Best Carpet Spot Cleaner Machine [Top 10 Picks for 2024]
*As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The price to you remains the same.
Table of Contents
The best carpet spot cleaner machine – sounds like the ultimate superhero for your home, doesn’t it?
Picture this: a trusty sidekick ready to tackle stains with the precision of a ninja and the power of a superhero.
In the quest for the best carpet spot cleaner machine, you’re not just shopping for a cleaning gadget; you’re recruiting a partner in crime against spills and mishaps. It’s like finding the Batman to your Gotham City of stains.
With so many options out there, each claiming to be the hero your carpets deserve, the search becomes incredibly challenging. Don’t worry, we’re here to rescue you from this dilemma.
Top 10 Best Carpet Spot Cleaning Machines in 2024
When it comes to flooring, many people prefer carpet floors.
A carpeted floor is not only warm but also adds a touch of class and luxury. However, it is not always rosy with carpets. Like any other flooring option, a carpeted floor has its share of flaws. The biggest disadvantage of carpet floors is dealing with stains and spots.
Keeping your carpeted floor clean is not easy, especially if you have pets and kids. Kids will stain your carpet as they play around, and pet messes will stain your carpet and make it smelly. Even if you do not have kids, alcohol and food spills will also stain your carpet. But how do you remove spots on your carpet?
Removing carpet spots is not an easy task if you do not have the right tools. You need the best carpet spot cleaner machine for effortless cleaning. But with the market flooded with many spot cleaners, it is a daunting task to choose the right carpet cleaner machine.
We have done the heavy lifting for you!
Delve into our curated list of top-rated carpet spot cleaner machines, meticulously chosen based on the valuable insights of customers through ratings and reviews.
Our best overall is Bissell SpotClean Professional – a powerful spot remover for carpets and upholstery. It has powerful suction and scrubbing power for removing even the toughest stains. It also comes with a professional-grade cleaning solution that eliminates spots instantly.
Related post: Is Steam Cleaning Carpet Better Than Shampooing?
Our Top Pick – Bissell SpotClean Professional
The Bissell SpotClean Professional is a lightweight but powerful spot and stains carpet cleaner. It is suitable for both carpet and upholstery cleaning, and its design makes it versatile. Whether you are dealing with pet stains, wine and food spills, or dirt and grime, this carpet cleaner never disappoints. This carpet cleaner is also easy to use.
There are specific features that make this portable carpet cleaner the best. First, it weighs only 13 pounds. This makes it easy to move around when cleaning. Secondly, this cleaner machine comes with a 5-foot long hose that makes it easy to clean tight access areas, including upholstery and stairs.
It also comes with 6 stair tool and 3 tough stain tool, which makes cleaning easy. There is also an 8oz Deep Cleaning Formula, which comes in handy when removing tough stains. This portable carpet cleaner is also effective when dealing with pet messes.
Other features that make this carpet cleaner our top pick include the fact that it has a wide cleaning spray angle, ensuring you cover more ground. Refilling the cleaning solution is easy, unlike in other spot cleaners. However, even with all these pros, this portable spot cleaner is noisy. Also, since there are no rollers on the bottom, you cannot drag it but rather lift it.
Best Premium Option – Hoover SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner
Hoover SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner is an excellent choice if you are looking for a heavy-duty cleaning machine. First, it is smart and comes with a trigger-less design. This portable carpet cleaner automatically mixes and dispenses solutions to eliminate any guesswork. All you need is to push the machine forward. With the included Oxy pretreat and Spot Chaser, removing tough stains and spots is easy. The cleaning is instant. Besides the instant cleaning feature, this machine also comes with a fast-drying feature. You push the machine to clean and pull it back to dry the carpet. The HeatForce feature ensures faster drying and that you can get back on your carpet within no time.
There are other features that set aside this portable carpet cleaner from other shampooers for carpets. First, this carpet cleaner works wonders when it comes to removing pet stains and odors. It comes with FlexForce Pet PowerBrushes, which is ideal for deep cleaning pet messes. It also prevents the buildup of pet odor while removing debris and dirt. This machine also comes with an 8 feet hose and a long power cable for flawless cleaning. Finally, it comes with a separate pretreat and an auto-mixing solution tank. You can never go wrong with this portable carpet cleaner.
