The Best Carpet Cleaners (2024)

Staff writer Sabine Heinlein has been a journalist for more than two decades. She obsesses over things like how to remove cat drool from velvet couches and hairballs from heirloom rugs.

For this guide, we’ve done the following:

If you like ice cream and are clumsy (like me!), or you have children, pets, and lots of rugs or carpeting, a carpet cleaner can be a game changer.

“There’s no carpet that’s 100% stain-proof,” said Jeffrey Iqbal, the manager at Carpet City in Queens, New York, where we bought our test carpet. By engaging in certain habits—such as not wearing shoes in the house, vacuuming regularly, and cleaning up spills promptly (either by hand or with a portable carpet cleaner)—you can cut down on how often you have to clean your rugs and carpets. Eventually, however, you will need a carpet cleaner to tackle set-in stains, clinging odors, and widespread dinginess.

Deep-cleaning carpets and rugs can also improve the health and safety of those who live in your home. Rugs and carpets trap air pollution. “Once they reach a certain level [of dirtiness], they’re no longer trapping those particles,” said Ali Hafezi Mashhadi, vice president of Babash Rug Services. “They release them back into the air once you walk on them.”

Before you choose a carpet cleaner, look at your carpet label(s) to make sure the carpets can handle the water-based extraction-cleaning method most of these cleaners use.

Also known as carpet shampooers, most carpet cleaners spray warm water mixed with cleaning solution on the carpet. When you pass the machine back and forth, a motorized brush massages and agitates the stain, suction extracts dirt and water, and airflow funnels it into the dirty-water tank. Many carpet cleaners also have heating elements that keep the cleaning solution warm and help dry the carpet.

Carpet cleaners are sometimes called “carpet steamers,” but most models don’t actually use steam. The Bissell HydroSteam was the only residential carpet cleaner we found that used steam, in addition to water, to target sticky goo, like slime and caramel, according to Bissell engineer Ryan Alt.

You can rent a Rug Doctor carpet cleaner from Home Depot or Walmart (usually for around $40 a day). But rental carpet cleaners tend to be heftier than the models we recommend.

Whether you buy or rent a carpet cleaner, know that you’re unlikely to match the cleaning power of a professional carpet-cleaning service. The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends that you have your carpets professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months; this gets carpets cleaner than any store-bought or rented machine and decreases the risk of accidentally ruining rugs. If you have an heirloom rug, it is always wiser to take it to a professional, Ali Hafezi Mashhadi said. “Do not wash silk rugs with those machines!” he warned.

In our most recent round of testing, we tried six carpet cleaners. Here’s how we evaluated them:

Cleaning performance: We divided a 12-by-9-foot white polyester carpet into six columns (one for each carpet cleaner) and six rows (for one or two substances each). Then we soiled it with a carpet’s worst enemies: oils (chocolate ice cream, caramel syrup), dyes (Gatorade, co*ke, and Fanta), tannins (red wine), and bodily fluids (urine). Using a spoon and a scouring brush, we worked yard dirt, Nutella, slime, and peanut butter deep into the fibers.

We let the muck dry over a weekend, and then we ran each carpet cleaner up and down one stain column, taking as many passes as necessary to clean the carpet as much as possible. After a 24-hour drying time, we compared the results, paying attention to the severity of any leftover stains and the carpet’s texture and appearance.

A decent carpet cleaner removes soil and most common household stains without much effort, but only an excellent one conquers the toughest stains. All of the carpet cleaners we tested got rid of co*ke, urine, and blue Gatorade stains. But their performances varied when they faced chocolate ice cream with caramel syrup and peanut butter and Nutella. (Also, bad news for thirsty parents of thirsty children: None of the machines were able to entirely remove red wine or bright-orange Fanta.)

We also noted when a machine smeared a substance, making it bleed into an even larger area.

Drying time and carpet appearance: A good carpet cleaner should not leave the carpet saturated with water and soap. Depending on the carpet’s thickness and material, and on room temperature, it should fully dry within two to 12 hours. Some cleaners feature a dry mode, which, in addition to extracting water, blows warm air on the carpet to speed drying.

We allowed the test area to dry for two hours and then felt how damp the carpet remained, rechecking periodically. After 20 hours, we checked the dryness and visually inspected the carpet, looking for fibers that were refreshed and even, rather than chewed up.

Comfort and maneuverability: We noted whether the machine’s wheels rolled smoothly, its weight was distributed evenly, and whether it could easily move into corners, around obstacles, and over thresholds. We assessed whether the handle was comfortable to hold for an entire cleaning session, as well as whether the machine felt heavy or awkward to use. (Most models now weigh less than 20 pounds, with water adding another 4 to 8 pounds.)

