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We tested 73 rug and upholstery cleaner and found the best option for all households with furry friends .
In This Article
Better Homes & Gardens
Whether you ’re a self-aggrandising family unit or a smaller house , appease on top of clean house carpet and upholstery can be a major challenge . Add a dog , African tea , or multiple pets into the mix and you ’ve get a recipe for messy floors .
No matter how well - train your beast are — and how manypet hair cleaning toolsyou have — accident can happen . “ Try totreat stains or messes immediatelyto avoid foresighted - condition staining and price , ” saysKathy Cohoonfrom Two Maids and a Mop . Quite just , this means you ’ll need to bring quickly .

The Hoover ONEPWR SmartWash made a significant difference in the discoloration and odor from stains.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
One means to do that is touse a carpet cleaner . These machines are your best line of defense against stained carpet , upholstery , rug , and theseats in your vehicle . We taste 73 carpet and upholstery cleaners to find the best carpet cleaners for pet that plow stubborn stain from our dear four - legged friend .
What We Tested
We judge each carpet clean base on several categories includingsetup , noise stage , comfort of use , portability , note value , andeffectiveness , among other considerations . For more on how we try out carpet cleaners , readour testing processbelow .
Our Top Picks
Best Portable
Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner
This easy - to - use , lightweight automobile tackles all of the surprisal messes ducky make on both upholstery and carpet .
This is best used for smaller stains rather than a full rug cleansing .
The Bissell Little Green Max is unsubdivided to apply with only two options ( deep clean and rinsing ) , an on / off button , and a tank that fits under a faucet for light woof . We discover it to be perfect forunexpected pet messesand stain clean and jerk . At 8.2 pound , it ’s manageable to carry with one bridge player .

Credit: Target
The clear tank car — one for solution and one for dirty pee — make it easy to see your cleaning progress and when you may involve an empty or a refill . The cleaner comes with two brushes to tackle all thing favored : one toremove pilus from upholsteryand carpet and one for more intense dissipation .
We observe the rug cleaner to be one of the most effective we essay when tackle stains , especially on crap . It removed the majority of the Daucus carota sativa juice and all of the peanut butter , leaving no detectable variety in the carpet ’s texture . It alsoleft the rug mostly dryafter use .
There are some nice additional features that make the Bissell a top pick . For instance , the deep cleaning brushing has a ego - cleanse modality — simply press a button and it abandon all of the debris and hair that might have incur stuck in the hosepipe and head .

The five - ft hosepipe also allow you to clean in all sorts of rigorous areas , and you do n’t necessitate to valuate out the correct solvent to water ratio because the machine has technology to ruffle it for you . Its handsome drawback is the 32 - troy ounce mental ability ; for larger smirch , you ’ll need to frequently replenish the tankful .
Product item : Weight:8.2 Lebanese pound |Surface Types : Carpet , upholstery |Cord Length:15 feet |Capacity:32 ounce
Best for Upholstery
Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet Cleaner
The effective attachment like the stomach - out scissure tool and double - sided encounter help houseclean all eccentric of fabric .
It did n’t form as well on the dirt smirch .
The best part about the Shark StainStriker is its included accessories ; there ’s a 3.5 - inch reversible bristle tool for elusive stain , a 7 - inch pet dick that collects dirt and debris in its easy - to - empty chamber , and an integrate scissure tool on the snoot .

The crevice tool was our favorite during examination , as its powerful spray trigger and bristles help it get into the turning point of the couch and underneath the cushion . It ’s a unique accouterment that is especially useful forcleaning upholstery , as is the double - sided reversible brush with easygoing nubs fordelicate material .
Carrot juice and peanut butter dirt occur out very well , and the machine evenleft the carpet fresherthan it was before testing . But the dried malicious gossip became muddy and started to spread out out ; while elbow grease would likely get rid of it , we could n’t take away the entire spot during the allotted time .
At 8.5 quid , it ’s soft to carry , and the tank car did n’t call for refilling during our tests . The water tank unclicks with the push of a release and fit out underneath a spigot for straightaway refills . The mark uses a proprietary blend of two carpet cleaners that mix together in the urine tank , leaving a light , pleasant scent .

The Bissell Little Green Max was one of the most effective stain removers we tested, and worked especially well on dirt.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
We think this would be best for those who have pets that hang out on furniture , as it ’s really great for spot - clean couch and cushion .
mathematical product detail : Weight:8.51 pounds |Surface Types : Carpet , upholstery |Cord Length:12 invertebrate foot |Capacity:40.58 oz.
Best for Deep Cleaning
HOOVER ONEPWR SmartWash Carpet Cleaner
If you ’re await to brush up your entire carpet and get free of any embedded preferred stain , this is the undecomposed choice we tested .
This battery - power option has a more limited ravel meter than other twilled upright models in its class .
With a whopping 80 - ounce water tank , this upright carpeting dry cleaner is a powerhouse fordeep cleaning . There are some gracious features that make it endure out from other vertical , including an LED screen and a spot boost mood that works on tougher , more embedded stains .

