Key specs – Weight: 2.8kg; Cable length: Cordless; Cleaning width: 10cm; Clean capacity: 28ml; Hose: Yes; Heater: No; Warranty: 3 years We found it took three wet and three dry passes to get rid of the stains. While that does require a bit of labor on your part, considering that you no longer have to go carpet shopping after your furbaby’s mishap, the extra effort is well worth it. 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. Yes, but that’s not all the prep work you should do before using a carpet cleaner, according to Johnson. “Declutter to remove objects and debris, pre-vacuum the carpet, and protect the walls with foam padding and painter’s tape,” he explains. That last part is especially good advice, as some of these machines are quite heavy and hard to maneuver until you get the hang of them.

The StainPro 6 is best suited to households with two or three carpeted rooms. Despite its cumbersome dimensions, it’s surprisingly easy to manoeuvre, although you will need to have the storage space for it. When small spills happen on large surfaces like a couch cushion or an area rug, it’s a good idea to have a trustworthy spot-cleaner on hand to help deal with problems as they arise. Our tester found the Scotchgard Oxy spray bottle easy to use, and they especially liked that it only takes five minutes for the cleaner to work its magic—meaning you don’t have to spend an hour waiting to scrub out stains. Here, we’ve rounded up the best carpet shampoo to have at hand for everyday dirt, as well as the most stubborn of stains, for when your carpet needs a bit of a refresh. If you’re looking for more general cleanining products for furniture and soft furnishings, though, then head on over to our guide to the best upholstery cleaners. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.

While effective at removing wine stains from all the surfaces we tested, we found that it worked the best on upholstery. Our tester noted that the spray bottle required a little more dexterity to spritz than other cleaners on our list, but after a few sprays, it was easier to use. We also loved that it has a color-safe formula, so it won’t remove the vibrant hues from your clothes or flooring.

This Bissell has a gentle whirring sound, but make no mistake—it’s working hard to get those stains out of your carpet and upholstery. It removed the wine and coffee stain, while the dirt stain left just a faint reminder that a mess was there. The chocolate stain was the hardest to lift; it was still detectable after cleaning. However, this carpet cleaner is billed for pets, not food stains. A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. 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. Dry your carpets for 12 to 24 hours to avoid mold formation and odd smells due to dampness,” Johnson advises. “ Steam carpet cleaning without drying treatments takes 48 to 72 hours to dry thoroughly.” This means that unless you are cleaning just a small spot that might be easily avoided during the drying time, you’ll want to plan accordingly if you are cleaning entire floors or even the seats in your car. Spot Stain Removers do not contain optical brighteners, colouring additives or bleaching agents, however, cleaned spots may appear lighter if the surrounding carpet has not been cleaned to the same extent or if excess surfactant remains on the carpet surface. In such circumstances, it is advisable to thoroughly rinse the spot with water to remove traces of the surfactant or clean the entire carpet with a suitable large area cleaner to remove the built up soil and restore colour uniformity throughout the carpet.

The design is simpler than you might find on more expensive models, however. The dirty water tank, for example, is held in place by two clips, one on either side of the machine, which requires some fiddling to release, where more expensive models tend to release both tanks with a smoother, single-handed operation. Spray cleaners are targeted treatments for spot stains, such as wine or tea spillages. Spray the product directly onto the stain, work it in, then wait for it to dry before vacuuming it up. From dirty dogs to wine spillages, sometimes your carpets may have the look of abstract art – but it doesn’t have to be that way forever. With the help of the best carpet shampoo and a little elbow grease, you may be able to get your shagpile looking clean and pristine once more. Gurskyi says to skip any spray cleaners with formaldehyde, acids, pesticides, disinfectants, or lye. “Go for non-toxic ingredients or make your own homemade cleaning mixture to avoid introducing allergens or toxins to your carpet,” he recommends. “Vinegar is an excellent ingredient to remove tough stains, while sprinkling some baking soda can help eliminate the odor.” 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.

Our testers sprayed the Oxi-Clean on four different carpet stains—including red wine, barbecue sauce, and even animal urine—to see how well the product removes odors and discoloration. According to the manufacturer, it takes 10 minutes for the solution to settle in and do its job, which our tester noted was not long compared to other cleaners we tested. While they were waiting for the 10 minutes to be up, testers found that you could actually start to see the stains lift from the carpet fibers. The spray cleaner successfully removed fresh dirt stains, wine spills, and animal urine, though it was unable to fully remove barbecue sauce from rugs and upholstery. Since almost all carpet spray cleaners struggled with this stain, this didn’t surprise us too much. The Scotchgard Oxy cleaner also removed stains that had been sitting overnight, meaning you don’t have to worry about spots and spills you find a few hours after they’ve happened. Cheers! You don’t have to get rid of your favorite area rug at the first sign of a wine spill. Our testers described this spray wine stain cleaner as “outstanding” after it effectively removed fresh red wine spills, dry stains, and even wine stains that had been left to soak overnight.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.