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Our favorite machines are lightweight , easy to manage , and ultra - unruffled .
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Better Homes & Gardens
While vacuums might be good atgetting free of dustand other dirt from carpeting and rugs , they are n’t much use for spills or stigma . The good intelligence is , stain can be removed from carpetsusing hot water or steam , a cleansing result , and suction power .
While you may hire a professional cleaning divine service to add up in with giant steam machine , buying a portable carpet cleaner is a more cost - efficient root to everyday smear cleaning and stain remotion .
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
concord to cleaning expertKathy Cohoonof Two Maids and a Mop , you ’ll want to get a machine that ’s lightweight , restrained , easy to use , and easy to make clean and put aside . We put dozens of carpeting cleaners to the trial in our lab to determine which are the best forcleaning stain out of the surfacesin your home or railroad car .
What We Tested
We took into considerationprice , attachments , stochasticity tier , versatility , andperformancewhen pee-pee this listing . For more on how we tested portable carpet cleaner , seeour testing processbelow .
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Bissell Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner
It ’s lightweight and easy to employ in tight space like your motorcar .
The tank leaked slightly when the magnate turned off .
One of the cardinal constituent to deliberate in a portable carpet cleaner is its sizing , since the machine should fit in tight space , be easy to carry , and take up little storage quad when not in use of goods and services . The Bissell delivered on all these points and more . It works by circulating a mix of water andcarpet spay cleaneronto the affected place on your rug .
Credit: Amazon
During testing , the twist completelyremoved the chocolate stainon a light - colored , average - down carpet with about ten pass of the smear trapper affixation . The wine-coloured and dirt stain only left a faint hint of a soil after clean . The coffee blot was the only mess that proved tough for the cleaner to tackle , though take out around 50 % of the discoloration .
The 15 - human foot power corduroy provides plentifulness of length for most tasks , as does the hose , which comes with three unlike stain pecker . The tough blot tool scrub and suction debris out of your carpet and upholstery while the discolouration trapper shaft check pet messes and other liquid dust inside the tool instead of getting inside your machine .
We also like the ego - clean tool , which makes it easy to gargle out your twist after every use . About two hours after scrub , we found that the carpet was only faintly damp , think of this gadget does n’t lot surplus water onto your floor .
The Bissell Deluxe portable carpet cleaner completely removed the coffee stain and left faint stains from wine and dirt during our testing.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
We make love how subdued it was at just 70 decibels . However , the biggest reason to buy the Bissell Little Green Deluxe portable carpet cleaner is that it can easily be carried with one hand , leave your other hand barren to clean as you go . It would easilyfit in a car seator other nasty spaces , making sporty - up on the go less of a bother .
Putting this gimmick together was a short more complicated than others on our lean . You ’ll need a screwdriver to put the cleaner together , and we determine the directions were a bit knavish to follow . Also , we institute that the tank dribbled a mo when the power was turned off , so be certain to completely empty the tank after every use .
Product Details : Weight:9.65 pounds |Surface Types : Upholstery and carpet |Cord Length:15 inch |Capacity:48 Panthera uncia |Noise Level:70 decibels
Best Budget
Dirt Devil Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
This budget - well-disposed carpet cleaner works incredibly well on hard - to - reach spots like staircase .
The armored combat vehicle capacity is a lot smaller than most options .
The Dirt Devil is the best budget option that does n’t sacrifice cleaning capacity . During the testing process , we recover it specially expert for cleaning tricky - to - reach spots like stairway cranny or the corner of article of furniture . It ’s also modest and portable enough to use while detailing the upholstery or mats in your fomite .
The auto is very intuitive and prosperous to fix up ; we did n’t demand to overprotect with the unlike part or struggle to fill the tank . It worked well on big - timestains like red wineand dark soda , leaving petty - to - no vestige of the stains once dried . We also really like that this option is quite compact and is easy to store without take up a bunch of space .
The only thing you ’ll want to keep in mind is that it has a much smaller armoured combat vehicle electrical capacity than the other portable carpeting cleaners we ’ve test . It clock in at just 19 runny ounces , which is enough for belittled surface areas but might not be sufficient for larger Job .
How it Performed After Six Months
At home , the uncontaminating proved to be a life - saver for cleanse the couch our wiener regularly slumber on . It easy plow drool , foul paw marks , stains from pawl delicacy , and run out umber . We especially have it off the long office electric cord , which helps us reach areas we would n’t be capable to if it had a shorter cord .
