Area rugs and wall-to-wall carpets make your space feel more cozy but they trap more dirt than hard floors. When a treatment spray isn’t powerful enough to remove mud, pet hair and stains, you should consider investing in a carpet cleaner. These appliances come in various designs (including upright, handheld, steamers and shampooers), so narrowing down the best model for your needs can be challenging. To find the best carpet cleaners, I spoke with three cleaning experts for their guidance and recommendations.
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How I picked the best carpet cleaners
I interviewed experts who clean houses professionally and have extensive knowledge about flooring or provide home restoration services. They suggest keeping the following criteria in mind while shopping:
- Portability: I split our top carpet cleaners into two categories: upright and handheld. The former is more powerful and better for large areas, while the latter is smaller, lighter and better for spot cleaning, according to our experts. Either way, the weight and dimensions are important for ease of use and maneuverability.
- Suction power: When choosing a carpet cleaner, make sure it is powerful enough to lift dirt and clean various messes. “Look for machines with strong suction power and robust agitation,” says Ryan Knoll, owner of home cleaning company Tidy Casa. The suction strength is usually measured in amperes or air watts—the higher, the better. Agitation is the speed and power that the brush attachment moves to clean up messes.
- Heat: You should also take into account the heating capabilities of your carpet cleaner, according to Knoll. “Some carpet cleaners come with built-in heaters, which can be great for loosening up stains and debris,” he says. “Look for machines that mention ‘heated cleaning’ or have an onboard water heater.” The ideal temperature for thoroughly cleaning carpets is around 140 degrees to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, as this “is hot enough to help with cleaning but not so hot that it risks damaging most carpet fibers,” says Knoll.
- Extras: The best carpet cleaner models come with accessories and cleaning formulas, according to our experts. Some also offer warranties to protect your purchase.
The best carpet cleaners in 2025
The list below includes upright and handheld carpet cleaners that are either expert recommended and/or top-rated with at least a 4-star average rating from at least 500 reviews on Amazon.
Best upright carpet cleaners
Best overall upright
Several of our experts recommend the Bissell ProHeat line because of its powerful suction and ease of use. For pet owners in particular, the full-size Pet Pro upright model “comes with a pet-specific cleaning solution and a pet hair basket to keep carpets free from fur and odors,” says Will Cotter, owner of FreshSpace Cleaning, a home cleaning service. This model also has dual brushes, a sprayer that dispenses the included stain formula, a tank that maintains hot water temperatures and handheld attachments to tackle stains on various surfaces. Plus, its express mode cleans and dries carpets in under 30 minutes, according to the brand.
Best value
Cotter also recommends the Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe carpet washer, which he says is affordable, easy to use and efficient, making it a reliable choice for everyday cleaning. In addition to its spinning brush that breaks up dirt and stains, it also has strong suction and a built-in dryer to remove moisture afterward, according to the brand. This carpet washer comes with an 8-foot hose, designated attachments for stairs, upholstery and crevices, and a sample bottle of cleaning solution.
Best with sprayer
This upright option from Shark looks a lot like their regular vacuums, but what sets it apart is a high-pressure spray feature that distributes a carpet shampoo evenly over your floor. It’s particularly effective at getting rid of pet stains, odors and smoke smells. Plus, while a vacuum lifts up a lot of solid debris from your carpet like food crumbs and hair, this appliance gets rid of more embedded grime hiding in the fibers of your carpet. It also has multiple handheld attachments to spot clean stains on your floor, furniture and upholstery.
Best compact upright
The lightweight Hoover PowerDash is great for both maintenance and spot-cleaning. While it weighs less than other upright carpet cleaners on this list, it still has a deep-cleaning roller brush and a heated dryer so you don’t have to wait long before the carpets are dry. It also comes with a nozzle tool and a trial-size cleaning solution.
Best splurge
If you’re looking for professional-grade results or if you plan on using your carpet cleaner for commercial jobs, Cotter recommends Rug Doctor. The Mighty Pro X3 uses water jets, vibrating brushes, a large 3.9-gallon water tank and professional-grade suction to break down stains, suck up dirt and dry carpets in one pass, according to the brand. While it’s larger than most residential models, its big wheels and folding handle are designed to improve its maneuverability. Each order includes enough deep-cleaning solution to wash over 720 square feet of carpet.
Best handheld carpet cleaners
Best overall handheld
The Bissell Little Green cleaner, which is an NBC Select Pet Awards winner, comes recommended by updates editor Mili Godio.It’s portable and great for spot cleaning small messes and stains on stairs and upholstery. The 48-ounce tank has a handle so you can move it from spot to spot, while the 4-foot hose has a textured attachment for scrubbing stains and a sprayer that dispenses the cleaning formula (trial-size bottle included). It also has enough suction to remove both dirt and moisture as well as a self-cleaning function so you can rinse the hose after every use, according to the brand.
