
If you dont have time for the details, here are our top picks for carpet shampooer:
- Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner FH50150
- Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner FH50700
- Bissell SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner 3624
- Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner 86T3
- Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner FH52000
- Bissell Turboclean Powerbrush Pet Carpet Cleaner 2085
- Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro 1986
- Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 1548F
- Bissell Proheat Essential Carpet Cleaner 1887
- Bissell DeepClean Deluxe Pet Carpet Cleaner 36Z9
- Bissell SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Portable Deep Cleaner 2117A
- Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Washer
You need the best carpet shampooer. They are just as essential the vacuum you keep in your closet. Vacuums are used much more frequently than carpet shampooers for pets. However, having a carpet shampooer around when you need it is important.
Stains easily set into a carpet. They can be impossible to remove. Carpet shampooer rental just does not provide the flexibility you need to clean every spill that occurs. Owning a carpet shampooer does, though.
Continue reading this article to learn all about carpet shampooers. We even provide twelve reviews of the top products on the market.
Contents
- 1 What is the best carpet shampooer?
- 2 Features to look for when buying a carpet shampooer
- 3 Accessories
- 4 Top 12 Best Carpet Shampooer—Comparison table
- 5 Top Best 12 Best Carpet Shampooers—Reviews
- 5.1 1. Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner FH50150
- 5.2 2. Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner FH50700
- 5.3 3. Bissell SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner 3624
- 5.4 4. Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner 86T3
- 5.5 5. Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner FH52000
- 5.6 6. Bissell Turboclean Powerbrush Pet Carpet Cleaner 2085
- 5.7 7. Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro 1986
- 5.8 8. Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 1548F
- 5.9 9. Bissell ProHeat Essential Carpet Cleaner 1887
- 5.10 10. Bissell DeepClean Deluxe Pet Carpet Cleaner 36Z9
- 5.11 11. Bissell SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Portable Deep Cleaner 2117A
- 5.12 12. Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Washer
- 6 Tips and Tricks for keeping your carpet shampooer clean.
- 7 FAQ:
- 8 Conclusion
What is the best carpet shampooer?
Carpet shampooers are also called carpet cleaners or carpet steam cleaners. Most carpet cleaner products do not use steam. The carpet shampooer is no different. Instead, a carpet cleaner solution is used in conjunction with water to shampoo your carpet. The machine uses a brush to release all the dirt from the carpet fibers. The suction power removes dirty water, soap, and debris.
This is not a complicated process. There are a lot of ways it can be completed, however. That is why there are so many carpet cleaner products on the market. The best have a few features in common.
They will not leave your carpet sopping wet. Moisture and carpet do not mix. It is a great way to encourage mold growth. You want your carpet steam cleaner to suck up as much of the water as possible. The carpet should be damp but not wet when you are finished cleaning.
They are large enough to clean anywhere you need them.
As you will learn throughout this article, carpet shampooers come in many different sizes. There are very large ones and very small ones. You need to find the size that works best in your home. If you have large rooms full of carpet, you need a large carpet shampooer. The opposite is true as well.
They address the unique circumstances of your home.
For example, if you have pets, the product is a carpet shampooer for pets. Homes with lots of dirty carpets should have a carpet cleaner product that is great at tough messes. If you have stairs, you need a light product you can carry.
Read also:
- Best Carpet Shampooer
- Best Portable Carpet Cleaner
- The Definitive Guide to Vacuum
- Best Stick Vacuum For Carpet
Features to look for when buying a carpet shampooer
The top carpet cleaner products will be uniquely oriented toward your home and lifestyle. In order to find the best product that works for you, you need to consider the features below.
Size
As mentioned above, size matters when it comes to carpet shampooers. You will find a wide range of sizes.
Carpet shampooer rental machines are the largest. They will have a large cleaning head and the most power. The extra power and included attachments ensure easy and quick cleaning. While they will get the job done quickly, they may be a little over-kill for most residential homes.
Full-size carpet shampooers can be purchased or rented. These are the upright carpet cleaner vacuums you will see around. They provide the most power you will find in-home models. Their water tanks will be quite large as will the cleaning heads. Those who want to deep clean their carpet periodically should use this size of carpet shampooer.
Spot cleaners are much smaller than the full-sized machine. They typically have multiple cleaning heads that attach to a long hose. The main unit is pulled along the floor. Overall, this size is very similar to a canister vacuum. They are lighter weight and more versatile. They just won’t clean large areas of carpet quickly.
Finally, there are handheld carpet shampooers. These are the smallest products around. They are light enough to be held in your hand. Handheld carpet cleaner products are the ones that weigh five pounds or less. They should only be used for spot cleaning. No handheld carpet shampooer appears in our reviews below.
Weight
Weight is very connected with size. The larger the product, the heavier it will be. Commercial carpet shampooers, then, are the heaviest. Handheld carpet cleaners are the lightest. The full-size and spot cleaning products fall somewhere in the middle.
Weight may not seem like such a big deal to you. You do, however, have to remember that the weight of the product is measured before the water is added. Water will greatly increase the weight of your carpet shampooer.
