Best carpet cleaners for removing stains and marks: tested and reviewed

The best carpet cleaners will give your carpets a new lease of life and keep them looking spick and span. 

We've tested carpet cleaners - also known as carpet washers and shampooers - from Bissell, Rug Doctor, Vax and more. Some are easy to use and can get right into the corners. Others are large and bulky, and will be a struggle to carry upstairs or store.

Our rigorous tests found two Best Buys that are brilliant at deep-cleaning and won't leave your carpets soggy. We've also put spot cleaners (handheld carpet cleaners) to the test.

The carpet cleaners we tested

Only logged-in Which? members can view the carpet cleaner test results.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.

The carpet cleaners we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best carpet cleaners from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.

Bissell CrossWave Multi-Surface Cleaning System 1713

Type Multi-function wet and dry cleaner

Weight 6.4kg

Accessories A cleaning tray

Need to know 0.8-litre clean water capacity, 0.6-litre dirty water capacity, automatically shifts between hard floors and carpet, carpet cleaning solution, slimmer stick design, digital controls, self-cleaning brushes, and a two-year warranty

Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution 18583

Type Carpet washer 

Weight 11.9kg

Accessories Tough stain tool, 2-in-1 crevice tool, nozzle tool, cleaning solutions

Need to know 3.7-litre clean and dirty water capacity, 7.5-metre cord, six-year warranty

Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro 20666

Type Carpet washer

Weight 12.5kg

Accessories 2-in-1 pet and upholstery tool, tough stain tool,  3-in-1 stair tool, nozzle cleaning tool, hose, accessory bag

Need to know 3.7-litre clean water capacity, 4.5-litre dirty water capacity, selection of tools and bottle of detergent, quick-dry carpet settings, and a six-year warranty

Numatic Henry Wash HVW 370

Type Multi-function wet and dry cleaner 

Weight 15.9kg

Accessories 2.5-metre hose, two stainless steel tubes, floor tool, fishtail extraction tool, upholstery extraction tool, wet floor scrub

Need to know 9-litre clean water capacity, 5-litre dirty water capacity, cleans both hard floor and carpet, long 10-metre hose and a two-year warranty

Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner

Type Carpet washer 

Weight 17.8kg

Accessories Upholstery tool kit

Need to know 3.8-litre clean water capacity, 4.2-litre dirty water capacity, washes, rinses and sucks water back up in one pass, two-year warranty

Considering upgrading your vac? Compare reviews of the best vacuum cleaners and robot vacs. 

Rug Doctor FlexClean All-In-One Floor Cleaner

Type Carpet washer 

Weight 12.8kg

Accessories Upholstery tool, carpet and hard floor nozzles, cleaning solution

Need to know 3.7-litre clean water tank, 4.7-litre dirt water tank, cleans both carpet and hard floors, three different spray rates, swappable nozzles for carpet and hard floor, and up to two-years warranty

Swan Dirtmaster Pro Carpet Washer SC17320N

Type Carpet washer 

Weight 8.2kg

Accessories 2.3-metre hose, extra brush bar, cleaning solutions

Need to know 2.1-litre clean water tank, 1.6-litre dirty water tank, 7m power cord, set of accessory tools included, and a two-year warranty

Vax Platinum Power Max ECB1SPV1

Type Carpet washer

Weight 13.9kg

Accessories Hand scrub tool, upholstery cleaning tool, 2-in-1 antimicrobial wash tool, extendable 4.6 metre hose, pre-treatment wand, three cleaning solutions, hard floor adaptor

Need to know 4.7-litre clean and dirty water capacity, suitable for a mix of floor surfaces, lots of accessories, quick clean mode, 9.6-metre power cord, six-year guarantee

Vax Platinum SmartWash Carpet Cleaner

Type Carpet washer 

Weight 12.7kg

Accessories Carpet cleaning solutions, 2.5-metre hose, SpinScrub hand tool, 2-in1 antimicrobial tool for upholstery and crevices, accessory bag

Need to know 3.5-litre clean water capacity, 1.9-litre dirty water capacity, no manual trigger, carpet cleaning solution, 2.5-metre hose, SpinScrub hand tool, 2-in1 antimicrobial tool for upholstery, carpeted stairs and crevices, and a six-year guarantee

How we test carpet cleaners

We buy the bestselling carpet cleaners and put them through our tough tests. We don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers.

Our independent lab tests focus on the most important qualities you'd expect in a good carpet cleaner, including:

• How clean it leaves tired and grimy carpets After cleaning and drying three soiled carpets, we use a spectrometer to measure how much dirt the machine removes and how much brighter the carpets become. We also check how close each carpet washer cleans to the edges for even results. The picture above shows the difference between an uncleaned carpet on the left, a carpet cleaner that gets one star in our testing in the middle (the carpet is still dirty) and a carpet cleaner that gives a five-star clean. 

• Whether it can clean dried-on stains Carpet samples are stained with 10ml of red wine, coffee and mud, and left to dry for 24 hours. The carpet is then cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions and assessed to see how much of the stain has been removed. We've found that most machines aren't great at this job - you're usually better off just using a carpet stain remover spray.

