It is essential to clean your carpets often as it’s best for a healthy living environment. Plus, you shouldn’t underestimate how clean carpets can uphold the appearance of your home. For effective cleaning, you will need a powerful and lightweight carpet cleaner or upholstery cleaner that allows you to move around your home easily. Portable carpet cleaners with strong suction and deep cleaning abilities will be able to give you the amazing results you need.
Follow our best portable carpet cleaner buyer’s guide and see which products truly work. These are the ones we’ve tested and narrowed down to among all the portable carpet cleaner options on the market.
11 Best Spot Carpet Cleaners in 2021
Bissell Spotclean Pet Pro
The Bissell Spotclean Pet Pro will help you remove the pet stains and odors, preventing the odor from being trapped within the depths of your carpet. It comes with specialized cleaning tools that will allow you to do a thorough cleaning job on your carpet. With this spot cleaner, you will have everything you need to keep your carpet fresh and clean.
Another amazing feature of the Bissell Spotclean is that you can clean your pet’s mess no matter where they make it. The power cord has a reach of 22 feet which will allow you to transport it through a long-distance as long as it stays plugged in. You can even use it to clean the inside of your car in the unfortunate case that your pets make a mess in there. It works amazingly as an upholstery cleaner, and you can clean the upholstery in your car whenever you need it.
The suction and scrubbing power from the Bissell Spotclean Pet Pro will allow you to clean out even the most stubborn of pet stain from your carpet, upholstery, and many other areas of your home. The stain trapper tool will absorb an astounding amount of dirt and the stains will be removed for good with the power of OXY. There will be two trial-sized bottles of PET PRO OXY Urine Eliminator included inside of the box.
The deep cleaning power of this portable spot cleaner will give you results that are similar to a professional grade cleaning. The large capacity water tank will give you the ability to cover more areas of your home effectively without having to constantly worry about emptying and refilling it. It’s also the best portable carpet cleaner for cars!
I also think it’s cool that purchasing this spot cleaner, or any other Bissell product, will lend support to the Bissell Pet Foundation that strives to save homeless animals.
Pros
- Amazing deep cleaning abilities
- Eliminate odors
- Comes included with specialized tools
- Gets rid of even the worst pet stain
Cons
- Pet hair may tangle and get stuck inside of the nozzle
Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner
Hands down, one of the best portable carpet cleaner! The Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner is designed to help you clean up after your pet quickly and easily. Not only does it allow you to deep clean, but the Rug Doctor also fluffs out the area of the carpet you have cleaned. This will make sure that it blends in with the rest of the carpet, allowing it to seem as though it had never been messed up.
The Rug Doctor Portable spot cleaner has a handheld oscillating motorized brush that separates the stains deep within your carpet. Yes, it will practically do the work for you. Thanks to its suction power that’s twice as strong as other carpet cleaners and moving at a speed of 1,200 times per minute.
Some vacuums will only eliminate the mess and stains that you see at the surface level of your carpets, but this Rug Doctor carpet cleaner scrubs deeper into the carpet, injecting soapy water that will pull up the deepest stains and odors to eliminate them completely.
The soapy water will give your carpet the intense deep cleaning it needs without using steam or heat (hot water) that could potentially damage the fibers of your carpet. In addition to being a great carpet and upholstery cleaner, it can also clean the inside of your vehicles, your mattresses, and other pieces of furniture around your home.
The Rug Doctor water tanks are detachable and exceptionally simple to refill. The foldable handle on this product allows you to easily move it around wherever you want and the wheels will provide you with an extra level of mobility. With this spot cleaner, you will be able to deep clean your carpets, the inside of your vehicles, mattresses, and other pieces of furniture.
This portable carpet cleaner will also help you reach more difficult areas, which will help eliminate some of the cleaning complications you may deal with.
Pros
- Easy to store in your closet or small spaces
- Carpet-friendly wheels and great with upholstery
- Easy to empty and fill the water tank
Cons
- Bristles are slightly stiff
- The hose is on the shorter side- should be much longer for convenience
Bissell Little Green ProHeat (14259)
Next up on our Best Portable Carpet Cleaner list is the Bissell Little Green ProHeat (14259) is a compact multi-purpose wet carpet cleaner that exhibits an extraordinary amount of deep cleaning and suction power that allows you to clean and dry your carpet in one simple step. This portable carpet cleaner will allow you to remove all kinds of messes such as pet accidents, stains, spills, and much more. It even has a built-in heating element that can raise the temperature of the cleaning formula to make it easier to lift and eliminate even the most stubborn of stains and messes.