In the past, a carpet shampooer weighed a lot. Forty or fifty pounds were common. You can still find products that weigh this much. But many carpet steam cleaners for the home now weigh around twenty pounds. That’s a big difference, especially when you consider the weight water adds.
To clean the carpets in an entire home, you need to be able to push the carpet shampooer around. Only purchase a carpet shampooer that you can comfortably handle for long periods.
Cord length
Most carpet shampooers will have an electrical cord. Some handheld and spot cleaners are cordless. These are rare, though.
Because you will likely be purchasing a corded carpet shampooer, the cord length will be important. Longer cords are easier to trip on. They also provide a much greater reach for the machine. If you don’t like changing electrical outlets that much, you need a long cord. Small spot cleaning jobs require a much smaller cord.
Suction strength
As we mentioned above, a carpet shampooer has a vacuum element that sucks up the dirt and water. Most home products will not completely dry your carpet. They are just not that powerful. You can, however, find products that will leave your carpet damp, not wet.
The more suction power you can find, the better. This ensures that your carpet dries faster. Damp carpets are much less likely to develop mold.
Most carpet shampooer manufacturers do not put the suction strength in the product’s specifications. There is no unified way to measure this anyway. The best way to determine if there is enough suction strength is to read reviews of the product.
Accessories
Many carpet cleaner products come with accessories. Like vacuums, these will likely be extra attachments. Even upright carpet cleaner vacuums sometimes have a hose attached. The hose allows you to reach places the main cleaning head cannot go. The attachments for a product with a hose fit on the hose.
Attachments come in many varieties. There are pet tools on carpet shampooers for pets. You may also find tough stain tools designed to clean even the most embedded stains. These will likely be motorized and have strong, stiff bristles.
Many carpet shampooers also come with trail-sizes of the manufacturer’s carpet cleaner spray or carpet cleaner solution. The trial-sizes introduce you to the best products by the brand. They also encourage you to keep all purchases for your carpet shampooer to a single brand. Plus, they are a great way to get you started using your carpet shampooer immediately.
Tank size
Tank refers to the water tank on the carpet shampooer. Like weight, tank size is determined by the size of the product. Some of the largest carpet shampooers have water tanks that are .5-1 gallons. That is a lot of water.
The larger the water tank, the less refilling you have to do. Less refilling means no stopping in the middle of carpet cleaning. Do you like your carpet cleaning to go quickly? If yes, you need a large water tank.
Another consideration with the water tank is that it should be easy to fill and clean. It should detach easily from the carpet cleaner product. The lid should come off without a fight as well.
Dual or single tank
A final water tank consideration is whether the carpet shampooer has a single or dual tank design. It is easy to tell the difference between single and dual tank carpet shampooers. Single tank products have one water tank. Dual tank products have two.
The top products have a dual tank design. These are two water tanks that keep your clean and dirty water separate. Single tank carpet shampooers do not do this. Instead, they pump the dirty water back into the main tank. This makes the water you are using to clean your carpet progressively dirtier.
Single tank carpet steam cleaners are usually less expensive than dual tank models. We highly recommend purchasing a product with two tanks, though. You just can’t get your carpets as clean as you need with the single tank.
Pet-friendly
Pet-friendly carpet shampooers are essential for homes with pets. Pet specific products come with attachments and features that allow them to clean up all types of pet messes. And, man, are pets messy. From potty training accidents to injuries and sicknesses, pets can destroy a carpet.
Carpet shampooers for pets will often have “pet” in their name. That tells you right away that the product is appropriate for homes with pets. A non-pet carpet shampooer may still work fine. The pet messes, however, may wear the cleaning mechanism and motor out quicker. They will also not be as effective cleaning pet messes.
Top 12 Best Carpet Shampooer—Comparison table
Image | Product | Features | |
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![]() | Our raing: #1 Editor’s ChoiceOur raing: #1 Editor’s Choice Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner FH50150 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #2Our raing: #2 Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner FH50700 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #3Our raing: #3 Bissell SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner 3624 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #4Our raing: #4 Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner 86T3 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #5Our raing: #5 Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner FH52000 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #6Our raing: #6 Bissell Turboclean Powerbrush Pet Carpet Cleaner 2085 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #7Our raing: #7 Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro 1986 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #8Our raing: #8 Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 1548F |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #9Our raing: #9 Bissell Proheat Essential Carpet Cleaner 1887 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #10Our raing: #10 Bissell DeepClean Deluxe Pet Carpet Cleaner 36Z9 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #11Our raing: #11 Bissell SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Portable Deep Cleaner 2117A |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
![]() | Our raing: #12Our raing: #12 Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Washer |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Top Best 12 Best Carpet Shampooers—Reviews
1. Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner FH50150

