Best carpet cleaners for the way you use them

The BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam 4123 is the best all-rounder for routine whole-room cleaning, combining upright extraction, steam pretreating and hose tools. If your home is large and mostly carpeted, the BISSELL Big Green earns its bigger tanks and longer cleaning sessions. Spills, stairs and car seats are better handled by a portable like the Little Green Pet Pro 3909, which is easier to use and to clean up afterward.

Quick picks

An upright with a one-gallon tank is a useful compromise
BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam
The catch: Across several rooms, its one-gallon clean tank means more refills than Big Green.
See price & reviews on Amazon
The most time is saved by capacity and cord reach
BISSELL Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner
The catch: It's a heavy, commercial-style machine to haul around, and it claims a lot of closet space.
See price & reviews on Amazon
Size the machine to the area of the accident
BISSELL Little Green Pet Pro
The catch: Solution has to be mixed by hand.
See price & reviews on Amazon

We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money

carpet cleaner finder

What do you need from a carpet cleaner?

Tap as many as apply. The list re-sorts as you go.

Tap what applies to find your match

BISSELL, 86T3

Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner

Good place to start

Large tanks, a long cord and a nine-foot attachment hose come on this heavy upright extractor.

Best forBig carpeted homes where deep cleaning happens often

Why it suits you

BISSELL's listing shows a 1.75-gallon tank and a 10.5-inch cleaning path.
A 25-foot cord and a nine-foot hose come with the machine.
BISSELL's listing puts the empty machine at 42 pounds and gives a five-year warranty.

What you give up

It's a heavy, commercial-style machine to haul around, and it claims a lot of closet space.
The wide commercial-style head is slow to turn around in a small furnished room.

We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money

BISSELL, 4123

Revolution HydroSteam

Steam pretreating and a self-cleaning hand tool come with this full-size upright.

Best forWhole rooms, with steam available for compatible stains

Why it suits you

Steam Pretreat and SteamWash Max are provided at the 4123's floorhead.
BISSELL's listing gives a one-gallon clean tank, 20-foot cord and seven-foot hose.
Conflicting empty weights of 20 and 22 lb appear on the manufacturer page.

What you give up

Across several rooms, its one-gallon clean tank means more refills than Big Green.
Steam only reaches the floorhead, and you can't use Steam Pretreat on blood or urine.

BISSELL, 3588F

ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus

Built with pets in mind, this upright has a 12-row brush, a one-gallon tank and hose tools in the box.

Best forA conventional whole-room cleaner for homes with pets

Why it suits you

BISSELL documents a dual DirtLifter brush system with 12 rows.
A one-gallon clean tank, 25-foot cord and eight-foot hose come with the cleaner.
A pet upholstery tool and a tough-stain tool come in the 3588F bundle.

What you give up

You have to measure the solution into the clean tank yourself.
After each use, you still have to pull hair and formula residue out of the nozzle and brush area.

BISSELL, 3746

TurboClean Pet XL

Hose tools for furniture and stairs and a one-gallon tank come on this lighter upright.

Best forMid-size homes where you want capacity but not Big Green's heft

Why it suits you

BISSELL's listing shows a one-gallon clean-water capacity and a 10-inch cleaning path.
An upholstery tool, tough-stain tool and attachment hose come with the 3746.
Compared with the compact TurboClean PET, the XL tank is designed to cover more area between fills.

What you give up

Its brush system is more basic than what the bigger Revolution machines have.
The empty body is easy enough to handle, but a full one-gallon tank adds weight to carry.

BISSELL, 3948

TurboClean PET

A four-row brush and a seven-foot tool hose come on this roughly 14-pound upright.

Best forFor apartments and smaller homes, when you still want hose tools

Why it suits you

The 3948 weighs about 14 pounds, according to BISSELL.
A four-row DeepReach PowerBrush and a 20-foot cord come with the machine.
Upholstery and stairs are reachable with the seven-foot hose.

What you give up

On big jobs, the smaller tank forces more stops.
Compared with the 12-row Revolution platform, four brush rows agitate less of the carpet.

BISSELL, 1400B

Little Green

A well-known portable with a 48-ounce tank. You spray, scrub and extract directly on the spot.

Best forBasic upholstery cleaning and the occasional household spill

Why it suits you

BISSELL's listing gives a 48-ounce tank, 15-foot cord and weight under 10 pounds.
Separate clean and recovery tanks are used on the 1400B.
The compact hose tool sprays, scrubs and extracts on carpet and upholstery.

