GadgetRoost is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not change our recommendations. Learn more.
The best carpet cleaner lifts the dirt, stains and odors that a vacuum leaves behind. A good machine sprays water and formula into the fibers, scrubs with a brush and pulls the dirty water back out, so carpets look and smell fresh again.
We compared the best-selling and top-rated carpet cleaners on Amazon from Bissell, Hoover, Shark and Dirt Devil, looking at cleaning modes, tank size, tools, drying and weight. Here are the 8 best picks for 2026, from compact spot cleaners to full-size machines.
Quick Answer: The Best Carpet Cleaner
- Best Overall: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full-Size Carpet Cleaner (1548F)
- Best Premium: Bissell Revolution HydroSteam Carpet Cleaner (4123)
- Best Compact: Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner
- Best Portable: Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner (1400B)
- Best Compact with Hose: Bissell TurboClean PET Upright Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (3948)
- Best Heavy-Duty: Bissell BigGreen Commercial BG10 Deep Cleaning Machine
- Best for Odors: Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (PX202)
- Best Budget Full-Size: Dirt Devil Full-Size Carpet Cleaner Machine
The Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet is the best carpet cleaner for most homes with wall-to-wall carpet. The Hoover PowerDash Pet is the best compact pick, and the Bissell Little Green is the best portable for spills and stairs.
Best Carpet Cleaner Comparison Table
| Product | Best For | Type | Key Feature | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full-Size Carpet Cleaner (1548F) | Best Overall | Full-size upright carpet cleaner | MAX Clean mode, 2 stain tools | Check Price |
| Bissell Revolution HydroSteam Carpet Cleaner (4123) | Best Premium | Full-size upright with steam pretreat | Steam pretreater, XL DirtLifter brush, 1-gal tank | Check Price |
| Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner | Best Compact | Compact upright carpet cleaner | Lightweight, HeatForce faster drying | Check Price |
| Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner (1400B) | Best Portable | Portable spot cleaner | 48 oz clean tank, best seller | Check Price |
| Bissell TurboClean PET Upright Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (3948) | Best Compact with Hose | Compact upright carpet cleaner | 7 ft hose, self-cleanout tool | Check Price |
| Bissell BigGreen Commercial BG10 Deep Cleaning Machine | Best Heavy-Duty | Commercial-grade upright extractor | 2 motors, large tanks | Check Price |
| Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (PX202) | Best for Odors | Portable spot cleaner | StainStriker dual-solution tech, 4 tools | Check Price |
| Dirt Devil Full-Size Carpet Cleaner Machine | Best Budget Full-Size | Full-size upright carpet cleaner | Dual tanks, 2 cleaning modes | Check Price |
The 8 Best Carpet Cleaners
We picked the best carpet cleaner for each type of home, so you can jump to the one that fits your floors, pets and storage space.
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full-Size Carpet Cleaner (1548F)
1The Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet is a full-size upright carpet cleaner with a MAX Clean mode and two stain tools. Bissell says it outcleans the leading rental machine at half the weight.
👍 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Deep-cleans whole rooms of carpet
- MAX Clean mode for embedded dirt and allergens
- Hose and stain tools for stairs and upholstery
- Lighter than a rental machine
Cons
- Bulky to store
- Two tanks to fill and empty on big jobs
📄 Detailed Review
- Type: Full-size upright carpet cleaner
- Modes: Express and MAX Clean
- Tools: Pet Stain Tool, 3 in Tough Stain Tool, hose
- Claim: Outcleans the leading rental at half the weight
The ProHeat 2X Revolution is the machine to buy if you have wall-to-wall carpet and want rental-level results at home. Its MAX Clean mode targets embedded dirt, stains and allergens in high-traffic lanes, while Express mode handles quick refreshes.
A hose with a Pet Stain Tool and a 3-inch Tough Stain Tool covers stairs, upholstery and car seats. It is bulkier than compact models, so it suits homes with closet or garage storage.
Bissell Revolution HydroSteam Carpet Cleaner (4123)
2The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam adds a built-in steam pretreater and an XL DirtLifter PowerBrush to a full-size carpet cleaner with a 1-gallon tank.
👍 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Steam pretreater loosens sticky stains
- Large 1-gallon tank means fewer refills
- XL brush for bigger rooms
- Bissell rates it up to 45% better cleaning
Cons
- Premium price
- Large footprint
📄 Detailed Review
- Type: Full-size upright carpet cleaner
- Technology: HydroSteam with built-in steam pretreater
- Brush: XL DirtLifter PowerBrush
- Tank: 1-gallon clean water tank
HydroSteam is Bissell’s newest approach to sticky, set-in stains. A built-in steam pretreater loosens stains before the brush and suction lift them, and Bissell says the system cleans messes up to 45% better than its non-steam models.
