-documented products first and limit each brand to two picks. Our editorial standards.
We compared each pick on its maker's product page, label and safety data sheet. Prices and photos come directly from Amazon and can change. Sources for each pick:
More product lists
Questions
Can I use a carpet cleaner on area rugs?
Often yes, but check the rug first. The BISSELL ProHeat 2X and the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 both handle area rugs, but the Rug Doctor is not for natural-fiber oriental rugs, hand-loomed wool, braided, sisal or jute rugs. Silk, delicate and pure wool rugs need a closer look at the maker's list before any machine is used.
Which cleaning solution should I use in a carpet cleaner?
Use the formula the machine's maker names, because other products can damage the machine. BISSELL machines need BISSELL formulas made for upright cleaners, and the Rug Doctor needs its own Oxy Carpet Cleaner mixed into hot tap water. Never add bleach, dye, detergents or solvents to the Rug Doctor tank.
How do I get red wine out of carpet?
Blot up the excess first, then saturate the stain with Wine Away and wait 1 to 5 minutes. Blot gently with a towel without rubbing, and repeat as needed. Spot test first, since the maker says the product may leave a water ring on wool or silk.
Is a steam carpet cleaner safe around pets?
Keep pets and people away from the steam, and do not leave a steam cleaner unattended. The BISSELL ProHeat maker says not to steam people or animals and not to touch the heated steam nozzle. Keep children and pets off the carpet until it is dry after any cleaning.
Can I use a portable cleaner on stairs?
Yes, the BISSELL Little Green lists stairs among its surfaces. Work on the spot itself, following the pretreat and extraction steps, and do not use it on silk or velvet. Check the care label before you start on stair carpet.
Is Resolve safe to use around children and pets?
Use it with care. The maker warns it causes serious eye irritation, so wear eye protection and keep it out of reach of children. Keep children and pets off the carpet until it is dry, use it only in well-ventilated areas, and never mix it with bleach or other household products.