10 Best Home Carpet Cleaners 2025 in the United States

The Shark PX201 StainStriker Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner is a versatile cleaning tool designed for homes with pets and frequent spills. Its main strength lies in its powerful stain and odor elimination capabilities, particularly for tough stains like pet urine and smoke. The dual-activated formula, which mixes inside the handheld cleaner, ensures no need for premixing and delivers a strong cleaning punch with the power of OXY.

Its 8.51-pound weight makes it lightweight and easy to maneuver, allowing for whole-home cleaning, including carpets, rugs, couches, upholstery, and even car interiors. The inclusion of three attachments – a crevice tool, a reversible bristle tool, and a pet tool – enhances its versatility and makes it perfect for pet owners. Additionally, the compact design ensures easy storage after use.

Maintenance-wise, while it’s designed for ease of use, regular cleaning of the attachments and the machine itself is necessary to prevent residue buildup. This product is best suited for households with pets or children, where frequent spot cleaning is needed, and those who value a lightweight, portable solution for stain removal across various surfaces.

The Shark EX201 CarpetXpert is a robust choice for anyone needing deep cleaning and spot removal capabilities in a home carpet cleaner. This product excels in cleaning power with its powerful suction and CarpetXpert technology, ensuring effective dirt and grime removal. It is particularly suitable for pet owners, as it permanently eliminates pet odors and handles tough stains with ease, thanks to the StainStriker technology.

The built-in handheld spot cleaner is a remarkable feature that boosts its versatility, allowing users to address isolated stains on carpets, stairs, and upholstery without a hassle. Additionally, the 30.4-gallon water tank capacity is generous, minimizing the need for frequent refills during large cleaning tasks. Despite its 18.05-pound weight, it maintains good maneuverability, ideal for whole-home cleaning, and the ultra-fast drying times prevent over-soaking carpets, which is a common issue with heavier cleaners.

The inclusion of various tools such as the stain tool, pet tool, and crevice tool make it adaptable to a range of cleaning scenarios. However, users might find it less convenient for small touch-ups due to its size. Maintenance appears straightforward, with easy hand wash instructions. Although highly ranked in carpet cleaning machines, it may not suit those who prefer a compact unit for light cleaning or those sensitive to its weight. It also requires plugging into an electrical source, which might limit mobility slightly. This cleaner stands out in tackling pet-related stains and odors, making it an excellent option for households with pets or high foot traffic areas.

The Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner is a well-rounded machine for maintaining clean carpets at home. It boasts solid cleaning power with its SpinScrub Technology, which uses multiple counter-rotating brushes for thorough, 360-degree cleaning of carpet fibers. This technology ensures a deep clean by maintaining constant contact with the carpet, which is advantageous for removing embedded dirt and stains. The DualV Nozzle helps in delivering even suction across surfaces, aiding in efficient cleaning. With a 3.8-liter water tank capacity, it can handle moderate cleaning tasks without frequent refilling, making it practical for most home uses. The Smart Tank system adds to its convenience, making it easy to fill, empty, and clean the tanks without any mess.

Weighing 18.5 pounds, it is relatively light for its category, improving maneuverability around the house. However, some users might still find it a bit bulky, particularly when dealing with stairs. The 8-foot hose and included upholstery tool make it versatile for reaching difficult areas like stairs and furniture, although the hose length might feel a bit short for some. In terms of drying time, the efficient suction helps carpets to dry relatively quickly, but this can still vary depending on carpet thickness and environmental factors.

One of its notable strengths is ease of maintenance, with removable brushes that simplify cleaning the machine itself, extending its longevity. The package also comes with useful accessories including a crevice tool and a sample bottle of cleaning solution. On the downside, assembly is required and could be a minor inconvenience for some users. Additionally, being a corded electric model, mobility is limited by the cord length and proximity to power outlets. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe offers a strong balance of performance, convenience, and ease of use, making it a solid choice for homeowners seeking an effective carpet cleaning solution.