Pets turn carpet into a log of everything they did that week: muddy paw prints by the door, a hairball on the stairs, a yellow spot behind the couch. A spot cleaner handles one mess at a time, but it can't wash a whole living room. The best upright carpet cleaner for pets scrubs the full room, pulls wet hair and dirty water back out, and has a hose and pet tool for stairs, couches and pet beds. Our top pick is the BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus. If your dog or cat sheds heavily, the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro is built to keep hair from clogging it.
Our top 3 upright carpet cleaners for pets
See how all 6 upright carpet cleaners for pets compare in our side-by-side comparison chart ↓
The 6 Best Upright Carpet Cleaners for Pets
BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus
- Very good cleaning and excellent drying in Consumer Reports’ ratings
- Cleared urine stains in Bob Vila’s hands-on test
- Pet Pro OXY urine formula and 2-in-1 pet upholstery tool in the box
- Brush roll cover pops off in one piece for hair removal
- Dirty tank fills fast on big jobs
- Front-heavy and awkward to carry
- Small upholstery tool was weak in one hands-on review
- Takes up a lot of closet space
BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus review
The ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus is the safest choice for most pet owners because it does the two jobs that matter: it gets stains out and it doesn't leave carpet soaking wet. Consumer Reports rated its cleaning very good and its drying excellent. In Bob Vila's hands-on test, it eliminated urine stains, though urine and red wine needed more than one pass. Vacuum Wars named it a best value carpet cleaner.
Fast drying matters with pets. Damp carpet keeps odor alive, and pets walk right back over it. Express Clean mode dries in about 30 minutes, per BISSELL.
The pet extras are useful, not just marketing. You get a CleanShot OXY pretreat sprayer, a Pet Pro OXY urine formula, antimicrobial brush rolls and a 2-in-1 tool that pulls wet and dry hair off upholstery. The brush roll cover comes off in one piece.
On larger rooms you'll empty the dirty tank often, and the machine is front-heavy to carry upstairs. If your pet sheds enough to clog hoses, the Shark HairPro handles hair better.
Shark CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker
- HairPro cage catches wet hair before it clogs the system
- Its EX301 sibling posted the highest stain score Vacuum Wars has recorded
- Very strong suction at the hose for couches and pet beds
- Self-cleaning hose and a pet mess extractor tool
- Small 0.6-gallon clean tank
- 6.5-foot hose and 20-foot cord are short
- Floor-head suction is lower than other Shark uprights
- Works best with Shark formulas
Shark CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker review
If your vacuum fills up every time you run it, this is the carpet cleaner to get. Most uprights let wet hair travel into the hose and filter, where it mats and blocks suction. Shark's HairPro design guides hair into a cage inside the dirty tank, which you lift out and empty.
The performance numbers are strong. Vacuum Wars tested the EX301, which it says is identical to this EX304 except for an extra XL stain tool. It scored 90.5 on dried grape juice, the highest of the 30 carpet cleaners the reviewer has tested, against an 83.5 average. Its hose suction was the second-highest in that database, which matters when you clean dog hair and drool off a couch.
StainStriker keeps an OXY booster in its own tank and mixes it when you use the hand tool. After you finish, clicking the hose back in flushes it with clean water, so urine and vomit residue don't sit inside it.
The tank is small, the hose is short and the floor-head suction trails other Sharks. For big houses with lots of carpet, the Big Green Pet Pro saves trips to the sink.
BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro
- Removed old stains on low-pile carpet in Bob Vila’s test
- Pulled pet hair from carpet and upholstery well in that test
- Biggest clean tank here, about 1.75 gallons
- 9-foot hose and a full 48 oz urine formula bottle
- Heavy at about 44 pounds
- Hard to push, store and carry upstairs
- Too tall to reach under most furniture
- Usually the priciest pick here
BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro review
The Big Green Pet Pro is a rental-style machine for homes where pets have been at it for a while. In Bob Vila's testing it removed every stain on the test carpet, including older stains on low-pile carpet, without a separate spot treatment. It also pulled pet hair from carpet and upholstery well, and the carpet felt dry to the touch right after cleaning and was fully dry in about 4 hours.
Size is the reason to buy it. The clean tank holds about 1.75 gallons, so you can wash a large room before refilling, and the 8-row DirtLifter brush is wide. The 9-foot hose reaches up a staircase, and two upholstery tools handle couches and pet beds. BISSELL includes a full 48 oz bottle of its Pet Pro OXY urine eliminator.
