The Best Carpet Cleaning Machines

As the proud owner of a beautiful German Shepherd, I confess I've spent far too much time obsessively searching for the best carpet cleaners. I've also purchased a few such machines that ended up being a waste of money and time. So take it from me: the products we've selected below effectively tackle stains, clean up dirt, and basically make your carpet look new – okay, close to it, at least. Whether you have a pooch or not, these carpet cleaning machines are a must-have for any home with rugs or carpets. Take a look and see what you think of our favorites, ranked and reviewed below.

Hoover PowerDash Pet Carpet Cleaner

If we’re talking about a powerful carpet cleaner, this one from Hoover has everything you need. It comes with a sizable water tank and a separate dirty water tank, a removable nozzle to deal with large debris, and a power spin pet brush roll, so you don’t have to worry about hairs getting tangled in your brush. Plus, if this is your first water carpet cleaner, you’re about to fall in love with the HeatForce technology that’ll quickly dry your carpet after each pass. Overall, this is the perfect carpet cleaner to have for high-traffic areas, small spaces, and everything in between.

Pros:

  • The easy-to-access water/solution trigger button by the handle gives you total customization over your cleaning.
  • Its dual-tank system is easy to fill, empty, and rinse for easy clean-up.
  • The HeatForce technology dries your carpet faster so you can keep going about your day.

Cons:

  • It doesn’t have automatic cleaning or auto-dry mode for a complete carpet-washing experience.
  • It is not cordless.

Bissell SpotClean Professional Carpet Cleaner

If you’re looking for an investment that keeps on giving, then this carpet cleaner from Bissell tops the list. Forget about throwing away money on professional cleaning services you can do yourself. This small but mighty carpet cleaner works on carpets, stairs, upholstery, auto interiors, and more. With this beauty, you can finally eliminate stubborn stains, embedded dirt, and more. Plus, its lightweight design makes it perfect for carrying around the house or the car without a hassle.

Pros:

  • Its compact and lightweight design makes it perfect for carrying around the house or outdoors for cleaning even hard-to-reach areas.
  • Includes a tough stain tool and stair tool that makes cleaning easy.

Cons:

  • It is not cordless.

Bissell Revolution Pet Pro+ Formula

To keep your carpet looking as good as new, you need to have a carpet cleaner that can deliver a deep clean every time. Ths one from Bissell is a powerhouse when it comes to deep cleaning. Engineered to remove even the toughest pet stains and odors, the Max Clean mode with rotating dual-dirt lifter power brushes delivers professional-grade cleaning without putting an enormous dent in your bank account. It even comes with an express clean mode to give you dry carpets in less than 30 minutes. Forget about nasty stains and odors bringing your space down. These two products are about to become your best friends.

Pros:

  • Features Express Clean mode that leaves the carpet clean and dry in as little as 30 minutes.
  • Includes a Tough Stain tool and a 2-in-1 upholstery tool to get rid of pet hair, stubborn stains, and odors from upholstery.
  • It comes with its own deep-cleaning carpet shampoo that’s safe for kids and pets.

Cons:

  • Not cordless.
  • No water heating system, so it requires hot water to work efficiently.
  • It is heavier and bulkier than most carpet cleaners, making it difficult to move around the house and stairs easily.

Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Cordless Carpet Cleaner

Forget about having to take out those bulky carpet cleaners every time you have a new stain on your carpet. Instead, this cordless carpet cleaner is lightweight, compact, powerful, and efficient to give you an instant and permanent stain removal solution easily. You’re going to love the spray, scrub, and suction modes that help you remove stains and debris from carpets, stairs, upholstery, area rugs, auto interiors, and more. Plus, you don’t have to worry about messy cords with this lithium-powered carpet cleaner; no, this one’s cord-free. What’s more, there’s a small space for the carpet cleaning formula, so you don’t have to worry about mixing it with water or doing any more work beforehand.

Pros:

  • Cordless design makes it super convenient to use and helps you get to those hard-to-reach spots.
  • Built-in carpet cleaner formula holder for easy use.
  • Design is lightweight, portable, and compact.
  • Works on various surfaces besides carpets.

Cons:

  • The heat dryer system is missing, so you will have to wait for your carpet to dry after using this.
  • Does not include any other tools, nor does it allow any other tools or brushes to be adapted to the hose.
  • It is not suitable for large areas or large carpets.

Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner

If, like many others, you’re not so enticed by the fancy-schmancy carpet cleaners of domestic fame, and you’d rather go with something more streamlined, here’s your pick. With this one, you’ll place your trust in the power of steam to get rid of any bacteria without having to use potentially toxic chemicals. This steam cleaner works on carpets, floors, furniture, appliances, grout, and so much more. Truth be told, you might get slightly addicted to watching how this steam cleaner virtually vaporizes dirt in front of your eyes. If you want to experience a heavy-duty clean, this is your go-to option.

Pros:

  • It comes with an 18-piece professional accessory kit to help you have everything you need to clean your entire house.
  • It has a high-capacity holder that gives you up to 50 minutes of cleaning time per fill-up.
  • No need to buy additional cleaning formulas.
  • The accessories will work with regular towels or cloth, so there’s no need to spend money on expensive special pads.

Cons:

  • Not cordless.
  • Only applies steam. It doesn’t have a suction function.
  • It does not have wheels.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are carpet cleaners different from vacuums?

Carpet cleaners force a mixture of warm water and cleaning solutions into a carpet to clean it deep down. The mix of water and cleaning solution helps extract dirt from the carpet, leaving the fibers and carpet base clean. They’re also helpful for tackling stains, as these actually wash the carpet fibers rather than just suctioning up debris as a traditional vacuum would do.