Best Budget Option – BISSELL Turboclean
BISSELL Turboclean is your best choice if you are shopping for a portable carpet cleaner on a budget. While the machine is affordable, it is also capable. First, it is powerful, and the DirtLifter PowerBrush, coupled with a powerful scrubber, makes cleaning tough stains and pet messes effortless. Whether you are cleaning your stairs or those tight access areas, the EdgeSweep Bristles ensures every corner is spotless. The best part is that the machine is lightweight – only 12 pounds, and the hose and power cord are long enough to ensure you cover more ground.
This is the best portable carpet cleaner that comes with a collapsible handle for easy storage. In addition, it comes with sufficient water tank capacity for its size and a two-tank design to separate dirty and clean water. Cleaning is also easy when storing the cleaner thanks to the removable nozzle. Lastly, since this cleaner is upright, it is suitable for people living in tight spaces. Whether you are dealing with pet messes, dirt, and grime, this is the best portable carpet cleaner for carpets, stairs, small hallways, and other high traffic areas.
Best for Pet Spots – Rug Doctor Pet Spot Cleaner
Rug Doctor Pet Spot Cleaner is the machine you need if you are dealing with pet stains and stubborn odors that leaves your carpet messy. This is where this spot cleaner comes in. It comes with high suction power which makes eliminating pet stains and odors seamless. This cleaner is suitable for multiple surfaces such as carpet, upholstery, furniture, and vehicle interiors.
Besides cleaning spots and removing odor, the rug doctor portable spot cleaner comes with a Handheld Dual Action Pet Tool coupled with rubber bristles. These features make removal of pet hair and other tough stains. All you need is to spray, scrub, and extract the dirt. Whether it is pet urine, poop, or vomit, the rug doctor portable cleaner will leave your carpet sparkling clean.
Among other features that makes rug doctor portable spot cleaner a must-have includes a pair of carpet friendly wheels. The wheels make moving the cleaner easy. In addition, this portable carpet cleaner is compact and easy to use for professional-grade cleaning without much hustle. The cleaner also comes with a dual tank system that separates the clean and dirty water for effective cleaning.
Best All-In-One Cleaner – Rug Doctor FlexClean
Rug Doctor FlexClean is what you need if you are shopping for all in one portable carpet cleaners. This cleaner is portable and comes with an upright design. It effortlessly extracts spots, grease, grime, grit, and gunk from sealed hardwood floors and carpet. It is powerful, hence a seamless cleaning solution. Since it is lightweight, maneuvering the machine is easy and works like a vacuum cleaner. And since this Rug Doctor cleaner is chemical-free, you can use it on any surface or room in your home.
This multi purpose portable carpet cleaner comes with FlexClean feature, eliminating the need for multiple single-function machines. The machine replaces hard floor cleaners, mops, and steamers to deliver an efficient and effective clean to offices and homes. Unlike other carpet cleaners, this Rug Doctor machine can extract new and old stains from pet messes, accidental drink spills, food spills, kid messes, and unpleasant odors. The 3 optimized spray levels make it easy to clean carpets and hard floors. Whether you are cleaning furniture, upholstery, rugs, tile, hardwood, and more, you can never go wrong with this Rug Doctor machine.
Best Multi-Purpose Cleaner – Little Green Spot Cleaner
Little Green Spot Cleaner is a compact and deep cleaning machine that is ideal for any cleanup project regardless of the size. This carpet cleaner is ideal for spills and spots. It cleans and dries surfaces in no time. Unlike other carpets cleaners, this Bissell Multi-Purpose cleaner is lightweight and quiet. This cleaner also uses little water and gets the job done with no compromises. Whether you are cleaning pet messes, accidental spills, or general stains, Little Green never disappoints.