That size is also the downside. At about 44 pounds, it's hard to push, hard to carry and hard to store, and it won't fit under beds or couches.
Buy it for big homes with several pets and a closet or garage to keep it in. If you live in an apartment, the ProHeat 2X is much easier to handle.
Shark CarpetXpert with StainStriker
- Very good cleaning and excellent drying in Consumer Reports’ ratings
- Lifted common stains from beige and cream rugs in Real Homes’ test
- StainStriker OXY mix for pet odor, per Shark
- Built-in hose with a pet mess tool
- Smallest clean tank here, about 0.53 gallons
- Short 5-foot hose
- No HairPro hair cage
- Covers only about 24 square feet per fill, per Consumer Reports
Shark CarpetXpert with StainStriker review
The EX201 is our pick for pet owners with light carpet. On cream or beige carpet, a machine that leaves too much water behind can turn a cleaned spot into a brown ring as dirt wicks up from the pad. This one dries well: Consumer Reports rated its cleaning very good and its drying excellent, and placed it second among its recommended carpet cleaners.
Real Homes tested it on beige and cream rugs and found it removed red wine, grape juice, cocoa and ketchup. Those aren't pet stains, but they're the kind of colored, set-in messes that make light carpet hard to keep clean. StainStriker mixes two formulas into an OXY spray as you use the hand tool, and Shark says it removes pet urine odor at the source rather than masking it.
It shares Shark's weak spots. The clean tank is the smallest in this guide, and the 5-foot hose won't reach far up stairs. It also lacks the HairPro cage, so vacuum thoroughly before you wash.
Choose it for light carpet in smaller homes with one pet. For a heavy shedder, step up to the HairPro.
Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic
- Sprays on the push and dries on the pull, automatically
- Removed all test stains in a few passes in Bob Vila’s test
- Left carpet nearly bone dry in that test
- 2-in-1 pet tool, stair tool, 8-foot hose and a 5-year warranty (per the listing)
- Plastic parts near the hose came off in Bob Vila’s test
- Brush rolls are fiddly to put back
- No pet urine formula in the box, only a sample
- Less large-scale lab data than our top picks
Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic review
The SmartWash+ is the easiest upright here to use well, which matters more than it sounds. The most common mistake people make after a pet accident is soaking the spot, which pushes urine into the pad and slows drying. This machine sprays only while you push forward and switches to suction when you pull back, and Auto Mix measures the formula for you.
Bob Vila tested it as its best midrange pick. It removed all of the test stains within a few passes in under 5 minutes and left the carpet nearly bone dry. A dry-only mode also pulled water out of spots that were still wet the next day. Hoover's HeatForce blows warm air to help carpet dry faster; it isn't steam.
The 2-in-1 pet tool handles hair and spots on furniture, and the 8-foot hose reaches stairs. In that same test, some plastic pieces near the hose connection came off, and the brush rolls weren't intuitive to reinstall. Some owners also say it misses cat hair, so vacuum first.
Pick it if you want good results without practice. For heavy shedders, the HairPro handles hair better.
Hoover PowerDash Pet Advanced
- Lightest pick, about 14 pounds empty in Consumer Reports’ testing
- Very good cleaning and very good drying in those ratings
- PowerSpin pet brush roll and 2-in-1 pet tool
- Compact enough for an apartment closet
- Small tank, about half a gallon
- Loudest in Consumer Reports’ recommended group
- Some owners report leaks and belt problems
- No pet formula beyond a sample
Hoover PowerDash Pet Advanced review
The PowerDash Pet Advanced is for people who need a real upright but don't want a heavy one. Consumer Reports weighed the FH55000 version at about 14 pounds empty and 19 pounds full, the lightest in its recommended group, and still rated its cleaning and drying very good. This Amazon listing is the FH55050PC version of the same PowerDash Pet Advanced line.
It's a good size for an apartment or a small home with one pet. The PowerSpin pet brush roll scrubs the carpet, and the two-tank system keeps dirty water separate from clean. An extension hose and a 2-in-1 pet tool with bristle and rubber nub heads handle couch cushions and pet beds.
The compromises come with the size. The tank holds about half a gallon, and Consumer Reports found one fill covers only a small area, so plan on several refills for a full room. It was also the loudest machine in that group, which can scare nervous pets. Some owners report leaks and belt problems over time.
Buy it for small spaces and occasional deep cleans. For bigger homes or several pets, the ProHeat 2X is worth the extra weight.
