Your vacuum pulls up loose dirt and hair, but it can't touch the grime ground into carpet fibers, the gray traffic lanes in the hallway or last month's coffee spill. That's the job of a carpet cleaner vacuum: an upright machine you push like a vacuum that sprays water and cleaning formula into the carpet, scrubs it with a brush roll and sucks the dirty water back out.
Our pick for the best carpet cleaner vacuum is the Shark CarpetXpert EX151. It posted one of the highest stain removal results we found, weighs less than most uprights and sells for about $250. If you'd rather the machine handle the formula and drying for you, the Hoover SmartWash+ (around $290) is the easiest to use. For big, heavily soiled homes, the Bissell Big Green Pet Pro (about $460) and the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 (about $525) bring rental-grade power home. And if your floors are mostly hard surfaces with a few area rugs, the cordless Bissell CrossWave Cordless Max vacuums and washes in a single pass.
See how all 6 carpet cleaner vacuums compare in our side-by-side comparison chart ↓
The 6 Best Carpet Cleaner Vacuums
Best carpet cleaner vacuum for most homes
Near-flagship stain removal in a machine that’s easier to push and carry than most uprights.
How well does it clean? Very well. In independent stain testing it scored 90.1 against an 83.5 category average, and its floor head pulled noticeably more suction than average. That pairing is what lifts dirt instead of just wetting it.
What stands out? At 15.9 pounds it’s about 4 pounds lighter than a typical upright. The hose is built in, so you can switch to stairs or a couch cushion without clipping anything on, and it comes with three tools plus a quick-dry mode.
What’s the catch? The 0.6-gallon tank needs frequent refills on big rooms, the 5-foot hose is short, and hose suction tested slightly below average.
Who should buy it? Most homes with a few carpeted rooms, stairs and the odd pet stain.
- One of the best stain results in independent testing
- Strong suction at the floor head
- Lighter than most uprights
- Built-in hose and spot cleaner
- Long 25-foot cord
- Small 0.6-gallon tank
- Short 5-foot hose
- Hose suction a bit below average
Easiest carpet cleaner vacuum to use
A carpet cleaner that feels closest to vacuuming, because it decides when to spray and when to dry.
How well does it clean? Well. In hands-on testing it removed every test stain in a few passes, and its dry-only mode pulled out extra moisture so the carpet felt drier afterward.
What stands out? There’s no trigger and no measuring cup. It mixes water and formula on its own, sprays as you push and switches to suction with heated drying as you pull back. You also get a 1-gallon tank, a 22-foot cord and an 8-foot hose.
What’s the catch? The build feels less sturdy than pricier machines, and putting the brush roll and cover back together after cleaning isn’t intuitive.
Who should buy it? Anyone who has found carpet cleaners fiddly, or who shares the job with family members.
- Automatic formula mixing
- No trigger to hold
- Separate dry-only mode
- Removed all test stains in hands-on testing
- 1-gallon tank
- Build feels less durable
- Brush roll reassembly is awkward
- Heavier than our top pick
Best carpet cleaner vacuum for pet owners
The stain specialist of the group, with features aimed squarely at pet households.
How well does it clean? Very well on stains. It posted the top stain score in one lab’s head-to-head of Shark carpet cleaners and the strongest hose suction there, well above the category average. Floor-head suction was lower than our top pick.
What stands out? A second tank auto-mixes an OXY booster into the formula while you clean, the HairPro brush resists hair clogs and a self-cleaning cycle flushes the hose. Lean it back and suction moves to the hose automatically.
What’s the catch? At 18.8 pounds it’s the heaviest Shark here, the tank is only 0.6 gallon and it’s built around Shark’s own formulas.
Who should buy it? Pet owners dealing with accidents, muddy paws and lots of shedding.
- Top stain score in its lab head-to-head
- Strong hose suction for stairs and upholstery
- Auto-mixed OXY booster
- Self-cleaning hose
- Hair-resistant brush
- Small 0.6-gallon tank
- Weaker floor-head suction than the EX151
- Designed for Shark formulas
Most thorough carpet cleaner vacuum for neglected carpet
A rental-style machine for carpet that hasn’t been deep cleaned in a long time.
How well does it clean? Excellent. In hands-on testing it lifted every test stain in about 20 minutes, including older set-in spots, and the carpet was fully dry in roughly four hours.
What stands out? The 1.75-gallon tank means far fewer trips to the sink, and the extra-wide 8-row brush covers ground quickly. It ships with a hose, tools and a bottle of Bissell’s urine-eliminating formula.
What’s the catch? It weighs about 44 pounds, takes real storage space and won’t slide under furniture, so you’ll move things first.
Who should buy it? Owners of large or heavily used carpet who would otherwise rent a machine.
- Removed every test stain, including old ones
- Large 1.75-gallon tank
- Wide 8-row brush
- Hose, tools and pet formula included
- About 44 pounds
- Bulky to store
- Can’t reach under furniture
Commercial-grade carpet cleaner vacuum for large areas
The same style of machine you’d rent at the hardware store, built to own.