The Little Green features an eco-friendly design. It is made from at least 50 % recycled material. It comes with a 48-oz capacity water tank and a 15-foot power cord, ensuring you cover a large area before unplugging. This cleaner also has a 3-inch stain tool, and it weighs 9.6 lbs, which makes it easy to move around. The hose is extendable, and the suction power is sufficient to remove any stubborn stains. What makes Little Green special is that it sprays and sucks stains in one step. The overall performance of this carpet cleaner is what makes it a perfect option for many homeowners. It also comes with a 1-year warranty.
Best Dual Tank Cleaner – Hoover Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner
Hoover Spot Cleaner is one of the best professional portable carpet cleaner. It offers great features, such as dual-tank technology. The two tank design ensures you can easily empty the dirty water and refill with clean water. It also comes with a self cleaning feature that flushes the hose after use. This carpet cleaner is also lightweight, meaning it easy to carry and easy to use. With this spot cleaner, you can virtually clean anywhere as it is easy to maneuver and comes with a 5ft hose. From cleaning your upholstery, carpet, stairs, and more, Hoover FH11300PC never disappoints.
Best High Tech Option – Bissell Spot and Stain Deep Cleaner
Bissell Spot and Stain Deep Cleaner is a great option if you are shopping for automated portable carpet cleaners. Bissell SpotBot Pet is portable and comes with great high tech features that make it the best in this segment. First, it is equipped with preset cleaning cycles. This feature allows automatic spraying, brushing, and suction to permanently remove spots from surfaces. All you need is to push a button. The second high tech feature is the two hands-free mode. This allows quick clean for fresh spots and deep clean for old spots and stains – this ensures you get the right cleaning. Also, the hands-free modes ensure you do not get your hands dirty when cleaning. This carpet cleaner will do all the scrubbing for you.
Whether you are dealing with pet messes, accidental spills, and other types of spots, you can never go wrong with Bissell SpotBot Pet cleaner. It comes with a tank capacity of 30.6 ounces for the clean water and 29.2 ounces for the dirty water – dual tank design. The power cord and hose are sufficient in length, which ensures you cover more ground. This spot carpet cleaner also comes with a trial size Pet Stain and Odor formula and a three-inch tough stain tool. Lastly, it is powerful yet energy-efficient.
Best Cordless – BISSELL Stain Eraser
BISSELL Stain Eraser is an excellent choice if you need a cordless spot cleaner. It is the best carpets cleaner in that there are no restrictions on where you can use this cleaner. You only need to charge, and you can take it anywhere, including outdoors, to clean your vehicle interior. While it is compact and lightweight, it is very capable. It comes with features that you will find in other shampooers carpets cleaning machines, such as spray, scrub, and suction features. These features make it easy to clean spots and pet messes from upholstery, carpets, stairs, and auto interiors.
Many people go for this cordless spot cleaner because it comes with a long-lasting lithium-ion battery. Secondly, the cleaning formula is conveniently stored in the cleaner, and you need not mix it with water – it is always ready to use. This, therefore, means that with this portable carpet cleaner, you can instantly and permanently remove spots from urine, feces, dirt, blood, grass, red wine, food grease, vomit, and other types of stains. It is very effective despite the small size.
Best for Large Scale Cleaning – BISSELL Stain Carpet Cleaner
BISSELL Stain Carpet Cleaner is a great option when shopping for portable carpet cleaners for cleaning large spaces. Bissell SpotClean comes with a 14-foot power cord, ensuring that you cover more ground when cleaning. Unlike other spot cleaners, this cleaner weighs only 9 pounds, which makes moving it easy. While other portable carpet cleaners do not heat cold water nor keep it warm, Bissell SpotClean comes with heatwave technology that keeps the water hot, meaning it is ready to use, and you can clean large areas. While it does not heat cold water, it allows cleaning for a long time without changing the water.
Another feature that makes Bissell SpotClean ideal for cleaning large spaces is that it comes with a 3-inch wide tool, which is ideal for most cleaning tasks. In addition, this portable spot cleaner comes with a deep reach tool, which makes it easy to reach deeply embedded spots. It removes spots from the root leaving your carpet clean. The removable tank design makes refilling clean water and emptying dirty water easy. Finally, this cleaner is slim in design, making it ideal for cleaning tight spaces.