You will notice that Hoover and Bissell are the only two brands in our top twelve list. That is because they both make such great carpet shampooers, that they overshadow everyone else. It is hard to find a product not made by Bissell or Hoover. The Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner FH50150 illustrates why.
The FH50150 is manufactured by Hoover. It is a very lightweight carpet cleaner. It only weighs 18.1 lbs. The FH50150 also has Hoover’s patented Spinscrub brush system. These brushes spin and are stiff enough to clean any stain. They will not snag your carpet either.
The Dual V nozzle provides another great way to clean your carpets. It provides equal suction over every surface. The Heat Force feature speeds up your carpet’s dry time. It preheats the floor to jumpstart the drying process.
2. Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner FH50700

Another great carpet shampooer by Hoover is the PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner FH50700. The FH50700 is a pet-friendly model. You can even purchase it with Hoover’s pet solution. The high amount of suction power and PowerSpin Pet brush roll ensures all pet messes are cleaned completely.
The FH50700 is another lightweight carpet cleaner. It weighs 12.5 lbs. That is very light for a carpet shampooer. It has a smaller cleaning path than the FH50150. People with smaller homes will not mind the smaller cleaning path, though.
Even though it is smaller, the FH50700 includes Heat Force technology. For a high-powered carpet shampooer that dries your carpet as it cleans, try the FH50700. You will love this Hoover carpet cleaner.
3. Bissell SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner 3624

The first Bissell carpet cleaner we will review here is the SpotClean Professional Portable Carper Cleaner 3624. For professional results, you need this carpet shampooer. To have such cleaning power in such a small size is very unusual.
You will love the portability of the 3624. It is a spot cleaner size. This means it is very lightweight. You also receive two attachments and a trial-size carpet cleaner solution with your purchase. Everything can be stored in the product.
The ¾ gallon water tank is quite large for the small size of the product. The included hose is a long five feet. It will be hard to clean an entire home in one sitting with the 3624. But for small jobs and spot cleaning, this product cannot be beaten.
4. Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner 86T3

Now we go from small to large. The Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner 86T3 is the largest and heaviest product on our list. It weighs a whopping 53 pounds. Before you get scared off, just remember that there are wheels on the Big Green 86T3. It will still be a little hard for some people to use. And the price is very expensive.
If you want a professional level carpet cleaning, though, you need this product. The water tank on the Big Green 86T3 is 1.75 gallons. The powerful suction leaves your carpets almost completely dry. This product has no problem out-performing carpet cleaner rental machines.
The Big Green 86T3 also comes with a five-year warranty. Such a long warranty protects your purchase. It will clean on forward and backward passes as well. You will be finished carpet cleaning in no time with this product.
5. Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner FH52000