A 1-gallon clean tank and XL DirtLifter PowerBrush cover large rooms with fewer refills, making it a strong pick for bigger homes and families.
Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner
3The Hoover PowerDash Pet is a lightweight compact carpet cleaner with HeatForce for faster drying, one of the best-selling carpet cleaners on Amazon.
👍 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Very popular, proven design
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- HeatForce speeds drying
- Great for area rugs and small rooms
Cons
- Smaller tanks
- No above-floor tools on the base model
📄 Detailed Review
- Type: Compact upright carpet cleaner
- Drying: HeatForce technology
- Use: Carpet, high-traffic areas, area rugs
- Design: Lightweight and compact
The PowerDash Pet is popular because it is light, simple and affordable. It cleans carpet, high-traffic lanes and area rugs, and HeatForce technology helps carpets dry faster so rooms are back in use sooner.
It is a natural first carpet cleaner for apartments and small homes. Pair it with a portable spot cleaner if you need to clean stairs and upholstery.
Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner (1400B)
4The Bissell Little Green 1400B is the best-selling portable carpet cleaner in the US, with a 48 oz clean tank for spills, stains, stairs, upholstery and car seats.
👍 Pros & Cons
Pros
- America’s best-selling portable carpet cleaner
- Large 48 oz tank
- Cleans stairs, upholstery and cars
- Compact storage
Cons
- Spot cleaner, not for whole rooms
- Corded
📄 Detailed Review
- Type: Portable carpet and upholstery spot cleaner
- Tank: 48 oz clean water tank
- Formula: Triple Action formula
- Claim: Removes 100+ common messes
The Little Green is the most popular way to deal with spills and pet accidents. Bissell says it is trusted by over 7 million households, and it consistently ranks as the #1 carpet and upholstery cleaning machine on Amazon.
A large 48-ounce clean water tank lets you clean more between refills, and the compact body fits in a cupboard. It is a spot cleaner, so pair it with an upright for full-room deep cleans.
Bissell TurboClean PET Upright Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (3948)
5The Bissell TurboClean PET is a compact upright with a 7-foot hose, a self-cleaning 4-inch stain tool and a spraying crevice tool for pet messes around the home.
👍 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Compact and easy to store
- Self-cleanout stain tool
- Hose for stairs and upholstery
- Good value full-room cleaner
Cons
- Smaller tanks than full-size models
- Less power for very large rooms
📄 Detailed Review
- Type: Compact upright carpet cleaner
- Hose: 7 ft
- Tools: 4 in Self-Cleanout Tool, Spraying Crevice Tool
- Focus: Pet messes
TurboClean PET is Bissell’s compact answer for homes that want a real upright carpet cleaner without the bulk. It cleans carpet and rugs throughout the house and stores in a closet.
The 4-inch Self-Cleanout Tool rinses itself with one touch after a stain, and the spraying crevice tool reaches edges and tight spots.
Bissell BigGreen Commercial BG10 Deep Cleaning Machine
6The Bissell BigGreen Commercial BG10 is a 2-motor, commercial-grade extractor with large tanks and edge-to-edge suction, the closest home owners get to a professional machine.
👍 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Commercial-grade power
- Large tanks for big jobs
- Edge-to-edge suction
- Very durable build
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Higher price
📄 Detailed Review
- Type: Commercial-grade deep cleaning extractor
- Motors: 2-motor system
- Tanks: 2 large-capacity tanks, removable clean tank
- Extras: Flow indicator, edge-to-edge suction
The BigGreen is built like the rental machines at grocery stores, but you own it. Two motors drive strong suction, and large tanks handle whole-house cleaning with fewer trips to the sink.
A flow indicator shows when water and solution are running, and edge-to-edge suction cleans along baseboards. It is heavy, so it suits homes with lots of carpet and ground-floor storage.
Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (PX202)
7The Shark StainStriker PX202 is a portable spot cleaner that fuses two solutions on contact for strong stain and odor removal, with four specialized tools.
👍 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Shark rates it 20X more stain-removing power
- Four tools for every surface
- Tackles odors
- Very popular
Cons
- Proprietary solutions
- Spot cleaning only
📄 Detailed Review
- Type: Portable carpet and upholstery cleaner
- Technology: StainStriker fuses two solutions
- Tools: 4 specialized tools
- Odors: Removes, not masks, smoke and pet urine odors
StainStriker Technology mixes two solutions as you clean instead of using a premixed formula, which Shark says delivers 20X more stain-removing power and removes odors like pet urine and smoke.