You will even have the capability of cleaning hard to reach surfaces. With this portable carpet cleaner, you will be able to clean your carpet, stairs, the inside of your vehicles, and so much more. The water tanks are simple to empty and fill, and the dirt collection tank can hold up to 48 ounces. The compact and lightweight design of this cleaner will allow you to carry it from place to place without any hassle. This extra maneuverability from the lightweight design will also help you get to more hard to reach areas.
This portable carpet cleaner comes included with a tough stain tool, a flexible 4-foot long hose, and a spraying crevice tool that will help make your cleaning job become more of a breeze. The tough stain tool will reach even the hardest-to-reach areas of your home, 2-in-1 crevice tool will use its spray and suction power in order to deep clean corners and crevices. I especially liked the tough stain tool. A trial-sized bottle of the Stain & Odor Formula from Bissell comes included with the package as well.
Pros
- Easy to empty and fill
- Includes a trial-size bottle of cleaning formula
- Designed with a built-in water heater
- Strong suction and spray power
- Comes with a tough stain tool
- Best for quick clean-ups
- Multiple tools included for handling various tasks and areas
Cons
- Will not work well if you carry it while it is on
- Has a tendency to leak when water is left in tanks
Hoover FH11300
The Hoover FH11300 Spotless Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner is a compact and lightweight cleaning machine that incorporates self-clean technology. You can flush the hose after each use to get rid of the bacteria inside of it. I couldn’t leave this model out on our best portable carpet cleaner list.
The hose on this carpet cleaner will give outstanding results after you finish cleaning and it will eliminate any bacterial growth and odors to promote a cleaner and healthier environment. The amazing suction power from this portable deep cleaning carpet cleaner will effectively get rid of stains and other everyday messes on the carpet, upholstery, stairs, and many more areas of your home.
The clean and dirty water in the tanks are separated by Dual Tank technology, which also allows you to empty and refill each tank without any real difficulty. The multi-purpose antimicrobial tool offers a strong level of protection from any mold, mildew, and bacteria that may happen to build up within it. It is easy to assemble and put to use when you are ready, and it is easy to put away.
The portable carpet cleaner itself is lightweight and entirely portable, so you can take it anywhere. It will be able to get to even the hardest-to-reach areas in order to give them the proper deep clean.
The 5-foot long hose will conveniently provide you with a longer range of reach, which will be best if you want an easier time moving around the room. When you are finished with it, you will be able to store easily in any storage area in your home.
Pros
- Self-cleaning function
- Lightweight and easy to store
- Powerful suction ability
- Detachable hose head for convenient cleaning
Cons
- The hose may be a bit short
- Rubber brush has a tendency to breakdown while cleaning
BISSELL – Pet Stain Eraser Cordless Carpet Cleaner
(Best Cordless spot carpet cleaner)
This Bissell carpet cleaner is best for homes with pets and kids, and spot cleaning those sudden pet stain messes. Its cordless feature means it can literally go anywhere. It’s perfect for spot cleaning furniture, carpeting in cars, and children’s couches or cushioned seats. I don’t doubt that it deserves a spot on our best portable carpet cleaner roundup.
It’s small and compact design is best for storing it in small cabinets or on a shelf in the closet. While it is better for spot cleaning messes, like soda or juice spills on shag rugs or your couch, the Pet Stain Eraser is still powerful and effective at cleaning. It has a lithium battery that is rechargeable and lasts 15 minutes, and a half-gallon of cleaning solution and water to lift away tough stains and for quick cleaning tasks.
The Pet Stain Eraser uses a spray, scrub, and suction technique to lift away stubborn stains from surfaces. The dirt tank is easily removable for quick emptying. The cleaning formula is stored inside and is mixed with warm water for better cleaning of stains. It’s one of the top portable carpet cleaners on the market.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Cordless for use anywhere
- Dirty tank is easy to remove and empty
- Comes with a stain tool
- Heated water and solution
- Powerful suction
Cons
- Battery charge lasts 15 minutes, 4 hour charge time.
