Companies may carry the Safer Choice Seal if they formulate products with ingredients that meet standards developed through the program. Acceptable ingredients bissell rug cleaner receive a green circle , a green half-circle , or a yellow triangle . Pull the handle’s trigger while moving the cleaner forward and back.
She tested most of the carpet cleaners featured in this guide and oversaw all of the portable and full-size carpet cleaner category tests conducted by our Lab analysts. Carpet manufacturers and the Carpet and Rug Institute recommend having your carpets professionally deep cleaned every months. We previously had another model from the SmartWash line in this guide and replaced it with this more recent winner from our Cleaning and Organizing Awards. The Hoover SmartWash Pet Pro is a full-sized carpet cleaner with an added stain pretreatment wand that allows you to zap stains without bending over or reaching for extra bottles of carpet cleaner.
It’s louder than some other portable models we tested and received just a one-star rating from QuietMark. This Hoover dispenses a premixed combo of water and cleaning formula when you push forward and dries the carpet when you pull the appliance back. To dry carpets faster after washing, the cleaner also has a dry-only mode that does not dispense any cleaning solution and uses heat force technology that releases heat as it moves forward. An 8-foot hose and 22-foot cord provide ample length for cleaning large rooms, though it is a shorter cord than some other full-size models we’ve tested. Many models of carpet cleaners also include additional brush or tool attachments to match various cleaning situations.
It’s easy to use, and it comes with clever features, such as a collapsible handle and floor head LED light. It’s also compact and incredibly effective at removing stains and spills from carpets or rugs, as seen in our testing. One budget-friendly option is the Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner.
This carpet cleaner doesn’t require any water to operate, so you don’t have to worry about fussing with a water tank, but it does require a cleaning solution. Bissell recommends bissell rug cleaner using the Bissell PRO OXY Spot and Stain Cleaning Solution with this machine. Our tester said this machine easily picked up the coffee and red wine stains after 10 passes.
This Rug Doctor is a real workhorse that powered through our stain tests and did the best job removing both stains and odors. It was the highest scorer in tests for removing fresh stains and old ones, too. Its large tanks hold 64 ounces of cleaning solution meaning there’s less refilling and emptying during big or multi-room jobs. Though heavy — especially when full — its retractable handle and large wheels make it easy to maneuver or wheel into a closet for storage. Place it either at the top or bottom of a staircase and with its 4-foot stretch hose, you may be able to clean an entire flight. For homes with furry friends, the Rug Doctor’s nozzle has rubberized bristles to grab hair while it’s removing stains.
Unlike a lot of vacuum extension heads, the CleanSlate’s tapered attachment includes a spray head and brush, which makes it perfect for cleaning out tight spots like nooks and seat corners. The design is well thought out, and every feature and tool is easy to reach. On top of the CleanSlate, you’ll find a carrying handle, water tanks and a removable hose cleaning tool. To use the tool, you simply attach it to the top of the hose and hold down the solution trigger — it’ll spray cleaning solution down your hose and flush any grime right into the water tank. Another feature to consider when looking for a carpet cleaner is in-tank solution mixing. Instead of pre-measuring, just fill the water tank and solution tank.