ByMarisa Hillman
Tested by Dylan Fischer
Updated Aug. 29, 2024
These best carpet cleaners for pets will make cleaning up after Fluffy or Fido a breeze.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
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Pretty much everyone deals with the issue of trying to keep their carpet clean. For pet owners, that might mean investing in a heavy-duty upright vacuum, as well as a variety of pet hair removers. Not only that, but accidents and messes are going to happen, which means you’ll also want to invest in the best carpet cleaner for pets.
As any pet owner knows, dog andcat urine are among the most difficult to remove from a carpet because ammonia causes color changes in the carpet fibers.“The longer urine stays on carpet, the more likely this permanent color change will happen,” says Guy Peters, owner and founder of Mop Stars Cleaning Service. Urine also quickly saturates down to the carpet padding, which is why smells (especially cat pee smells) can linger. There’s also poop, which usually can be cleaned up easily unless your pet is ill and has diarrhea. “The proteins in feces are tough to break down, and the bacteria, parasites and viruses that can cause diarrhea will also add to the strong odors and staining,” says Peters. Vomit can be even more challenging, as it’s a lot more acidic than urine or feces. “Those acids from stomach bile can cause the discoloration of lighter-colored fabrics and fibers,” he says.
Other common culprits? Muddy paws, dirt, grass and pollen, which pups drag into the house. We’ve tested and reviewed a variety of portable carpet cleaners that work wonders on pet messes and odors, not to mention other common household messes. With one of these dream machines in your arsenal, you can rest assured that your carpets and couches will look and smell like new.
Best overall carpet cleaner for pets
Bissell Little Green HydroSteam Pet Portable Carpet Cleaner
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Best budget carpet cleaner for pets
Dirt Devil Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner
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Best portable carpet cleaner for pets
Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
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Most versatile carpet cleaner for pets
Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Duo
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Best deep-cleaning carpet cleaner for pets
Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner
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Best carpet cleaner for pets with attachments
Hoover CleanSlate Pet Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner
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Best overall carpet cleaner for pets
Bissell Little Green HydroSteam Pet Portable Carpet Cleaner
Pros:
- Cleans carpet, upholstery and hard surfaces, like tile and grout
- Three cleaning modes
- Strong suction dries upholstery quickly
- Separate clean and dirty water tanks
- Easy to use and empty
- Lightweight with a long cord
Cons:
- Dirty water can spill out if you tilt the tank the wrong way when emptying
One of our top picks as the best portable carpet cleaners is the Bissell Little Green HydroSteam Pet portable carpet cleaner—and it’s also our top pick for the best carpet cleaner for pet stains. Marisa Hillman, the author of this piece, lives in a home with four young children and a goofy yellow lab, which means there’s always a mess to clean up. This portable cleaner is easy to use and removes messes quickly and efficiently. Hillman feels like the steam function makes her carpet and couches feel extra clean, and the powerful suction ensures that they’re not soaking wet when she’s finished cleaning.
Mariah Thomas, associate editor, used this machine to clean messes and odors that her dog left on her rug and office chair. She was impressed by how easy and effective it was. “Using the carpet cleaner was incredibly easy,” she says. “You simply plug it in, attach your chosen tool, fill the designated bucket with water and the Bissell pet cleaner and turn the knob to your preferred cleaning mode.”
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This machine has three cleaning modes. Thomas preferred the SteamWash mode, which penetrates tough messes for quick stain removal. “The dual action of steaming and scrubbing simultaneously made the entire process easy and even enjoyable,” she says. Steam mode helps loosen stains and refresh upholstery and can also be used to clean grout and tile. And the machine’s wash mode can be used to clean enzyme-based stains like pet accidents.
“The carpet cleaner did a great job tackling pet messes and other stains,” raves Thomas. “My rug had some stains and odors from my Shih Tzu Poodle’s accidents, but after scrubbing and steaming, the smell and any traces of the dog were completely gone.” And while it is the most expensive carpet cleaner for pet messes on our list, it’s worth every penny. “It’s great to have on hand, especially if you prefer not to pay for professional carpet, rug or upholstery cleaning,” says Thomas.