Hoover’s Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner FH52000 does need to be pushed. It will not do everything for you. However, it is automatic in its transition from washing to drying. When you push the FH52000 forward, it washes. When it goes backward, it dries.
There is also an auto mix function. The auto mix dispenses the exact right amount of carpet cleaner solution. It mixes the solution for you as well. It truly doesn’t get easier to use than the FH52000.
Like all of Hoover’s other carpet shampooers, the FH52000 has the Heat Force technology. It is great for use in homes with pets. Overall, there are few carpet shampooers better than the Hoover FH52000.
6. Bissell Turboclean Powerbrush Pet Carpet Cleaner 2085

The Bissell Turboclean Powerbrush Pet Carpet Cleaner 2085 is an upright carpet cleaner vacuum. It is also a carpet shampooer for pets. Bissell will even donate to their pet charity when you buy this item.
Another great thing about the 2085 is its price. This is a very affordable carpet shampooer. Considering the quality of the 2085, the price is an amazing deal. The carpet shampooer will clean spots and stains with ease.
Like many of the smaller Bissell carpet shampooers, the 2085 is very lightweight. It only weighs 12 pounds. It has a smaller cleaning path. But, the low weight means you can easily take it up and downstairs. For versatility, you can’t beat the Bissell 2085.
7. Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro 1986

The Bissel ProHeat series is very worth a look. That is why there are so many ProHeat products coming up in our list. The ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro 1986 is one of the best of the series. It comes with many optional pet carpet cleaner solutions as well.
As do all of Bissell’s pet products, sales of the 1986 benefit Bissell’s pet foundation. The max clean mode and twelve rows of rotating brushes ensure all pet messes are cleaned. There is even a removable brush roll cover for when your brush roll gets clogged with hair.
The express clean mode will dry your carpet in about thirty minutes. The clean shot pretreated feature delivers the exact right amount of carpet cleaner solution to get messes. To top it all off, the 1986 is lightweight. It weighs less than 18 pounds.
8. Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 1548F

Another great member of the ProHeat line is the 2X Revolution Pet Carpet Cleaner 1548F. This product also has twelve rows of rotating brushes, high suction power, and lightweight design. You can use the express clean mode on this product as well.
Use the 1548F with the Bissell Pro Max Clean and Protect carpet cleaner solution for the best results. Bissell includes a trial-size with the carpet shampooer. The pet spot cleaning tools also ensure all pet messes are taken care of.
You will love the low profile design. The 1-gallon water tank is perfect for large carpet cleaning jobs. The power cord is 22 feet. It will reach a long way, which reduces the need for finding a new outlet.
9. Bissell ProHeat Essential Carpet Cleaner 1887

The final Bissell ProHeat carpet shampooer we want to highlight is the Essential Carpet Cleaner 1887. This product is separated from the others by its attachments. It comes with a tough stain tool and a spraying crevice tool.
The spraying crevice tool is especially helpful. It will remove dirt and debris from the crevices and corners of your room. The large one-gallon water tank allows you to clean for a long time without refilling.
In addition to the attachments, you will receive a trial-size of the Bissell Professional carpet cleaning solution. The brand truly sets you up with everything you need to keep your carpets like new.
10. Bissell DeepClean Deluxe Pet Carpet Cleaner 36Z9

Bissell’s DeepClean Deluxe Pet Carpet Cleaner 36Z9 has a very innovative design. The Cleanshot trigger aims the carpet cleaner solution directly at stains. This trigger targets your carpet cleaning. It is more efficient and makes your job much easier.
You can use the DeepClean 36Z9 for pet messes. There is a pet hair basket that traps pet hair. This is an ideal way to keep the brush rolls from getting tangled .the stain trapper tool contains pet messes in a single location. The messes will not get into the machine and damage it.
Like many of the Bissell carpet shampooers, the 36Z9 has dual power brushes and heatwave technology. It also has a Cleanshot pre-treater feature. This pretreats the stain with the solution to make cleaning as efficient as possible.
11. Bissell SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Portable Deep Cleaner 2117A