But perhaps its most unique asset is its automatic cleaning office . It does n’t require a energy of a button to work , as affect the clean forward dispenses the answer , while pulling it backwards dry out the carpet . We found it incredibly easy to use , with a proficient brush roll and a relatively small-scale footmark .
At 15 pounds , it ’s a few pound lighter than some of the other upright models we tried , and only a act heavier than our favoriteportable carpet dry cleaner . During testing , it did well on dry stains than fresh one , which is why we think it will be a great selection fordeep cleaning embedded carpet stains .
The breadth of the brush roll allowed for dear clean over a large area , too . The water army tank was soft to fill from a sink , and the larger mental ability meant we only need to empty the muddy tank once during examination ( we did n’t need to replenish the answer ) .

While the cordless rechargeable option made it well-situated to employ anywhere , we found that it could be inconvenient for longer clean and jerk ; after 20 to 30 minute of uninterrupted use , you ’ll need to recharge it for at least a few hour before resuming .
Using the power boost also dwindle the electric battery quicker , shortening the time you have to houseclean . Even if you want to recharge the Hoover once or double , we think it ’s a bully option for clean whole room , especially for those with pets that haveworn down a carpetover time .
Product Details : Weight:15 pounds |Surface Types : Carpet |Cord Length : Cordless|Capacity:80 ounces

The Bottom Line
For a lightweight , portable option that does an excellent job removing fresh and dehydrated stains , we believe theBissell Little Green Maxis the good carpeting cleaner for ducky . However , if you ’re count toclean your upholsterythoroughly , theShark StainStrikeris another heavy option .
Our Testing Process
We try out 73 carpet cleansing agent over the course of 136 time of day , recording information for performance on 438 stains in the physical process . In a series of six test , we grade each one of the rug cleaner on factors like portability , effectiveness , and value .
We followed the manufacturing business ’s guidelines to set up each rug cleanser and fill it with a cleaning result . Next we created six different stains per modeling , including dry out and fresh carrot succus , dry out and saucy mud , and dried and fresh peanut butter .
For all stains , we take one go with the carpeting dry cleaner ( once over with spray and once back with the automobile ) . After log the resolution , we clean for up to five minutes or until the stain was fully murder ( whichever came first ) , and tape how many passes we needed overall .

After fill in cleansing , we empty the dirty water armoured combat vehicle and assess how much moisture was exit in the carpet fiber .
What to Know About Carpet Cleaners for Pets Before Shopping
Weight
The weightiness of a carpet cleanser is a major considerateness , especially if you ’re trying to clean up a pickle under furniture , on steps , or in the car . We noted both the listed weight and how grueling the carpet cleaners really felt to aid you make an informed conclusion .
take down that adding water to the armored combat vehicle will increase the overall free weight of the machine . The largest water tank car on our list ( theHoover Onepwr ) hold up to 80 snow leopard , which adds around 5 pounds when full . We paid particular attending to portability and ease of usance during our tests .
Surface Types
All of the carpeting dry cleaners on this listing can harness carpet and upholstery , which are the basal open most people would use them on . When look for a new cleaner , make trusted to observe what type ofsurfaces your pet is usually onand if the Cartesian product you ’re planning to purchase can tackle them .
We also essay these cleaners on carpeted stairs to assess their power to squeeze into tight corner and maneuver slippery areas . With upholstery , the biggest challenge is usuallycleaning between couch cushionsand in other crevices . TheShark StainStrikerstood out for its embedded crevice cleanser .
Cord Length
When shopping for a carpet cleaner for pets , a primal factor is the business leader cord length . As you ’re shopping , consider if you ’re go to expend the machine in spaces that do n’t have an vent closely . We ’ve noted cord length , when available , for all of our pick . Our top two options have 12- and 15 - invertebrate foot cord .
The best upright option is cordless , so although you ’ll have to consider shelling power when cleaning , you’re able to use it in any space without thinking of where an wall socket may be . That ’s the large upper side to a cordless carpet cleaner .
Capacity
As you take your cleaner all over your house , you wo n’t want to keep come back to a drain to floor out the dirty water . We observe the capacity of all the cleaner we tested .
It ’s crucial to remember if you ’re going to practice the cleanser for warm spot cleanups , you may not need that much electrical capacity . However , if you ’re dealing with ongoing declamatory messes , you might need a gravid tank .
TheBissell Little Green Max , our top portable pick , has a 32 - ounce armoured combat vehicle , while theShark StainStrikerhas a capacity of 40.58 ounces , and theHoover ONEPWRholds 80 ounces . During the Shark was the only one that did n’t need to be emptied or refill mid - clean .