Product detail : Weight:11 lbs |Surface Types : Upholstery and carpeting |Cord Length : NA |Capacity:19 ounces |Noise Level : mass medium
Best for Pets
Hoover CleanSlate XL Deep Clean Spot Cleaner
It ’s large enough for uninterrupted cleansing without being too backbreaking .
The hose nozzle is very unfaltering and can be bad to manoeuver .
Anyone who shares a home with pets knows that it requires a whole different layer of clean to ensure your house or apartment does n’t appear or smell like you , well , share it with favourite . We found the good portable rug cleaner for pets is without a doubt the Hoover . During testing , it resist out for its continuous cleaning abilities .
The tankful capacity sit at 96 fluid oz. , which is more than enough to take on tough business without having to block off and refill . What ’s more — despite its large armored combat vehicle electrical capacity , the motorcar librate only 11 pounds . It reigned supreme in terms of speed and efficiency when it come to removing tough stains .
The cleaner emits a bit more water than other option , which would make it bully forpet - relate accidentslike hairballs and waste . One matter to keep in idea is that the hose and nozzle are made from a stiff plastic that was hard to manoeuver around while cleaning . The plastic does moderate up a bit with even use , but can still be foxy to use in tight spaces .
The cleaner perform well on a mix of old and new stains . We especially wish the design of the machine — while it does have a few quirks ( distinctive of carpet cleaner in our experience ) , it ’s inflexible and stocky . We also care that it includes multiple brush heads ; the brush caput with rubber bristles has gotten a lot of use .
production Details : Weight:16 lbs |Surface Types : Carpets and Rugs |Cord Length:22 feet |Capacity:96 ounce |Noise Level : culture medium
Best for Cars
Hoover CleanSlate Pet Spot Cleaner
This cleansing agent comes with supererogatory tools to make cleaning easier .
We found the education were undecipherable and lacking .
When spillway occur inside your car , cleaning up can be a tricky effort . Because of the soaked quarters and severe - to - reach crevices , it ’s difficult to to the full get rid of the mess with normal cleanup tools . The just portable carpet cleaners take into account you to get into these tight spaces and get your fomite looking good as new .
The Hoover impressed us with its portability , power to fight stains , and helpful attachments . The innovation arrive at it a great choice to keep ready to hand for cleaning a machine , thanks to its convenient carrying handle that allow you behave it in one manus and practice the clean hosepipe in the other .
During testing , we find that the carpet cleanser needed very short water or cleaning solution to be effective in oppose stain , which make it easy to habituate on the go . The Hoover effortlessly removed umber and coffee stain from white carpet using the tight - smirch tool .
While the cleaner was also efficient at treat carmine wine and dirt , there was still a tiny shadow left after aim both of these spot , so we advocate trying to strip these types of fix as shortly as potential for best termination .
The Hoover took a little over five arcminute to get out of the box and set up , so you ’ll be capable to get to work soon after unboxing . However , when we tried remove the water tank to clean it , we recover it hard to reinsert it . As much as potential , we recommend keeping this gimmick integral to avoid wrestling the army tank back into place .
production item : Weight:9.4 pound |Surface Types : Carpet and upholstery |Cord Length:15 feet |Capacity:40 ounces |Noise Level:92 decibels
Best Cordless
Bissell Little Green Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner
This cordless carpet dry cleaner is lightweight and great for limpid spill and flying cleanups
May require a stronger cleaning answer for ruffianly stains
It does n’t get much more portable than cordless . The Bissell is lightweight , easy to maneuver , and has a retentive battery life — everything you would look for in a portable carpet cleansing agent .
From the same brand as our best overall , it ’s light enough to be carried with one hand , super quiet , and efficacious — all heavy qualities we love in the Pet Deluxe . But the cordless version is a bit easier to set up , lighter , and even more portable .
During examination , the equipment left not a mountain of dark soda behind , with 75 per centum remove after just one pass . Salsa and mud grunge were tough , taking us 30 - 50 passes while still not completely remove them . We felt spraying a warm answer directly on the carpeting would help break down the particles and lift tougher stains more effectively .
