The 2 Best Carpet Cleaners of 2025

In our most recent round of testing, we tried six carpet cleaners. Here’s how we evaluated them:

Cleaning performance: We divided a 12-by-9-foot white polyester carpet into six columns (one for each carpet cleaner) and six rows (for one or two substances each). Then we soiled it with a carpet’s worst enemies: oils (chocolate ice cream, caramel syrup), dyes (Gatorade, Coke, and Fanta), tannins (red wine), and bodily fluids (urine). Using a spoon and a scouring brush, we worked yard dirt, Nutella, slime, and peanut butter deep into the fibers.

We let the muck dry over a weekend, and then we ran each carpet cleaner up and down one stain column, taking as many passes as necessary to clean the carpet as much as possible. After a 24-hour drying time, we compared the results, paying attention to the severity of any leftover stains and the carpet’s texture and appearance.

A decent carpet cleaner removes soil and most common household stains without much effort, but only an excellent one conquers the toughest stains. All of the carpet cleaners we tested got rid of Coke, urine, and blue Gatorade stains. But their performances varied when they faced chocolate ice cream with caramel syrup and peanut butter and Nutella. (Also, bad news for thirsty parents of thirsty children: None of the machines were able to entirely remove red wine or bright-orange Fanta.)

We also noted when a machine smeared a substance, making it bleed into an even larger area.

Drying time and carpet appearance: A good carpet cleaner should not leave the carpet saturated with water and soap. Depending on the carpet’s thickness and material, and on room temperature, it should fully dry within two to 12 hours. Some cleaners feature a dry mode, which, in addition to extracting water, blows warm air on the carpet to speed drying.

We allowed the test area to dry for two hours and then felt how damp the carpet remained, rechecking periodically. After 20 hours, we checked the dryness and visually inspected the carpet, looking for fibers that were refreshed and even, rather than chewed up.

Comfort and maneuverability: We noted whether the machine’s wheels rolled smoothly, its weight was distributed evenly, and whether it could easily move into corners, around obstacles, and over thresholds. We assessed whether the handle was comfortable to hold for an entire cleaning session, as well as whether the machine felt heavy or awkward to use. (Most models now weigh less than 20 pounds, with water adding another 4 to 8 pounds.)

Finally, we used the SPLnFFT app to measure each machine’s noise level.

Design and operation: We paid attention to how convenient it was to fill and clean the tanks; how easy it was to find and press power buttons; and whether we had to hold and release a trigger to operate the machine (this can be uncomfortable during long cleaning sessions).

We checked whether the machines’ hoses and hand tools easily and securely snapped on and off, and we considered how easy it was to remove and replace brush rolls on the cleaner head.

When applicable, we assessed the model’s digital display and tried to connect the machine to Wi-Fi.

Leakiness: Leakiness is a common complaint with carpet cleaners, and all of the models we tested leaked to some degree. We observed how much each model leaked when it was shut off.

Cleaning attachments: We tested their hoses and attachable cleaning tools on our white carpet’s peanut-butter-and-Nutella stains.