- Small tank capacity
- The charging port is not the best design
Hoover BH12010 ONEPWR Spotless GO Cordless Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
This Hoover will eliminate any tough stain you put it up against its powerful cleaning capabilities. It’s cordless, comes with one rechargeable Lithium battery and charger. This model is compatible with any ONEPWR battery from Hoover, which makes getting extras easy. It has a 2-foot long hose to reach under car seats and other difficult areas. It has two tanks for the cleaning solution and for the dirty water.
If cordless is not your forte, then you can also buy the corded model that Hoover offers. The power cord is 168 inches long (14 feet long) for a flexible cleaning range around larger rooms.
Its compact size makes it a breeze to store, and lightweight design keeps it comfortable to carry around while you clean. It comes with a 2-year limited warranty plan for the motor. The hose is removable for easy cleaning and maintenance.
Pros
- Dual Tank System
- Lightweight design
- Multipurpose Pet Tool included
Cons
- Tools can be hard to clean
- Short Battery Life
BISSELL Spotbot Pet Portable Carpet Cleaner
This Bissell Spotbot portable carpet cleaner has no trouble with tough stains from pets or everyday life. It easily cleans carpet and upholstery in your home and car, RV or campers. It has two ways to clean carpet, rugs, and furniture. For your carpet and rugs you can use the automatic cleaning cycle that does the work for you, or you can use the tool and hose to reach areas where it might not fit or for smaller stain spots.
The Bissell Spotbot power cord is 24 feet long, with a hose reaching an additional 5 feet, making it great for cleaning around large rooms. It has dual tanks for cleaning and collecting dirty water. The clean tank capacity is 30.6 oz.and the dirty tank capacity is 29.2 oz. It has 3 cleaning modes to handle any tough stain and is great on low pile carpet or auto-carpet.
The Bissell spotbot main brush head rotates to remove stains while the vacuum sucks up all the dirty water to leave your carpet clean and dry. This spot cleaner has a quick mode, deep clean mode, and hand tool mode for when you want to clean furniture upholstery.
Pros
- Large water tank capacities
- 3 Cleaning mode options for cleaning stains
- Easy to use
- Gets out unpleasant odors and messes like urine and vomit
Cons
- Cheap internal hose material causes leaks
- Brush head is difficult to remove for cleaning
Bissell- BARKBATH Dual Use Portable Dog Bath & Deep Cleaning System
While this is not only a portable dog bathing unit, it is also a portable spot cleaner for carpets and upholstery. The dual-use of this nifty machine makes it purfect for homes with pets that shed and make occasional messes inside. It features two different easy to use cleaning attachments- one for Fido and one for the floors and furniture.
It has dual water tanks for the cleaning solution and dirty water. It comes with a separate tank for the deep cleaning solution to use on your carpet, keeping the harmful chemicals away from your pet’s skin. The main water tank holds 68 fl oz of water for giving your pet a bath or cleaning tough stains from your floors and furniture.
It comes with 3 different nozzles for cleaning and grooming your pets based on their fur, as well as the Hydro Rinse Self Cleaning Hose Tool, and the 3-inch carpet and upholstery adapter tool for getting tough stains from your carpets. The power cord is 15 feet long and the flexible hose is another 8 feet long, maximizing your cleaning reach around your pets and your home.
Pros
- Dual Use for pets and carpets
- Separate Deep cleaning tank for cleaning carpets
- Specialty Tools included
- Large water tank capacity
- 8oz Cleaning solution and 8oz No-Rinse Pet Shampoo included
Cons
- Louder without Dampening pad
- Not heated
Bissell SpotClean ProHeat – Best for Larger Areas
This best portable cleaner is similar to the other Bissell SpotClean, but it has a built-in heater to keep the water in the main tank warm for optimal cleaning of stains and pet messes. Like its counterpart, it is best for cleaning multiple surfaces such as carpets, rugs, furniture, and car upholstery.
