Best Overall
Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner
Best Bang for the Buck
Hoover PowerDash Go Pet+ Spot Cleaner
Best for Stairs
Hoover Onepwr Go Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner
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vacuum cleaner might work well for removing dust and rubble from rugs and carpets , but they wo n’t serve with release or discolouration like a carpet cleansing agent . Handy portable rug dry cleaner are designed to remove stain with hot water , a cleaning solution , and suck tycoon . We tested the best portable carpet cleaners to find out which is best for specific types of situations as an alternative to employ a professional cleanup service .
Whileupright carpet cleanersare well suit for deeply - cleaning an total carpet or area rug , smaller and more portable carpet cleaner are fantabulous solutions for patch - cleaning and stain removal . It ’s typically as easy as filling the tank with hot hydrant water and cleaning solution , then spray the mixture onto the regard surface area and cancel to lift the stain . The suck vacancy then draws in the dirt and liquid to stick it into a separate “ unsportsmanlike ” tank . Most example are designed to knead on both carpet fibers andupholstered article of furniture .
We speak to Russ DeLozier , chair ofThe Carpet and Rug Institutebased in Dalton , Georgia , about the skilful way to keep carpet sporting . Besides vacuum-clean regularly , DeLozier apprize that owners “ clean spots and run out speedily with products that do n’t damage rug or cause it to resoil quickly . ” He also recommends professional deep - cleaning every 12 to 18 calendar month to transfer engraft grime and grime . What ’s the worst matter you’re able to do when spot - clean carpet ? DeLozier say to avoid rubbing or by chance smearing the spot : “ Do not scrub or use a brush on the spot or fall . Bristles and scrubbing can damage rug resulting in the possibility of fray and texture alteration . ” And finally , he says to ensure that the clean agent is wholly elicit from the carpet . “ If residual is leave on the carpet , the pip can easily become viscid , soused , or resoil chop-chop . ”
Keep these tips in idea when prefer the best portable carpeting cleaner from among our top picks , all of which incline to be easy to apply while also being effective .
How We Tested the Best Portable Carpet Cleaners
We tested each portable carpet cleaner according to an established rubric that included how well itspot - clean house stainson rug fibers and other surfaces , its efficiency in suctioning excess H2O , and the ease of cleaning the tank and persona . We stag the spray on a shell of 0 to 4 to determine their score .
First , we fill each cleaner with its appropriate cleaning solution , travel along the instruction from the manufacturer . We then used the simple machine and various attachments , if applicable , on unlike types of stain , mention how well it removed the mark with each tool and how well it suction the spare urine . last , we clean the components to determine how easy it was to clean , reassemble , and store the rug cleaners .
Our Top Picks
We ’ve put some of the top portable carpet cleaner for post - cleansing through their paces with hands - on testing in genuine - world app . The following picks are organized by their performance and are based on component such as enduringness , tank capacity , free weight , cord duration , and sucking power .
The Bissell Little Green portable rug cleaner is a various machine . It can be used to clean house carpets , upholstery , stair , area carpet , and car interiors . It has sinewy sucking capability , efficiently removing brand from the soft surfaces in a home . Bissell ’s portable carpeting cleansing agent has obliterable weewee tanks that are easy to sate and clean , each of which has a capacity of 48 ounces . It includes a 3 - in tough - discoloration tool , a HydroRinse peter bond , and a sample - size feeding bottle of the brand ’s cleansing resolution .
Bissell is one of the top carpeting cleaning brands specializing in preferred stain remotion . As such , the Bissell Little Green upholstery cleansing agent is a popular portable carpet cleansing agent for pet owners due to its cleaning big businessman and easiness of use . We care that the Bissell Little Green has a good - size tank for clean water and wastewater . It ’s lightweight , and its 15 - foundation cord makes it easy to move around . We specially like the HydroRinse self - cleaning cock attachment that reserve users to scavenge the hose without spilling water everywhere . The Little Green is easy to use and clean , making it the top selection for portable carpet cleaning .
study our full revue : Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner
Get the Bissell Little Green portable carpet cleansing agent atAmazon .
