Best Carpet Cleaner (2021 Updated) – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Best Carpet Cleaner 2021

Humans have four basic needs food, clothes, shelter, and sex. Lives of millions of people are governed by these essential needs, and without them, we can’t expect a contented life. It’s normal human behavior, and there’s nothing wrong with it.

Like we have our taste in food and clothes, the shelter has its very own importance. A shelter is a primary means of protection and the basic necessity of survival. We do love having our own houses. We build them with passion, we paint them, we decorate them, and we renovate them. There are thousands of accessories we buy to make our home beautiful.

We have marble vases, curtains, mattresses, carpets, couches, tables, chairs, and many more things I can’t even write on a single sheet of paper. But interior design isn’t my main concern here. I bought my carpet some three months ago, and it had some perfect design. Everything was going fine until Tyson, my four-legged friend, decided to destroy that flat beauty.

I mostly use a vacuum cleaner for cleaning purposes, but the dirt immersed into the carpet, and it started giving an awful odor.

In any case, I left with no option but to get this carpet cleaned through cleaning solutions. However, I felt severe problems when I found out that these carpet cleaners are way too expensive.

On a lighter note, I was like, “Tyson! You are going to pay for this boy”. But anyway, it’s something that happens quite often with all of us. Before giving you my recommendations, I would like to clarify some important things.

Vacuum Cleaner Vs Carpet Cleaner:

Did you know that ancient civilizations used to have carpets in their homes? Well, historians predict that carpets are around there for some 9000 years, which’s pretty much old.

The Pazyryk carpet is one of the best carpet cleaner and a good example which is at least 2000 years old.

Not going off-topic, the vacuum cleaner is most used to remove dust and stains from the carpets and is very good at it.

Modern vacuum cleaners clear off the dirt and spray sprinkles of perfume to get rid of weird smells. Coming to carpet cleaners, they are an expensive solution. You see, you aren’t going to use them until the vacuum cleaner stops working. Vacuum cleaners sure have some limitation, and they can’t remove stains like:

1. Juice or any other liquid absorbed into the carpet.
2. Mud
3. Adhered animal hairs
4. Bubblegums

And the list goes on. The vacuum cleaner is there for routine daily cleaning and can’t help us remove the strains mentioned above. So here’s where carpet cleaner proves their importance. You see, the market is saturated with thousands of Best Carpet Cleaners and we don’t know what’s the right option to choose. This catalog provided you with some of the best and tested Carpet Cleaners that perform well beyond their life.

This is the best-rated carpet cleaner on the market right now picked by our reviewers:

1. Bissell 86T3 best home carpet cleaner (Best Choice)
2. Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 – Best Carpet Cleaner
3. BISSELL DeepClean Deluxe, 36Z9
4. Bissell 3624 SpotClean Carpet Cleaner
5. Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Cleaner
6. BISSELL SpotClean Anywhere Portable, 97491
7. Hoover Carpet Cleaner Steam Vacuum
8. Shark Sonic Duo Best Cleaner
9. Royal Pro Series Ultra Spin best carpet cleaner
10. McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe

1. Bissell 86T3 best home carpet cleaner (Best Choice)

In the market for the best home carpet cleaner, there are only two options. One is Bissell, and the others could be anyone.

Our guide includes as many as six cleaners from Bissell, and I would explain why at the end. It is one of the oldest companies in the field, and according to Michigan Live’s report, Bissell owns more than 20% of the market share in the US of floor care products.

Named after Melville Bissell, it has been vacuum cleaners and carpet cleaners since the mid-19^th century.

Specifications:

In terms of design, it is one big carpet cleaner with a large storage capacity. Overall, the body color is green, and Bissell has named it as a deep cleaner. As explained above, we need a deep cleaning of stubborn stains, and 86T3 knows how to deal with it.

With one-gallon water storage, you don’t have to refill the cleaner again and again. Thanks to a 25 ft. long cord, you can expand your cleaning area to the whole room.

However, it’s quite bulky and hard to move. 9 ft. the long hose works very efficiently and has excellent suction power. Greater suction power helps the carpet to dry out an ineffective time.

