So let me tell you a story of how a carpet cleaner has saved me and my carpet. When I was younger, we had two little kittens in our home. And boy were they cute!
Each kitten was gray with little black and white stripes throughout their body. One kitten even had this cute little white patch on her chest. It was adorable!
They played and ran around the house. Who doesn’t love cute kitten?! And I think you can imagine where this story goes. One day I come and BOTH kittens have peed on the main carpet in my nice living room.
And man was I furious!
So what do I do? I hop on google to research the best portable carpet cleaner. What could get this pee stain out of my carpet? And honestly, I wasn’t happy with the top results in google.
So I investigated even deeper and found my favorite carpet cleaner. Long story short I got the Bissell spot carpet cleaner and it worked!
So I created this list because I found several awesome carpet cleaning machines and I wanted to share them with you. Take a look and see for yourself!
Page Contents
- 1 Best Portable Carpet Cleaner Comparison Chart
- 2 Top Portable Carpet Cleaning Machine Reviews
- 2.1 Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Carpet Cleaner – Our Choice For Best Portable Carpet Cleaner 2019
- 2.2 SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner – Best Spot Carpet Cleaner For Pet Stains
- 2.3 Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner – Best Cheap Portable Carpet Cleaner
- 2.4 Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner – A Budget Friendly Spot Cleaner
- 2.5 Bissell SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner – Top Portable Carpet Cleaner For Cars
- 3 Best Portable Carpet Cleaner Buying Guide – What To Look For In A Great Cleaner
- 3.1 What Is A Carpet Cleaner? And What Components Do They Have?
- 3.2 What Are The Different Types Of Portable Carpet Cleaners?
- 3.3 Carpet Cleaners Vs. Vacuums: Which One Is For Me?
- 3.4 What You Should Look For In A Portable Carpet Cleaner
- 3.5 Top Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Portable Carpet Cleaner
- 3.6 Should I Just Use A Professional Carpet Cleaner?
- 4 Final Thoughts And My Recommendation
Best Portable Carpet Cleaner Comparison Chart
Top Portable Carpet Cleaning Machine Reviews
Take a look at our top 5 options for carpet cleaners.
Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Carpet Cleaner – Our Choice For Best Portable Carpet Cleaner 2019
Professional portable carpet cleaner in the palm of your hand.
Pros:
- Most powerful suction
- Professional cleaning results
- Tackles wide variety of stains
- Large capacity tank
- Extra reach
Cons:
- Flimsy hose
- Short hose
- Hose gets clog
Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Carpet Cleaner is Bissell’s most powerful spot cleaner In the market today. It uses powerful suction to remove and eliminate spots, stains and any stubborn dirt in your place. This powerful suction combined with its scrubbing action, professional cleaning solution and different tools, you will have an absolute cleaning power in the palm of your hands.
This Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Carpet Cleaner can fight and clean wide variety of stains such as wine, coffee, tea, vomit, blood, mud, pet urine and paw prints. It is perfect for cleaning your house, your pet’s dirt and stuffs and even the interior of your car.
You can bring it wherever and whenever you want to clean. It is also great for cleaning stairs, larger furniture areas and other hard-to-reach surfaces, thanks to its 6” stair tool. Those embedded dirt and stains will have no say to the power of this Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Carpet Cleaner.
Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Carpet Cleaner is generous for its large capacity 3/4-gallon tank. You don’t have to go back and forth just to refill the tank every now and then. You can surely go farther between each refill. Its 22-foot long power cord will also allow you to move around even away from the power source. It adds mobility to this portable spot cleaner.
First, we’ve all heard about the its hose which looks so flimsy for most of the users and customers. The hose, if not handled well, will degrade over time.
Second, the length of the power cord of this portable spot cleaner is long, but for some users, the length of its hose in not long enough to suit their needs. Third, few customers have observed that this spot cleaner can also be clogged if used too much for heavier cleaning tasks.
Overall, this Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Carpet Cleaner is a powerful portable spot cleaner. You will experience its suction and amazing cleaning power and all it can do. Check this Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Carpet Cleaner on Amazon.
SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner – Best Spot Carpet Cleaner For Pet Stains
One of the best portable carpet extractors on the market
Pros:
- Hands-free spot cleaning
- Great for pet stains
- Strong cleaning suction
- DeepReach Technology
- Versatile on-board hose
- Easy to store
Cons:
- Noisy
- Better to use with handheld attachment
- Requires more cleaning solution
One of the most popular spot bot cleaners in Amazon today is the SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner. In just a push of a button, SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner will deliver hands-free spot and stain removal on carpets and area rugs. This easy-to-use portable carpet cleaner automatically sprays, brushes and suck to eliminate any pet stains and embedded dirt on the surface.
The SpotBot is a great option for people with pets. It even made our list of the top cleaners for pet urine here. So for all you dog and cat people, this is a fantastic option for you.
SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner has a strong cleaning suction which is always ready to go whenever stains happen. Just set this bot cleaner on the stain or problem area, push a button and walk away. It will do the cleaning itself, making the problem area spotless when you return.
This SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner is known for its DeepReach Technology. It’s magic works by delivering water and cleaning formula deep into carpet fibers and gently scrubs to loosen and permanently remove pet stains and odors.
SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner comes with a hose and a handheld tool which allows you to clean manually if you’re not in the mood of using the automatic cleaning function. It is equipped with an on-board hose and tool to clean upholstery, auto interiors, stairs and hard-to-clean soft surfaces.
The SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner has a compact design which is good for storage. You can carry and store it conveniently with an ease.
SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner is a fantastic bot cleaner, but it does have some flaws. First, some customers said that this spot bot cleaner is loud to use. Though its not an issue, some find it as an annoyance.
Second, few have preferred to use its handheld tool in cleaning tougher stains. They find it easier to use than the automatic function. Third, since its tank capacity is not that enough, this spot bot cleaner requires more cleaning solution whenever you have to refill the tank.
Overall, SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner is a great and tough hands-free spot and stain cleaner. If you want to truly get the most for pet stains, check out our review of spray pet stains here to combine with this carpet cleaner. Don’t forget to check it out here on Amazon.
Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner – Best Cheap Portable Carpet Cleaner
Your portable carpet cleaner, providing spotless cleaning inside and out.
Pros:
- Powerful spot and stain remover
- Antimicrobial Multipurpose tool
- Self-Clean Technology
- Dual Tank Technology
- Compact Convenience
Cons:
- Not quiet
- Not recommended for heavy tasks
- Power cord is short
One of the best carpets and upholstery spot cleaner out there today is the Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner. It is a powerful spot and stain remover. Its strong suction deep cleans any deep-seated dirt, stain and spill coming from different pet messes and everyday mishaps.
Combining Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaners powerful suction and hygienic deep cleaning tools, this spot cleaner can lift and remove stains with an ease while keeping its tool safe from any bacteria, mildew and molds that can form in the tool.
Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner is also best known with its self-cleaning technology for its hose. You don’t have to keep up anymore to the terrible smell of the build-up dirt inside your hose after frequent cleaning times. You can easily clean the hose by removing the anti-microbial tool from the end of the hose, plugging it into the cleaning port on the back of the cleaner, and turning it on. No more clogging days for you.
This Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner also comes with its dual tank technology. It separates clean and dirty water so you can easily fill, empty and rinse them after every use.
The Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner has a compact design. Weighing less than 9 pounds and only 15 in. tall, this spot cleaner is lightweight. It has a portable design that makes it easy for you to carry it around, use, clean and store it away.
Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner is such a reliable spot cleaner, but it does have few flaws. First, if you are a noise-sensitive kind of person, this spot cleaner is not for you.
Second, some homeowners said that this spot cleaner, although great, is not recommended for large and heavier tasks. Third, the power cord is a bit shorter compared to some other spot cleaners. Only few users have noted this.
Overall, Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner is a reliable product with great technology. You don’t have to worry anymore about spills, stains and pet messes. This carpet and upholstery spot cleaner is what you need. Check this Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner here on Amazon.
Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner – A Budget Friendly Spot Cleaner
The eco-friendly and handy carpet cleaner that you always need.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Powerful spray and suction
- Great for multiple surfaces
- Lightweight and compact
- Eco-friendly design
Cons:
- Hose is short
- Short cord length
- Noisy
Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner is one of Bissell’s most popular portable carpet cleaner in the market today. Tough spots and stains in your place have no say with its powerful spray and suction that eliminates and remove them with an ease. It gets the job done and what’s great about this Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner is that you can easily get this awesome portable cleaner on Amazon at a very affordable price.
The Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner is great for small and large clean-ups and with its 3” tough stain tool, you can totally clean the embedded stain and dirt in your carpet, rugs, upholstery, stairs and even the interior of your car. It is a compact deep cleaner to erase your dirt and stain problems.
Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner is very lightweight. It is easy to carry around as you clean and refill the tanks. Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner also has a compact design which makes it easier for you to store, requiring just a small space in your kitchen cabinet.
Do you know that Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner is made up of recycled plastic? It actually contains at least 50% of recycled plastics. The tank and hose are parts made from post-consumer recycled plastic, PVC-free. It is eco-friendly. It’s not just helpful to remove dirt and stain problems. It’s also great for our environment.
Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner is a handy, reliable carpet cleaner. However, it does have drawbacks. First, the hose of Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner is shorter than most of the portable carpet cleaner out there.
Second, its power cord length is also deemed too short for some customers. They find it as a hindrance to use the machine on its full potential. Third, few homeowners have observed that this Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner sounds louder than their average vacuum cleaner. If you are sensitive to noise, this one is not recommended for you.
Overall, Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner is still an awesome portable carpet cleaner to have. Its performance will not disappoint you. Make sure to check this Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner here on Amazon.
Bissell SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner – Top Portable Carpet Cleaner For Cars
Designed for optimal cleaning of auto interiors and more.
Pros:
- Permanently removes spots and stains
- 2-in-1 spraying crevice tool
- Heatwave Technology
- Compact and slim
- Removable water tanks
Cons:
- Small solution tank
- Not on the quiet side
- Cord is short
BISSELL SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner is one of your best shot to get those deep-seated dirt off your car mats, upholstered seats and liners. This BISSELL SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner has a 2-in-1 spraying crevice tool penetrates to those small and hard-to-reach areas to permanently remove spots and stains from your auto interiors and more.
The 2-in-1 spraying crevice tool goes along with the 3-inch tough stain brush that provides string spray and suction to BISSELL SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner that will help you to remove even the toughest stains. You will easily get fresh, stain-free carpets without blotting and scrubbing.
This BISSELL SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner comes with the heatwave technology which is a built-in feature in every BISSELL Spotclean machine. The heatwave technology will provide a constant source of heat to help you maintain the necessary water temperature throughout the cleaning process. This will give you optimal cleaning results.
BISSELL SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner has a slim and compact design which makes it easy to handle and carry. It will fit comfortably on your vehicle and small spaces storage.
The BISSELL SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner have removable water tanks which you can quickly remove for easy filling of the cleaning solution before using it and emptying the dirt tank after every use.
BISSELL SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner is such an incredible and quality spot cleaner, but it does have few drawbacks. First, customers and users have noted the small capacity of the tanks. If you have many areas to clean, see to it that you have enough cleaning solution to back you up.
Second, some have also observed that this BISSELL SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner, just like most of the spot cleaners, is not quiet. And lastly, the cord length is also a drawback for this spot cleaner. We’ve heard that some users are not fond of short corded spot cleaners. The mobility of the spot cleaner is being held back with shorter power cord.
But all in all, this BISSELL SpotClean Auto Portable Carpet Cleaner is still an impressive spot cleaner. With all its perks and features, you’ll love it. Don’t forget to check it out here on Amazon.
Best Portable Carpet Cleaner Buying Guide – What To Look For In A Great Cleaner
So let’s run through some of the most important elements to consider when buying a spot carpet cleaner. And first let’s look at the major components to the carpet cleaner.
What Is A Carpet Cleaner? And What Components Do They Have?
The Pump: Obvious as the name is, this is what creates the pressure that helps move the water. It can vary anywhere between 60-500 PSI.
The Vacuum: Again another obvious piece. And this one sucks up the water from the ground and out of your carpet. Ideally, this should be also sucking up dirty water since it is a spot carpet cleaner.
Solution Tank: This will be where you store the cleaning solution for the carpet cleaning machine. Usually it’s a mixture of water and carpet cleaning solution.
Return Tank: Where should the water go that’s being vacuumed up? In the return tank obviously! Pretty much sums up what this component does.
Heater: An optional component for many carpet machines. But it does what it says, heats the solution water that’s being sent to the carpet.
Now let’s move into what major types of portable carpet cleaners exist in the market today.
What Are The Different Types Of Portable Carpet Cleaners?
Our main focus for this article is the “at-home” style carpet cleaners. We won’t dive much into the professional models, but we might mention them so you’re familiar.
Overall, these usually provide a great value. They can clean well and are affordable for most home owners.
But be careful because steam can be damaging to some carpet types. We did a great review on handheld carpet steamers here.
Carpet Cleaners Vs. Vacuums: Which One Is For Me?
This hopefully isn’t a tough situation to understand, but in reality you should have both.
There are huge differences between a carpet cleaner and a vacuum. So hopefully this doesn’t come as a major shock.
Vacuums suck up dirt trapped within carpets. And do it completely dry.
Portable carpet clean use water and cleaning solution to scrub the carpet and remove any deeply trapped dirt, grim, dust or other particles.
Vacuums can and should be used regularly on your carpet. They will be the normal day-to-day cleaning machine. Whereas carpet cleaning machines should be used occasionally.
We’ve don’e quite a few reviews of vacuums on our site. Here’s one on top 2019 vacuums. And another here on shag carpet vacuums. And lastly one for carpet stairs.
What You Should Look For In A Portable Carpet Cleaner
Top Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Portable Carpet Cleaner
Here’s some great ideas to keep in mind when using that carpet cleaning machine for spot stains.
- Always use a regular vacuum before using your portable carpet cleaning machine. This gets up the easy dirt and stuff beforehand so the carpet cleaner can focus on the major stain.
- Feel free to use a carpet cleaning spray beforehand. Especially if the stain has set in the carpet for a little while. This will help prep the stain for extraction.
- Keep the carpet wetness to a minimum. You don’t want to flood the stain with water. That water will seep into other parts under the carpet and eventually lead to mold. Just one (maybe two) pass with water is enough and then use several passes with the vacuum.
- If you can tackle a stain immediately, do so! This is probably one of the top pieces of advice. The longer a stain sits in the carpet, the more difficult it will be to extract.
- Be absolutely sure your carpet is 100% dry when you’re finished. Use portable fans to help if you’re unsure. The worst thing that can happen is you leave a carpet moist for days and it causes mold. Then you’ll basically have to replace all of it.
Should I Just Use A Professional Carpet Cleaner?
This is a question you’ll need to answer yourself unfortunately. In my opinion, 95% of the time you won’t need a professional. Many of these at-home carpet cleaning machines can work miracles by themselves.
But obviously there will be situations where you just need a professional touch.
I would suggest about once a year having a professional come in and do some cleaning for stains and carpet freshening. They are trained and can do things many normal home owners can’t. And they can provide a “stain guard” service to help minimize future stains.
Final Thoughts And My Recommendation
When it comes to portable spot carpet cleaning, we truly believe the Bissell 3624 Professional Spot Cleaner is our top choice. It is not the cheapest option on our list, but it’s because we value quality.
And now that you’ve seen our list of the best portable carpet cleaner. If you have any other items, please feel free to leave a comment. We always love getting new comments and new recommendations.
Really awesome blog content! Appreciate you for spending time!