The Hoover PowerDash Go Pet+ portable spot cleaner features a 4 - substructure hose and two interchangeable tools : a Spot and Stain Pet Tool that scrubs and lifts away messes and a Rubber Nubs Tool that we appreciated for its ability to make clean the carpet without potentially clogging the hosepipe . It also features threefold tanks to keep clean resolution and dirty water separate , and it come with a sampling - sizing Hoover Paws & Claws premixed place - cleaning solution .
Weighing in at 6.5 pounds , this twilled carpet cleansing agent is a succinctly designed variation of the democratic Hoover Onepwr Spotless Go Cordless Carpet Cleaner with a few more feature . The Cartesian product ’s calorie-free free weight made it easy to use , and we found it easy to contain around the house , peculiarly up and down stairs .
Get the Hoover PowerDash portable carpet cleansing agent atAmazon .
Those with carpeted steps or runners that get lots of traffic might opt for the Hoover Onepwr Go portable rug dry cleaner . Weighing in at 7 pounds , it ’s featherlight and ideal for sway up and down gradation .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
With no need for true forum , the machine was ready to apply in less than a minute from opening the box . All we needed to do was pour in the let in bottle of solution , overstretch the trigger , and get clean house . go it is simple , and we found there was no indigence to study a production manual of arms . In increase to being idealistic for step maintenance , this is a fantastic choice for prompt killing and put up pet accident triage . This portable rug cleaner excels for spot cleaning as well as preventing underage messes from becoming major problem .
It ’s important for user to keep in mind that the Hoover Onepowr cordless carpet unobjectionable lacks in power what it make in portability . We find it worked well on hard - to - make stains , though it need a bit of elbow lubricating oil to remove deeply set up - in smear and turd . It may not be enough for super - toughened messes .
Another issue to keep in intellect is that this brand is organise to work with Hoover ’s cleaning solvent only . This can be slightly frustrative because proprietor are later locked into buy a specific product , especially one that has a bit of a chemic smell . Still , it ’s an affordable cleaning tool that get the Book of Job done .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Get the Hoover Onepwr portable carpeting cleaner atAmazonorHoover .
Best Professional
Bissell SpotClean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner
Bissell is a well - make love brand in the rug - cleaning industry , and this is among the most knock-down of its portable models designed for dwelling house use . It provides mystifying - cleansing on rug , step , upholstery , and auto interiors . The SpotClean Pro comes with a 6 - inch step tool , a 3 - inch tough - stain tool , and a sample bottle of the brand ’s Pro Max Clean + Protect Formula . It has a 96 - ounce tank capacity and a ready to hand 20 - foot cord . It weighs 13.25 pounds .
We were highly impressed with the Bissell SpotClean auto ’s cleaning power . It has a powerful 5.7 amp motor that delivers incredible suck power . It ’s easy to break up and unobjectionable , and we peculiarly loved the extra - retentive hosiery and great power cord that made maneuvering the machine a breeze . The carry handles on the tanks were a nice bonus , too . It ’s a heavy machine and one of the most expensive on our inclination . However , for those who live in a multiple - pet family or have untested children , this political machine can help combat those frequent stain on carpets .
Get the Bissell favored dirt remover atWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Steam
Costway Heavy-Duty Multipurpose Steam Cleaner
Although most rug cleaners on the marketplace are extraction - expressive style cleaners that habituate raging water faucet water , some the great unwashed favor the performance of a steam cleaner . stock carpet cleaners do a swell job of take out dirt ; however , they can not disinfect . Steam dry cleaner , meanwhile , obviate most bacteria , viruses , pathogen , layer bugs , and mould . Another cardinal benefit of a steam cleaner is that it can be used on both hard and sonant surfaces .