Bissell 86T3 comes with an extra-large dirt lifter power brush for deep cleaning. It performs very well when it comes to embedded dirt without hurting the carpet. The company has provided with its very own formula solution to deal with persistent blotches.

And in the end, we have a five-year full-length warranty that is more than enough for a cleaner. There are not many shortcomings except for the design itself. It’s a little bit heavier than expected. At 53 pounds, it might take extra effort from you to move. But yeah, we all know it has to be designed that way.

2.Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 – Best Carpet Cleaner

Rug Doctor is one of the best carpet cleaner and a notable name in the cleaners’ industry. Still, they are known more specifically for renting vacuum and carpet cleaners at affordable rates.

Furthermore, they provide professional advice and servic1.e for better cleaning. The service is somewhat expensive, but it will indeed oust your headache of carpet cleaning.

At this point, Rug Doctor offers renting services at more than 40k locations countrywide, and the company is expanding its services to twenty more countries.

Specifications:

It is available in three variants with a significant difference in cleaning solutions and additional accessories. We have a blue-colored machine with a handle at the top. The storage tank has a white color body with a Rug Doctor’s logo on it. We have two solid tires at the end that support the movement in all directions.

The overall machine size is 3 ft., making it easier to move around for an average person. Mighty Pro X3 sure has the upper hand when we compare its properties with Bissell 86T3. Three gallons of storage capacity is more than enough to clean the whole room. Furthermore, it has an even longer cord to move the cleaner to every corner.

Accompanied by its very own pet formula solution, it eliminates the odor of urine or any other smelly liquid. Another great addition is the neutralizer, which neutralizes the unpleasant smells of perfume.

However, there are some very crucial things to discuss here. First of all, we have only a one-year warranty on this product which doesn’t create a perfect company’s perception. Secondly, the higher capacity for water means even more weight. Although its tires are pretty much, I don’t think it’s a good move to carry on that much weight.

And finally, I think it’s a bit overpriced too. The best scenario for having this cleaner is to have a large house where you’ll need the extra-performing device.

3.BISSELL DeepClean Deluxe, 36Z9

And there’s another excellent cleaner from Bissell. Bissell’s exciting thing is that they have a weird codename for every device, which is 36Z9 in this case. It could be an engineering model name, but that’s not our concern here.

DeepClean Deluxe is an affordable alternative to Bissell Big Green Deep, and yes, it’s one of the best carpet cleaners and not big this time.

Specifications:

Now, this is something I call innovation. We have a triangular design in a grey color. We have a handle on the top, followed by Bissell’s logo and the brand’s name. On the lower end, we have the power button and finally the storage tank. It’s not as heavy as the previous two cleaners, and the overall design looks acceptable to me.

Talking about the features, we have Pet Hair Basket, a vented basket that captures hairs before they get to the water tank. It can be removed and cleaned separately. The stain tool works seamlessly and performs neat scrubbing. This cleaner comes with heatwave technology that keeps the water level uniform throughout the process.

Another great feature is surrounded suction that helps cleaning the furniture too. If you are a pet owner, this product has everything you need to clean the mess. Bissell packs an odor cleansing formula along with the machine to remove the urine’s smell.

Not the best cleaner in the market, but it indeed pays off its price. It’s a good cleaner and works pretty well for light cleaning. Doing heavy cleaning is not a little boy’s job. But I think this is fine when we talk about affordability.

4.Bissell 3624 SpotClean Carpet Cleaner

If you are wondering how much share does Bissell has in our best cleaners list, it’s almost 70% and that’s interesting.

You see, this is one of the few areas where the market isn’t saturated. Another interesting thing to note about Bissell is that each of their cleaners has its own design and specific purpose.

For instance, Bissell 3624 SpotClean is a snail shape cleaner with portability as a superior objective.

Specifications:

We have a snail-shaped design with a black color scheme. The cleaner has a handle on the top to move around. Everything is made up of plastic (almost), while the storage tank is visible thanks to transparent glass. You can wrap the suction pipe around one side. The design looks pretty good, and using glass on the top is an excellent move. We have two significant advantages of spot cleaner. First of all, it is portable.

You see, it weighs only 13 pounds, which isn’t much to lift. So there’s no problem moving it from place to place. It also helps when you need to clean areas such as stairs to move the machine up and down. Secondly, it has one of the best price tags you are going to find. There aren’t many cleaners under $150, and SpotClean is one of the best in the club. My team had no issues with performance.