What you give up

With such a short attachment hose, you end up repositioning the body around a sofa or vehicle.
The current official 1400B page lists HydroRinse, but tool packs differ, so confirm what comes in the Amazon carton.

BISSELL, 4075

Little Green Mini

Quick spots, car footwells and very small storage spaces are what this seven-pound portable is designed for.

Best forSmall apartments and carrying it out to the car

Why it suits you

BISSELL's listing puts the Little Green Mini at about seven pounds.
A HydroRinse self-cleaning tool comes in the 4075 Amazon bundle.
Included is a four-inch tough-stain tool for carpet, upholstery and vehicle surfaces.

What you give up

On a sofa or a flight of stairs, the small tanks send you back to the sink often.
Don't try to stretch this spot cleaner into whole-room duty.

BISSELL, 38572

Little Green Max Pet SmartMix

Formula is metered automatically on this light portable, which also comes with a self-cleaning stain tool.

Best forIf small pet messes are frequent and you want less measuring and rinsing

Why it suits you

During cleaning, SmartMix meters water and formula.
BISSELL's listing gives separate 32-ounce clean and dirty tanks and an 8.2-pound weight.
A self-cleaning tough-stain tool and a pet hair removal tool come in the bundle.

What you give up

A large sectional is too much for the 32-ounce tanks, which suit spot work.
You only get SmartMix's convenience if you use the compatible formula reservoir correctly.

BISSELL, 3618

Little Green HydroSteam

For compatible surfaces, this portable extractor offers steam, wash and steam-only modes.

Best forUpholstery jobs of all kinds and oily spots where steam helps

Why it suits you

SteamWash, Wash and Steam modes are on the 3618.
BISSELL's listing gives a 64-ounce clean tank and a 51-ounce recovery tank.
The machine weighs about 13 pounds and has a roughly 4.8-foot hose.

What you give up

It weighs about 13 pounds, which is clearly more than the Little Green Mini.
Check the fabric before using steam, and take care near finishes and adhesives.

BISSELL, 3909

Little Green Pet Pro

Pet hair, crevice and self-cleaning stain tools come with this portable, which has higher capacity.

Best forCleaning up pet accidents on furniture, stairs and in vehicles

Why it suits you

BISSELL's listing gives a 64-ounce clean tank and a 48-ounce recovery tank.
A five-foot hose and 15-foot cord come with the 3909.
Pet hair, crevice and self-cleaning tough-stain tools come in its Amazon bundle.

What you give up

Solution has to be mixed by hand.
Cleaning a whole carpeted room with the portable head is inefficient.

Hoover, FH55050PC

PowerDash Pet Advanced

HeatForce, a 0.6-gallon tank and an eight-foot tool hose come on this compact 16.3-pound upright.

Best forCompact upright for small homes, with hose reach above the floor

Why it suits you

Exclusive to Amazon, the FH55050PC weighs about 16.3 pounds and holds 0.6 gallon.
A 20-foot cord, eight-foot hose and two-in-one pet tool come with the platform.
Carpet and above-floor cleaning are backed by PowerSpin brushing and HeatForce drying.

What you give up

You will tend to the 0.6-gallon tank more often than the tank on a full-size one-gallon machine.
Each pass covers less carpet than a broad full-size upright would, because the head is compact.

Hoover, FH50150NC

PowerScrub Deluxe

Five SpinScrub brushes, a one-gallon tank and an eight-foot hose make up this conventional upright.

Best forWhole-room cleaning for value-minded buyers, with useful attachments

Why it suits you

Five counter-rotating SpinScrub brushes are on the PowerScrub Deluxe.
Hoover's listing gives a one-gallon clean tank, 20-foot cord and eight-foot hose.
The machine weighs about 18.1 pounds and dries with HeatForce.

What you give up

You measure the solution yourself, and the several brushes have to be cleaned by hand.
If most of your jobs are floor-only, setting up the hose and tools is extra work.

Hoover, FH53000

SmartWash Pet Complete

On the forward pass this automatic upright washes, on the pullback it dries, and it meters the solution too.

Best forWhole rooms, when you want a simple automatic routine

Why it suits you

On the forward stroke SmartWash applies solution, and on the pullback it switches to extraction.
Cleaning solution and water are mixed automatically by the FH53000.
Hoover's listing gives a one-gallon clean tank, 12-inch path, 22-foot cord and eight-foot hose.

What you give up

Empty, it weighs about 20.5 pounds, so it's tougher to carry than PowerDash.
Because dosing is automatic, you have less say over how concentrated the formula is.