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Best budget carpet cleaner for pets
Dirt Devil Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner
Pros:
- Budget-friendly price
- Very easy to use
- Long cord and hose
- Trigger dispenser and built-in hose rinse
- Extremely lightweight
Cons:
- No additional modes other than on/off
- Loud
The Dirt Devil Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner is the best budget-friendly carpet cleaner for pets. Our Product Testing Team gave this machine a perfect score for its value and intuitiveness, describing it as very easy and simple to use. They also appreciated the 15-foot cord and 4.5-foot hose, as well as the lightweight design with a handle built in, which make it easy to maneuver around the house.
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In the Testing Lab, our team put this machine up against red wine stains, mud and yellow-dyed ammonia. Our testers found that it took two to three rounds of cleaning to remove all stains and odors. After testing was complete, our team emptied and rinsed the water tanks. They were especially impressed by the self-cleaning hose tool which effectively removed left-behind dirt and debris.
Not bad for a cheap vacuum! And though it may be inexpensive, our Product Testing Team is confident that this machine is durable enough to last for years.
COURTESY BRYCE GRUBERCOURTESY BRYCE GRUBER
Best portable carpet cleaner for pets
Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Pros:
- Weighs less than 10 pounds
- Large 48-ounce water tank capacity
- Large handle makes it easy to transport
- Works on carpets, upholstery, car interiors and other fabric surfaces
- Comes with various attachments
- Fairly priced
Cons:
- Not ideal for cleaning large areas
The Bissell Little Green Machine is a favorite among shoppers, and for good reason. With a 4-foot hose and 48-ounce water tank capacity, you can get cleaning done faster without having to empty dirty water as often. It also boasts a self-cleaning hose, making it easy to rinse out the gunk after every use.
Our tester, Bryce Gruber, tested this popular machine and she agrees: This thing is a winner. Gruber, who has five children and two dogs, is no stranger to messes and is always on the hunt for ways to keep her home clean. “If you like truly clean carpets and upholstery, the Bissell Little Green is one of the best purchases you can make. It not only soaks and scrubs the stain itself, but sucks away all the dirty water and cleaning fluid immediately after,” she writes in her Little Green review.
Courtesy Bryce Gruber
Gruber, who tested this machine on a high-traffic area rug, a delicate antique Turkish rug and the fabric upholstery in one of her vehicles, was delighted by the fact that it took less than five minutes to fully remove a variety of stains, including kid messes, pet accidents and spilled coffee. “The key to getting the machine to work its best is to remove all dirt and debris first,” she explains. “Then spritz the stained areas with a trusted stain-removing agent…before using the Bissell Little Green’s water spraying function for further soaking.”
This handy machine includes a trial-size bottle of Spot & Stain with Febreze Freshness formula, a 3-inch tough stain tool, a HydroRinse self-cleaning hose tool and a spraying crevice tool, all of which work well, according to Gruber. “I reached for the self-cleaning hose attachment time and time again. It makes cleaning most surfaces a sort of fun spectator sport, as you watch the dirty fluid get sucked up in real-time. Gross, but gratifying,” she quips.
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Most versatile carpet cleaner for pets
Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Duo
Pros:
- Carpet cleaner and vacuum in one
- Weighs only 3.7 pounds when filled
- Cordless
- Quiet
- Budget-friendly price
Cons:
- Only uses Bissell cleaning solution
- Charge lasts less than 20 minutes
Bissell’s Pet Stain EraserDuo is a versatile machine that functions as a portable deep cleaner for carpets and upholstery, as well as a handheld vacuum for dirt and other dry debris. Weighing in at just 3.7 pounds when filled, this is the lightest machine on our list. It’s also the most convenient, given its size, multi-functionality and cordless design. But don’t let its small size fool you—this little guy is a total powerhouse.
In the Testing Lab, our team was thoroughly impressed by this machine’s powerful suction and performance. “It was clean all the way down to the roots of the shag rug,” raves the Product Testing Team after they finished cleaning red wine stains. In fact, they were so impressed that they performed separate tests on the dry vacuum attachment, sucking up breadcrumbs from a shag carpet and tile floor. Not only was the suction powerful, but our testers were pleased to find that all dry debris is kept in the dry attachment tank, so nothing gets tracked into the wet tank. “Overall, this is a great two-in-one,” says the Product Testing Team.
