Pet urine soaks past the carpet fibers into the backing and pad, so wiping the surface rarely gets rid of the stain or the smell. The best steam cleaner for pet urine is really a carpet cleaner that sprays a pet formula into the carpet and pulls the liquid back out with strong suction, without true steam that can lock the odor in. A hose and stain tool help on stairs, couches and pet beds, and tanks that rinse out easily keep the machine from smelling.
We compared 5 carpet cleaners for pet urine across different sizes and price ranges to help you find the right one for your home.
Our top 3 cleaners for pet urine
See how all 5 cleaners compare in our side-by-side comparison chart ↓
The best machines for pet urine, by job
- Best overall: BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus A full-size upright with a urine formula, an OXY pretreat sprayer and an 8-foot hose. Best when accidents happen on wall-to-wall carpet.
- Best portable: Shark StainStriker HairPro A light spot cleaner that topped a large independent stain test. Keep it handy for fresh puddles on rugs, stairs and furniture.
- Best for old spots: BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro Rental-style suction and a 9-foot hose for spots a pet has used again and again.
- Best for couches: Hoover CleanSlate Plus A 9.4-pound spot cleaner with a wide tool for cushions and a hose rinse tool for cleanup.
- Best budget: Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact A small upright that removed urine in three passes and left carpet the driest in its test group. No hose.
None of these machines uses true steam. For urine in carpet or upholstery, cool or warm water, suction and an enzyme cleaner work better than heat.
Should you use a steam cleaner on pet urine?
Not a true steam cleaner, at least not on carpet or fabric. Animal shelters such as the Humane Society of Sonoma County warn that heat can set urine odor and stains by bonding the proteins to synthetic fibers. Once that happens, the smell tends to come back on humid days, and enzyme cleaners have a harder time breaking it down.
The confusion comes from the name. Most machines sold as "carpet steam cleaners" don't make steam at all. They spray water and cleaning formula into the carpet, scrub it with brushes and suck the dirty liquid back out. That process is called hot water extraction, and it's what you want for urine because it removes the liquid instead of baking it in. Use cool or warm tap water, not hot, when you clean a urine spot.
Real steam still has a job. On sealed tile, grout, vinyl and plastic crate trays, steam is a good last step after you've wiped up the urine and cleaned the spot. If that's your main need, our picks for the best steam cleaner for pets cover true steamers for hard surfaces.
The 5 Best Cleaners for Pet Urine
BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus 3588F
- Removed urine stains in Bob Vila’s hands-on test
- Pet Pro OXY Urine Eliminator formula in the box
- CleanShot pretreat sprayer for fresh spots
- 8-foot hose with a pet upholstery tool and a 3-inch stain tool
- Urine needed more than one pass in testing
- Dirty tank fills fast on big jobs
- Bulky to carry up stairs
- Overkill for a single small spot
BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus review
This is the machine we'd pick if accidents happen on carpet in the open parts of your home: the living room, a hallway or the bedroom by the bed. It's a full-size upright, so it covers the whole stained area and some carpet around it, which matters because urine spreads wider in the pad than it looks on top.
Bob Vila's testers named the Pet Pro version their best carpet cleaner for pets. It eliminated urine stains on medium-pile carpet, though urine needed more than one pass. Consumer Reports rates this ProHeat 2X model very good for cleaning and excellent for drying, and fast drying helps keep odor from coming back.
The pet extras are practical. A trigger sprayer pretreats fresh accidents with OXY, the brush rolls are antimicrobial, and the 2-in-1 pet tool handles a couch cushion or pet bed on the 8-foot hose.
The downside is size. You'll empty the dirty tank often on large jobs, and it's awkward on stairs. For one fresh puddle, the Shark StainStriker HairPro is faster to grab. For a spot your pet keeps going back to, the Big Green Pet Pro has more suction.
Shark StainStriker HairPro PX253BRN
- Best overall in Vacuum Wars’ spot cleaner testing
- Mixes pet and OXY formulas on contact
- Self-cleaning hose and tools
- Light enough to carry anywhere
- Short hose and cord, per Vacuum Wars
- Dried urine was its weakest result in testing
- Uses Shark’s own formula refills
- Too small for large soaked areas
Shark StainStriker HairPro review
A portable spot cleaner is the right tool for most pet accidents, because most happen in one spot and you find them soon after. The StainStriker HairPro is the one we'd keep in the hall closet for that moment.