Finally, we used the SPLnFFT app to measure each machine’s noise level.

Design and operation: We paid attention to how convenient it was to fill and clean the tanks; how easy it was to find and press power buttons; and whether we had to hold and release a trigger to operate the machine (this can be uncomfortable during long cleaning sessions).

We checked whether the machines’ hoses and hand tools easily and securely snapped on and off, and we considered how easy it was to remove and replace brush rolls on the cleaner head.

When applicable, we assessed the model’s digital display and tried to connect the machine to Wi-Fi.

Leakiness: Leakiness is a common complaint with carpet cleaners, and all of the models we tested leaked to some degree. We observed how much each model leaked when it was shut off.

Cleaning attachments: We tested their hoses and attachable cleaning tools on our white carpet’s peanut-butter-and-Nutella stains.

It’s an excellent cleaner. The Tineco Carpet One Smart effortlessly removed co*ke, blue Gatorade, and urine. It took this machine fewer passes to remove ground-in yard dirt than it took competitors. This model also excelled in tackling the oily, sticky stains that thwarted most competitors. This was the only carpet cleaner we tested that almost entirely cleaned up chocolate ice cream with caramel syrup and peanut butter (though it did take many passes on its Max mode).

The only foes this machine couldn’t vanquish were red wine and the neon slime we ground into the carpet. (Hardly any of the carpet cleaners we tested could handle every parent’s worst nightmare.)

It has four useful cleaning modes. The Tineco Carpet One Smart’s four cleaning modes—which can be set using a button on the machine’s handle or via the app—eliminate some of the guesswork. Auto mode automatically adjusts cleaning power to soil severity, while Max mode gives the machine an extra boost. Attachment mode allows you to use a hose tool attached to the main cleaning head, and it effectively removes Nutella and peanut butter.

In Dry mode, which extracts water while blowing air, this cleaner dried the carpet faster than any other machine we tried. The Tineco Carpet One Smart also left the carpet smoother and more revitalized than its competitors.

It’s comfortable, convenient, and easy to operate. The Tineco Carpet One Smart was faster and easier to assemble than any of its competitors—it took us less than five minutes to set it up and start cleaning. The machine’s weight (around 22 pounds) is about average, but its smooth wheels and user-friendly design made it easier to push and pull than any other model we tested. It rolled over thresholds and around obstacles more nimbly than its competitors. In addition, its brush roll automatically shuts off when the handle is pushed fully upright, protecting the carpet from damage.

While most other models have a bulky, 1-gallon water tank, the Tineco Carpet One Smart has a half-gallon tank—providing plenty of water for a small cleaning session while reducing heft. The clean- and dirty-water tanks have carrying handles, making them easier to empty, refill, and scrub than competitors’ tanks. (And the caps are attached to the tanks, so they won’t get misplaced.)

The Tineco Carpet One Smart was significantly quieter than other models we tried: While cleaning, it emitted a low hum rather than a deafening roar.

It’s helpfully high-tech. The Tineco Carpet One Smart’s LED screen displays the cleaning mode, Wi-Fi connectivity status, and maintenance reminders. The screen’s dirt-monitoring loop, which changes from red to blue as soil is removed from the carpet, was particularly handy when we were cleaning dark or patterned rugs. The screen also indicates the carpet’s dryness level when the cleaner is operating Dry mode.

The Tineco Carpet One Smart also has voice prompts to alert you when the machine is powering down or malfunctioning, or when the water tank needs to be emptied or a brush roll untangled. We found these prompts helpful if a bit too chatty; the voice feature can be disabled.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner isn’t quite as stellar as our top pick, but it still outperformed most carpet cleaners we tested. It’s a good option if you want to save money and are willing to give up some cleaning performance and convenience.

It’s a great cleaner, especially for red wine. In our tests, this model removed urine, co*ke, blue Gatorade, yard dirt, and peanut butter as well as our top pick. (It outperformed some pricier Bissell models in cleaning up peanut butter and Nutella). Notably, it was the only machine we tested that removed most of the red wine stain. But it lagged behind our top pick when confronted with chocolate ice cream and caramel syrup, leaving a significant stain.

It’s a decent (but slower) dryer. The Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet dried our test carpet faster and more fully than most other models we tested. But it took significantly longer than our top pick.

It left the cleaned carpet in decently smooth and revitalized condition. Though the carpet appeared roughed up in some areas, the carpet fiber smoothed out when vacuumed and walked on.

It’s light (but a bit clunky). Despite its unwieldy appearance, the ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet is, at 17½ pounds, one of the lightest models we tested. We didn’t have much trouble passing it over bumps in the carpet or moving it from hard surfaces to rugs. But its wheels don’t maneuver quite as smoothly as those of our top pick, and its handle isn’t as comfortable to hold.