The only downside? Its charge lasts less than 20 minutes, and it runs out of solution fairly easily. That’s because this machine uses 100% solution as opposed to diluting it like other machines. And while going through solution so quickly may seem inconvenient, our testers found that the undiluted solution masked smells better and caused stains to come up quicker. Personally, we feel like frequent refills are a small price to pay for a versatile machine with top-notch performance.
ANNE FRITZ/RD.COMANNE FRITZ/RD.COM
Best deep-cleaning carpet cleaner for pets
Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner
Pros:
- Strong suction
- Effectively removes dirt and odors
- Rubberized bristles lift pet hair from carpets and upholstery
- Solution scent isn't overpowering
- Luggage-type handle and wheels make it easy to transport
Cons:
- Cleaning tank doesn’t have a flat bottom for standing up
- Can become clogged with hair
With its portable design, retractable handle and 4-foot long hose, the corded Rug Doctor Pet is a convenient solution for cleaning pet-soiled carpets, rugs and water-safe upholstery. It has a larger tank than most units of similar size, which means you won’t have to stop to refill it as often, saving you lots of time. It can also help you with trickier, non-pet-related tasks, like cleaning your baseboards.
Deputy editor, Anne Fritz, used this carpet cleaner on her dog Lucky’s bed, as well as the carpets in her living room and home office. Since Lucky likes to lounge close by Fritz while she works, her carpet had its fair share of dog hair and odor. This made the machine’s nozzle especially useful. Dubbed by the brand as a “dual-action pet tool,” it has bristles to remove pet fur from carpet and furniture. “It was helpful, though reminded me I used to use a ChomChom Roller, which is about as effective,” muses Fritz. In fact, the brush was so effective at releasing hair from the carpet that Fritz’s 9-year-old daughter enjoyed helping her use it. “In her words it was ‘satisfying,’ which is high praise from a third grader,” says Fritz. “And it was satisfying to see the gross dirty water in the ‘waste water tank,’ as we went along.”
Anne Fritz/RD.com
Another thing Fritz appreciated was the pleasant-smelling solution that came with the machine. “I HATE strong scents and often get headaches from scented candles, many air fresheners and perfume,” she explains. “I was worried that it would smell fake or overly chemical. But fortunately, I didn’t have any issues with the scent at all.” The only downside, according to Fritz, was adding the solution to the tank. She points out that since the cleaning tank doesn’t have a flat surface, it felt awkward to pour the solution with one hand while holding or balancing the full tank in the other.
Awkwardness aside, Fritz found this carpet cleaner to be a great value since it did an excellent job of picking up dirt and removing odors. “Especially when you consider that a professional carpet cleaning can cost $100 or more,” she adds.
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Best carpet cleaner for pets with attachments
Hoover CleanSlate Pet Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner
Pros:
- Includes a variety of tools, specific for cleaning up after pets
- Easy to maneuver for cleaning up upholstery pet messes
- Equipped with a long cord and hose
- Self-cleaning hose
- Comes with cleaning solution
Cons:
- Not ideal for cleaning large areas
With a dual tank system and portable design, the Hoover CleanSlate Plus is the best cleaner for pets where upholstery and furniture are concerned. The portable machine offers powerful suction and comes with tools specifically for cleaning up anywhere furry friends have an accident—especially sofas and other types of water-safe upholstered furniture.
Our testers noted that the Hoover CleanSlate was simple to use and straightforward to clean. They were also impressed by the machine’s hose rinse tool, which makes cleaning the device a breeze. “You could tell by the dirty water tank that it was working well,” says the Product Testing Team.
During testing, our team noticed that the Hoover took a few additional passes to eliminate all stains and odors, but it did do so effectively, especially the set-in ammonia stain, which was completely eliminated in just two passes. However, they detected a smell afterward, which means it might have done well with another pass or two.