Vacuum Wars tested more than 30 spot cleaners and ranked it best overall, with an 87.2% stain reduction against an 84.5% average. It also ran a urine test, and the result is worth knowing: the HairPro did best when the wet urine was sucked up first, then pretreated and cleaned. Cleaning dried urine as directed gave its weakest result. So use it right away, not days later.
Shark's StainStriker system blends two formulas as it sprays, and Shark says that removes odors at the source rather than masking them. The HairPro tools also pick up wet and dry pet hair without clogging, and you get a standard stain tool, a 7-inch XL tool and a crevice tool.
The limits are reach and capacity. The 4-foot hose and short cord mean more moving around, and the 41-ounce tank won't cover a big soaked area. For older spots, look at the Big Green Pet Pro.
BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro 3288
- Removed older pet stains without a pretreat in Bob Vila’s test
- Carpet was fully dry in about 4 hours in testing
- 9-foot hose and two upholstery tools
- 48-ounce Pet Pro OXY Urine Eliminator included
- About 44 pounds, per Bob Vila
- Hard to store in small homes
- Costs much more than a spot cleaner
- Too big for quick daily accidents
BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro review
Some urine problems aren't fresh. A cat that marks the same corner, an older dog with accidents by the back door, or a rug you bought used can all hide months of urine in the pad. That calls for more water flow and more suction than a portable can give.
In Bob Vila's tests, the Big Green Pet Pro removed every stain on the test carpet "and then some" in 20 minutes, and it also lifted old stains on low-pile carpet around the tester's home without any special spot treatment. The carpet was completely dry in about 4 hours. The 9-foot hose was the longest in that group, which helps on stairs.
BISSELL includes a full-size bottle of its Pet Pro OXY Urine Eliminator, so you can start on a problem area the day it arrives.
The trade-off is weight. At about 44 pounds, it's hard to push, carry and store. If accidents are occasional and fresh, the Shark StainStriker HairPro is far easier. If you need to clean a whole room often, the lighter ProHeat 2X Pet Pro Plus is easier to live with.
Hoover CleanSlate Plus FH14050
- Bob Vila’s best upholstery cleaner
- Pet urine came out easily on higher-pile carpet in testing
- Light at 9.4 pounds, per Hoover
- Hose rinse tool keeps the system fresh
- Nearly ineffective on old urine in low-pile carpet in testing
- Short 4.5-foot hose
- 40-ounce tank limits big jobs
- Pet formula sold separately
Hoover CleanSlate Plus review
If your pet has an accident on the couch, an armchair or its own bed, this is the pick. Bob Vila's testers named it their best upholstery cleaner. It's small enough to set on a cushion, and the wide tool covers a seat in a few strokes while the TightSpot tool reaches into seams where urine pools.
The test results are mixed, and we want you to see both sides. Pet urine came out easily on higher-pile carpet. On older stains in low-pile carpet, though, testers found it "virtually ineffective." That fits how we'd use it: on fresh accidents and on fabric, not on old carpet spots.
Hoover lists a 40-ounce clean tank, a 23-ounce dirty tank and a 4.5-foot hose. The hose rinse tool flushes urine residue out after each job, which helps the machine stay odor-free. The box includes an Oxy concentrate, and Hoover's enzyme Pet formula is sold separately.
For old carpet spots, choose the Big Green Pet Pro. For fresh carpet accidents, the Shark StainStriker HairPro is the stronger portable.
Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact FH50700
- Removed urine and other stains in three passes in Bob Vila’s test
- Left carpet the driest of the tested machines
- Light at 12.5 pounds, per Bob Vila
- HeatForce warm air speeds drying
- No hose or upholstery tools
- Half-gallon tank needs refills
- Only a sample of formula included
- 1-year warranty
Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact review
Not every pet home needs a big machine. For an apartment, a small home or a renter with a puppy, the PowerDash Pet Compact covers the basic job of pulling urine out of carpet for much less money.
Bob Vila's testers named it the best bang for the buck. It removed every stain on the test square, pet urine included, in three passes, and it left the carpet the driest to the touch of all the machines they tried. Dry carpet matters with urine, because damp pad keeps odor alive and pets tend to return to spots that smell like them.
HeatForce blows warm air to help drying. It doesn't heat the water into steam, so it fits the no-steam rule for urine.
