A vacuum cleaner can help clean the surface of your carpet, and some models can even shake loose dirt down deep within the fibers. They can’t remove stains, however, which is where carpet cleaners come into play. If you have a lot of foot traffic in your home, are a pet owner, or have children, it can also save you a lot of money.
Carpet cleaners aren’t something you’ll use on a daily basis like vacuum or broom, and you may only drag it out on occasion. That means the best carpet cleaner doesn’t have to break the bank; it just needs to meet your needs. Finding the right model is easier said than done, especially when the market is cornered by a handful of brands that make very similar machines.
The goal of our carpet cleaner buying guide is to help you narrow the field by touching on key areas like drying times, accessories, and capacity. Our team of experts have also chosen several machines that we feel stand out from the pack because of their performance and features as well as stellar reviews from both experts and consumers.
When you have a lot of traffic in your home, the best carpet cleaner can save you a lot of headaches. It can also save you from a big bill if you have to call in a professional or rent a machine locally. Having a carpet cleaner on-demand whenever a stain occurs is something you’ll be thankful for, and you don’t have to break the bank to buy one if you follow a few simple tips.
Carpet Cleaner Pros and Cons
Carpet cleaners aren’t nearly as popular as a vacuum cleaner or spray mop. Like any cleaning tool, there are advantages and disadvantages with this type of system. While the pros outweigh carpet cleaner cons, keep these tips in mind.
A carpet cleaner can save you loads of money when you factor in the cost of renting a machine over the course of your carpet’s lifetime. Even hiring a professional several times a year adds up quickly. Another huge advantage is the fact you can spot clean an area when it’s needed – not 24 hours later.
With the negatives, weight is typically the biggest issue, but the best carpet cleaners can also be expensive. You’ll still need to own a vacuum as well, which means more storage space is needed for the extra system.
How much carpet do you need to clean?
Before we start looking into power brushes and cleaning path widths, we need to talk about your carpet. Do you have carpet in almost every room in your home or just a few bedrooms? If you only have a few rooms to contend with, and no children or pets, you won’t need a 50-pound machine for your home. Alternatively, if you find yourself scrubbing stains once a week, spend up for a serious carpet cleaner and consider it an investment.
Drying Times
One of the most common questions we’re asked with carpet cleaners has to do with drying times. If you are wondering how long it will take to dry your carpets after using a cleaner, the answer isn’t so simple. The type of carpet you have can impact drying times, along with the type of system and how much cleaning solution you use.
Heat is the quickest way to dry your carpet after a thorough cleaning, but it’s a feature that’s only found on a handful of systems. That heat can be generated in a variety of ways, and may not be nearly as hot as you think. It’s more of a gimmick than an actual feature on some carpet cleaners, and strong suction can dry your carpet quickly as well.
On average, it can take 4 to 6 hours for a carpet to fully dry most cases, although you can cut that down to a few hours if the carpet cleaner has a solid drying system use. With that in mind, if you’re trying to clean up something like red wine, drying times aren’t as important as a machine’s cleaning capabilities.
The Nozzle
Whether you’re buying a traditional upright carpet cleaner or something a bit more manageable, pay close attention to the nozzle. That’s where the magic happens, and it’s also the area where brushes will come into contact with your carpet.
The best carpet cleaners will have brushes capable of deep cleaning and more than enough suction to extract dirt from your carpet along with moisture. Whether the system has dual spinning brushes or a single roll – make sure it’s easy to remove or access for maintenance and cleaning.
The wider the nozzle or head, the larger the cleaning path is. Carpet cleaners with wider nozzles allow you to clean more carpet in a single pass, but some systems only clean when they are pushed forward while others clean in both directions.
Cleaning Tank Systems
Every carpet cleaner will have a tank, but some can have two. It could also have a divided tank to keep clean and dirty water separate; it largely depends on the type of system you choose. The main thing to remember with cleaning tanks is the capacity and design.
Water or detergent tanks should be easy to remove and fill as required. They should also have a tight seal and not leak – a common problem with some carpet cleaners. Smaller tanks will need to be filled more often, whereas a larger tank will increase the weight of the machine when it’s topped off.