The machine comes with an 18-foot cord and 4.5 feet of hose length, making it useful for cleaning stairs and moving between various areas. We appreciate the smart cord and hose management, which makes this machine both portable and easy to store.
What to consider when buying a carpet cleaner for pets
There are many types of carpet cleaners for pets at every price range. Some come with different carpet cleaning tools, including brushes, suction, upholstery tools and nozzles. You can choose from portable handheld units that make small spaces and upholstery easier to tackle and upright units designed to clean larger spaces.
These machines also use a special carpet-cleaning solution that’s unique to each brand. If you share your home with pets, look for a cleaning solution that’s formulated for pet messes.
Why you should trust us
Many of us here at Reader’s Digest share our homes with furry four-legged friends, so we understand the importance of being able to quickly and efficiently remove pet messes from our homes. Our Product Testing Team, editors and testers have years of experience testing and evaluating the best vacuums for pet hair, including the best Shark vacuums for pet hair. Guy Peters, owner and founder of Mop Stars Cleaning Service, gave us insight on pet messes and stains so we knew what to look for in a carpet cleaner for pets. Then, our product testing experts on the Product Testing Team spent over 40 hours conducting firsthand research in our Testing Lab on 11 different portable carpet cleaners. We also sent units home with real-life pet owners so we could see which machines truly did the job. We strive to recommend the very best products using honest and fair testing practices and will never recommend a product we don’t love, regardless of how popular the brand or model.
How we found the best carpet cleaners for pet messes
To find the best carpet cleaners for pets, we began by gathering 11 of the top models from the most reputable brands on the market. From there, we spent approximately 40 hours on batch testing, including researching, sourcing, intaking and testing the products. In the Testing Lab, we performed 15 tests on each vacuum and collected 360 data points. We also received detailed feedback from at-home testers who used these machines in their own homes on real-life pet messes, stains and odors.
Our Product Testing Team personally tested each machine on everyday messes, including both set and new stains from red wine, mud and dyed ammonia. Each mess was dumped on a cordoned-off patch of carpet to be cleaned. Our testers attempted to remove each stain with the carpet cleaner, noting the visibility of each stain after 30 seconds of use. After the carpet dried, testers smelled the stains to see how much, if any, of the scent remained.
We took into consideration suction, how much vigor was required to clean each stain, accessories and how easy it was to empty and clean each machine. After testing, six models made the cut as the best carpet cleaners for pets. We’re confident that these machines will leave your home feeling clean and fresh.
FAQ
How do you get dog and cat urine smells out of carpet?
Peters stresses the importance of acting fast to remove dog and cat urine smells from carpets. He advises using an enzymatic cleaner and a carpet cleaner with “strong suction to really try and pull the liquids up and out of the fibers and padding as quickly as possible.”
How do you get old pet stains out of carpet?
To remove old pet stains from carpet, Peters suggests using an ultraviolet (UV) pet urine detector to identify them. He notes that cat urine will glow brightly, allowing you to pinpoint areas for treatment with a heavy-duty enzymatic cleaner. “UV lights can also reveal other biological stains, such as vomit,” he adds. While the process for removing older stains is similar to newer ones, you may need to repeat it several times for effective results.
How long does it take carpet to dry after cleaning?
The drying time for carpets after cleaning varies depending on the type and its level of saturation. Typically, it will dry within six to ten hours, but in some cases, it may take up to 24 hours.
Should you vacuum after carpet cleaning?
You should wait until your carpet is completely dry before vacuuming.
Originally Published: July 08, 2022
Author
Marisa Hillman
Marisa had been teaching literature and grammar to high school students for almost a decade before she became a full-time mom. Since she can't sit still, she decided to combine her love of shopping and writing. She now shares her tips, tricks and finds via tried-and-tested product reviews, product roundups and gift guides for every occasion. As a m...
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Tester
Dylan Fischer
Dylan is an associate product tester for Reader's Digest, focusing on various home and cleaning categories. He is creative and always looks for the most productive and efficient way to tackle challenges. This is reflected in his career, during which he’s previously been a studio assistant and film development specialist. As a product tester, he s...
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