It has three moderately useful cleaning modes. The Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet has three cleaning modes: Max, Deep Clean, and Express. We weren’t able to tell the difference between Max and Deep Clean (according to the manual, Deep Clean is “for best cleaning performance,” and Max Clean is “for the dirtiest carpets”). The Express Clean mode, which uses less water, provides a lighter clean and a shorter dry time. (Ryan Alt, a product development engineer at Bissell, told us this mode is designed to give the carpet “a nice little refresh.”)

It can be used as a spot cleaner. This model comes with an 8-foot hose, a pet tool, and a 6-inch stair tool to remove small stains from couches, mattresses, and car interiors. By comparison, the Tineco Carpet One Smart comes with just one tool, and its hose is a foot shorter (this didn’t impact cleaning performance in our testing).

But it can be uncomfortable and awkward to operate. The model’s power and mode switches are inconveniently located on opposite sides of the machine, instead of close to the handle or on the back of the carpet cleaner.

The ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet requires you to hold and release its trigger, depending on whether you want to spray cleaning solution or extract dirty water, and this can be tiresome. And this machine doesn’t shut off automatically when the handle is placed upright, like our top pick does.

Its tank is inconvenient. The tank’s screw caps aren’t attached, so they can easily be misplaced. The clean-water tank has an uneven bottom and slanted opening, which we found harder to align with the faucet.

It’s noisy. Most carpet cleaners make noise, but this machine’s sound was particularly grating when compared with that of the Tineco Carpet One Smart. (And it’s certain to drown out any serious talk about slime you may want to have with your child.)

It’s leaky. After shutoff, this machine leaked more than the Tineco Carpet One Smart but less than some of its competitors.

Two brands dominate the carpet-cleaner category: Bissell and Hoover. In our testing, most of these machines worked well on common household stains like soil, urine, and most sodas. But they struggled with tougher challenges like peanut butter, chocolate ice cream, and caramel syrup.

Bissell carpet cleaners

The Revolution Hydrosteam Pet was the only one that got rid of at least some of the dried-on slime (a common problem in US households, according to Bissell engineer Ryan Alt). This model came in second on chocolate ice cream and caramel, but it made wine stains bleed, exacerbating the problem.

In our tests, the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus didn’t perform any better than our budget pick, but it’s usually about $100 more.

Hoover carpet cleaners

Rinse and dry the tanks: Read the manual carefully. Manufacturers usually recommend emptying both tanks after each use, which is annoying because you may end up wasting precious formula. But tanks tend to leak, and mineral buildup will be a lot worse if you don’t clean and dry them.

Rinse the brush heads, nozzles, suction gate, and filter after each use: After removing fiber clumps and hair tangles from inside the cleaner head, run those parts, as well as the filter, under warm water. Let them dry completely before reassembling.

Vacuum often: To avoid having to break out your carpet cleaner too often, make sure to vacuum your floors and furniture at least once a week. Avoid wearing shoes in the house, and clean your dogs’ paws before letting them in. Routine vacuuming can make the difference between cleaning your carpets twice a year and once every other year.

Avoid using certain substances in carpeted areas: If you share your home with small children or clumsy, irresponsible adults, ban Fanta, red wine, caramel syrup, slime, and red Gatorade from carpeted areas. In our tests, none of the cleaners were able to remove the slime, wine, and Fanta, and they all struggled with the syrup and red Gatorade.

Maybe. Professional rug cleaners use special chemicals and machines to minimize bleeding and cut down on drying time. Like most carpet-cleaner manufacturers, professionals advise against using a home carpet cleaner on heirloom rugs. Though it’s possible to clean some wool rugs with home carpet cleaners, a simple spot test doesn’t guarantee colorfastness. Rug makers often use different types of yarn and dye within the same rug, said Ali Hafezi Mashhadi of Babash Rug Services.

I decided to take the risk and clean my Nepalese, Afghan, and Iranian wool rugs with our top pick, the Tineco Carpet One Smart Carpet Cleaner. Here’s how I did it.

After drying for less than three hours, the rugs looked significantly brighter and smelled fresher than before.

Tyler Wells Lynch wrote an earlier version of this guide. This article was edited by Courtney Schley and Ingrid Skjong.

1. Ryan Alt, senior product development engineer at Bissell, Zoom interview, April 11, 2023

2. Ali Hafezi Mashhadi, vice president of Babash Rug Services, Canoga Park, California, phone interview, April 27, 2023

3. Jeffrey Iqbal, manager at Carpet City, Queens, New York, in-person interview, April 17, 2023