Weight
An upright vacuum cleaner can be difficult to push on medium to high pile carpet when not properly designed. Even systems with large wheels can be a drag to move, however, especially if they have strong suction. The best carpet cleaners will have plenty of power, and given the nature of their design, they can weigh considerably more than a large upright.
Do you have a two-story home with carpet on both floors? That will rule out professional-grade carpet cleaners, so you’ll need to look for something light enough to handle, but still powerful. Most residential carpet cleaners weigh between 17 to 24 pounds while a professional model can be 35 to 45 pounds. That’s just a rough average and the “empty” weight” of a carpet cleaner as water will make your system even heavier.
Ease of Use
The weight of a large carpet cleaner alone can make it difficult to use, but manufacturers have plenty of things they can do to make life easier. Large wheels and ergonomic handles are two things you’ll be thankful for after a long cleaning session.
A folding handle is an often overlooked feature that makes storage a little easier, and nobody wants a system with a short cord. 25’ long cords are around the average, but if you opt for a longer cord, make sure it stays in place when wrapped. That holds true for models that feature “lift away” modes as you are still tethered to a cord.
While there aren’t many attachments with carpet cleaners compared to a vacuum cleaner, they definitely fall under the ease of use category. Carpet cleaners with long kink-free hoses are useful on stairs but can work on other areas as well. If you own pets, look for a carpet cleaner with pet-centric features like a pre-treatment system or unique brush rolls.
Warranty
You can run into a variety of issues with vacuum cleaners, but those problems are compounded when water is involved. A good warranty is crucial with carpet cleaners unless you want a rather large pile of plastic collecting dust in a corner.
The main problem with carpet cleaners are water leaks, but we’ve seen plenty of systems with busted wheels and burned out motors as well. Some of those issues are easy to address, although leaks can be difficult to track down, considering it could be a hose, tank, or a half-dozen other parts.
Thankfully, most of the best carpet cleaners will have warranties from 3 to 5 years, which gives you more than enough time to notice a problem. Extended warranty plans are never a bad idea for this type of system and highly recommended with the more expensive models.
The Best Carpet Cleaners
It’s safe to say the selection is limited in the carpet cleaning world if you want a machine for residential use. The bad news is, there are only two familiar names that make consumer-friendly carpet cleaners as most systems are in the professional class.
The good news is, these companies know how to make excellent cleaning machines, and we’ve already handled the hard work. The models we chose all fit a specific need, and are also suitable for a wide range of budgets.
Product Details
1. Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner
Bissell has produced more vacuums in the past decade than most companies have over the course of their lifetime. They are also a major player in the carpet cleaning world and have taken the top spot on our list with the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro.
The ProHeat 2X is a carpet cleaner capable of taking care of your entire home. While it’s hefty at around 20 pounds, large wheels make it easy to maneuver on carpet. A 25’ long cord gives you plenty of range, although you won’t want to drag this system up any stairs. You can clean dirty carpeted stairs, however, or upholstery thanks to a 2-in-1 upholstery tool.
That tool will work wet or dry, but when it’s time to use cleaning formula, drying time won’t be an issue. Heatwave technology will help your carpet dry quickly, and in Express Clean Mode, the system can dry your carpet in around 30 minutes. That’s a number given by the company, and one that’s subject to change with a variety of factors. The water tank is rated at 1 gallon, and there’s a completely separate bin for the dirty water.
Another highlight of this heated system is the CleanShot Pretreater function. It allows you to treat stains before you roll across that area with the carpet cleaner. You can remove the Dual DirtLifter brush roll as needed, but there is a removable cover for easy access as well. You won’t find either of those features on the company’s other carpet cleaning systems.
While the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution doesn’t have a true heat-dry system to help dry your carpet, their Heatwave system does keep the tank water toasty with exhaust heat. Aside from the somewhat misleading moniker, homeowners have been blown away by how this system performs and found it easier to clean and maintain than previous versions of this machine.
Hoover understands carpet and has plenty of experience producing top-tier carpet cleaners over the years. While they made our list of the best carpet cleaners twice, our top choice is the Hoover SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner.
