Top 5 Best Spot Cleaners 2024

Pet messes, food spills, tracked-in dirt, and other issues may transform your home’s common areas from the hospitable places they should be into unsightly places. Pet mishaps and wine spills on carpeting and upholstery may be easily cleaned up with a portable carpet cleaner, making these high-traffic areas of your house look their best. Additionally, they are more effective than a cloth in mopping up wet spills, are kinder to textiles than stain remover spray, and can remove stains more effectively than a hand. The best part is that they are more portable, ready to use when needed, and simpler to operate and store than a full-sized carpet cleaner.

When portable carpet cleaning is assessed by the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Labmachines, we test how well they lift fresh and set-in food, dirt and other stains. We also assess how easy they are to fill, empty, clean and store. We consider factors like weight, maneuverability and how comfortable they are to use and hold. We have each tested and scored by Quiet Mark, an outside organization that evaluates products and appliances for sound on a scale of one to three stars. “Quiet” appliances get a three-star rating, while those deemed “loud” get a one-star rating.

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Last update on 2024-11-15 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best Spot Cleaners 2024

1.Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush Plus

Last update on 2024-11-15 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

This Bissell compact carpet cleaning champion received the top overall performance rating in our GH Cleaning Lab tests, which covered stain and odor removal, run time, sound, and other factors.

We found the machine to be straightforward to operate and clean, and it successfully removed stains from our test carpets from both fresh and dry red wine and blueberry pie filling. It was the lightest model we tested, at slightly over 4 pounds. We particularly value the integrated spinning brush for superior deep cleaning, but we also value the ability to turn the brush off to clean delicate materials like velvet and hand-woven rugs. To better handle pet messes, a nubby rubber pet tool is included.

We saw a 20-minute runtime and a 4-and-a-half-hour recharge period during our tests. Compared to models with larger tanks, the 8-ounce tanks are smaller and need to be refilled more frequently. Because it doesn’t need to be diluted and can be kept in the machine to be used as needed, Bissell suggests using its own ready-to-use recipe, which we believe is a practical option.

Analysts rated it as “good” in comparison to other devices in our test, and it received a high score of three stars for sound, indicating that it is comparatively quiet.

2.Dirt Devil Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner

Last update on 2024-11-15 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Although this Dirt Devil may not have as many features as some more costly carpet cleaners, it still has a strong cleaning capability for a machine at this price range and an easy-to-use design.

In our laboratory tests, it successfully removed stubborn carpet stains like coffee, chocolate, tomato sauce, grape juice, and synthetic pet pee. Its tiny size made it convenient to carry and store, and we found it to be user-friendly and intuitive.

Before putting the machine away after cleaning, use the hose-cleaning feature to remove any last bits of grimy water. The hose and cleaning nozzle wrap around the base of the machine and snap into place, while the cord neatly winds around a reel on the back.place as well. Plus, the carrying handle can be folded down for even more compact storage.

At only 8 pounds, this model is lighter than many others we tested, but the small dirty and clean water tanks may need to be refilled and emptied more often than those in larger carpet cleaners.

3.Hoover PowerDash GO Pet+ Spot Cleaner

Last update on 2024-11-15 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Good things are often found in small packaging, and this Hoover is no exception. For a device of its size, this corded portable cleaner has a lot of useful features. Although it is corded, your reach may be restricted. Its 5-foot hose is longer than some other models, making it simple to clean up spills in difficult-to-reach areas like the automobile or stair treads. The accompanying pet attachment effectively removed ingrained and set-in stains, and we adored the large carry handle.

This Hoover also received high scores for usability. Its slender form makes it easy to carry, store, and position on a stair step. The rope wraps neatly at the back, and the hose clicks into place.or in the narrow confines of the car. The tanks, though a bit small, stand on their own, which delighted our tester who said, “They are super easy to fill without any spilling.”

Take note: Hoover requires the use of its own pre-mixed solution or you will void your warranty, but there’s no diluting required which we think is a plus. It’s not the quietest nor the loudest machine: Quiet Mark rated it two stars.

4.Kenmore SpotLite Portable Carpet Spot Cleaner

Last update on 2024-11-15 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

A small or cordless gadget may not be able to clean an armchair, sofa, or eight dining room chairs. However, you can clean the cushions, curving arms, and wide backs of upholstered furniture more swiftly and easily with this Kenmore’s huge tanks, extra-long hose, and oversized cleaning attachment.

Its utility doesn’t stop there. Compared to cleaners with smaller brush heads, it can effectively remove both new and old carpet stains more rapidly. The Kenmore Spotlite was easy to use and excelled at removing coffee stains, tomato sauce, grape juice, and other stains when we tested it in our GH Cleaning Lab for our Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards. We declared it a winner.

The big tanks were easy to fill and markings for small and big jobs let us know how much solution to add. While it lacks a hose-cleaning feature, Kenmore recommends drawing clear water through it to rinse the hose before storing. When you run out of the sample cleaning solution that comes with the SpotLite, feel free to use any brand of portable cleaner solution.

5.Bissell Little Green Machine

Last update on 2024-11-15 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

It may be too much for a tiny or cordless appliance to clean an armchair, sofa, or eight dining room chairs. However, the huge tanks, long hose, and large cleaning attachment of this Kenmore make it easy and quick to clean the cushions, curving arms, and wide backs of upholstered furniture.

There is more to its utility than that. Unlike cleaners with smaller brush heads, it is suited to tackle both fresh and set-in carpet stains more swiftly. In our GH Cleaning Lab, we tried the Kenmore Spotlite for our Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards and found it to be a winner. It was easy to use and performed admirably at removing coffee stains, tomato sauce, grape juice, and other stains.

The massive tanks were easy to fill and markings for small and big jobs let us know how much solution to add. While it lacks a hose-cleaning feature, Kenmore recommends drawing clear water through it to rinse the hose before storing. When you run out of the sample cleaning solution that comes with the SpotLite, feel free to use any brand of portable cleaner solution.

How we test portable carpet cleaners

The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab tests the ability of portable or even full-size carpet cleaning equipment to remove spills and food stains from light-colored, medium-pile carpets, both fresh and set in. We even mimic pet pee with a yellow ammonia mixture.

We evaluate their use by examining how simple it is to fill, empty, and clean them. Additionally, we consider things like weight, mobility, and user comfort. We measure the runtime and charging time for cordless models. Any additional attachments that come with the appliance are tested. We performed 38 tests and recorded nearly 500 data points in our most recent category analysis of portable carpet cleaners.

Is it necessary to clean the tank?

When you’re finished, you may leave any remaining solution in the clean water tank for the next time because portable carpet and upholstery cleaners are made to be ready to use right away when spills happen.

However, to avoid odors, the filthy water tank should always be cleaned before being stored. Rinse and dry the soiled water tank, clean the brushes of any hair, lint, or fuzz, and clear the nozzle of any debris. This can inhibit the growth of bacteria and help avoid unpleasant odors. Placing any old, filthy residue on a fresh stain is the last thing you want to do.