What to Consider When Buying a Spot Cleaner Machine for Carpets
When shopping for a spot carpet cleaner, you will find that the market has hundreds of portable carpet cleaners. Therefore, if you’re not careful, you will end up with the wrong portable spot cleaner. Below are a few pointers to consider before making any purchase. These tips will help you make an informed decision.
Tank Capacity
When shopping for the best spot cleaners, it is important to consider the tank capacity. How much can the cleaner hold both clean and dirty water? The right size will depend on the size of your cleanup project and the weight you can handle. For instance, if you have a small space, you need not get a spot cleaner with high capacity – the opposite is also true.
Suction Power
For a cleaner carpet, you will be spraying water and a cleaning solution, and therefore you need a device that can pick stains and retrieve the water. This is where the need for powerful suction comes in. Since carpet cleaners have different suction power, look for a cleaner with sufficient power because otherwise, you will spend more time cleaning.
Dual Tank Design
Most modern spot cleaners come with dual tank technology – for clean water and dirty water. While this is a standard design, some carpet cleaners have one tank. Using one tank for the solution and dirty water adds dirt and stains to your carpet and other surfaces. Avoid such spot cleaners and, instead, go for a spot cleaner with a dual tank design.
Cleaning Brush Action
If you do not want to do the hard work of scrubbing, look for carpet cleaners with power rotating brush or hands-free cleaning. Getting such a cleaner makes cleaning easy. You can find a spot cleaner with a tough brush and a deep stain attachment for seamless cleaning. The tough brush scrubs stains and spots with ease while the deep stain attachment gets stains from the root leaving your carpet clean.
Budget
When shopping for the best portable carpet cleaner, it is important to have a budget in mind. With hundreds of carpet cleaners in the market, it is easy to get confused, considering they come at different price tags. But the good news is that you will find many carpet cleaners within your budget, and you can start narrowing down from there. There are carpet cleaning devices that cost under a hundred dollars, and the premium versions will cost you hundreds of dollars. Set a budget and stick to it when shopping.
Weight
When shopping for the best portable carpet cleaner, it is important to consider the weight. Carpet cleaning is hard enough, and you do not want to drag a heavy cleaning device. A heavy cleaner will only make cleaning difficult. Therefore, look for a portable spot cleaner. In this case, consider the weight of the cleaner when empty and when loaded with water. If you need a heavy-duty cleaner, consider looking for a spot cleaner that comes with wheels. This way, even if the device is heavy, maneuvering will be easy.
Accessories
When shopping for a carpet spot cleaner, you will realize that different cleaners offer various accessories. Be sure to look for what you need and also the availability of those accessories in the market. For instance, what extra tools or accessories do your need to make cleaning easy? Does the cleaner offer several brushes or just one brush? Does it have deep clean accessories? Be sure to buy a popular brand because this way, you can be sure of the availability of accessories and spares locally.
Warranty
Buying a spot cleaner is a costly investment. Whether you buy a cheap cleaner or a high-end cleaner, you need to get value for your money. Only buy if you are getting a warranty of at least a year. A warranty gives you peace of mind that you are getting a quality cleaner. However, be sure to check what is covered under warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which chemicals are safe for carpet cleaning?
When using a spot carpet cleaner, it is inevitable to use cleaning agents. Therefore, you have to ensure you’re working with safe/eco-friendly chemicals. Look for chemicals that are safe for both kids and pets. Also, look for a chemical that will not damage your carpet, upholstery, or other surfaces.
Are portable spot cleaners better than upright cleaners?
No! These types of devices are meant for different needs and markets and, therefore, incomparable. However, it is essential to note that they get the job done. Going for one option over the other depends on your needs and also preferences. While the portable cleaning devices are lightweight and easy to work with, the upright cleaners are ideal for full carpet cleaning projects.
Can I use laundry detergent in a spot carpet cleaner?
Yes, you can use laundry detergent in your carpet cleaner. However, it is better to use a professional-grade cleaning solution over regular detergent for better results. These solutions are available locally and are not expensive.
