As someone who can’t go a singular meal without my food or beverage ending up somewhere it shouldn’t, it’s safe to say I’m always cleaning something up. Hard as I try, there’s always going to be sauce on my face and somehow also on the table and also condensation of some sort on any piece of furniture I come in contact with (sorry, mom). In fact, the carpet in my living room currently has a coffee stain. If only I knew months ago what I knew now (when I spilled my perfectly-ratioed iced vanilla latte): owning proper cleaning supplies is a game changer.
Unfortunately, it never occurred to me to invest in more than just the basics. So that day, when I was scrubbing my carpet on my hands and knees with Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray, what I really could’ve used was a proper carpet cleaning machine. That’s why I jumped at the chance to test multiple options on the market for Shop TODAY’s Ranked series.
I put six different machines to the test against three common household stains — wine, animal urine and coffee — to see how they fared. Read on to see which ones are actually worth it.
Best overall$undefined$149.99
Sleekest (but still effective)$undefined$89.99
Best for beginners$76.49$89.99
What should you use portable carpet cleaners for?
Kellsie Zapata of Zapata’s Cleaning Services says, “Carpet cleaning machines are great for many everyday spills and messes. So like liquid spills, food and drink stains, and pet accidents.” She also notes that they’re most beneficial for removing liquids that are really soaked into carpets (but be sure to start by blotting off any excess before using any carpet cleaner machine).
Brian and Jen Boyle, owners of MaidThis Cleaning, say stain size matters, too. “Smaller stains — around six inches or about the size of a dollar bill or less — tend to respond better to a carpet cleaner than larger ones.”
How I tested portable carpet cleaners
I tested six different portable carpet cleaners on three common household stains: red wine, black coffee and animal urine (replicated using wolf urine). I splashed a generous amount on individual carpet squares, letting them sit for at least 30 minutes to let it saturate and settle in before starting removal processes.
Each machine came with its own bottle of solution — some even had two — to mix with water and use for cleaning. After carefully reading the directions for each one, I used the appropriate solution mixture, clicked everything into place and got to work.
I scored each machine on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best) in the following categories:
- Red wine: Was it able to remove the red wine stain completely or at all? Was there an outline of a stain left behind if removed completely? How many passes did it take?
- Wolf urine: Was it able to remove the wolf urine stain completely or at all? Was there an outline of a stain left behind if removed completely? How many passes did it take?
- Coffee: Was it able to remove the coffee stain completely or at all? Was there an outline of a stain left behind if removed completely? How many passes did it take?
- Ease of use: How easy was it to set up? Were the directions necessary to read first or just helpful? How easy was it to actually use to clean the stain? How easy was it to clean the machine itself afterward?
Best overall portable carpet cleaner
Red wine: 3/5 | Wolf urine: 5/5 | Coffee: 4.5/5 | Ease of use: 4.5/5 | Overall average score: 4.25/5
It takes a lot for my jaw to drop, but I can honestly say I was absolutely blown away by the immediate difference I saw after just one pass of this machine over nearly every stain. While all of the cleaners were unique in their own way, the Shark impressed me the most.
It came with two solutions: the Shark Deep Clean Pro Formula and the Shark OXY Multiplier Formula. I ended up using the entire bottle of the multiplier formula for one round of cleaning, so keep in mind that extra bottles of that will be necessary immediately after your first clean. You’ll definitely need to read the instructions first to know where to put each formula, but I found them easy to understand.
I liked how seamlessly the attachment was brushing against the stain and that I could see where the excess dirt was going through the clear top of the attachment head. It was clear which tank was for clean water and which was for the dirty water (unlike some of the others I tested). The entry hatch for formula was easily identifiable and I could see the various attachments included being useful for different types of stains.
After using it once, I felt confident that I’d be able to use it again without any directions. Plus, the handles on the side made it easy to move around for both use and storage.
I tested four carpet cleaners prior to this one, so my hopes were low in the red wine department, but its performance exceeded my expectations. Although the stain was not completely gone, the Shark did the best job by far. When it came to the urine and coffee, I was speechless. To the human eye, the stain was gone after a few passes. It’s worth nothing that, by the time I tested the Shark StainStriker, the stains had saturated into the carpet for at least an hour, so they really had time to settle in.
Another thing that made the Shark StainStriker stand out? Its scent. It was the first time throughout the day that I’d noticed a pleasant lingering scent and, as someone with a sensitive nose, this was the cherry on top for me.
More portable carpet cleaners
Best for small spaces:
Red wine: 2/5 | Wolf urine: 5/5 | Coffee: 4.5/5 | Ease of use: 4.5/5 | Overall average score: 4/5
Upon first glance, I was weary. The product was tiny, the directions were printed directly on the box and the suction attachment didn’t look aggressive enough to make even the wolf urine disappear. However, I was quickly corrected once I started actually using it.
When removing the coffee, I could tell from the first pass that it was going to do well. The wolf urine was practically invisible by the time I was done with it — no outlines left behind.
It’s worth noting that the soap dispenses little by little, so it took several pumps to completely saturate the area. But once the formula was on the carpet, the stains lifted easily. The only one it really struggled with (which, to be fair, most of the machines did) was the red wine stain. While it wasn’t able to full remove the stain, it removed a significant amount of the dark red color.
The small size made the clean up process seamless and I was even able to wrap all of the chords around the machine itself to alleviate messy wires. If you’re looking to purchase a carpet cleaner but don’t have a lot of storage space, this is the one I’d suggest.