Upright carpet cleaners for pets compared
|
Best overall
BISSELL ProHeat 2X
|
Best for heavy shedders
Shark HairPro
|
Best for multi-pet homes
Big Green Pet Pro
|
Best for light carpet
Shark EX201
|
Easiest to use
Hoover SmartWash+
|
Best lightweight
Hoover PowerDash
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weight (empty) | 17.5 lb | 18.8 lb | 44 lb | 18 lb | 18.5 lb | 14 lb |
| Clean tank | 1 gal | 0.6 gal | 1.75 gal | 0.53 gal | 1 gal | 0.5 gal |
| Hose length | 8 ft | 6.5 ft | 9 ft | 5 ft | 8 ft | 8 ft |
| Pet tool in the box | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Hair-catching system | – | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Self-cleaning hose | – | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Full pet urine formula included | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Pet stain cleaning | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Current price | $237.99 | $294.99 | $459.99 | $249.00 | $199.99 | $154.99 |
| Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review |
Upright carpet cleaners for pets compared
Prices and availability change often. Weights, tank sizes and hose lengths come from maker listings or the published tests named in How We Picked and Tested. Star ratings are our editorial judgment, not our own lab tests.
What makes an upright carpet cleaner good for pets?
Any upright carpet cleaner sprays water and formula, scrubs with powered brushes and pulls the dirty water into a separate tank. Pets add three problems that a basic machine doesn't handle well.
Hair. Wet hair clumps. In a regular upright it wraps around the brush roll and mats in the hose, and suction drops halfway through a room. Look for a removable brush cover, a hair cage like Shark's HairPro, or at least a brush roll you can clear by hand.
Urine and odor. Urine soaks through to the carpet pad, so the smell comes back after the stain is gone. You need strong suction to pull liquid back up, plus an enzyme or OXY formula made for pet urine. Several picks here include one.
Hygiene. After you clean up vomit or diarrhea, the hose and tool are dirty too. A self-cleaning hose or a hose you can rinse easily keeps the machine from smelling.
If your pet's messes are mostly small and frequent, a carry-handle spot cleaner may suit you better than a full upright. Our guide to the best portable carpet cleaners for pets covers machines made for quick accidents, stairs and car seats.
Should you use heat or steam on pet stains?
Not on urine. Heat can set protein stains and lock odor into the fibers, which is why animal welfare groups advise cleaning urine with cool or lukewarm water and an enzyme cleaner. That's why we left steam-pretreat uprights out of this guide, even though they work well on sticky food spills.
Warm air is different. Hoover's HeatForce blows warm air over the carpet to speed drying after the water is gone. It doesn't heat the stain itself.
How to choose an upright carpet cleaner for pets
Urine and wash water that stay in the pad cause lingering smells. Strong suction and dry passes pull that liquid back out.
Wet hair can clog a cleaner within one room if you have a heavy shedder.
Pets don’t only mess on open carpet. They use stairs, couches and their own beds.
Plain soap removes the stain you can see but not always the odor your pet can smell, which can draw them back to the same spot.
More pets usually means more carpet to wash and more refills.
A full machine weighs several pounds more than the empty spec, and loud motors can frighten nervous pets.
How to clean pet messes with an upright carpet cleaner
-
Vacuum the hair first
Wet hair clogs brushes and hoses. Vacuum slowly in two directions before you add water. If dry hair keeps winning, a vacuum built for pet hair on carpet makes this step much faster.
-
Blot fresh accidents
Press paper towels into fresh urine until they come up nearly dry. Don’t rub, which spreads it into more fibers.
-
Pretreat with a pet formula
Spray an enzyme or OXY pet formula on accidents and traffic paths, then let it sit as long as the label says. Enzymes need time to break down odor.
-
Use cool or lukewarm water
Fill the tank with lukewarm tap water, never boiling, and measure the formula. Too much soap leaves a sticky residue that attracts dirt and paws.
-
Make slow wet and dry passes
Push forward slowly while spraying, then pull back. Finish with two or three dry passes to pull up as much liquid as you can.
-
Keep pets off until it's dry
Run fans and open windows. Pets drawn to the smell of cleaner can track dirt right back in.
-
Clean the machine
Empty the dirty tank, pull hair from the brush roll or hair cage, rinse the hose and let everything air dry.
Cat pee is the hardest pet stain for any upright, because it soaks deep and the smell comes back on humid days. Our guide to cleaning cat urine out of carpet covers the formulas and machines that work on odor, not just the visible stain.
Upright carpet cleaner for pets FAQs
What is the best upright carpet cleaner for pets?