It has a 15-foot power cord and a 4.5-foot hose and 37oz tank capacities. It’s lightweight and easy to store due to the compact size and attached hose clip on the unit to keep everything together. The slim design makes it best for sitting on the stairs for cleaning them.
It’s really one of the best against tough set-in stains and leaves carpets smelling fresh and clean.
Pros
- Compact & slim design for easy carrying and cleaning
- Large tank capacities
- Self-cleaning tool and 3″ deep cleaning tool included
- Heated water tank
Cons
- Can be loud when running
- The cleaning solution comes in a smaller quantity
Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner Portable Upright
While not as portable as some of the other carpet cleaners on this list, this bad-boy packs a punch against tough stains on carpets. It’s a professional-grade carpet cleaner for removing those impossible set-in stains. It packs 75% more power than most other portable carpet cleaners and even other standing cleaners on the consumer market. This increase in power means a deeper and more efficient cleaning job on your carpets, without voiding any warranties on them.
It has a dual-cross action brush that tackles stains from every direction, ensuring all the dirt and grime is thoroughly removed, as well as a grooming function that leaves your carpets looking pristine. It comes with a 12-inch wide suction nozzle for better visibility of the cleaning path.
It is still lightweight compared to other similar products and can be moved around more easily for optimal cleaning use around your home. The handle collapses for convenient storage, and the tool caddy is detachable to fit in tight spaces. It has large, carpet-friendly wheels for maneuvering around on thick carpets.
The Rug Doctor Deep Carpet cleaner has a super boost spray setting that is best for high traffic areas. It allows you to remove pet stains like urine, as well as deep set-in stains from dirt, juices, and odors that discolor your carpets. It does include an upholstery tool for cleaning couches and other upholstery, as well as hard to reach areas around your home.
Pros
- Powerful cleaning performance
- Easy to use and store
- Dries quickly in 4 hours
- “Simple Lift” Clean and Dirty water tanks
Cons
- Loud when operating
- Difficult to clean
Sanitaire Restore Portable Spot Carpet ExtractorÂ
The Sanitaire spot carpet extractor features a sleek design with powerful cleaning suction. It is lightweight, weighing only 12.8lbs, and comes with a 6″ cleaning brush and a 5-foot hose for spot cleaning stairs, furniture upholstery, and tough to reach areas.
The .75 gallon water tank is easily removed for refilling and emptying as you clean, and a lengthy 22-foot power cord to reach every corner of a large room. It is a commercial-grade portable carpet cleaner designed with durability in mind. The tough and sturdy handle makes it easy to carry without fear of it breaking over time, and is comfortable in your hands.
It is easy to clean after use and fits in compact storage areas. The clear clean and dirty tanks allow you to see when it’s time to empty and refill. The unit does come with an 8oz bottle of ultimate carpet cleaner + OXY cleaning solution to eliminate tough stains, leaving your carpet fresh and clean.
Pros
- 22′ long power cord and 5′ long hose
- Lightweight and compact for easy storage and portability
- Strong and sturdy handle makes it one of the best portable carpet cleaners
Cons
- Suction power could be better
Spot Carpet Cleaner Buyer’s Guide
It’s not easy to choose with so many options on the market. Here is a buying guide to guide you as you shop for the best spot carpet cleaner. Keep these considerations in mind and you’ll be on the right track to get the best portable carpet cleaner!
Suction Power
When you are searching for your own portable carpet cleaner, make sure you find one that actually has an immense amount of suction power. The hose on the cleaner is designed to absorb as much dirt and debris out of your carpet as it possibly can.
It will also absorb the dirty water on the spot you clean to keep your carpet spotless. It’s great at keeping your carpet dry after the initial cleaning process so your carpet will be fresh and clean afterward.
Tank Capacity
Always take the capacity of the cleaning tanks into consideration. You should think about getting a carpet cleaner that has a tank that can hold somewhere around upwards of 30 ounces in order to carry out the most effective cleaning jobs.
Smaller tanks will typically require more frequent refills even in the middle of cleaning, which can greatly consume your time and energy. The size of the rooms you need to clean should help you determine how big your tanks need to be. One fill will usually not be enough to clean an entire room unless it is a bit smaller than an average room.