Best looking (while still being effective):
Red wine: 2/5 | Wolf urine: 4.5/5 | Coffee: 4/5 | Ease of use: 4.5/5 | Overall average score: 3.75/5
I was a huge fan of the beautiful Kenmore Spotlight Portable Carpet Cleaner. It’s very modern-looking, easy to navigate with little direction and the solution bottle was informative at just first glance. I appreciated how straightforward the directions were. The detailed instructions and imagery made for a simple setup.
While I’d hoped that it would be more promising in getting a decent amount of the wine stain out, it struggled there (which is where the decrease in overall average score came from). However, it did a great job at removing the wolf urine. I had to go over a coffee stain a few extra times to remove all of the darkness, but ultimately, I was impressed with the results.
The key with this machine is to use a generous amount of soap on any given stain, and I like how the spray wasn’t too wide (read: messy). I also found that I didn’t have to press down as hard on the carpet when scrubbing back and forth, which saved me a bit of elbow grease.
Best for beginners:
Red wine: 2/5 | Wolf urine: 3.5/5 | Coffee: 4/5 | Ease of use: 4/5 | Overall average score: 3.38/5
Carpet cleaner beginners — this one’s for you!
The Vacmaster was without a doubt the easiest cleaner to operate. The setup was effortless and by far the most straightforward. I was amazed at how easily the attachments came off, which made the process of filling the clean tank effortless.
Similar to Kenmore, the most important thing for this machine is to use a good amount of soap. I appreciated that this tip was included in the directions, as well as the recommendation to put a lot of pressure on the front of the scrubbing tool when going over any stain. The clear and simple guidance given before even using the tool made for a seamless process.
The wolf urine came out of the carpet pretty easily, using about 10 total passes back and forth. While I could still see the outline of the stain from an “after” photo, it was undetectable to the human eye. Similarly, the outline of the coffee stain was slightly noticeable in a photo, but it definitely took more time to scrub out than the urine. When going over the red wine, I noticed that more pressure is necessary, but it didn’t spread the stain around (something that I noticed with some of the other machines).
Quietest machine:
Red wine: 2/5 | Wolf urine: 4/5 | Coffee: 3/5 | Ease of use: 3/5 | Overall average score: 3/5
Carpet cleaners in general are pretty loud, but the Hoover was noticeably quieter than the rest (which was highly appreciated by my ears).
I’d highly recommend reading the directions carefully when setting up this machine, as trying to figure out which tank was for cleaning solution and which tank was for dirty water was a bit confusing. It also took me a few minutes to figure out where some of the attachments were until I realized they were inside the machine, not elsewhere in the box. However, once I figured those things out, adding the solution and water was easy due to the helpful built-in lines for each liquid.
Like every other machine, it struggled with red wine. However, it did really well with the wolf urine and I was impressed to see how quickly it all came up. When it came time to remove the coffee stain, I noticed the carpet fabric starting to pull a little bit, so I was hesitant to continue as I didn’t want to ruin it.
The solution on this one sprays pretty widely, so it would probably be best used for larger stains. It was just a bit messy for the purposes of our testing on smaller carpet squares. I definitely got more comfortable with this machine the more I used it, it just took a little longer to figure out.
Frequently asked questions
"You should avoid using them on permanent stains like blood or dyes, which can be set-in or spread by hot water extractors," says Doscher. "Those should be approached manually."
"We recommend avoiding household carpet cleaners on stains that cover large areas of the home or have been sitting for longer than 3-6 months," the Boyles add. "In those cases, a commercial carpet cleaner/extractor will do a better job."
"Only use solutions recommended by the manufacturer," advises Doscher. "Those are designed to be compatible with the floor surfaces and the machines. If you use other cleaners like dish detergents, laundry detergent or homemade solutions, you risk damaging the machine and your carpet. Using a solution not recommended by the manufacturer could also void your warranty."
Each of the experts we spoke to recommend using a formula with enzymes for pet stains.
"I would be more cautious with delicate or specialty carpets and rugs, including certain natural fibers, because not every material is meant to be cleaned with a standard carpet cleaning machine," advises Zapata. "Always check the care label first."
Doscher says you should start by vacuuming your floor before using a carpet cleaner since they aren't designed to vacuum up soil or debris.
"Check with your carpet manufacturer for specific recommendations, but one to two times a year should be sufficient unless it is a high-traffic area," says Doscher. "This is one of those cases where more isn’t better. Over-wetting the carpet and excessive cleaning can damage your carpet and flooring."
Both Doscher and Zapata recommend cleaning your machine after every use. "I know it’s really easy to tell yourself, 'I’ll clean it later,' but the last thing you want is to forget about that dirty liquid in the machine because it will stink the longer it sits in there," says Zapata.
"If you skip cleaning, bacteria can grow, which can spread through the cleaner and create odors," adds Doscher.
In short, no.
"Your vacuum removes everyday dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs and other debris. A carpet cleaning machine is more of a periodic deep-cleaning tool or something you bring out when there is a spill or stain that needs extraction," says Zapata. "I think of carpet shampooing as more of a seasonal maintenance task rather than a weekly cleaning task."
Why trust Shop TODAY?
Sydney Albert is an East Coast Page at NBCUniversal working with the Commerce Studios team under NBC News Group. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2025 with a degree in Strategic Communication and certificates in Digital Studies and Sports Communication.
Meet the experts
- Kellsie Zapata is the owner of Zapata’s Cleaning Services based in Thomasville, Georgia. She has previously spoken to Shop TODAY about the best dusters, multipurpose cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, grout cleaners and more.
- Brian and Jen Boyle are the owners of MaidThis Cleaning in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are also on the Pro Advisory Board for Thumbtack, a website that connects users with home industry professionals.
- Chris Doscher is the director of communications for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