Hoover, FH68050

PowerScrub XL Pet

Larger tanks, five SpinScrub brushes and an eight-foot attachment hose come on this wide upright.

Best forA broad, manual upright for pet households

Why it suits you

The Amazon configuration is the PowerScrub XL Pet FH68050 bundle, which comes with Oxy formula.
Five SpinScrub brushes and HeatForce drying are used on the platform.
For the XL family, Hoover documents a 12-inch path, roughly one-gallon clean tank, 23-foot cord and eight-foot hose.

What you give up

Furniture that sits close together makes the wide body tricky to steer.
Clearing hair and residue from five brush assemblies takes extra time.

Hoover, FH14050

CleanSlate Plus

This portable spot cleaner pairs a seven-inch wide tool with a narrow crevice tool.

Best forSpots of different sizes on stairs, sofas and vehicle seats

Why it suits you

On the FH14050, the clean tank is 40 ounces and the recovery tank is 23 ounces.
The tool set has a seven-inch WidePath tool and a TightSpot crevice tool.
On the CleanSlate platform you get a hose-rinse attachment, 15-foot cord and roughly 4.5-foot hose.

What you give up

The 40-ounce clean tank can go fast when you work with the seven-inch tool.
Reach is shorter with the roughly 4.5-foot hose than with the five-foot BISSELL Pet Pro.

Shark, EX201

CarpetXpert with StainStriker

A handheld stain system that uses two formulas, plus three tools, goes along with this full-size upright.

Best forWhole-room cleaning plus regular follow-up on odors and spots

Why it suits you

Shark's upright CarpetXpert system and the StainStriker hand tool are paired in the EX201.
At the time of use, the StainStriker tool blends Deep Clean Pro and OXY Multiplier formulas.
In the Amazon bundle you get 3.5-inch stain, crevice and pet-mess tools.

What you give up

With two formulas and several tools, cleanup involves more steps.
You still dose the formula for the upright by hand before every session.

Shark, EX301

CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker

Wet-hair pickup, onboard self-cleaning and a fourth tool are what set the HairPro version apart.

Best forHouseholds where pet hair is still around when you clean wet

Why it suits you

HairPro is built to pick up embedded pet hair without it wrapping around the brushroll.
An onboard self-cleaning cycle for the machine's internal path is what the EX301 adds.
Shark's listing gives four tools, a 22-foot cord and about 22 pounds of empty weight.

What you give up

It's a big machine to lug upstairs at about 22 pounds.
Even with hair pickup, you have to empty the debris screen and the recovery tank after every run.

Shark, PX201

StainStriker Portable

Two formulas get activated at the hand tool of this compact portable, aimed at spots and odors.

Best forPet spots and vehicle jobs that call for formula activation

Why it suits you

The PX201 is a portable carpet and upholstery extractor, with Deep Clean Pro and OXY formulas held in separate reservoirs.
The current official page and the Amazon ASIN both list 3.5-inch and seven-inch tools.
Shark's listing gives a 12-foot cord and a 4.3-foot hose.

What you give up

Keeping the dual-formula routine going means stocking two compatible products.
Bundles differ from seller to seller. Look at exactly which rinse and pet tools you get, rather than assuming every tool in the family manual comes along.

Tineco, CARPET ONE Cruiser

CARPET ONE Cruiser

Assisted movement, heated drying and an automated brush-cleaning cycle come with this sensor-driven upright.

Best forPeople who clean whole rooms often and want help with handling and drying

Why it suits you

Tineco documents 130 watts of suction and PowerDry air temperatures of up to 167 degrees Fahrenheit.
After cleaning, the FlashDry cycle washes the brush path and dries the brush.
iLoop sensing tunes water flow and suction, and SmoothPower helps with forward and backward movement.

What you give up

Compared with a manual upright, the electronics add cost and complexity.
You'll need room to store the included accessories, and they still get rinsed by hand after spot work.

Dirt Devil, FD50300

Full Size Carpet Cleaner

Light for a full-size upright, it has quick and deep modes, separate tanks and a 10.5-inch path.

Best forWhole rooms on a budget, with less weight to carry

Why it suits you

Dirt Devil's listing gives quick-clean and deep-clean modes.
The FD50300 weighs about 14.35 pounds and its cleaning path is 10.5 inches.
Published capacities are 0.8 gallon clean and 0.5 gallon dirty, along with a 20-foot cord.