What you give up is reach. There's no hose, so it can't clean stairs, couches or pet beds, and the half-gallon tank means refills on bigger rooms. Hoover includes only a sample of solution, so plan to buy its Pet formula. If you need a hose, the Hoover CleanSlate Plus is a low-cost portable for furniture.
Cleaners for pet urine compared
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Best overall
BISSELL ProHeat 2X Pet Pro Plus
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Best portable
Shark StainStriker HairPro
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Best for old spots
BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro
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Best for couches
Hoover CleanSlate Plus
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Best budget
Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact
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| Type | Full-size upright | Portable | Full-size upright | Portable | Compact upright |
| Clean water tank | 1 gal | 41 oz | Not listed | 40 oz | Half gal |
| Hose length | 8 ft | 4 ft | 9 ft | 4.5 ft | No hose |
| Formula in the box | Urine eliminator | Pet + OXY | 48 oz urine eliminator | Oxy trial | Sample |
| Self-cleaning or rinse tool | – | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Uses true steam | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fresh accidents | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Old, set-in urine | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Current price | $237.99 | $159.99 | $459.99 | $99.99 | $109.99 |
| Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review |
Cleaners for pet urine compared
Prices change often. Specs come from maker listings and the testers named in How We Picked and Tested. Star ratings are our editorial judgment, not our own lab tests.
How to choose a cleaner for pet urine
Urine has to leave the carpet. A machine that sprays and suctions removes it, while true steam can set the stain and smell in fabric.
Urine needs a formula made for it, such as an OXY or enzyme pet cleaner. Most makers want you to use their own in the tank.
Portables are best for fresh accidents and fabric. Full-size uprights suit large stains, old spots and whole rooms.
Couches, pet beds and stairs need a hose. Longer hoses mean less lifting.
Urine residue left in a hose or dirty tank makes the machine itself smell.
Damp carpet keeps odor alive and invites pets back to the same spot.
Portable or full-size: which fits your pet?
Choose a portable spot cleaner if accidents are occasional and you usually find them while they're still wet. It's light, quick to set up and handles rugs, stairs, couches and the car. Our guide to the best portable carpet cleaners for pets has more options if you want a cordless model or a bigger tank.
Choose a full-size upright if you have a puppy in training, an older pet with frequent accidents, several pets or a lot of wall-to-wall carpet. It washes a wider area around each spot, which matters because urine spreads in the pad.
Plenty of pet owners end up with both: a portable for the fresh puddle and an upright for a deep clean every few months. If you only want one machine and it has to do everything, start with a full-size model that has a hose. You'll find more choices in our roundup of the best upright carpet cleaners for pets.
How to clean pet urine from carpet with a carpet cleaner
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Blot or extract the puddle first
Soak up as much urine as you can with paper towels, pressing hard, or run the machine in suction-only passes. In independent testing, suctioning first gave much better urine results.
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Use cool or warm water
Fill the tank with cool or warm tap water and the maker’s pet formula. Skip hot water and steam, which can set urine proteins in synthetic fibers.
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Pretreat and let it sit
Spray the pet formula on the spot and a few inches around it, then give it the dwell time on the label before you scrub.
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Clean, then do dry passes
Make slow wet passes, then several dry passes with the trigger off until the machine stops pulling up much water.
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Finish with an enzyme cleaner
Once the area is clean, apply an enzyme cleaner and let it air dry. Enzymes break down what’s left in the backing and pad.
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Rinse the machine
Empty and rinse the dirty tank, flush the hose with clean water and let parts air dry so the machine doesn’t smell.
A black light helps you find dried urine you can't see. Shine it on the carpet in a dark room, mark every glowing spot and clean a little wider than each one. If a spot still glows after two rounds, the pad may be soaked through, and replacing that piece of pad is sometimes the only permanent fix. Cat urine is stronger and more concentrated than dog urine, so our guide to the best carpet cleaners for cat urine goes deeper on that problem.
Pet urine cleaning FAQs
What is the best steam cleaner for pet urine?
For most homes, the BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus. It’s a carpet cleaner rather than a true steamer, which is what you want for urine. It comes with a urine formula and removed urine stains in hands-on tests. For quick spot cleanup, the Shark StainStriker HairPro is the best portable.
Does steam cleaning remove pet urine smell?