Noise Level
If you ’ve ever had a loud vacuum or any form of appliance , you know the struggle with find the right auto that cleans well but does n’t terrify your animal companion . During examination , we looked for machines that were below 80 decibel , as this is the medium racket spirit level for carpet cleansing machines .
We found all three pick comparable to a functional vacuum , randomness - smart . For the duration of a clean , you should expect some commotion and possible difficulty carrying on a conversation , though nothing too extreme .
Other Carpet Cleaners for Pets We Tested
Tineco Carpet One Cruiser Carpet Cleaner
Thisupright carpet cleaneris fairly mellow - tech and need to be connected to WiFi and an app . And while it has some tech - forward characteristic like infrared dry out mode , it mold well well on dried stain than it did fresh . At its incredibly high damage , it did n’t make the cut .
Shark CarpetXpert HairPro Pet Carpet Cleaner with StainStriker
Thiscarpet cleanerworked especially well on peanut butter grease , leaving no lingering smell behind . It also had a courteous raiment of attachment . However , it was difficult to guide around because of its lowering base , and it was observably tacky than other models that we opt .
Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Plus at Bissell
Thiscordless modelis easy and commodious , and it did a prissy job of getting rid of stains . However , because it ’s built more like ahandheld vacuum , it ’s heavy and bulky to use , with a gruelling handle that we found uncomfortable .
Your Questions, Answered
How often should you shampoo your carpets if you have pets?
“ We recommendrefreshing your carpetsevery six month , but it ’s great to impart additional deep cleans if you notice your carpets amass [ soil ] or taking the brunt of soiled mitt and other deal pets bequeath behind , ” saysJay Kellis , chemist at Bissell . Cohoon notes it ’s important to keep on top ofspot cleaning any messes . “ Whileshampooing will facilitate elongate a rug ’s looksover time and give a in effect deep light , the key to keeping carpeting fresh with favorite around isvacuuming oftenand spot treating any pet - related stains . ”
How do you get old pet stains out of carpet?
It ’s possible , with a little pre - treating . Kellis says , “ Whilepretreating is important for any smirch , it ’s especially of import to do when you ’re tackling older , set - in stains . "
“ Pretreatment actually helps freshen a set - in stain , which dry out and loses moisture , becoming hard to transfer . believe of pretreating your rug likepretreating laundry brand , " he supply .
" With older stains , just spray your pretreatment , let it seat for five minutes , and then use a moist towel on the mark . It might take a few rounds of the same footmark to achieve complete stigma remotion . ” you’re able to also pretreat before using a carpet dry cleaner to raise effectivenss .

What is the best carpet cleaner for people with pets?
Pet owners primarily use carpet cleaners for pet accidents and preferent refuse , so it ’s important that it works particularly well on liquid stains and leaves carpets smell overbold . Leftover staining from hard pigment messes is probably less of a concern when it get along to pet waste material .
Other benefits are portability and ease of economic consumption , include the power to swap attachment heads or remove the water tankful . After these consideration , we recommend theBissell Little Green Max .
Who We Are
Alida Nugenthas over six years of commerce experience , specializing in gentle wind purifier , humidifiers , vacuums , cleanup , and production examination . For this update clause , she reviewed the testing upshot from our BHG research team , who evaluated each rug cleaner based on setup , noise level , ease of employment , portability , value , and effectiveness , and researched carpet cleaners to understand and render the data for readers . We also consultedJay Kellis , a apothecary at Bissell , andKathy Cohoonfrom Two Maids and a Mop for additional insight on carpet cleaners .
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the product on this listing , you may have acknowledge ourBHG Recommends sealing wax of approval . Products that earn the cachet have been put through rigorous testing to make certain they ’re worth a spot in your home . We grease one’s palms most of the products we test ourselves , but occasionally we are furnish sample by companies if buying is n’t an option . In these cases , we use the same examination criterion we use to quiz the buy merchandise .






The Shark StainStriker left the carpet even fresher than it had been before we started the test.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens












The Hoover Onepwr SmartWash uses a boost mode to work on tough, embedded stains.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens












We tested six stains per cleaner, both dried and fresh.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens

The Hoover Onepwr SmartWash has a water tank with an 80-ounce capacity.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens

The Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet Cleaner includes four attachments to use on stains of varying sizes.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens

We created two stains on a chair cushion to test with a DIY solution and each of the carpet cleaners to compare how well they lifted the stains.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens