Renting a carpet cleaner every time the dog has an accident or the hallway turns gray gets old fast. An upright you own lets you clean a stain the day it happens and wash a whole room when you have an hour free. The best upright carpet cleaner scrubs with powered brushes, pulls most of the water back out so carpet dries the same day, and has a hose for stairs and couches. Our top pick is the BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus, which earned excellent drying marks in independent lab tests. If stains are your main problem, the lighter Shark CarpetXpert EX151 is the one to beat.
Our top 3 upright carpet cleaners
See how all 7 upright carpet cleaners compare in our side-by-side comparison chart ↓
The 7 Best Upright Carpet Cleaners
BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus
- Excellent drying and very good cleaning in independent lab tests
- Separate 1-gallon clean tank and dirty tank
- Express Clean mode for fast drying, per BISSELL
- 8-foot hose, 25-foot cord and a 5-year warranty
- Dirty tank is awkward to rinse, per one hands-on review
- Small upholstery tool did poorly in that review
- 17.5 pounds empty, heavier when full
- No heater; it only holds water temperature
BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus review
The ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus is our top pick because it gets the two hard parts right: it cleans well and it takes the water back out. Consumer Reports rated its cleaning very good and its drying excellent, and Vacuum Wars named it a best value among the carpet cleaners it tested.
Drying matters more than most people think. Carpet that stays wet for a day can smell musty and pull dirt back up from the pad. The 3588F has three modes: Max Clean for heavy soil, Deep Clean for regular washing and Express Clean, which BISSELL says dries in about 30 minutes. Heatwave keeps your warm tap water from cooling down, but it doesn't heat water.
The brush roll cover pops off for hair removal, which pet owners will use often. One hands-on review found the dirty tank hard to clean and the small upholstery tool weak.
Get it for carpeted homes with pets or kids. If stairs are a daily chore, the lighter Shark EX151 is easier to carry.
Shark CarpetXpert EX151
- Stain score of 90.1 versus an 83.5 average in independent testing
- Floor-head suction far above average in that test
- About 16 pounds, lighter than most full-size uprights
- Built-in hose and 25-foot cord
- Small 0.6-gallon tank means more refills
- Short 5-foot hose
- Loud, per Consumer Reports
- Below-average suction at the hose
Shark CarpetXpert EX151 review
The EX151 is the upright to get if stains are the main reason you're buying. Vacuum Wars ranked it first among the carpet cleaners it tested. On dried grape juice it scored 90.1 against an 83.5 average, and its floor head measured well above average suction at the carpet surface. Consumer Reports rated its drying excellent.
It's also easy to live with. At about 16 pounds, it's lighter than the BISSELL and most full-size uprights. The hose clips onto the body, and Shark includes a bristle tool, a wide path tool and a crevice tool for stairs, edges and upholstery. A quick dry mode stops spraying so you can make extra drying passes.
The tradeoffs come from its smaller size. The tank holds 0.6 gallons, so you'll refill more often on a big room. The hose is only 5 feet, and suction through it was below average. Consumer Reports also named noise as its main drawback.
Choose it for apartments, townhomes and stair-heavy houses. For whole-house cleaning, the Big Green's bigger tank saves trips to the sink.
BISSELL Big Green Professional
- 1.75-gallon clean tank for fewer refills
- Excellent suction in hands-on testing
- 9-foot hose and 6-inch tough stain tool
- 5-year limited warranty
- Heavy at 42 pounds
- Big and hard to store
- Too tall to clean under most furniture
- No heater and no brush on/off switch
BISSELL Big Green Professional review
The Big Green Professional is for people with a lot of carpet. HGTV named it the best professional carpet cleaner it tested and praised its suction and long hose. BISSELL rates its motor at 12 amps, tied with the HydroSteam Pet for the highest rating here, and it carries a 1.75-gallon clean tank, so you can wash more of a room before you stop to refill.
That capacity and power make sense for a four-bedroom house, stairs covered in carpet or a living room that hasn't been cleaned since you moved in. The 9-foot hose reaches up a full flight of stairs, and the 8-row DirtLifter brush digs into traffic lanes.
The catch is size. It weighs 42 pounds, takes up a lot of closet space and won't fit under couches or beds. It doesn't heat water, so fill it with warm tap water. There are no edge brushes either.
Buy it if you clean large areas and have somewhere to keep it. For a smaller home, or if you'll need to carry it up stairs, the ProHeat 2X is easier to live with.
Shark CarpetXpert with StainStriker
- Very good cleaning and excellent drying in independent lab tests
- Cleared common food and drink stains from light rugs in one hands-on test
- StainStriker mixes an OXY formula on contact
- Built-in hose and three tools
- Smallest tank in this guide, about 0.53 gallons
- Short 5-foot hose and 20-foot cord
- Covers only about 24 square feet per fill, per Consumer Reports
- Works with Shark formulas
Shark CarpetXpert with StainStriker review
The EX201 is the pick for light-colored carpet, where a faint brown ring after cleaning is almost as bad as the stain. Its StainStriker system keeps two formulas apart and mixes them as you spray, which Shark says creates a stronger OXY stain remover than its standard formula.
Independent results back it up. Consumer Reports placed it second among its recommended carpet cleaners, with very good cleaning and excellent drying. Good drying matters on light carpet, since slow-drying carpet can wick dirt up from the pad. In a Real Homes test, it removed red wine, grape juice, cocoa and ketchup from beige and cream rugs, and Vacuum Wars found its floor-head suction strong.
Its weak point is capacity. The clean tank is the smallest here, and Consumer Reports says one fill covers only about 24 square feet, so a large room means several trips to the sink. The 5-foot hose and 20-foot cord are also short.
Pick it for light carpet in apartments and smaller homes. For big rooms, the ProHeat 2X holds almost twice as much water.
BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam Pet
- Steam pretreat for stuck-on messes
- Very good cleaning and drying in independent lab tests
- Two 12-row powered brush rolls and edge brushes
- 8-foot hose and 5-year warranty
- Heaviest model in Consumer Reports’ recommended group
- Hose tools don’t use steam
- No brush on/off switch, per BISSELL
- Overkill if you only deal with fresh spills
BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam Pet review
The HydroSteam Pet earns its spot because of the steam. You switch to Steam Pretreat mode, pass over an old stain and let the heat soften it, then wash it with the brushes. That works on the stains that ordinary uprights leave behind: dried pet urine, spilled syrup, ground-in mud.
Consumer Reports rated it very good for both cleaning and drying. The second-generation HydroSteam scored 89.2 on dried grape juice in Vacuum Wars testing, against an 83.5 average, and the reviewers said the steam made a clear difference on dried stains. This Pet version uses the same steam pretreat idea, though it wasn't the model Vacuum Wars tested.
It's heavy, at 22.5 pounds empty per BISSELL and about 31 pounds full in Consumer Reports' testing, which makes stairs a workout. The hose tools wash without steam, so the pretreat only helps on floors.
Choose it if your carpet has a history of pet accidents. For fresh spills, the ProHeat 2X does the job without the extra weight.
Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic
- Sprays on the push stroke and dries on the pull, automatically
- Auto Mix measures the formula for you
- Left test carpet bone dry in one hands-on review
- 8-foot hose and 5-year warranty, per the listing
- Build felt less durable than other uprights in that review
- Brush roll and cover are tricky to reassemble
- About 18.5 pounds empty
- Less independent lab data than our top three
Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic review
The SmartWash+ is the easiest upright here to use well. Most mistakes with carpet cleaners come from too much soap or too much water. This one avoids both. It senses motion, so it sprays only as you push forward and switches to suction as you pull back, and Auto Mix measures the formula into the water for you.
Bob Vila named it the best overall carpet cleaner in its hands-on testing. It removed all of the test stains in a few passes and left the carpet bone dry, and its dry-only mode pulled moisture out of other wet test squares too. Hoover adds HeatForce, which blows warm air to speed up drying.
The same review found the build less sturdy than other uprights and said putting the brush roll and cover back together wasn't intuitive. We also found less large-scale lab testing on it than on the BISSELL and Shark picks.
Buy it if you want good results without learning a routine. If stains are your main problem, the EX151 scrubs harder.
Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe
- Five counter-rotating SpinScrub brushes
- Fully cleared peanut butter and wine in one hands-on test
- Wash and rinse modes to cut soap residue
- Separate 1-gallon tanks and an 8-foot hose
- Bulky and hard to move on stairs
- Weak on long pet hair
- Dirty tank must be seated just right or suction drops
- Shorter 20-foot cord and 2-year warranty
Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe review
The Power Scrub Deluxe is our pick for the messes that happen around food. Its five SpinScrub brushes rotate in different directions, so they work at a stain from several sides. In HGTV's testing, it removed red wine in a few minutes and was one of the few machines to fully clear peanut butter. A three-month review from Just A Dad Approved found milk, grape jelly, ketchup and chocolate all came up, with chocolate needing extra passes.
The wash and rinse switch helps too. Clean with formula on Wash, then go back over the area on Rinse with plain water. That pulls out soap that can make carpet feel sticky and attract new dirt. Auto Mix measures the formula, and the two tanks hold a gallon each.
It's bulky, though, and that same review found it hard to move on stairs. It also struggled with long pet hair, so vacuum well first. If the dirty tank isn't seated correctly, suction drops.
Buy it for homes where spills come from the table, not the dog. For pet-heavy homes, the ProHeat 2X is the better fit.
Upright carpet cleaners compared
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Best overall
BISSELL ProHeat 2X
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Best for tough stains
Shark EX151
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Best heavy-duty
BISSELL Big Green
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Best for light carpet
Shark EX201
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Best for set-in pet stains
HydroSteam Pet
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Easiest to use
Hoover SmartWash+
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Best for food spills
Hoover Power Scrub
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| Weight (empty) | 17.5 lb | 15.9 lb | 42 lb | 18 lb | 22.5 lb | 18.5 lb | 18.5 lb |
| Clean tank | 1 gal | 0.6 gal | 1.75 gal | 0.53 gal | 1 gal | 1 gal | 1 gal |
| Hose length | 8 ft | 5 ft | 9 ft | 5 ft | 8 ft | 8 ft | 8 ft |
| Cord length | 25 ft | 25 ft | 25 ft | 20 ft | 25 ft | 22 ft | 20 ft |
| Heated drying or steam | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Separate clean and dirty tanks | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Stain cleaning | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Current price | $237.99 | $249.99 | $429.00 | $249.00 | $399.95 | $199.99 | $239.99 |
| Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review | Read review |
Upright carpet cleaners 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 different?
An upright carpet cleaner is a full-size deep cleaner you push like a vacuum. It sprays water and formula into the carpet, scrubs it with powered brushes and sucks the dirty water back into a separate tank. This method is called hot water extraction, and carpet maker Shaw Floors says research shows it cleans carpet best. That's the type to buy when you want to wash whole rooms, not just spots.
Portable spot cleaners do a different job. They're small boxes with a hose and a hand tool, made for spills, stairs, upholstery and car seats. They can't wash a living room in a reasonable amount of time. If small messes are all you deal with, see our best handheld carpet cleaners instead.
Wet-dry floor cleaners and steam mops aren't carpet cleaners either. They're made for hard floors, and most can't pull water out of thick pile.
Do you need heat, steam or a smart sensor?
Heat helps, but it isn't required. Warm water loosens grease and sticky spills better than cold, so start with warm tap water. BISSELL's Heatwave only helps keep that water from cooling down, while Hoover's HeatForce blows warm air to help carpet dry faster. The HydroSteam Pet is the only pick here that makes real steam, and it uses it as a pretreatment for old stains.
Automatic features, like the SmartWash+'s push-to-spray and pull-to-dry design, make the job easier rather than deeper. They help most if you're new to carpet cleaning and tend to over-wet carpet, which is the most common cause of slow drying.
How to choose an upright carpet cleaner
The best cleaners pull most of the water back out. Carpet that stays wet for a day can smell musty, and dirt in the pad can wick back up as brown spots.
Spinning brushes work the formula into the pile and loosen ground-in dirt. Water and suction alone can’t do that.
A bigger clean tank means fewer trips to the sink. Separate clean and dirty tanks keep the water you spray fresh.
Water adds several pounds once the tank is full. Think about carrying it upstairs and where it will live.
The hose is how you clean stairs, couches, car seats and fresh spots without washing the whole room.
Hair and dirty water collect around the brushes. Easy cleanup means you’ll actually use the machine again.
How to use an upright carpet cleaner for the best results
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Vacuum first
Pick up hair, sand and crumbs before you add water. Wet hair clogs brushes and filters, and loose grit turns to mud.
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Pretreat stains
Spray a pretreatment on spots and traffic lanes and give it a few minutes to work. For pet accidents, use an enzyme or oxygen formula made for urine.
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Use warm water and the right formula
Fill with warm tap water, never boiling, and measure the formula. Too much soap leaves sticky residue that attracts new dirt.
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Make slow wet and dry passes
Push forward slowly while spraying, then pull back. Finish with two or three dry passes with no spray to pull out as much water as you can.
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Speed up drying
Open windows, run fans or the air conditioner, and keep people and pets off the carpet until it’s dry.
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Clean the machine
Empty and rinse the dirty tank, pull hair from the brushes and let everything air dry before you store it.
For homes where pet urine is the main problem, our guide to the best carpet cleaners for cat urine covers the formulas and machines that deal with odor, not just the visible stain.
Upright carpet cleaner FAQs
What is the best upright carpet cleaner?
For most homes, the BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus. It earned very good cleaning and excellent drying scores in independent lab tests and has separate tanks and an 8-foot hose. Choose the Shark CarpetXpert EX151 if stains are your main concern.
Is an upright carpet cleaner better than a portable one?
For whole rooms, yes. Uprights have powered brushes and bigger tanks, so they wash large areas much faster. Portable spot cleaners are better for stairs, furniture and quick spills.
How long does carpet take to dry after cleaning?
Usually a few hours, depending on the machine, humidity and how many dry passes you make. Quick dry modes, fans and open windows help, and some makers claim about 30 minutes with their fastest mode.
Can I use hot water in my carpet cleaner?
Use warm tap water unless the manual says otherwise. Boiling water can damage tanks and seals, and most makers warn against it.
Do I need to vacuum before using a carpet cleaner?
Yes. Vacuuming removes hair and grit that clog the brushes and turn into mud. Some combo machines vacuum and wash together; see our best carpet cleaner vacuums if you want one machine for both.
How often should I deep clean my carpet?
Carpet maker Shaw Floors says a typical household should deep clean every 12 to 18 months, more often with kids, pets or heavy traffic. Clean spills and accidents as soon as they happen.
Will cleaning carpet myself void the carpet warranty?
Not if you use the right method. Shaw’s warranties, for example, ask for proof of periodic hot water extraction, by a pro or with a home machine certified under the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval program. Check your carpet’s warranty before you choose a machine.
Can I use other brands' cleaning formula?
Check your manual first. Some makers say their warranty requires their own formulas, and foamy cleaners not made for machines can cause problems.
Which upright carpet cleaner should you buy?
- Best overall: BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus
- Best for tough stains: Shark CarpetXpert EX151
- Best heavy-duty: BISSELL Big Green Professional
- Best for light carpet: Shark CarpetXpert with StainStriker
- Best for set-in pet stains: BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam Pet
- Easiest to use: Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic
- Best for food and drink spills: Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe
Start with the ProHeat 2X if you want strong cleaning and fast drying in a machine that fits most homes. Go with the Shark EX151 for stains and stairs, or the Big Green if you have a lot of carpet and room to store it. The EX201 suits light carpet, the HydroSteam Pet handles old pet stains, the SmartWash+ is the simplest to use well, and the Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe scrubs sticky food spills from every side.
How We Picked and Tested
We started by defining what this search calls for. Someone looking for an upright carpet cleaner wants a full-size hot water extraction machine that washes whole rooms. That rules out portable spot cleaners, hard-floor wet-dry cleaners and steam mops. Carpet maker Shaw Floors says research shows hot water extraction cleans carpet best. It also warns that weak machines can leave carpet too wet or leave soap residue that makes it get dirty faster. So we set five must-haves, and every pick in this guide meets all of them: an upright extractor design, motor-driven brushes, separate clean and dirty water tanks, a hose with at least one tool for stairs and upholstery, and good drying or water-removal results in at least one published test.
Next, we checked each candidate against independent testing. Our main sources were Consumer Reports‘ 2026 carpet cleaner ratings, which score cleaning, drying, convenience and noise (as summarized by Quartz in July 2026), and the carpet cleaner tests from Vacuum Wars, which measure dried grape juice stain removal plus floor-head and hose suction across more than 30 machines. We cross-checked them against hands-on testing from Bob Vila, HGTV and Real Homes, a three-month owner review from Just A Dad Approved, and the spec pages from BISSELL, Shark and Hoover.
Each pick earned its label from evidence for that specific job. The Shark EX151 is our stain pick because of its measured stain and suction scores, the Big Green is our heavy-duty pick because it has the largest tank and longest hose, and the HydroSteam Pet is our set-in stain pick because of its steam pretreat. We dropped a smart model that met most of our criteria because we couldn’t confirm that it comes with a hose for stairs.
Weights, tank sizes and cord and hose lengths are manufacturer specs unless we name a test source. When a result came from a sibling model, as with the HydroSteam, 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.