We’ve got one more Bissell carpet shampooer for you today. That is the SpotBot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Portable Deep Cleaner 2117A. Yes, this product has a mouthful of a name. It is also the most unique product on our list.
The 2117A is a spot cleaning carpet shampooer. It is small and lightweight. With the carry handle, you can transport it to any location in your home. For such a small product, there is a decently sized water tank. It holds 30.6 ounces.
The feature that really sets the 2117A apart is its hands-free modes. There are two hands-free cleaning modes. When either is activated the SpotBot 2117A does your cleaning for you. You take it to the mess, and it cleans it for you.
12. Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Washer

We will end our list today with the Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Washer. This product is fairly lightweight. It weighs 18 pounds. The large wheels make it easy to transport this carpet shampooer allover your home.
It also is extremely versatile. The Power Scrub Deluxe will clean carpets, area rugs, upholstery, and car interiors. The entire product, including the carpet cleaner solution, is biodegradable and non-toxic. For environmental- and health-conscious people, this is the carpet shampooer for you.
Hoover’s Power Scrub Deluxe has a dual tank design. Both tanks are easy to remove, empty, and clean. They have a spill-free design. You will not have to worry about making more of a mess as you clean.
Tips and Tricks for keeping your carpet shampooer clean.
A carpet shampooer is designed to keep your carpet clean. It may also clean your upholstery and furniture. One place these versatile machines cannot clean is themselves. Keeping your carpet shampooer for pets clean ensures no bacteria or mold grows in the tanks. These can create an unhealthy situation if they are expelled into your carpet.
A dirty carpet shampooer will also not clean your carpet very well. As that is the machine’s job, you can improve its efficiency by keeping it clean. Use the following tips and tricks to keep your carpet cleaner product as clean as possible.
Never try to clean your carpet shampooer when it is plugged in or running. You could seriously hurt yourself.
Clean the nozzle and brushes first. This will improve removing embedded hair and lint. If hair around the brushes will not unwind, you may have to carefully snip it with scissors.
Once the nozzle and brushes are cleaned, clean them. A damp clean cloth should be just fine for the brushes. The nozzle can be placed under a faucet and rinsed out.
Detach and clean the water tank(s). These are the most crucial element of the carpet shampooer to keep clean. Warm water and gentle soap is a good way to remove all contaminants from the tank.
All elements of the carpet shampooer should be completely dry before you reattach them.
FAQ:
We’ve done our best to cover everything. However, you may have a few more questions about carpet shampooers. This section attempts to answer those questions.
How to know if the carpet shampooer is right for you.
Most people could use a carpet shampooer. If you have a carpet, it will need to be cleaned. Home carpet cleaner products ensure they are a convenient way to keep your carpets looking nice.
The real question is what size carpet shampooer you need. Review the common sizes described above. They will help you determine which carpet shampooer you need.
Where can I use my carpet shampooer?
Carpet shampooers can be used on most floors. They are not steam cleaners, though, so you may not want o use them on clothes. A carpet cleaner vacuum could suck up clothes very easily. This will ruin the clothes and carpet shampooer.
Keep your carpet shampooer to carpets, upholstery, and furniture. Although they use water, you should not use them on hard floors. Carpet shampooers use heated water. It can be so hot that it damages the hard floor. Hardwood and linoleum are especially prone to water damage.
Are carpet cleaners and carpet shampooers the same thing?
The short answer is yes. A carpet cleaner is a more common term. But you will also see carpet shampooers. These products wash and clean your carpet and furniture.
Carpet steam cleaners are slightly different than both carpet cleaner products and carpet shampooers. Carpet steam cleaners use steam to clean carpet. Carpet shampooers use a carpet cleaner solution.
Can I use different types of carpet cleaner solutions with my carpet shampooer?
Yes. Brands include trial-sizes of their carpet cleaner solutions with each product. This not mean that you have to stick to those solutions. The carpet shampooer is just a great way for the manufacturer to advertise their products.
Conclusion
You need the best carpet shampooer in your life. These amazing machines do more than wash your carpet. They can also clean upholstery and furniture. They will protect your home and family against bacteria and mold.
Don’t wait around until you can schedule a professional carpet cleaning. Try a professional-level home carpet shampooer today. It will be convenient and versatile. To get the most for your money, start with the twelve products we’ve reviewed here.