After all, I don’t expect the same performance as flagship models, but still, it has some perfect moves to counter tough stains. 22 ft. the long cord is satisfying and keeps the suction pressure built along the length. I talked to some regular users about the performance, and they had no issues either.

However, some reported that the hose is somewhat weak and vulnerable to breakage. Furthermore, you will have to refill the tank more often as we do not have a good storage capacity

5.Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Cleaner

And finally, a non-Bissell cleaner that works as good as other cleaners.

Hoover started its operation in the 20^th century in the UK and became the market leader in no time.

Even more, people often used to call vacuum cleaners as Hoover cleaners at that time.

According to statistics by Amazon, Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe is a budget-oriented carpet cleaner, and it was the best-selling cleaner of 2016.

Specifications:

It has the very same design as BISSELL DeepClean Deluxe with a little bit different color combinations.

We have a long handle on the top, followed by the mixer. It has small storage tanks below it and finally the bottom with brushes.

We have a wheel on each side for easy movement across the room. It weighs only 19 pounds. Making is second only to Bissell SpotClean. Hoover has intelligently used the Force-Couple system for better removal of dirt out of the carpet. We have four circular brushes that move in a direction opposite to each other, ejecting all dirt out of the carpet’s skin effectively.

Heatwave technology keeps the water hot and helps to dry out the carpet even quicker. Hoover has taken detergent mixing thanks to the mixer at the top that blends solution with water for effective yielding. And finally, it is lightweight and easy to carry anywhere.

Suction power is excellent, and the dirt removal process is convincing. There aren’t any significant bluffs in the performance and strength of the machine. It just takes time to cover the whole room because of the smaller storage tank.

6.BISSELL SpotClean Anywhere Portable, 97491 best carpet cleaner for car

We have the fourth product from Bissell, and this time it’s SpotClean Anywhere Portable with weird model number 97491. It’s a small little guy with a height of 16 inches only.

To me, it’s just a redesign consideration by Bissell because there aren’t many visible improvements in other parameters such as efficiency and spot cleaning.

Let’s have a look at the specifications first.

Specifications:

It might not be the best-priced cleaner out there, but indeed it is the one with minimum weight. It looks more like a small water container because of its size. We have a short handle on the top backed by the cord section

Storage is divided into two parts with a transparent covering. The mighty Bissell logo resides at the center. Bissell’s SpotClean series focuses mainly on point stains that need aggressive cleaning. It has a 3 inches—tough stain tool for efficient scrubbing.

I have seen people complaining about the carpet’s damage due to rough scrubbing, but that’s not in this case. Furthermore, the company provides detergent solutions named Trial Size Formula. It includes an Oxygen boost formula and a pet stain and odor removal formula. This cleaner is specified for cleaning of stairs, auto-interiors, and upholstery thanks to its size.

Thanks to heatwave technology (which is now part of every Bissell’s cleaner), it provides smooth and better cleaning. However, I noticed leakage in the machine after intense use. Not that I used it for a more extended period, but it had some material issues.

I felt that the material’s strength had been compromised for the sake of lightweightness, and that doesn’t make it appealing at all. You may not face this issue, but the plastic of the machine isn’t perfect.

7.Hoover Carpet Cleaner best carpet steam cleaner

Did you know Hoover’s first vacuum cleaner was invented by Canton and James Murray Spangler in 1908?

Spangler actually made few alterations to Bissell’s carpet cleaner by attaching a fan motor, boom handle, and soaping section.

Seeing the opportunity, William Henry Hoover bought its patents from Spangler, and now we know the company by the name “Hoover.” Hoover Carpet Cleaner’s best carpet steam cleaner seems to be an improved version of Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe.

It is an upright cleaner with some fancy use of technology.

Specifications:

I don’t see any significant changes in this best carpet cleaner’s design unless we talk about the color scheme. Modern-day cleaners come with a transparent storage section, so is this cleaner. What impressed me is the Clean Surge Control. Some areas have badly ingrained spots that need hard cleaning.