How well does it clean? Very well. It recorded the highest sealed suction of any carpet cleaner in one major independent test series, which helps pull more water back out of thick carpet.
What stands out? Rug Doctor lists a solution tank of up to 3 gallons and a 3.9-gallon recovery tank, so you can do several rooms between refills. It’s built to the same standards as the brand’s rental machines.
What’s the catch? It’s heavy, it cleans on the backward pull only, which takes some getting used to, and it’s the most expensive pick here.
Who should buy it? Large homes, rental properties and anyone who rents a carpet cleaner more than once a year.
- Highest sealed suction in independent testing
- Very large tanks
- Commercial-grade build
- Fewer trips to the sink
- Heavy and bulky
- Cleans only on the pull stroke
- Highest price on our list
Best carpet cleaner vacuum for hard floors and area rugs
The only true 2-in-1 here: it vacuums dry debris and washes in the same pass, but it’s meant for rugs, not wall-to-wall carpet.
How well does it clean? Well for what it is. In a hands-on review it picked up kitty litter and spills without scattering them, and area rugs looked noticeably cleaner after about three passes.
What stands out? No pre-sweeping, no cord, and one machine for tile, sealed wood and rugs. Bissell rates it at about 30 minutes per charge, and a cleanout cycle flushes the brush and internals.
What’s the catch? Hair can clog the brush roll, rug fringe can jam it, the tanks are small and it doesn’t deep clean carpet like the uprights above.
Who should buy it? Homes that are mostly hard floors with a few area rugs.
- Vacuums and washes in one pass
- Cordless
- Handles hard floors and area rugs
- Self-cleaning flush cycle
- Not a deep cleaner for wall-to-wall carpet
- Hair can clog the brush
- Small tanks
Carpet cleaner vacuums compared
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Best overall
Shark EX151
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Best automatic
Hoover SmartWash+
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Best for pets
Shark EX304
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Best deep cleaner
Big Green Pet Pro
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Best for big jobs
Mighty Pro X3
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Best for rugs
CrossWave Max
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| Type | Upright | Upright | Upright | Full-size upright | Commercial upright | Wet-dry vacuum |
| Clean water tank | 0.6 gal | 1 gal | 0.6 gal | 1.75 gal | Up to 3 gal | About 28 oz |
| Weight | 15.9 lb | 18.5 lb | 18.8 lb | About 44 lb | About 47 lb | 11.5 lb |
| Hose for stairs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| Vacuums dry debris | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| Stain removal | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Ease of use | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Current price | $249.99 | $199.99 | $379.99 | $459.99 | $524.10 | $319.98 |
| Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review |
Is a carpet cleaner the same as a vacuum?
No, and mixing them up is the most common buying mistake. A regular vacuum only uses suction and a brush to pull up dry dirt, crumbs and hair. A carpet cleaner, also called a carpet shampooer, deep cleaner or extractor, pushes water and formula into the carpet, scrubs it and then extracts the dirty water. It's built to remove what a vacuum leaves behind: body oils, ground-in soil, spills and pet accidents.
What most uprights on this list can't do is pick up dry debris. If you run one over a carpet full of crumbs and pet hair, that debris turns into a soggy mess that clogs the brush and the recovery tank. So the right routine is vacuum first, then deep clean.
The one exception here is the wet-dry vacuum, like the CrossWave. It vacuums and washes at the same time, so you don't have to pre-sweep. The trade-off is depth. It lays down much less water and has small tanks, which is fine for refreshing an area rug but not a substitute for deep cleaning wall-to-wall carpet.
How often should you deep clean carpet?
For most homes, a full deep clean every 6 to 12 months keeps carpet looking fresh. Homes with pets, kids or heavy foot traffic often benefit from every 3 to 6 months, with spot cleaning in between. Before you start, check your carpet maker's care guide, since some warranties call for professional hot-water extraction on a set schedule, and a home machine may not count.
How to choose a carpet cleaner vacuum
Stain removal and how much water a machine pulls back out matter more than any spec on the box.
Small tanks mean more trips to the sink. A 0.6-gallon tank is fine for a room or two, while whole-house jobs go faster with 1 gallon or more.
A carpet cleaner is heavier once it’s full of water, and full-size machines need a closet of their own.
Stairs, upholstery and car seats all need a hose and a small tool.
Carpet that stays wet too long can smell musty. Strong suction and heated drying cut wait times.
Most brands recommend their own formulas, and some machines are designed around them.
Can you use a carpet cleaner vacuum on rugs, stairs and upholstery?
On most rugs, yes. Machine-made synthetic rugs in nylon, polyester or olefin handle water extraction well. Take extra care with wool, silk, jute and sisal, and with any rug whose label says dry clean only, since water can shrink, bleed or stain them. Test a hidden corner first, and keep the brush away from long fringe.
Stairs and upholstery need the hose. Every upright on our list except the Rug Doctor includes one in the box, and the Rug Doctor accepts an optional upholstery tool. Check the cleaning code on furniture tags before you start: "W" or "W/S" means water-based cleaning is fine, while "S" means solvent only and "X" means vacuum only.
