5 Things to Know Before Buying a Carpet Cleaner
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.
If you have a busy household with lots of carpet, a dedicated carpet cleaner might be a smart addition to your quiver of cleaning machines. It can make short work of ground-in dirt and stains in a way even the best vacuums can’t.
“Carpet cleaners are nothing like a standard upright vacuum,” says Larry Ciufo, who oversees Consumer Reports’ carpet cleaner tests. In fact, “the instructions for these machines tell you to vacuum your floor first using a conventional vacuum cleaner, and then use the carpet cleaner to clean up embedded dirt.”
The carpet cleaners in our tests cost from about $100 to nearly $500, but you don’t have to spend a bundle to get spotless carpet.
How We Test Carpet Cleaners
It takes three days to put one carpet cleaner through our battery of cleaning-performance tests. Our engineers soil large swatches of off-white nylon carpet with red Georgia clay. They run a carpet cleaner over the carpet for four wet and four dry cycles to simulate a consumer cleaning a particularly dirty spot on a well-trafficked carpet. Then they repeat the test on two more swatches.
Over the course of the test, our experts use a colorimeter, a device that measures the absorption of light wavelengths, to take 60 readings of each carpet per test: 20 in its “virgin” state, 20 after it has been soiled, and 20 after it has been cleaned. Sixty readings on three samples make a total of 180 readings per model.
How to Choose a Carpet Cleaner
Considering one of these powerful cleaning machines? Here are five things to keep in mind as you shop.
1. Carpet cleaners are heavy when empty—and even heavier after you fill up the tank. Adding a cleaning solution to the models in our ratings adds 6 to 15 pounds. We list the weight of the carpet cleaner when empty and when full on each model page.
The largest cleaner in our tests, the Bissell Big Green Machine Professional 86T3, weighs 58 pounds when full and may be difficult for one person to maneuver. One of the lightest models we tested, the Hoover PowerDash Pet FH50700, weighs 12 pounds when empty and 20 when the tank is full.
2. For routine carpet cleaning, the standard solution will do. Manufacturers recommend that you use their brand’s cleaning solution with their carpet cleaner—but they might sell a dozen or more types of specialized solutions.
For routine carpet cleaning, spot stain removers aren't necessary. If you have a stubborn stain, like a pet mess, you could try the solution marketed for that type of stain.
3. Check the settings, accessories, and length of the hose. Some carpet cleaners have only one tank for water and the cleaning solution. But we found that it's more convenient to have two separate tanks, one for water and one for the cleaning solution. Some even premix the solution and water within the machine, saving you the hassle of having to measure out a full tank each time. Also look for a carrying handle, which makes it easier to move the machine around.
Settings to consider: Some manufacturers claim their models clean hard floors, like wood and tile, and carpets. There are also carpet cleaners that have dry-only settings so that you can suck up more water after your initial cleaning, which may speed up drying time.
Our testers noted that hose length varies widely. Some models have a 61-inch hose; others have a 155-inch hose. Look for a model with a longer hose if you need to clean in tough-to-reach areas. “If your stairs have carpeting, you’ll want a longer hose to reach up the steps,” Ciufo says. “And remember, these machines are heavy. You don’t want your machine falling down the stairs after you tug the hose too far.”
4. Carpet cleaners are loud. An average vacuum cleaner can produce up to 70 decibels of noise. A carpet cleaner is much, much louder—in our tests, the average noise level was 80 dBA. (In decibels, a reading of 80 is twice as loud as 70.) At this decibel level, we recommend wearing hearing protection, especially if you’re using the machine for a prolonged period. So grab noise-canceling headphones or earplugs that guarantee protection for up to 85 dBA. (Check out these tips for preventing hearing loss.)
5. Cleaning takes time. A vacuum can come out of the closet ready to go. But a carpet cleaner? Not so much. First, you have to move furniture out of the area you plan to clean, then you should vacuum the carpet. Next, fill the machine with cleaning solution and water.
When using a carpet cleaner, you push and pull it just like a vacuum. Push the carpet cleaner out to arm’s length, then pull it back while continuing to squeeze the trigger. For a dry cycle, release the trigger and complete the same steps.
To suction the cleaning solution from the rug, make dry passes with the carpet cleaner. If the carpet is still dirty, repeat wet and dry passes until the cleaning solution you removed from the carpet runs clear. Once you’re satisfied, let the carpet dry completely before you walk on it or replace the furniture.
You’re not done yet. After admiring your work, you have to unplug the machine, clean out the tank, and remove any debris from the brushes following the instructions in your owner’s manual.
For more information, see our carpet cleaner buying guide.
3 Top Carpet Cleaners From CR's Tests
Read on for ratings and reviews of three of the best carpet cleaner models, based on CR’s latest tests.