Thanks to Surge Control, you can release more detergent for easy removal. SpinScrub technology, which is the signature technology of all Hoover cleaner, is also in effect here. Brushes rotate in directions opposite to each other, capturing the maximum dirt out of the carpet. We have separate tanks for clean and dirty water, so refilling is now an easy process. Suction power is excellent, thanks to the 12-ampere motor.

There are no problems with the performance of this best carpet cleaner. However, I must say Hoover did a blatantly false advertisement, calling it the steam vacuum.

It surely uses hot water but doesn’t produce steam. I noticed that it really gets hot due to intense motor working.

8.Shark Sonic Duo best carpet cleaner spray

Shark Sonic Duo is the latest iteration by Shark Ninja, and it is one of the best carpet cleaner sprays and works on the hardwood floor as well as it does on the carpet.

Shark Ninja isn’t an ancient name, founded in 2003.

However, it quickly gained consumers’ attraction due to the outstanding balance between price and quality.

Furthermore, Shark Ninja tried to address hardcore issues with machines, and Sonic Duo is an excellent example of this.

Specifications:

You aren’t going to see cleaner with this type of design. Starting from the bottom, we have a rectangular scrubbing pad in a horizontal position. All cleaning actions occur below this pad—scrubbing, vacuuming, spraying, etc.

On top of it resides the steering bar. You have to push and pull the cleaner to and fro using the steering bar. The liquid solution is attached to the central portion. Since this cleaner is designed for hardwood, it operates with 1000 scrubs per minute, and it’s too good. The company claims that cleaner works flawlessly on carpet, tile, and even on vinyl stone.

The steering can rotate itself up to 180 degrees to make it easy to push forward. I had no issues with its cleaning action on the carpet. As far as the floor is concerned, it left streaks at some points. They aren’t that noticeable, but still, it’s a loophole.

The best thing about it is that you don’t have to buy different cleaners for different surfaces because our boy can handle almost all of them. Price is affordable, and product quality is reliable.

9.Royal Pro Series Ultra Spin best carpet cleaner

Royal Ultra Spin looks like our traditional cleaners in many ways, but it has some different performing skills that distinguish it from others.

It is part of Hoover’s Pro Series and resembles other Hoover cleaners.

You won’t be seeing cleaners with this brand so much because it is the newest introduction to Hoover’s family.

Royal Pro-Series cleaners mainly focus on performance issues that previous models of Hoover had.

There are no design alterations except for an elongated cord that extends up to 30 ft. making it one of the longest corded cleaner.

This isn’t carpet-only cleaner. Instead, it works with other surfaces such as hardwood and marble tiles very fine.

It would be wrong not to praise suction power. It drained away even the worst stains.

Specifications:

Accessories such as UltraSpin tool, crevices tool, upholstery brush, and nozzle clean out tool help manage the cleaning action on different surfaces. What makes cleaning action so good are the brushes, and we have five brushes that rotate in counter directions.

This is one expensive cleaner, and it’s pretty much clear why. If quality cleaning is your first preference, you have my recommendations.

10.McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe

This is our last cleaner, and I have reasons why it is the best one.

I was thinking of adding this one due to its solid design and powerful steaming action.

McCulloch M1385 Deluxe is the latest iteration by McCulloch, and it is one of three best-selling steam cleaners by the company.

The company uses black and yellow as its primary design color.

Specifications:

Talking about the design, it is one of the best carpet cleaners and few machines with storage tanks and cleaner are two separate units. This is useful as it decreases the weight load, making it easily movable. The storage body is supported by two solid wheels that help it to move without any significant effort.

On the back, we have 18 feet long power cord. From the upper portion, extends the steam hose to the cleaner. McCulloch’s consideration of using steam as a mode of cleaning is an excellent approach. Not only steam softens the dirt particle, but it is also easy to evaporate. Well, it’s pretty much clear 64 oz. The water tank isn’t enough for a large room, but I think that is something we need to compromise because we have to accommodate the steam.

The company claims that the water tank produces steam within 12 minutes and can supply steam uninterrupted for 120 minutes. Figures are just marketing tools, but they are close to 15 minutes of heating and some 90 minutes of supply time. In my opinion, buying this cleaner is undoubtedly an expensive deal, but that isn’t for nothing.