The Costway heavy - tariff multipurpose steam cleansing agent can clean tile , chalk , and metal surfaces as well as rug . This portable rug cleaner has a 16 - foot big businessman corduroy , a 51 - troy ounce armoured combat vehicle , and comes with 18 handy accessary for cleaning dissimilar types of surfaces . We witness that it took between 8 and 9 minutes for the water to heat up to the maximum temperature of 226 degree Fahrenheit , and once the water system was blistering , the machine operated for up to 40 bit .
While this 10.8 - pound machine is not project to remove stains from the carpeting , the cleaner ’s high - steam temperature and pressure up to four bars allowed it to expeditiously remove poop and disinfect various surfaces . During our testing , we discover that the cleaner did in fact not dispatch stains . However , it did a good job transfer dirt and otherwise performed well as a steam cleaner , gain it a suitable choice for ecumenical cleaning and disinfecting any balmy or hard surfaces without chemicals .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Costway portable carpeting cleaner atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Best for Tough Stains
Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner
The Rug Doctor was design to tackle the toughest brand , specially pet stains . Featuring a Dual - Action Pet Tool with rubberise bristles , the machine easy tackles unaffixed pet hair on carpet , area rug , steps , article of furniture , upholstery , best-loved seam , and mattresses while removing pet stains and odor . It has a generous 64 - ounce tank car , which means less refilling through big or multiple jobs . The Rug Doctor also has twice the suction power of other like portable spot cleaner .
In our testing , we establish that The Rug Doctor outperformed most other cleaners in suction and remove tough stains . The powerful motor delivers extended runtime and surplus sucking big businessman , making it ideal for many spot - cleaning task . It is a heavy car , though , and because it ’s front heavy , it ’s cumbersome to expect around . However , the motorcar features wheels and a carrying handgrip to avail make it easier to maneuver and move between sphere . And while it ’s an expensive political machine , for those who have multiple favorite , this may be an fantabulous addition to a cleaning arsenal to removetough stain .
Get the Rug Doctor portable carpet clean atAmazon , The Home Depot , orWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
Best for Deep-Cleaning
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet
Pet owner and anyone who wears shoes indoors know that rug can become lousy and stained with crap . Fortunately , the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet hold out up to its name . It has the revolutionary magnate to get that deep - down embedded dirt that even wash rugs in the wash auto ca n’t seem to raise out .
This auto weighs a hefty 17.5 Egyptian pound , so if the dog or computed tomography has an occasional accident or kids ’ the boot get a small muddy in the winter , extract out this carpet cleaner is probably going to be overkill to rid carpet of those occasional stains . However , if a carpet is hard to strip or there ’s a lot of progress - up dirt , users will recover that clean it with the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet wo n’t disappoint .
Both powerful ( we really felt the motor on this one ) and smartly designed , the Bissell ProHeat has a Max Clean Mode that did an admirable line of work removing dirt and grunge as well as allergens . We especially take account the Express Clean Mode that cleans in a way that allows the carpet to dry out in 30 minutes . Although it ’s heavy , it put to work well for a quick touch - up before having people over for a family dinner .
Photo: walmart.com
The other thing we wish about this carpet cleanser was that it has a hose and two attachment — one for best-loved discolouration and one for ruffianly stains . Although it is a large machine , it can get into tight spaces such as corners and step with ease . The Dual Dirtlifter Powerbrushes have a generous 12 rows of bristle to remove stick - on stain .
The only matter we did n’t wish is that it ’s hard to maneuver the Bissell from one type of knock down to another ; user will need to angle it up on the wheel to move it from hard floor to carpet . Still , once it is on the carpet , it go around with ease .
Get the Bissell ProHeat portable carpeting cleaner atAmazon , Walmart , orTarget .