Not from carpet or upholstery. Heat can set urine odor and stains in synthetic fibers. Use a carpet cleaner with cool or warm water and a pet formula, then an enzyme cleaner. On sealed hard floors, steam is fine after you’ve wiped and cleaned the spot.
Can I use a carpet cleaner on old urine stains?
Yes, but expect several rounds. Rewet the spot, pretreat with a pet formula, extract slowly and finish with an enzyme cleaner. A full-size machine like the BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro pulls more liquid out of the pad than a small spot cleaner.
How do I clean pet urine on a couch?
Check the cushion’s care label first. If it allows water cleaning, blot the spot, then use a portable cleaner like the Hoover CleanSlate Plus with a pet formula and plenty of dry passes. For more machines that handle both rugs and furniture, see our carpet and upholstery cleaner picks.
Does steam kill bacteria in pet urine?
Steam can sanitize hard surfaces if it’s held in place long enough, but it isn’t the right tool for urine in carpet. We explain what steam can and can’t do in our article on whether steam cleaning disinfects.
Can I put an enzyme cleaner in my carpet cleaner?
Only if the maker says so. Many enzyme sprays aren’t made to run through a machine. The safer way is to clean with the maker’s pet formula, then spray the enzyme cleaner on by hand and let it air dry.
Why does the urine smell come back after cleaning?
Usually because urine is still in the backing or pad, and humidity brings the smell back. Clean a wider area, do more dry passes, use an enzyme cleaner and avoid heat, which can lock the odor in.
Stairs are a common place for accidents with older dogs, and they're awkward for upright machines. If that's your problem, our picks for the best carpet cleaner for stairs focus on long hoses and light machines.
Which cleaner should you buy for pet urine?
- Best overall: BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus 3588F
- Best portable: Shark StainStriker HairPro PX253BRN
- Best for old spots: BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro 3288
- Best for couches: Hoover CleanSlate Plus FH14050
- Best budget: Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact FH50700
Pick by where the accidents happen. The ProHeat 2X Pet Pro Plus handles urine on wall-to-wall carpet, and the Shark StainStriker HairPro is the quickest fix for a fresh puddle. Old and repeat spots call for the Big Green Pet Pro, couches for the Hoover CleanSlate Plus, and a tight budget for the PowerDash Pet Compact. Whatever you choose, skip true steam on urine in fabric.
How We Picked and Tested
We started with what people searching for a steam cleaner for pet urine actually need: a way to get urine out of carpet, rugs, stairs and furniture so the stain and the smell don’t come back. That ruled out true steam cleaners for this guide. The Humane Society of Sonoma County advises against using steam cleaners on urine in carpet or upholstery, because heat can set the odor and stain by bonding the proteins to synthetic fibers. The machines most stores call “carpet steam cleaners” are really extractors, and that is the type we chose from.
Every pick in this guide passed five checks. First, it sprays and extracts, with separate clean and dirty water tanks, so the urine leaves the carpet. Second, it has no true steam function. Third, its maker offers a pet formula for urine stains and odors made for that machine. Fourth, a named independent tester published results for it on pet urine or pet stains. Fifth, it was not under an active U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall when we checked in October 2026. Features that only some picks have, like a hose, a self-cleaning system or a full-size brush head, are shown in the comparison table instead of being treated as rules. These checks removed some popular choices: the BISSELL Little Green HydroSteam adds steam, and the Rug Doctor Pet Portable left urine behind after the first pass in hands-on testing.
For performance, we leaned on independent testing. Bob Vila‘s testers cleaned pet urine and six other stains from medium-pile carpet, then tried pet urine on carpet around their homes. That is our source for the BISSELL Big Green Pet Pro, the Hoover CleanSlate Plus and the Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact, and for the ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro, which our pick, the Pet Pro Plus 3588F, builds on with extra pet tools. Vacuum Wars‘ spot cleaner tests, updated in October 2026 and including a urine test, are our source for the Shark StainStriker HairPro. Consumer Reports’ carpet cleaner ratings add support for the ProHeat 2X. Each award reflects the job where that machine did best in those results, not a single overall score.
We checked every spec we mention, including tank sizes, hose lengths, weights and the formulas in the box, against the makers’ listings from BISSELL, Shark and Hoover and against the current Amazon listings in October 2026. When a number comes from a tester rather than the maker, we say so, and claims like “removes odors at the source” are labeled as maker claims. We did not test these machines ourselves, and we point out each one’s limits so you can match it to your pet and your home.
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.