Brushes
Many portable carpet cleaners come with brushes that are meant to scrub through the carpet and hard to reach areas of your home in order to get ingrained stains and dirt out of the carpet with ease. It is even easier to do so if they include motorized brushes. They are exceptionally efficient for cleaning and give you a much easier time of cleaning than manual brushes.
You will need a brush that you can use for multiple types of surfaces and prevents tangling from regular hair or pet hair. Oscillating brushes will effectively deep clean the dirt and stains from carpet fibers, and they will likely be a must-have item if you are a pet owner.
Easy to Carry
You will have to carry your carpet cleaner with all of the equipment from room to room while you are cleaning. That’s inevitable. A heavy cleaner or carpet cleaner steam machine will only hinder you further. If you have to haul your steam cleaner for carpet with you to every room, then you will want to make sure that it has a compact and lightweight design that takes the stress out of carrying it.
The size and the weight of the portable carpet cleaner is what determines its ability to be portable, so a heavier weight would only defeat the purpose. Make sure to test out the weight of the portable cleaner if you want to to see if you can handle carrying it around the house. You will also want to make sure it is compact enough to store it anywhere you need it when it is finished.
Cord Length
The length of the cord is also another feature to take into consideration since you will have to have enough space to move the cleaner, especially from room to room. It may be a good idea to measure the cord length by how it allows you to move through each room as well as through other areas in the house.
Determine whether you will have an ample amount of room to move and clean. Take the time to make sure that the length of the cord on your cleaner is long enough to live up to your expectations of usefulness.
Cordless
Depending on what you plan to use your cleaner for, or where, is a good factor to keep in mind when looking at the options available. If your intent is for more remote cleaning, like in a camper, RV, or your car, then cordless cleaners are a great feature to look into. Cordless cleaners will give you the ability to clean in areas where there are no outlets to plug into, or if you just need to do a super quick clean-up of a spill on a rug.
Make sure to look for cordless cleaners with the right amount of operation time you’ll need to get those quick cleaning tasks done and look for ones that have interchangeable batteries you can swap out and keep charged.
Having an extra charged battery on hand is useful for keeping in RVs and campers, and extends how long you can use your portable cleaner for.
Cleaning Tools
Many portable carpet cleaners come included with some very useful cleaning tools that can help make your cleaning job much easier and less time-consuming. Some of these tools include spot cleaner, stain tool, hoses and scrubbing brushes that are designed to remove and eliminate dirt and even that pet stain that is deeply ingrained into your carpet.
Portable upholstery cleaners also help to get hard to reach areas. Handles and wheels are also important in this category since they are needed to make the cleaner portable and the wheels need to be safe for carpet use.
Multi-purpose Uses
Some portable cleaners can be used for more than just deep cleaning carpets, rugs and upholstery. If you need multiple machines to handle similar jobs, then looking for a single carpet cleaner that can do multiple things will be worth the extra cost in the end, versus spending more on multiple pieces of equipment that will take up more space in your storage cabinet.
Which Portable Carpet Cleaner is Best for You?
Buying a carpet cleaner, even a portable one, can be a big decision when it comes to the care of your home. Which is the best portable carpet cleaner?
First, know what you want the carpet cleaner or spot cleaner to do. Decide where you will most commonly use it and what for. Then add on features you want to have, and what price rang you are most comfortable with. Then do a search for cleaners that match your needs and wants. Reading reviews can help you decide on which brands or models to focus on more, as well as give you a heads up on any possible problems that could come your way.
Most best portable carpet cleaner manufacturers respond to reviews, showing how much they care about their customers. Seeing responses from the manufacturers will give you an insight to how any future dealings with them will go as well. Be sure to stick with a company that has great customer service qualities.
Final Verdict
The best portable carpet cleaner is truly a highly efficient appliance to invest in. Take some time to do some research on the products that you are interested in so you can be certain that you will receive the best results. Once you are satisfied with the option you have chosen to use for your own home, you may have an appliance that will give you a close-to-professional level of cleanliness.
Sharing all my interesting smart home finds in this small corner of the internet. If you want easy to read, honest opinions or reviews from your friendly neighbor, I'm the guy for you! Thanks for dropping by Brentmore Labs. - James 