The cleaner has two modes – turbo and Eco , with turbo delivering higher suction superpower . disregardless of your choose mode , the cleaner has a long battery lifespan of up to 35 minutes . While testing , the battery lasted over four hours , a capital amount of clock time for move out lowly , spry deal .
And despite its summary size of it , we only had to empty the tank once after try out large - sized messes in the research laboratory . The equipment also comes with two attachments , one for cleaning and brush the rug and the other for the simple machine and hosiery itself .
Overall , we love this cordless carpet cleaner for its ease of maneuvering , cordless innovation , and cleaning effectuality for belittled , fresh messes . It ’s also a expectant option for those in small spaces cleaning upholstery furnishing , backbreaking - to - reach spots , carpeting stains , auto interiors , and patio piece of furniture .
We tended to make for this model more often than the original Little Green during foresighted - term examination because the cordless plan makes it a bit comfortable to manage . For households with less carpet we call up this model , with its 25 - 30 minutes of run time on eco fashion , is the gross choice .
mathematical product Details : Weight:4.85 pounds |Surface Types : Upholstery , carpet |Cord length : Cordless |Capacity:37 snow leopard |Noise Level:78
The Bottom Line
Our pick for the best overall portable rug cleaner is theBissell short Green Pet Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner , 3353 , because it ’s lightweight , easy to handle , and does n’t make a tidy sum of disturbance . We also loved theBissell Pet Stain Eraser Plusfor its low price and cordless portability .
Our Testing Process
To create our list , we put 21 different machine through their paces in our science laboratory in Des Moines , Iowa . We spent an entire daylight using these machines on stained , light - colored carpet to see how effective and easy to use they were . For every test , we used the manufacturer ’s recommended detergent .
First , we timed how long it took to assemble the dry cleaner , observe what the assembly process was like and how many step it guide to get ready for clean . We read the operating instructions to make certain they were helpful and take note the difficultness of positioning the tankful inside the auto .
Then we fill each tank with water to the recommended level , noting whether or not the machine agree well beneath a sink spigot and if a spray hose made filling - up easier .
Credit: Amazon
We also screen the portable carpet cleaners’effectiveness at take out stainsby using the equipment onstained rug with potting soil , chocolate , red wine , and coffee tree .
We made note of how many passes it took to get the carpet clean , whether or not the stains were wholly removed or still slightly visible , and if the dry cleaner was loose to handle as they worked . We also took note ofhow long the carpets accept to dryafter cleaning , checking every hour for dispassionateness .
lastly , we keep important factors like portability , weightiness , noise grade , and overall time value for the cost in mind as we made our list . Then , we took the top models home and tested them in daily life , tape our insights at two and six months .
The cleaner performed very well on tough stains like red wine and dark soda.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
What to Know About Portable Carpet Cleaners Before Shopping
Weight
We made note of how much each portable carpeting cleaner weighed and how heavy they in reality felt when in use , which is worth keeping in thinker as you shop .
Stain and Surface Types
When bet for portable carpet dry cleaners , consider what type of surfaces you ’ll need clean , and the most usual stains you anticipate . All of our picks can ferment oncarpet and upholstery . We found during examination that not all carpet cleansing agent cultivate equally well on unlike stain types .
We tested each machine in the lab on red wine , grease , chocolate , and burnt umber stains that had been left to soak in for 12 hours . At place , we used them in whatever direction made sense in our twenty-four hours - to - day life , from cleaning up preferred messes to cut across - in shite and mud todiscoloration get by years .
We took elaborate notes on which devices worked well ondifferent stain type , establish it easier for shoppers to make up one’s mind what portable carpeting cleanser to buy .
Cord Length
Another key factor to turn over is the power cord length on your carpet cleaner . Several portable carpet cleaners on our tilt are cordless , but as you ’re shop , view if you ’re going to apply it in the elevator car or in place that do n’t have an outlet nigh .
Also , keep in mind that assault and battery - powered theoretical account tend to have less powerful sucking than twilled devices . If you ’re dealing with in particular tricky messes , we recommend father one with a cord . We ’ve noted the electric cord length , when applicable , for each of our picks .
Tank Capacity
Tank capacity is an important element to consider , especially if you design on cleaning enceinte surface like an region rug or the upholstery in your car . The cooler capacitance determines how much dirt and gunk it can agree before needing to be refilled with clean water and resolution .