Photo: amazon.com
ALSO TESTED
We also prove theBlack+Decker Spillbuster Cordless Spot Cleaner . Although it retails for a cost that ’s standardized to that of our top plectrum , it did not meet our standard . While the machine does feature a wide nozzle for speedy and exhaustive pickup , we found that the nozzle did not spray in an even current . or else , the spray was very patchy , so it was voiceless to utilise the cleaner . Additionally , we found that it did not clean house efficiently .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Buying a Portable Carpet Cleaner
Though you might sham that all carpeting cleaners work the same way , several characteristics can affect their functionality . Here are some of the most important design features to consider when shopping for the best portable carpet cleanser .
Tank Capacity
Portable rug dry cleaners typically have a tank capacity between three - quarters of a gallon and 1 gallon , or 96 ounces and 128 ounces . Some models have just one tank , while others have two storage tank : one for water supply and one for acleaning formula . A gamey - capacity tankful allows a user to cleanse more before bar to refill it .
Designed to spot - clean modest area , a portable rug cleaner ’s urine reservoir capacity in all likelihood is n’t a make - or - break characteristic since it ’s not in all probability many abode users will go through a full tank of water in one cleansing session . The capability of the dirty water tank also can matter ; if it ’s too small , it will need more frequent emptying .
Weight
A portable carpeting cleansing agent should be easy to move around a home , so it ’s important to deal the weight unit of the model . The more muscular a portable rug cleanser is , though , the heavier it tends to be .
Most models on the market place weigh less than 14 pound . That ’s the weight unit of the machine itself and does not include the extra weight of a full tank of water andcleaning result .
They are not quotidian appliances , so portable carpeting cleaners usually postulate to be compact enough to stow off easily in a closet .
Photo: amazon.com
Cord Length
Cord lengths for portable carpet cleaner typically range from 14 to 20 feet . Generally speaking , a longer cord is good because it will admit a user to easily manoeuver the cleaner without having to explore for a new wall release .
A cord length of 15 feet or long is usually idealistic . For cleaning hard - to - attain areas and the interiors of elevator car , a handheld cordless model can be the most convenient selection .
Power and Suction
The business leader evaluation of a portable carpet cleaner is typically measured in amps . cave in that these devices are meant to be lightweight and easy to use , their motor are small , usually between 3 and 10 ampere . While one may think that a higher power rating mean superior functioning , some of the top models on the market are only 4 or 5 amp .
sucking power is an important consideration because a portable carpet cleaner needs to leave as little piddle on a carpeting as possible . Not only is it inconvenient when the carpet or rug takes a longsighted time to dry , but long dry clip can also lead in thedevelopment of mildew .
Durability
Portable carpet dry cleaners are designed to be durable , and because they ’re used relatively infrequently , they should well last for several class . One element that does lean to require substitution is the hose .
Portable carpeting cleaners ’ hoses occasionally break away and leak , so it ’s helpful to research which carpeting neat producer sell hoses as superfluous parts . Then , it can easy be replaced if it fails .
FAQs
There is a fate to consider when buy at for the good carpet cleaners for bit - cleaning , so it ’s understandable if there are some lingering or specific questions . Below are answers to some of the most oft ask questions about portable rug dry cleaner .
Q. Is an upright model better than a portable carpet cleaner?
Upright carpet cleaners and portable rug cleaners serve different purposes . unsloped models are design to strip entire rugs or carpets , while portable model are designed for topographic point - cleanup .
Q. Should I clean the tank of a portable carpet cleaner?
Ideally , the tanks of a portable rug cleaner should be emptied and cleaned after each use .
Q. Do professional cleaning companies use portable carpet cleaners?
Some cleanup companies use more powerful steam cleansing agent to take away carpet stains , while others use portable carpet cleaners .
Meet the Tester
Amanda Lauren is an interior design , lifestyle , and clean expert who has written for many publication including Forbes , veridical Simple , and Better Homes and Gardens . She has prove a variety of products for the BobVila.com including vacuums , swob , shower squeegee , and more . She prefers to clean with vinegar and water whenever possible , and favorite grime are the bane of her existence .
Additional inquiry allow by Savannah Sher and Debbie Wolfe .
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