What you give up

No furniture hose system is added in the Amazon bundle.
On wet passes, the recovery tank is smaller and fills up before the clean tank runs out.

Rug Doctor, 90010

Mighty Pro X3 with Oxy Pack

Large tanks, a vibrating brush and a fold-down handle come on this commercial-style extractor.

Best forLengthy whole-home jobs where you'd otherwise have to rent

Why it suits you

The X3 from Rug Doctor has spray jets, a vibrating brush and an industrial-grade vacuum motor.
Two large tanks and a fold-down handle come with the machine.
A 48-ounce Oxy cleaning solution pack comes in the B086TZQ45Z Amazon configuration.

What you give up

Bulky around tight furniture, it also has to be run in a set direction.
In this Amazon Oxy bundle, the upholstery hose has to be bought separately.

Rug Doctor, 90028

Pro Deep with Oxy Bundle

Both directions work for cleaning on this rental-style upright, which has two 1.5-gallon tanks.

Best forBig jobs where you want a simpler, back-and-forth commercial method

Why it suits you

Forward and backward passes are how the Pro Deep cleans.
Rug Doctor's listing gives separate 1.5-gallon clean and recovery tanks.
Lights indicate an empty solution tank or a brushroll jam, and Oxy cleaners come in the Amazon bundle.

What you give up

You have to buy the motorized upholstery tool separately.
While in use, the machine gets much heavier once a 1.5-gallon fill goes in.

Buying advice

What to look for in a carpet cleaner

These factors change which model suits you.

Decide between upright and portable

Uprights are made for working carpet in lanes across entire rooms. Portables win on spills, stairs, sofas and cars, but cleaning a wide floor with a hand tool is slow and uneven.

Tank size sets your pace

Compare the clean tank and the recovery tank on their own. A big clean tank won't help on a long job if the recovery tank fills up far sooner, and each gallon puts more than eight pounds on the machine before you move it.

Don't skip dry passes

Spray on the cleaning pass only. Then keep making slow extraction passes until the nozzle is picking up very little water. Heated air helps, but extraction quality, ventilation and how sparingly you use solution decide most of the drying time.

Pick the formula for the stain and the fiber

Many organic pet accidents respond to enzyme formulas, while oily residue may call for a compatible pretreatment. Before you use heat, steam or oxygen products, check the cleaning code from the carpet or upholstery maker and try a hidden spot first.

Vacuum first, then add water

Once dry soil and loose hair get wet, they are harder to deal with. Go over the area slowly with a vacuum, pick up any solids and pretreat the specific stain. The extractor comes last, for rinsing and recovery.

Plan time to clean the machine

Right after the job, dump both tanks, rinse the nozzle and tools, clear out the brush area and let the parts air out. A self-rinse tool makes the hose step quicker, but the recovery tank still needs cleaning by hand.

Guides

Narrow it down

Weigh two popular models against each other, or start from a shortlist built for one job.

Side-by-side comparisons

Best picks for one job

An upright with a one-gallon tank is a useful compromiseExtraction, tank capacity and cleanup effort, balanced in upright machines.The most time is saved by capacity and cord reachMachines for long runs across several carpeted rooms.Size the machine to the area of the accidentBoth upright and portable picks for accidents that keep happening.Start with a dry vacuum anywayA wet-cleaning system built to gather hair without it wrapping around the brush.Results hinge on extraction depth and pretreatmentA portable extractor and an enzyme-compatible routine for accidents with a defined spot.Headline suction counts for less than tank size and hose reachSpot machines that suit quick spills, furniture and vehicles.Before wet extraction, read the fabric codeHand tools that give you control on sofas, chairs and fabric headboards.Do one tread at a time, with the machine held stableSteps and landings call for portable bodies and long hoses.In a vehicle, a compact body and a narrow tool winPortable cleaners that work on seats, mats and narrow footwells.Weigh both tanks before you fill the largest oneBroad cleaning jobs with fewer refill and empty cycles.Go for the lightest machine that can still handle your floor areaUprights and portable spot machines with less weight.You still need extra recovery passesExtraction and heated-air features that help cut dry times.Steam belongs only on materials that allow itExtraction plus steam modes on two BISSELL machines.With automatic formula delivery, one setup variable disappearsMachines that meter formula or combine it as you work.It makes sense to own when storage and cleanup are already handledDurable machines for big jobs, aimed at owners who clean often enough.Whether wet extraction is safe depends on the rug labelExtraction you can control on rugs the manufacturer approves for washing.