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While spot cleaning may remove some stains, stubborn ones will only come out with adeeper clean.

Three upright carpet cleaners we tested siting on a carpet in a living room

Credit:Southern Living

Angela Brownis a professional cleaner and the CEO of Savvy Cleaner in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Weve curated the best carpet cleaners to use on all types of stains.

Keep reading to find the best carpet cleaner for your home.

Bissell 35799 ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner

Credit: Amazon

We found that this machine removed most of the coffee, red wine, and soil stains.

We also found that pet stains were easy to remove using this machine.

There was also a maximum fill line which helped us to know how much water the tank could hold.

A carpet with dirt being rubbed into it and a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799 laying next to a clean rug

Credit: Southern Living

It only took us about eight minutes to put this machine together.

We found that we were able to remove the soda andwine stains from our carpetwithout any issues.

Besides food and drink stains, mold is also no match for this cleaner.

Person removing the liquid container from a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799

Once our carpet had dried off, we noticed that it felt more stiff.

The only part that we had to attach was the hose.

As we were cleaning up, this carpet cleaner easily removed the dirt stains.

Close up of the front of a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799 while it’s cleaning up stains on carpet

And, once we were done with the cleanup, the rugs appearance was greatly improved.

As we continued to use this product, we found this cleaner has a harder time removing older stains.

Therefore, we would recommend that you use it to clean up fresh stains.

Hand attaching the hose to the front of a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799

And one drawback to its size is that its better suited for larger or empty rooms.

But with this portable carpet cleaner from Bissell, you wont have any trouble.

We also didnt have any trouble with filling up the water tank (thanks to the rubber stopper).

Close up of the bristles on the handheld tool of a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799

Another attachment that helped us was the 3-in-1 stair tool.

Using it, we were able to easily clean our carpet, upholstery, and stairs.

We found that this cleaner handles drink stains better than food stains.

A carpet with dirt being rubbed into it and a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799 laying next to a clean rug

If we needed to rinse out the hose, we could easily do so with the hydro cleaner tool.

Plus, the tough stain tool made it easy to remove stubborn stains.

Next, we filled the tank with water and stopped at the recommended water level.

Person removing the liquid container from a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799

After that, we weighed the full carpet cleaner, taking note of the measurements in the same units.

After waiting 10 minutes, we tried to sweep up the dry debris using a broom and dustpan.

If that method didnt work, we used paper towels.

Close up of the front of a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799 while it’s cleaning up stains on carpet

If we werent able to remove the stains using paper towels, we then tried the carpet cleaners.

For each stain, we spent no more than 5 minutes trying to remove them.

Before the test, we started a timer.

Hand attaching the hose to the front of a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799

If the cleaner came with multiple noise levels, we made sure to record each one.

Next, we poured out the dirty water and cleaned out the tanks and filters.

For this test, we took a paper towel and pressed it into the designated area.

Close up of the bristles on the handheld tool of a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799

If the area was dry, we stopped the timer and recorded the time.

If the area was still wet, we waited 10 minutes and repeated the paper towel test.

We also recorded a percentage of the wet area of the carpet.

Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner

Credit: Walmart

Then, as youre cleaning, the water sprays onto the carpet to loosen up dirt and debris.

Next, the carpet cleaner sucks the dirty water up and moves it to a separate tank.

Brown says that there is not a standard amount for each tank because they tend to vary by brand.

A person carrying the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner

Credit: Southern Living

Maintenance

Brown advises emptying the water tank after each use.

Once you clean the tanks, leave the caps off so the tank can dry out.

To prevent clogging in the hose and nozzle, spray clean water through them to remove dirt and debris.

Brush attachment for the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner displayed on carpet

We also recommend properly wrapping the cord up so that it stays free of kinks.

On the downside, we found it to be heavy and difficult to maneuver in small spaces.

Questions and Answers

How do carpet cleaners work?

Hands using the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner to clean a stained carpet swatch

Is it better to shampoo or steam clean carpets?

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your carpet’s condition and particular cleaning needs, says Brown.

If youre primarily focused on removing dirt and allergens, its best to steam-clean your carpet.

A person carrying the tank of the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner

This method also leaves behind less residue.

How often should you clean your carpets?

Brown recommends vacuuming low-traffic areas at least once a week to remove dirt, dust, and pet hair.

A person pouring the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner’s soap into a measuring cup

Its also recommended to have your carpet professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months.

The spot cleaning attachment of the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person carrying the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner

Brush attachment for the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner displayed on carpet

Hands using the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner to clean a stained carpet swatch

A person carrying the tank of the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person pouring the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner’s soap into a measuring cup

The spot cleaning attachment of the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner

Amazon Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V

Credit: Amazon

Person putting dirt onto a carpet and a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V on top of a carpet with stains

Credit: Southern Living

Person using a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V to clean up stains on a carpet

Close up of the bristles on the handheld tool to a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V

Person holding the handheld tool with both hands to a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V while cleaning the carpet

Person emptying out the liquid container to a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V

Person putting dirt onto a carpet and a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V on top of a carpet with stains

Person using a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V to clean up stains on a carpet

Close up of the bristles on the handheld tool to a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V

Person holding the handheld tool with both hands to a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V while cleaning the carpet

Person emptying out the liquid container to a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V

Rug Doctor Trudeep Cleaner

Credit: Rug Doctor

Hand pouring liquid on a carpet before testing a Rug Doctor Trudeep Cleaner and a hand cleaning a carpet

Credit: Southern Living

Close up of a Hoover Pro Clean Pet Carpet Cleaner FH51050 cleaning up stains on a carpet

Close up of the bristles on the handheld tool to a Rug Doctor Trudeep Cleaner

Person kneeling on a carpet while using the handheld tool to a Hoover Pro Clean Pet Carpet Cleaner FH51050

Close up of the handle on a Rug Doctor Trudeep Cleaner

Hand pouring liquid on a carpet before testing a Rug Doctor Trudeep Cleaner and a hand cleaning a carpet

Close up of a Hoover Pro Clean Pet Carpet Cleaner FH51050 cleaning up stains on a carpet

Close up of the bristles on the handheld tool to a Rug Doctor Trudeep Cleaner

Person kneeling on a carpet while using the handheld tool to a Hoover Pro Clean Pet Carpet Cleaner FH51050

Close up of the handle on a Rug Doctor Trudeep Cleaner

BISSELL Little Green

Credit: Best Buy

A close-up of stains on upholstery before and after cleaning with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

Credit: Southern Living

A hand cleaning a section of stained carpet with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person holding the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner and a sound reader

A person using two hands to pat a rug testing the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person pouring a solution into the tank of the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person holding the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person wiping a stain with a towel to test the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person holding the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner by its handle

A person using the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner on a cushion

A close-up of a person cleaning with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person cleaning a cushion with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A close-up of a person cleaning with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A close-up of stains on upholstery before and after cleaning with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A hand cleaning a section of stained carpet with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person holding the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner and a sound reader

A person using two hands to pat a rug testing the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person pouring a solution into the tank of the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person holding the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person wiping a stain with a towel to test the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person holding the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner by its handle

A person using the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner on a cushion

A close-up of a person cleaning with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A person cleaning a cushion with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

A close-up of a person cleaning with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

Person adding dirt to a carpet to test out various stains using a Hoover Powerscrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner FH68002V

Credit:Southern Living

Person’s hand using the handheld tool to a Hoover Dual Spin Pet Carpet Cleaner FH54050V on a carpet

Credit:Southern Living

Close up of the front of a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 35799 while it’s cleaning up stains on carpet

Credit:Southern Living