To my surprise, this best carpet cleaner comes with 23 accessories (yes, twenty-three) for easy cleaning. Some of the best supplements I found were Squeegee, Scrapper, Jet and Angled Nozzle, and Bristle Brush Attachment. The steam’s pressure remains uniform throughout the process. 4 bar pressure is enough to clear away dirt out of my carpet. The cleaner has no design or performance faults.

However, I noticed on the warranty card that it had only a one-year warranty. One customer told me that the company doesn’t replace or repair parts after one year, which’s disgusting. But still, a solid deal with many accessories, I would recommend this cleaner for non-carpeted surfaces.

How To Clean Your Carpet

Now that’s something worth reading. Before going deep into cleaning, we need to understand how exactly a carpet cleaner works. We have a machine with two tanks: One known as the water tank while the other is the solution tank.

Electricity is supplied to carry out the work. When the cleaner is moved over a specific area, it releases a proportion of water and solution. This solution acts as a stain magnet and weakens the grip of dirt particles thanks to water.

Now that the dust particles have lost their grip, the brushes at the bottom of the cleaner remove the stains. For further cleaning, the suction body of the cleaner comes into action. It sucks the remaining filth out of the carpet and hence the process is completed.

Another advantage of this suction is that it removes water content out of the carpet, making it easier to dry out. Some inexpensive carpet cleaners lack suction body, so it is recommended to do vacuum cleaning after carpet cleaning to enhance the process.

Not generally required, but it is recommended to do vacuum cleaning before the carpet cleaning too. Since carpet cleaning involves water addition to the carpet, having dirt particles may decrease its efficiency because they will convert themselves into the mud. The best thing about carpet cleaners is that there aren’t many brands producing them, so there’s no such thing as saturation that can lead to buying difficulty.

Furthermore, all big names are making good machines with an extended warranty. My team tested a total of twenty-two cleaners, out of which we picked up ten as best carpet cleaners. The whole process took about four weeks approximately, but in the end, we have a one-stop solution for everyone who is looking to buy a cleaner.

Your carpet also comes with a warranty, be sure to check it. Using the wrong detergent solution may get its warranty nullified. Cleaners have different price tags based on their components and performance. But at the end of the day, you will find their performance satisfactory. There’s a quick comparison table that can give you a glimpse of their properties.

Choose the one which looks you the best and read our guide to it.

Criteria for Selection (Best Carpet Cleaner):

So now we are ready to buy a carpet cleaner but what should be the criteria for selection? This list is based on several standards that define the performance of cleaner so that you can sleep like the dead.

1. Carpet cleaners come in a variety of weights and sizes. The difference in weight is primarily due to the storage capacity of the tank. More massive the tank, the heavier the machine would be and vice versa. Which one is better for you? It all depends upon your need. If you have carpeted stairs, a bulky cleaner isn’t your choice. But if you have a large carpet, a large cleaner can help you save your time of refilling.
2. The next important factor is the suction power of the cleaner. Suction power can help you remove the filth in a better and efficient way. Flagship models of cleaner come with better suction capacity. But nothing comes free of cost, is this feature. Additionally, lower-end cleaners don’t even have the suction body. That’s why they have reasonable prices compensating for the performance.
3. The cleaner may or may not have the brushes that remove dirt with the scrubbing process. Brushes enhance the process of cleaning as they go deep into the carpet, pulling out every particle possible. It will cost you some extra bucks. All of the cleaners I have included on the list have brushes.
4. Having additional components such as a cord and hose ultimately ends the need for a separate vacuum cleaner.
5. And finally, the price is a significant factor in deciding the type of cleaner you will buy. Simple cleaners with small sizes and fewer accessories will save you, while large cleaners with all necessary accessories can lead to better performance yet higher prices.

Keep in Mind!

A conclusion for Best Carpet Cleaners

That packs our guide for the best carpet cleaner 2021. There might be some inaccuracy in the testing process, but it still fits most of the situations.

Furthermore, some cleaners are specifically designed for pet owners. In the end, our basic purpose is to get rid of grudges and smudges out of our carpet. Above mentioned techniques can help you buy the cleaner that can work best for you in the current scenario.

What are your recommendations for the cleaner? Drop it in the comments section below. I would love to hear about it.

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Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API