The 24 x 36 x 38 cm dimensions make this a very compact option for a spot cleaner but still far larger than the smallest car vacuum cleaners for sale. Of every form of dirt we tested it on, tea stains proved the most challenging for it to remove, but ultimately it successfully lifted them, proving itself a reliable cleaner.

VAX Spot Washer Antibacterial Carpet Cleaning Solution - Currys

Ideally, you’ll want a compact size, low weight and it to be battery operated without sacrificing suction power. Whether it’s a spilled drink or mud from a child’s shoes or a pet’s paws, this carpet cleaner removed it all. Drink stains and discoloration caused by melted chocolate were wiped away, thanks to a combination of the VAX spotwash antibacterial solution and the attachment tool, which allows you to really put some elbow grease into dislodging the dirt. With three tanks, the VAX platinum smartwash pet design immediately set itself apart from other carpet cleaners we tested.

Lifting tea stains and mud required some serious scrubbing with this machine, and we had to carry out several cleans to fully eradicate spilt red wine. The must have cleaning companion for the effortless removal of spills, stains and pet messes with complete home versatility. Having said that, a spot cleaner is no replacement for a standard vacuum cleaner and works best as a supplementary product for the occasional deeper clean. Renowned for vacuum cleaners, Vax's range of carpet cleaners are also prized for their cleaning power. It’s an easy design to carry around the house and we found it straightforward to remove and fill up the water tanks.

best carpet cleaning machines Best carpet cleaners 2023 UK - best carpet cleaning machines

You’ll also find a thin crevice tool brush in the box, designed to get right into the corners and edges of a room. Note that while the heads can be used without attachments for sucking up any mess, they both come with inserts: carpet/upholstery and hard floor brushes for the wide tool, and a carpet/upholstery brush for the smaller tool. Once the car is finished it's a very simple and quick process to plug the head into the clearly marked hole and it'll flush everything leftover into the dirty water tank which can then easily be emptied down a drain.Simply switch on and the carpet washer detects when you move forwards to wash, and dries when you pull back. We tested models with special hoses and tools for the stairs, ones with brushes that can deal with pet hair and others that have an integrated carry handle to carry them between rooms. This compact portable spot cleaner did a brilliant job of cleaning carpet and upholstery, but isn't the best option for hard floors. To fully test this, we poured a litre of water over the kitchen floor and George swallowed it all back up. While most work in a similar fashion, the Vax SpotWash Home Duo comes with two sets of tools: one for dealing with messy stains, with the other for more regular dirt.

VAX Spot Washer Antibacterial Solution 1L VAX Spot Washer Antibacterial Solution 1L

Cars with limited interior space (think Lotus Exige) or awkward doors may struggle to accommodate it without some scrapped knuckles and mild swearing. Once we’d identified areas we wanted to treat, restoring them to their former glory was as simple as powering on and going over the spot with the machine’s motorised brush. Although, given the substantial size difference between the larger clean tank and the smaller dirty water tank, you’d likely need to empty the latter mid-clean to use up the whole clean tank. The upholstery head cleaned sofas and seat cushions well, applying the cleaning solution evenly and easily reaching corners and crevices. It sprays on a fine mist of cleaning solution that’s more than enough to remove all the stains we had left for it.It’s got a sprayer handle, designed to target pet messes with pet stain- and odour-remover, helping animal-lovers take back control of the smell of their house. Its robust design (with a substantial dirty water tank) proved reliable on hard flooring, with only small areas of trodden-in mud remaining after carpet cleaning.

VAX SpotWash Max Duo | Vax UK

Handy fill levels for small and large areas help you achieve the correct mix of cleaning solution to water.

Its upholstery attachment was effective, all controls were intuitive to use and its handle was comfortable thanks to a soft silicone coating. While a vacuum cleaner will get rid of everyday dust and dirt from your home, the best carpet cleaners promise to do so much more. Standing out for its excellent water pickup, this lightweight cleaner left all surfaces fairly dry after use.