Best portable
The Rug Doctor spot cleaner is more portable than its upright counterpart and is designed to deep clean dirt, stains and pet messes from various surfaces, including carpet, car upholstery, pet beds and mattresses. With a sprayer and silicone rubber bristles at the end of its hose, the base also has wheels and a retractable handle to improve portability.
Best for upholstery
Knoll recommends the Bissell SpotClean because it’s effective, compact and easy to use. It has a 96-ounce tank, a 5-foot hose with a scrubber, and cleaning formula to remove odors, stains and dirt, according to the brand. It also weighs less than 15 pounds and has a handle so you can move it wherever you need it.
Best for auto carpeting and upholstery
The Hoover CleanSlate carpet cleaner, which has a 4.3-star average rating from 8,919 reviews on Amazon, has all of the essentials for spot cleaning your carpet and upholstery. It comes with a cleaning solution, wide-mouth carpet-cleaning attachment, a hose rinse tool and a scrubbing attachment. It also has a durable handle on top so you can easily carry it around your home. It’s ideal for cleaning up pet messes, outdoor stains from dirt, grass and food spills.
What are the different types of carpet cleaners?
Upright carpet cleaners
Like their name suggests, upright carpet cleaners have an upright design that looks like a vacuum cleaner. According to our experts, their larger size often results in better suction and efficiency. While upright cleaners are more expensive and more difficult to maneuver than handheld cleaners, they are great for cleaning large carpeted areas, says Cotter.
Handheld carpet cleaners
While not as powerful as upright cleaners, these are more portable and great for spot-cleaning small areas due to their lightweight designs and compact tanks, says Knoll. They tend to be less expensive, too. While they’re not ideal for washing wall-to-wall carpets, they’re a great option for people with area rugs, carpeted stairs or a lower budget, according to our experts.
How to shop for carpet cleaners
Once you’ve decided between an upright or a handheld carpet cleaner, our experts recommend using the following criteria to help you pick a brand and a model:
Portability
Whether handheld or upright, you’ll need to take your carpet cleaner out of storage and move it from room to room, so check the machine’s weight and overall dimensions before purchasing. While handheld models are inherently compact, some upright models offer smooth-rolling wheels and elongated hose attachments to boost portability, according to our experts.
Tank capacity
Larger water tanks are often measured in ounces or gallons, so they reduce the number of trips to refill and empty, making them ideal for larger carpeted areas. However, larger tanks are also heavier and harder to transport, so a small-capacity tank is common for handheld units.
Heat and suction
While carpet steamers and shampooers differ (I explain how below), most carpet shampooers use some heat to loosen up dirt and dry the carpet faster. Machines that use heat are more effective and efficient, especially when drying carpets and erasing set-in stains.
Cleaning solutions
Most residential machines apply a cleaning solution to your carpet before agitating (or scrubbing) the carpet fibers and sucking up the residue, according to our experts. Most of the models on this list come with a cleaning solution (a trial-size bottle, at the very least), but if not, be sure to find one that’s compatible with your machine.
Attachments
Look for models with an assortment of attachments to allow for more versatility when cleaning your home. Many models come with hoses, brushes, upholstery tools and more cleaning stairs and other areas.
Warranties
Look for a carpet cleaner with a solid warranty. Additionally, check the warranties on both your carpet cleaner and your rug before cleaning since misuse may void both of them. For example, if you clean houses professionally, choose a commercial model.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the benefit of having your own carpet cleaner?
As opposed to renting a machine or calling in a professional, owning a carpet cleaner is convenient and cost-effective, according to our experts. You can spot-clean or shampoo your rugs (or upholstery) as needed with one purchase, which is especially practical for households with pets, kids or heavy traffic.
How do you dry a carpet after washing it?
Most carpet cleaners provide suction, fans and heat to dry materials after washing them, according to our experts. Place a fan in the room after shampooing your carpet to speed up drying time and prevent the possibility of mold growth.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Will Cotter is the owner of FreshSpace Cleaning and has managed cleaning companies in the US since 2016, many of which have offered carpet cleaning services to customers.
- Ryan Knoll is the owner of Tiny Casa, a home cleaning company that services over 600 homes monthly in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am e-commerce writer, editor and consultant who has covered home improvement content for over seven years. You can find my work in publications such as Bustle, CNN, Allure, Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, Food & Wine and The Daily Beast. For this article, she interviewed five experts who work with carpet cleaners on a regular basis.
Cory Fernandez is a commerce writer at NBC Select. He writes about cleaning and small home appliances regularly and works with cleaning experts. He has reported on the best hardwood floor cleaners, how to clean walls, and the best way to clean your windows. He contributed to this article.
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