For most homes, the BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus. It earned very good cleaning and excellent drying ratings, removed urine stains in hands-on testing and comes with a pet urine formula and pet tool. Heavy shedders should look at the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro.
Will a carpet cleaner remove pet urine smell?
Usually, if you use an enzyme or OXY pet formula and extract well. Old urine that reached the pad may need a pretreatment, a second wash and plenty of dry passes. If the smell keeps returning, the pad itself may need replacing.
Can I use hot water to clean dog or cat urine?
It’s better not to. Heat can set urine stains and odor. Use cool or lukewarm water with a pet formula, and save hot water for greasy, non-pet spills if your manual allows it.
Do I need to vacuum pet hair before using a carpet cleaner?
Yes. Wet hair clumps and clogs hoses, filters and brush rolls. Vacuum first even if your machine has a hair cage like the Shark HairPro.
Can an upright carpet cleaner clean carpeted stairs?
Yes, with its hose and a stain tool. Longer hoses, like the 9-foot hose on the Big Green Pet Pro, reach more steps from one spot. If stairs are most of your carpet, see our carpet cleaners for stairs.
How often should pet owners deep clean carpet?
Carpet maker Shaw Floors suggests every 12 to 18 months for a typical home and more often with pets or kids. Many pet owners wash high-traffic areas every few months and treat accidents the day they happen.
Is carpet cleaning formula safe for pets?
Follow the label and keep pets off the carpet until it’s fully dry. Rinse passes with plain water help remove leftover soap that pets could lick off their paws.
Which upright carpet cleaner for pets should you buy?
- Best overall: BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus
- Best for heavy shedders: Shark CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker
- Best for multi-pet homes: BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro
- Best for light carpet: Shark CarpetXpert with StainStriker
- Easiest to use: Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic
- Best lightweight: Hoover PowerDash Pet Advanced
Start with the ProHeat 2X if you want strong cleaning, fast drying and pet extras in one machine. Choose the Shark HairPro if hair clogs everything you own, or the Big Green Pet Pro if you have several pets and a lot of carpet. The EX201 suits light carpet, the SmartWash+ is the simplest to use well, and the PowerDash Pet Advanced is the one to lift if weight matters most. No pets? Our upright carpet cleaner guide covers machines for every kind of home.
How We Picked and Tested
We started by defining what this search calls for. Someone looking for an upright carpet cleaner for pets wants a machine that washes whole rooms and also copes with wet hair, urine and odor. That rules out portable spot cleaners, steam mops and hard-floor wet-dry cleaners. We also left out steam-pretreat uprights, because heat can set urine stains and odor, a risk the Humane Society of Sonoma County flags in its pet stain and odor guide. Then we set four must-haves, and every pick in this guide meets all of them: an upright hot water extractor with motor-driven brushes, separate clean and dirty water tanks, a hose with a pet or stain tool in the box, and published results from at least one independent tester for that model or a version the tester or maker treats as the same machine.
Our main sources were Consumer Reports‘ 2026 carpet cleaner ratings, which score cleaning, drying, convenience and noise (as summarized by Quartz in July 2026); the lab tests from Vacuum Wars, which measure dried grape juice stain removal plus floor-head and hose suction across more than 30 carpet cleaners (updated October 2026); and the hands-on pet stain tests from Bob Vila, which included urine. We cross-checked those results against Real Homes’ stain tests on light rugs, cleaning advice from carpet maker Shaw Floors, and the spec pages and listings from BISSELL, Shark and Hoover.
Each award matches evidence for that job. The ProHeat 2X is our overall pick because it scored well for both cleaning and drying and cleared urine in testing. The Shark HairPro is our heavy-shedder pick because it is the only model here with a hair-catching cage, and its sibling posted the top stain score in Vacuum Wars’ database. The Big Green Pet Pro gets the multi-pet award for its tank size, 9-foot hose and results on older stains. The EX201’s light-carpet award rests on its drying rating and light-rug stain test, the SmartWash+ earns easiest to use for its automatic spray and dry, and the PowerDash Pet Advanced is our lightweight pick because it was the lightest model Consumer Reports recommended.
Weights, tank sizes and hose lengths are maker specs unless we name a test source. Where a result came from a sibling model, as with the HairPro (EX301 tested, EX304 listed) and the PowerDash (FH55000 tested), we say so. We did not test these carpet cleaners ourselves.
Why trust CleanTheFloor?
CleanTheFloor publishes practical floor-care advice and buying guides for homeowners and pet owners. We base our picks on published test results and verified specifications rather than marketing claims, and we point out each product's drawbacks.