If you ’re using your portable carpet cleaner forquick spot cleanup , you may not necessitate a huge armored combat vehicle capacity , and other feature might take precedence . However , if you ’ll be far from a cesspit and a drain when clean , a larger tankful is important .
Decibel Level
If you ’ve ever used a loud vacuum or cleaning gizmo , you know the struggle with finding the right machine that cleans well without disrupt the whole sign . For testing , we measured the noise degree of each portable carpeting cleaner to learn which ace were pestiferous and which ones were n’t .
Other Portable Carpet Cleaners We Tested
Hoover Onepwr Spotless Go Cordless Carpet and Upholstery Spot Cleaner
While we liked how portablethis cordless machinewas , it officiate without water and only uses a cleaning gelatin . This was not enough to bump off most of the stains we try out it on , and we found that the machine was passing over stains without impact . to boot , the instructions were difficult to empathize .
Aqua Pro Vac Portable Carpet Cleaner Extractor Cleaning Vacuum Machine
This machinewasn’t effective enough to be worth purchase , according to our testing . While it did get the stains out of our test rug , it took many passes , and we find the hose awkward to expend . This , pair with the high price , put this portable carpet cleaner towards the bottom of our list .
Ecowell Portable Carpet Cleaner Machine
We likedthis little machineand find oneself it did very well on slopped grunge . However , it contend to removedry chocolate and pot soil stains . It ’s a reasonably good value for the price , but many others we tested were ranking .
Your Questions, Answered
What is the best carpet cleaner for home?
While more heavy - tariff rug cleaners exist for at - home carpeting maintenance , the best portable carpeting cleaners can get you really far .
Our top weft , theBissell Little Green Pet Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner , 3353 , is great for general use . We love that it can fit into cramped space easily and harness all sorts of grime like coffee , dirt , and wine .
For favorite owners , theBissell SpotClean Pet Proutilizes a special tool thatscrubs and suck off pet - specific messeslike pilus , hackles , and wastefulness . It also worked well on food stains , albeit with a few supernumerary go .
How can I clean my carpet at home like a professional?
Your carpet will need adeep cleaning at least once a year , accord to Cohoon . “ Depending on the fundament traffic in the room and presence of pets or kids in the family , carpets should besteam cleanedannually to keep grime from building up and elongate the life of your carpet , ” Cohoon says .
“ Be careful not to steam light too often , as the excessive wet or soap can damage carpet fiber . ” In between professional carpet cleaning , you may stay on top of inadvertent tumble and stains on your carpet , upholstery , and in your machine by using a portable carpet dry cleaner .
This can facilitate you maintain the appearance of your upholstery and flooring while keep off the scathe that excess liquid state can have .
Do I need a vacuum and a carpet cleaner?
While you mightreach for a vacuummore often to pluck up junk and debris , one automobile is not a replacement for the other . In fact , according to Stapf , hoover dampish carpetcan in reality be quite dangerous and result in lasting wrong to your vacuity .
“ stock vacuum are not equipped to handle wet , ” Stapf enjoin . “ contaminating H2O enter the vacuum may cause the buildup of mold or even damage the motor . In more serious cases , vacuuming a dampish or tight carpet can also end in burning . ”
Instead of vacuuming wet stains off of your carpet , we commend purchase a portable carpet cleaner , or multi - purposesteam cleaner , which is equipped to deal with moisture while powerfully removing detritus from your abode .
Who We Are
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the product on this list , you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval . product that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make certain they ’re deserving a place in your home . We buy most of the ware we screen ourselves , but occasionally we are provide samples by fellowship if buying is n’t an option . In these cases , we use the same testing criteria we practice to quiz the purchased product .
Looking for more products that have earned ourBHG Recommends stamp of approval ? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers .
Credit: Hoover
The Hoover CleanSlate removed marinara and mustard stains with ease, outperforming others.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Amazon
The Hoover CleanSlate needed little water and cleaning solution to effectively remove stains.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Despite the small size, the Bissell Little Green Cordless only needed to be emptied once during lab testing.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Despite the small size, the Bissell Little Green Cordless only needed to be emptied once during lab testing.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Where possible, we tested the portable carpet cleaners on upholstery as well as carpets.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Testers used a decibel reader to get exact measurements of the noise levels when the cleaners were running.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
The Hoover Onepwr did not perform as well on stains as other options we tried.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
