If you’ve lived in any house or apartment for an extended period that has carpet flooring, you’re well aware of how a carpet attracts dirt and dust like moths to a flame. No matter how hard you attempt to keep your carpet clean, it’s only a matter of time before dirt, dust and grime settle in. In a month’s time, you’re going to have at least a handful of stains that seem impossible to remove and discoloration that just vacuuming your carpet won’t fix. If you’re looking to give your carpet that “just moved in” look and feel, it’s time to ditch the vacuum and purchase a carpet cleaner.
The main advantage of a carpet cleaner is that it offers a deeper clean of your carpet; while vacuums only suck up what is on the surface of your rug, a carpet cleaner will rinse the material right down to its very core. Unfortunately, not all carpet cleaners are equal, with some brands and models superior to others. When choosing a carpet cleaner, you’ll want to pay attention to three key areas: the type of cleaner it is, such as a steam-powered cleaner, how well it rinses chemical residue and how easy it is to use. If you don’t have time to do independent research to choose the best carpet cleaner that meets these criteria, you’re in luck:
We’ve assembled the top 10 best carpet cleaners for 2021 in one handy list.
Hoover FH50150 Carpet Basics Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner
With over a century of experience under their belt, Hoover is one of the leading brands of both vacuums and carpet cleaners. The Hoover FH50150 Carpet Basics Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner is an excellent example of what makes Hoover one of the best brands when it comes to carpet cleaning, as this carpet cleaner guarantees a deep clean no matter how dirty your floor is. The proprietary SpinScrub technology keeps the brushes on this carpet cleaner always moving, ensuring constant carpet contact for a thorough clean.
The 8-inch hose and upholstery tools let you not only clean your furniture but also enables you to get into those tiny nooks and crannies that other carpet cleaners can’t reach. The Hoover FH50150 Carpet Basics Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner is easy to use, with a lightweight design that uses proprietary Smart Tank technology to let you fill and empty the tank with no spills.
Bissell PowerLifter PowerBrush Upright Deep Cleaner
When you’ve got embedded dirt that won’t come out of your carpet no matter how many times you scrub, then you need the Bissell PowerLifter PowerBrush Upright Deep Cleaner. This lightweight carpet cleaner features four rows of rotating brushes, specially designed to remove dirt from every fiber of your rug. The water tank is both easy to fill and to empty, ensuring that you don’t spill cleaning solution all over yourself or the floor.
While most carpet cleaners require a mix of chemicals to get a deep clean, all you need for the Bissell PowerLifter PowerBrush Upright Deep Cleaner is hot water and Bissell carpet formula. Everything you need to use this tool is right in the box: Packed in with every Bissell PowerLifter PowerBrush Upright Deep Cleaner product are a removable nozzle, a lint screen, a measuring cup and a sample size of cleaning formula.
Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner
If you’re looking for a Bissell product that provides more power than the Bissell PowerLifter PowerBrush Upright Deep Cleaner while retaining the same great features, you’ll love the Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner. While this carpet cleaner is for professional use, it is more than adequate to clean the carpets found in most residential homes and apartments. The amount of suction that the Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner uses can remove even the toughest stains, such as pesky wine stains, in no time at all.
The flex hose lets you clean in hard-to-reach spots, such as stairs and corners, while the 22-foot power cord means you can clean a wide space without needing to switch to a new power outlet every few feet. The Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner is the largest portable carpet cleaner the company makes, which means you’ll spend more time cleaning and less time filling the tank.
Hoover Max Extract 60 Pressure Pro Carpet Deep Cleaner
The Hoover Max Extract 60 Pressure Pro Carpet Deep Cleaner guarantees a deeper clean that dries faster than the competition, thanks in part to the proprietary features that increase this cleaner’s effectiveness and convenience. The most important of these exclusive features is the MaxExtract DualV Nozzle technology that allows you pull up more dirty water than other carpet cleaners, letting your floors dry faster.
If there is a stain that just won’t come out through regular scrubbing, the pressurized edge-to-edge water flow that this carpet cleaner uses can handle the job. This technology will break down stains at the molecule level, allowing the cleaner to suck them up with ease. For dirt and grime, the SpinScrub technology unleashes 60 counter-rotation brushes that will lift up any dirt it comes into contact with, no matter how badly ground into the carpet it is. Lastly, the Hoover Max Extract 60 Pressure Pro Carpet Deep Cleaner isn’t just for carpets; this powerful carpet cleaner also works on your hardwood and tiled floors as well.