This carpet cleaner is one of the better-looking systems on our list with a clean, modern design. It’s not hard to push or pull across carpet, although you need to be aware of the weight as it tips the scales at 19 pounds. The power cord is a little shorter than similar models at 22,’ but the cleaning hose gives you an additional 8’ of range to work with.
Hoover designed this system with two tanks which means there is clean water at the top and dirty in the bottom. It automatically mixes and dispenses cleaning solution as well. Two powerful FlexForce brushes will remove dirt as you push the cleaner forward, and the company’s HeatForce technology kicks in as you pull it backward. When it’s time to clean those dual brushes, the nozzle snaps off in seconds for easy access.
Hoover is vague on how their HeatForce tech works, but homeowners widely agree that it will dry your carpets faster. The triggerless design is also a nice touch along with the low-profile design on the cleaning head. Getting under furniture is simple, and the SmartWash provides you with a nice wide 12” cleaning path as well.
The Hoover SmartWash is the company’s top of the line system with an array of flagship features. While it’s large, it doesn’t feel bulky while in use, and the tanks are easy to deal with. We would have liked to have seen a spot or pre-treating feature, but the only real drawback is the cord length. The SmartWash is backed by a 5-year warranty from Hoover.
If you have ever rented a carpet cleaner, there’s a good chance you may have used a Rug Doctor. These are pro-level machines built to quickly clean large carpeted rooms, and the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 is the most powerful carpet cleaner on our list.
At first glance, this carpet cleaner may seem a little intimidating considering its 3’ high and weighs around 40 pounds empty. It will be even heavier when full, especially once you factor in the 3.9-gallon recovery tank. Despite its size, it’s extremely easy to use as it’s not overly engineered. People also felt the tanks were also a breeze to fill and empty.
The industrial design ensures the Rug Doctor will outlast other systems, and a set of large wheels help compensate for the weight to a degree. The handle also folds down, making it easier to store, although you’ll still need to free up some space for this one. Size is the only significant drawback of the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro.
Dirty carpet doesn’t stand a chance against this system's Triple-action vibrating brush, which helps the vacuum remove up to 89% of dirt and dust from within your carpet. It’s designed to be pulled, not pushed, and comes with a long 12’ hose. The upholstery kit allows you to deal with stairs and furniture, but you’ll also get “Family” or “Pet” cleaning solution with this cleaner depending on which model you choose.
The size of the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro 3X is not ideal for smaller homes, but if you have a large home with a lot of carpet, it’s among the best carpet cleaners on the market. It’s also one of the easier carpet cleaners to use, even if it only cleans in one direction as you pull the machine towards you. The Mighty Pro 3X is available in two configurations, is certified by the Carpet & Rug Institute, and comes with a 5-year warranty.
Not every carpet cleaner has to weigh 30 pounds or take up half your closet. If you’re looking for a lightweight system for your carpet, Hoover has the solution. The PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner is one of the lightest machines we’ve seen, but one with an ample amount of power.
Carpet in a small apartment or condo will get just as dirty as carpet in a large house. Carpet cleaners can be hard to handle and store in smaller spaces, but that won’t be an issue with the Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact. Fully assembled, it’s only 15.2” deep and 10.1” wide with a weight of 13 pounds. That’s less than many full-sized uprights and impressive when you consider the cleaning path is 10” as well.
This carpet cleaner won’t have any problems sliding between or under furniture with its slim, low profile design. While compact, the company claims it’s twice as powerful as similar sized carpet cleaners. Homeowners haven’t had any complaints with the performance given the price, although some felt the 20’ cord was a little too short.
The PowerDash has a dual tank system that keeps the clean and dirty water separate. It’s simple to use, but undersized compared to a full-sized system. At 0.5 gallons, you may need to empty them frequently, depending on how much carpet you need to clean. Other noteworthy features include HeatForce, the PowerSpin Pet antimicrobial brush roll, and a removable nozzle.
Aside from a few drawbacks and a complete lack of cleaning tools, the Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact is a great choice for smaller homes where space is tight. Its simplistic nature will make it a joy to use, and it’s definitely light enough to take up the stairs. That makes it an option for homeowners that need a system for spot cleaning or only have little carpet in their home as well.