• How wet it leaves the carpet Some models struggle to suck up dirty water, leaving carpets soggy and messy. We weigh carpet samples before cleaning, then again after one, five, and 24 hours, to see how much water remains. The more stars a model earns, the drier the carpet will be.

• How quiet and easy the carpet cleaner is to use We ask a panel of three experts to assess how noisy the carpet cleaner is and whether the noise is particularly intrusive or irritating. As for ease of use, we look into a variety of factors such as the length of the carpet cleaner's cord and nozzle; how much water the tanks can hold before leaking; how heavy the machine is; how easy it is to assemble and push around; and the clarity of the instructions.

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

Which type of carpet cleaner is best? 

The best choice for your carpet depends on the type of dirt, the carpet material, and how quickly the carpet needs to dry.

• Carpet cleaners, carpet washers and carpet shampooers These terms are often used interchangeably. They describe machines designed specifically to deep-clean carpets. They spray water and detergent into the fibres, scrub with brushes, then suck the dirty water back up. Because they’re built just for carpets, they usually clean more thoroughly than multipurpose machines. The downside is they’re bulky, heavy and not very useful for other jobs. 
• Wet and dry cleaners These are vacuum cleaners that can pick up both liquids and solids. They should be great for dealing with spills and debris. However, it's unlikely they'll wash carpet fibres in the way a carpet cleaner does, so they’re not ideal for deep cleaning. 
• Steam cleaners These machines heat water to create steam that loosens dirt and sanitises surfaces. Some can be used on carpets and may help reduce bacteria. However, they’re not designed to remove heavy grime, and using too much steam can leave carpets overly damp or even damage delicate fibres. There's more on steam cleaners below.
• Spot cleaners These are compact carpet cleaners designed for small messes like spills, pet accidents or stains. They’re easier to carry and store but usually have less power and smaller tanks than full-size carpet cleaners. Read on to find out how spot cleaners performed in our tests.

 Carpet cleaners vs spot cleaners - what's the difference?

A standard carpet cleaner, of the type we review on this page, is a relatively bulky machine designed to clean entire rooms and other large areas.

A spot cleaner - also known as a handheld carpet cleaner - is a more compact machine, designed for limited areas and specific stains, such as spills or pet accidents. Despite its name, a spot cleaner isn't merely a bottle of cleaning solution.

We tested spot cleaners from brands including Karcher, Shark and Vax. But the results (pictured above) were so underwhelming that we couldn't recommend any of them. All the models we tested struggled, especially with coffee stains.

Find out which carpet stain removers can remove tough stains, including red wine, chocolate and curry

Can I use a steam cleaner on carpet? 

Yes, but if you use it for too long, you risk shrinking or damaging the carpet's fibres. 

Also, our tests found that steam cleaners are pretty poor at cleaning carpets. However, there was one model that did a decent job. 

A dedicated carpet cleaner is preferable – there's a lot less risk, and a decent model will do a much better job of refreshing your carpet.

See how steam cleaners from Karcher, Polti, Shark and Vax fared in our tests

How to clean a carpet by hand and remove stains

If you don't fancy investing in a dedicated machine to clean your carpet, there's plenty you can do with some simple household products and a bit of elbow grease.

Always start with vacuuming, then tackle any visible stains or spots with a carpet stain remover, or try a homemade solution.

Once you've removed the stains, freshen up the entire carpet by sprinkling it with baking soda – a natural deodoriser that can help absorb odours trapped in the carpet fibres. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, or longer for stronger odours, then vacuum it up thoroughly.

Here are our top tips for tackling stubborn stains:

• Act quickly to improve your chances of removing it.
• Carefully remove as much of the spill as you can.
• Dab from the outside in to avoid spreading the stain around and making it worse.
• Test your cleaning product on an inconspicuous area of your carpet first, to make sure it won’t damage or discolour the material.
• Avoid using a lot of water, or hot water, as this can make some stains worse and even make them more ingrained.

For more tips, see How to deep-clean a carpet by hand. 

How to use a carpet cleaner

1. You should always begin by clearing a big space and vacuuming. Carpet cleaners are large, bulky machines, so give yourself as much room as possible. 
2. Next, fill the clean water tank with warm water and the recommended cleaning solution. Avoid overfilling and stick to the brand’s formula to prevent excess foam.
3. Clean slowly, pushing the machine forward to wash, and pulling it back to extract the dirty water. Overlap each pass slightly for even results, and don’t soak the carpet.
4. After cleaning, empty and rinse the dirty water tank, then let the carpet dry fully before walking on it. Opening windows or using a fan can help speed up the drying process.

Should you rent or buy a carpet cleaner?

Buying a carpet cleaner may save you money in the long run if you need to go over them regularly – perhaps if you've got kids prone to spillages or pets that leave muddy paw prints. Having your own machine means you can freshen up your carpets whenever you need to, as long as you’ve got space to store it.

Renting works well if your home isn't heavily trafficked and your carpets just need the occasional deep clean. Rug Doctor, the UK’s biggest rental brand, offers 24-hour rentals from £28 and 48-hour rentals from £33. You can rent Rug Doctor machines from supermarkets including Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco. You can even opt for home delivery, or skip the effort altogether and hire a professional cleaner.