Bissell 1548 ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full-Size Carpet Cleaner
Anyone who has spent any amount of time with a dog or cat knows that pets not only bring love into a household but also extra dirt, grime and hair. Whether it’s your puppy running inside after playing in the mud or a cat that sheds an abnormally large amount of fur, you’re going to need a powerful carpet cleaner to handle the extra mess. The Bissell 1548 ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full-Size Carpet Cleaner is specifically for pet owners, using proprietary HeatWave technology to lift substantial amounts of dirt and hair from your carpet.
This carpet cleaner also includes a pet stain tool designed to handle your pet’s biggest messes, whether it’s spilled dog food or cleaning up an accident from your new puppy. Unlike other carpet cleaners, the Bissell 1548 ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full-Size Carpet Cleaner offers two cleaning modes: Deep Clean Mode and Express Clean Mode. While Deep Clean Mode gives you a thorough scrubbing of your rugs, the Express Clean Mode is for those times when you just want to vanquish a tiny spot on your carpet quickly.
Hoover F5914900 SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge
In many ways, the Hoover F5914900 SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge is comparable with the Hoover Max Extract 60 Pressure Pro Carpet Deep Cleaner. Both devices can clean not only carpet but hardwood and tiled floors, use two water tanks to separate clean and dirty water and use a combination of hot water and carpet cleaning solution. However, where the Hoover F5914900 SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge pulls away from the crowd is with the proprietary Clean Surge technology, a technology so powerful that Hoover claims it will get out even the toughest spot or stain.
The Clean Surge technology pumps out an additional burst of cleaning solution at the press of one easy-to-reach button, helping to break down even the most difficult stains, such as tomato sauce or chocolate milk. If you’re a parent looking for a great carpet cleaner to clean up your child’s frequent juice and food spills, the Hoover F5914900 SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge is an excellent choice.
Bissell Spotlifter 2X Essential
The Bissell Spotlifter 2X Essential immediately stands out from other carpet cleaners on this list, primarily due to its size; while other carpet cleaners resemble upright vacuums, the Bissell Spotlifter 2X Essential is a tiny handheld instrument that weighs under 20 pounds. Its small size doesn’t make it any less capable of tackling rug stains as the Bissell Spotlifter 2X Essential packs in a powerful brush in its small frame, able to clean even the deepest and darkest smear.
The cordless design means that you can take this carpet cleaner with you anywhere you go, with its small size enabling you to reach even the toughest spots, like under your couch. Not only is the Bissell Spotlifter 2X Essential a pro at getting out the sight of a stain, but it will also remove the lingering odor as well.
Bissell DeepClean Premier Pet Carpet Cleaner
Like the Bissell 1548 ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full-Size Carpet Cleaner, the Bissell DeepClean Premier Pet Carpet Cleaner targets pet owners. No matter what kind of pet you have, this extraordinary carpet cleaner will wipe away stains in only a few seconds. This is just a sample of the features that the Bissell DeepClean Premier Pet Carpet Cleaner offers:
HeatWave technology that keeps your water temperature constant throughout cleaning
12 rows of rotating brushes
The proprietary EdgeSweep feature to clean bare floors
A powerful suction tool to dry carpets quickly
A pet hair collection basket, stain brush and deep reach tool
The removal of odors from all stains
Bissell ReadyClean Full Sized Carpet Cleaner
What the Bissell ReadyClean Full Sized Carpet Cleaner lacks in features compared to other carpet cleaners on this list, it makes up for in ease-of-use and convenience. This lightweight carpet cleaner weighs less than 12 pounds, making it easy for even elderly users to carry from location to location. When you’re done using it, the retractable handle and cord wrap allow you to fit it into even the smallest of closet spaces.
Bissell designed the half-gallon water tank to guard against spills while still being light enough so that you can easily transport it even when full. If you’re looking for a carpet cleaner to handle life’s little messes and prefer convenience over features, then the Bissell ReadyClean Full Sized Carpet Cleaner is a perfect fit.
Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner
With over 1,000 scrubs a minute, the Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner will get stains out of both carpets and bare floors alike. The proprietary AirGlide feature gives this carpet cleaner a level of maneuverability you don’t see with the competition, with the headlights letting you clean even in pitch-black conditions.
The non-toxic cleaning solution used in the Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner is safe for both pets and children, making this carpet cleaner a perfect fit for parents. The microfiber pads are both removable and washable, letting you saving money in the long run by not having to replace parts continually.