Though it does weigh in at 19 pounds when full, we still found the Bissell Spot Clean Pet Pro to be lightweight and easy to carry thanks to an ergonomic handle. The spray trigger is also ergonomic, so you should feel comfortable using this carpet cleaner right away. It also took out the barbecue sauce, dirt, and urine stains very well, making it the most versatile carpet spray cleaner from our tests and a great all-purpose product to have on hand. There is a slight scent to this Oxi-Clean that’s reminiscent of laundry detergent, though our tester said it’s not too overpowering.

Powder cleaners work fast on spot stains or more day-to-day dirt, with no need to dry out the carpet afterwards. Simply sprinkle on the powder, leave it for the specified time, then vacuum it up. While our testers tried out each spray cleaner on four different stains, it’s important to note that not all cleaners are designed to work for every mess. Since pet messes can leave behind lingering odors, it’s important to find a formula that will help remove bad smells. Other stains, like red wine, will come out more easily if you use a product that’s designed for such spills.This is a top-tier carpet restorer that not only deep cleans but removes up to 93% of bacteria while it’s at it. We thought that the effectiveness of this machine plus its compact size were enough to make it a winner. Though the water extraction wasn't the strongest, the machine did remove the stains, which is the ultimate goal. Though the instructions on the bottle were easy to follow, testers found the spray bottle itself to be the issue—it “took forever, and a ton of sprays” to saturate the stained carpet as suggested. However, since the wait time before scrubbing is just five minutes, you won’t have to stand around for very long in between steps. We also found that this carpet spray cleaner had no odor, meaning your home won’t smell like chemicals once you’re done scrubbing. With just three passes, we were able to remove the coffee stain completely, along with much of the other stains. The hand tool is indeed handy for cleaning stubborn spots, and soon, even the chocolate syrup was a distant memory. A lot of carpet spray cleaners use harsh chemicals to get stains out of floors and upholstery, but they could ruin your carpet, and they’re not so great to inhale. However, buying a natural-based spray doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on cleaning power—our tester gave The Spruce Pet Stain and Odor Remover high marks for its effectiveness on stains and smells alike.

The two water tanks (one for clean water, the other for dirty) are clearly visible and easy to handle, although filling the main water tank is a bit fiddly since it requires careful measurements of both water and the detergent solution. While the Tineco Carpet One Pro Smart Carpet Cleaner was effective at removing stains (it took more passes on some spots than others), we found its setup and use to be overly complicated and not clearly explained in the instruction manual. Key specs – Weight: 8.8kg; Cable length: 10m; Cleaning width: 30cm; Clean capacity: 9l; Hose: Yes; Heater: No; Warranty: 1 year Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, NY, covering all things home and lifestyle for Better Homes & Gardens and other top digital publications. She dove into the results gathered by the BHG in-house testing team to come up with the best carpet cleaners based on effectiveness, portability, ease of setup and use, noise level, and overall value. In addition to analyzing the in-house results, Barbara also consulted with Robert Johnson, marketing director at Coast Appliances. However, this natural spray cleaner simply wasn’t up to the task of removing stains like barbecue sauce and mud. We found that it partially removed these stains, but there was still a faint mark on both the carpet and the upholstery we tested it on.Our editorial team then compiled these insights and created a final list of the best carpet spray cleaners, based on testing results. After the appropriate pretreatment—blotting, vacuuming, or cleaning up clumps—they followed all manufacturer’s instructions to remove fresh stains and some that had been left for 24 hours. Our testers took detailed notes on how well each cleaner removed stains, noting which were easy to use, if a second application was needed, and if any odors remained. They also took into account which ones had a harsh smell. Lastly, our testers determined which spray cleaners had the most value for their results. The Rug Doctor isn’t an especially light machine at around 8kg, but thankfully it comes with wheels and a pull-about handle for relatively easy mobility. Many owners have reported exceedingly good results when dealing with spot stains, and some users have found it a godsend at cleaning up after puppy accidents. Follow the manufacturer’s directions both before and after cleaning your carpet with a spray. Many instructions will direct you to vacuum after cleaning to remove any dried particles left over from either the spray or the stain itself. The best vacuums will also fluff up the carpet again, so it’s a good idea to run the vacuum after the stain is gone anyway. If you have pets, this product is great at removing the smell of urine from carpet and upholstery, decreasing the likelihood that your pet will continue to use that spot to relieve themselves. When you consider that this could save you from having to replace a carpet or couch, it’s well worth the price tag.

Key specs – Weight: 7.4kg; Cable length: 9m; Cleaning width: 32.5cm; Clean capacity: 3.5l; Hose: Yes; Heater: No; Warranty: 6 years Again, because this carpet cleaner is rather hefty, it’s not good for smaller spots and stains unless you’re up for a workout. But if you’re ready to put this machine through a workout of its own by taking on a room (or rooms) full of dirty flooring, then this is a great choice. The Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Plus uses cleaning solution (available through Bissell and other retailers). We found it easy to fill, empty, and clean the tank, so it’s definitely worth having on hand for pet mishaps. At just 3.3 pounds, this machine is about the same weight as a handheld vac, so it’s no trouble to reach for in a pinch. Domestic carpet cleaners are much bigger than vacuum cleaners so storage can be a real issue. However, whether you actually need one is solely based on how much carpet you have installed in the home and whether you have animals or clumsy kids about the house.

This powerful cleaner removed all traces of both the fresh and set-in red wine stains, making it great for cleaning up accidental drink spills. The mud and barbecue sauce spills needed more scrubbing to remove from light-colored carpet, and though the stains were still partially there at the end of the test, they significantly faded. We also found that the Shout spray was effective at getting rid of the urine smell from carpet, which is a great feature if you have pets.