Pros
Compact design
It’s only 13 pounds
HeatForce
Easy to use
Cons
Tank capacity
Lack of cleaning tools
5. Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaning Machine
Professional carpet cleaners will do a wonderful job freshening up your carpets and making them look like new. There are only a handful we would recommend for residential use, and Bissell’s Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaning Machine is a nice alternative to Rug Doctors Pro style cleaner.
One of the big differences between this machine and the Mighty Pro is the way they clean. With Bissell’s system, you can clean in both directions, whereas the other system is a single pass machine. That can have a significant impact on your cleaning time. That said, both carpet cleaners have a 10.5” cleaning path width.
This dual tank carpet cleaner isn’t difficult to maintain, although it is heavy with a weight of 42 pounds when empty. With a capacity of 1.75 gallons, it will weigh around 55 pounds when filled with water. Consumers found it easy to move for its size, but it’s not a system built for a two-story home by any means.
Cleaning range is important, and this carpet cleaner has a power cord that’s of average length at 25’. It also has a 9’ long hose, which is handy on stairs, and a tough stain tool with a wide 6’ cleaning head. Whether you’re using the DirtLifter PowerBrush or the attachment, the Big Green Machine will definitely freshen up carpeted areas in your home.
The Bissell Big Green Machine carpet cleaner is comparable to the Rug Doctor’s system in several areas but will be lighter at full capacity, and it cleans both ways. There have been some complaints regarding the flow indicator, although we’re chalking that up to quality control issues as they don’t appear to be widespread.
Most of the carpet cleaners on our list have one thing in common – they are large. Well, when you just need to clean up the occasional set of dirty footprints or pet stain, there are more diminutive options to consider. The ONEPWR Spotless GO from Hoover is one of them, and one of only a handful of cordless carpet cleaners.
The word cordless and carpet cleaner generally don’t go together. You need a lot of power to scrub floors, but Hoover found a way around that situation. While the ONEPWR doesn’t have a motorized brush roll and requires a bit of elbow grease, it’s the easiest way to spot clean your carpet while allowing you to leave the cord behind.
Hoover designed this cleaner to be small and easy to deal with at only 7 pounds. It’s small but still has dual tanks, including a 9-ounce recovery tank with a safety float. The hose is short, a point of contention with several homeowners, but it’s not built to clean your entire carpet. The hose is also removable for easy cleaning in case of a clog and comes with a 4” scrubbing tool.
The ONEPWR Spotless GO works with Hoover’s ONEPWR battery platform. That means you can use the battery and charger with other gear from the company like leaf blowers, shop vacuums, and their upright vacuums. The battery life isn’t great at around 15 minutes, but more than enough for spot cleaning a few areas. Extra batteries for their cordless systems are also very affordable.
Spot cleaners are a great way to address a stain on your carpet quickly without having to go all-in on a large machine. If you’re dealing with heavy foot traffic or frequent stains, there are better options, but the cordless nature of the Spotless GO perfect for minor stains and stairs. This system is also available in additional configurations in case you want an extra battery or a bottle of cleaning solution.
Pros
Cordless freedom
Dual tank system
Cross compatibility
Small & lightweight
Cons
Battery life
Hose length
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are steam cleaners the same as a carpet cleaner?
A: No, although sometimes a steam cleaner can be referred to as a carpet cleaner. While they are perfect for certain hard surfaces like tile, they can do more harm than good on carpet or even strip its protection.
Q: How long will it take my carpet to dry?
A: That’s a common question, but one that can have a variety of answers. Thickness and padding make a difference, although the average is around 4 to 6 hours for most consumers-friendly models.
Q: Is it safe to use other types of cleaning solution in my carpet cleaner or mix my own?
A: You’ll need to refer to your carpet cleaner’s manual. Most companies advise against it, although it’s safe more often than not, considering millions of consumers go the DIY route.
Q: Should I vacuum my carpet first?
A: Yes. Always run the vacuum cleaner before attempting to clean your carpet unless it’s a stain that you need to treat quickly.
Q: Can wet furniture legs damage my carpet?
A: Wood is notorious for causing stains on wet carpet, but metal could also leave rust marks over time. If you can’t remove pieces from the room you need to clean, use something safe under legs like plastic or Styrofoam.
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