Four tools cover carpet, upholstery, stairs and car interiors, making it a strong alternative to the Bissell Little Green.
Dirt Devil Full-Size Carpet Cleaner Machine
8The Dirt Devil Full-Size carpet cleaner is a budget full-size machine with dual tanks, a brush roll and Quick Clean and deep-clean modes.
👍 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable full-size machine
- Two modes
- Easy-to-remove dual tanks
Cons
- Fewer tools than Bissell
- Newer model with fewer reviews
📄 Detailed Review
- Type: Full-size upright carpet cleaner
- Tanks: Separate clean and dirty tanks
- Modes: Quick Clean and deep clean
- Brush: Rotating brush roll
If you want full-size coverage on a smaller budget, the Dirt Devil delivers the essentials: separate clean and dirty tanks that are easy to fill and empty, and a brush roll with strong extraction.
Quick Clean mode refreshes rooms fast, while the deeper mode handles high-traffic stains.
How We Chose the Best Carpet Cleaner
To choose the best carpet cleaner, we started with the best-selling and highest-rated carpet cleaners on Amazon, then compared machine type, cleaning modes, tank capacity, included tools, drying features, weight and the size of verified owner reviews.
Wet carpet that dries slowly can grow mold, so it is worth reading the EPA guide to mold and moisture in your home.
Product details in this guide are based on manufacturer specifications and verified owner feedback. Read more on our How We Test page.
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Carpet Cleaner
Keep these factors in mind to find the best carpet cleaner for your home.
Upright vs. portable spot cleaner
An upright carpet cleaner washes whole rooms with a wide brush and large tanks. A portable spot cleaner is a small machine with a hose for spills, stairs, upholstery and car seats. Homes with wall-to-wall carpet benefit most from an upright, while homes with mostly hard floors and a few rugs often only need a portable.
Tank size and refills
Bigger clean water tanks mean fewer trips to the sink. Full-size uprights hold the most, while compact models need more refills on larger rooms. If you plan to clean several rooms in one session, tank size matters as much as suction.
Hoses and tools
A hose with a stain tool turns an upright into a machine for stairs, couches and car seats. Without a hose you will need a separate portable cleaner for anything above the floor.
Drying time matters
Carpet that stays wet too long can smell musty and encourage mold growth. Use the dry-only pass, look for heated drying such as Hoover HeatForce, and run a fan or open windows so the carpet dries quickly.
Weight and storage
Full-size machines get heavy once the tanks are full. Compact uprights and portables are easier to carry upstairs and fit in a hall closet, so measure your storage space before you buy.
Formula and running costs
Most machines work best with the brand’s own formula, which becomes an ongoing cost. Measure carefully: too much formula leaves sticky residue that attracts dirt faster.
How to Get Better Results From Any Carpet Cleaner
These habits make every carpet cleaner work better:
- Vacuum thoroughly before you wash the carpet.
- Pretreat heavy stains and let the formula sit for a few minutes.
- Make slow, overlapping passes and finish with a dry-only pass.
- Ventilate the room and keep foot traffic off until the carpet is dry.
Still deciding? These answers cover what people ask most about the best carpet cleaner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best carpet cleaner?
The Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet is the best carpet cleaner for most homes. The Hoover PowerDash Pet is the best compact choice, and the Bissell Little Green is the best portable spot cleaner.
Is it worth buying a carpet cleaner?
Yes, if you have pets, kids or light-colored carpet. Owning a machine lets you treat stains while they are fresh and saves repeated rental fees.
Upright or portable carpet cleaner?
Choose an upright for whole rooms of carpet and a portable for spills, stairs, upholstery and cars. Many homes own both.
How often should you deep clean carpet?
Most homes deep clean carpet every 12 to 18 months, and high-traffic areas or pet homes more often. Spot clean spills as soon as they happen.
How long does carpet take to dry?
Usually several hours. Extra dry passes, heated drying and good airflow shorten drying time.
Final Verdict
Our final pick for the best carpet cleaner: Our final pick for the best carpet cleaner is the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet. Choose the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam if you want steam pretreating and a bigger tank, or the Hoover PowerDash Pet for a light, compact machine.
Related Guides
More carpet cleaning guides for every home and budget:
Product details are based on manufacturer specifications at the time of writing. Prices and availability change often, so check Amazon for the latest price.
Write Your Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!