How long does carpet take to dry?
Expect anywhere from about 2 to 12 hours, depending on the carpet's thickness, the room's humidity and how much water the machine leaves behind. Machines with strong suction and heated drying sit at the faster end. You can speed things up by making one or two extra dry passes with no water, opening windows, running fans or a dehumidifier, and keeping foot traffic off the carpet until it feels dry to the touch.
How to deep clean carpet with a carpet cleaner vacuum
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Vacuum thoroughly first
Use a regular vacuum to pick up dry dirt and hair. Most carpet cleaners can’t handle loose debris, and it clogs the brush and recovery tank.
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Move furniture and pretreat stains
Clear the room as much as you can, then spray pretreatment on spots and traffic lanes and let it sit for the time on the label.
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Fill with warm tap water and formula
Use the amount of formula the manual calls for. More soap doesn’t clean better and can leave sticky residue that attracts dirt.
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Make slow, overlapping passes
Work in sections, making one slow wet pass and then one or two dry passes so the machine can pull back as much water as possible.
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Empty the dirty tank often
Dump the recovery tank whenever it looks full or suction drops, and switch to clear water for a rinse pass if the carpet feels soapy.
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Let it dry and clean the machine
Keep people and pets off the carpet until it’s dry, then rinse the tanks, brush roll and hose so they don’t start to smell.
Carpet cleaner vacuum FAQs
What is the best carpet cleaner vacuum?
For most homes, the Shark CarpetXpert EX151. It scored near the top in independent stain testing, weighs less than most uprights and has a built-in hose for stairs and upholstery.
Can a carpet cleaner replace my vacuum?
No. Upright carpet cleaners aren’t designed to pick up dry debris, so you still need a vacuum for everyday cleaning. A wet-dry vacuum like the CrossWave can replace a vacuum and mop on hard floors, but it won’t deep clean wall-to-wall carpet.
Is it cheaper to buy or rent a carpet cleaner?
If you deep clean more than once or twice a year, owning usually works out cheaper, and you can tackle spills right away. Renting makes sense for a one-off move-out clean.
Do carpet cleaners actually work on old stains?
Often, yes, especially with a pretreatment. In hands-on testing, the full-size machines on our list removed older set-in spots. Some stains, like bleach or dye damage, are permanent and won’t come out.
Can I use hot water in my carpet cleaner?
Most home machines are designed for warm tap water. Don’t boil water or pour in very hot water unless the manual allows it, since it can warp tanks and damage some carpets.
Do I have to use the brand's own formula?
Makers recommend their own formulas, and using others may affect your warranty. Never use dish soap or household cleaners, which foam heavily and leave residue.
Will a carpet cleaner remove pet odors?
It can, if the formula is made for pet odors and the urine hasn’t soaked deep into the pad. For older accidents, use an enzyme pretreatment and give it time to work before extracting.
Which carpet cleaner vacuum should you buy?
- Best overall: Shark CarpetXpert EX151
- Best automatic: Hoover SmartWash+
- Best for pet hair and stains: Shark CarpetXpert HairPro EX304
- Best deep cleaner: Bissell Big Green Pet Pro
- Best for big jobs: Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3
- Best wet-dry vacuum for rugs: Bissell CrossWave Cordless Max
Start with the Shark CarpetXpert EX151 if you want strong stain removal in a machine that’s easy to carry and store. Choose the Hoover SmartWash+ if you want the machine to handle the formula and drying, or the Shark HairPro EX304 for pet accidents and shedding. For large, neglected carpet, the Bissell Big Green Pet Pro and Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 replace rental trips. If your home is mostly hard floors with a few rugs, the Bissell CrossWave Cordless Max is the better fit.
How We Picked and Tested
Our recommendations are based on independent hands-on reviews and lab testing, plus verified manufacturer specifications. We reviewed findings from Vacuum Wars, Bob Vila, and NBC Select, including Vacuum Wars’ individual test data for the Shark CarpetXpert EX151 and its comparison of Shark carpet cleaners, Bob Vila’s hands-on review of the Bissell CrossWave, and HGTV’s carpet cleaner testing.
We focused on machines you push like a vacuum: full-size upright carpet cleaners that deep clean wall-to-wall carpet, plus one wet-dry vacuum for homes that are mostly hard floors with area rugs. We left out small portable spot cleaners, which suit quick messes rather than whole rooms. Some well-known models did not make the cut. The Tineco CARPET ONE Cruiser has plenty of smart features, but it ranked low in one large independent test series because of its small tank, handling quirks and a high rate of owner complaints.
From there, we weighed independent results for stain removal and suction alongside tank size, weight, tools and ease of use, then gave each machine a distinct role based on where it did best. We kept only models sold new on Amazon US when we checked.
Tank sizes, weights, cord lengths and runtimes are manufacturer or retailer specifications, while cleaning results are attributed to the independent sources above. 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.
