In our most recent round of testing, we tried six carpet cleaners. Here’s how we evaluated them:
Cleaning performance: We cut a piece of white polyester carpet into six squares, one for each carpet cleaner. We then soiled each square with a carpet’s worst enemies: oils (Nutella and peanut butter), dyes (Gatorade, Coke, and Fanta), tannins (red wine and coffee), and yard dirt. (We skipped urine: In our recent upright carpet cleaner tests, it was the easiest substance to remove.) Using a knife, we worked yard dirt, Nutella, and peanut butter deep into the fibers.
After letting the muck dry overnight, we assigned each carpet square to a cleaner. We mixed each brand’s cleaning formula with 110 °F water, sprayed the stains with the cleaning solution, and let that sit for a few minutes. We extracted as much of the solution (and stain) as possible, and then we scrubbed the carpet vigorously, alternating between spraying and extracting, until we saw no further improvement; this took about 10 minutes.
We repeated the tests on white, organic-linen upholstery fabric stuffed with wool batting to see how the machines might handle couches and cushions. (We discovered that many cushion cases and upholstery fabrics are now stain-resistant, which is why we chose the untreated linen.)
After 24 hours, we compared the results, paying attention to the severity of leftover stains. We rated each small stained square on a scale of one (hardly any difference) to five (completely cleaned). Then we added up each spot cleaner’s scores and compared them.
Drying time and carpet appearance: A good carpet cleaner should not leave the carpet or cushion saturated with water and soap. Depending on an item’s thickness and material and the room temperature, the surface should fully dry within two to 24 hours.
We let the test squares dry overnight and then felt how damp they remained. We also inspected their appearance, looking for fibers that were refreshed and even, rather than chewed up.
Design and operation: No spot cleaner is really comfortable to use, particularly if a stain requires you to crouch on the floor and scrub for several minutes.
We took note if a machine’s main cleaning tool was comfortable to hold for an entire cleaning session, and we assessed the sensitivity of the spray trigger. We looked out for machines that felt heavy or awkward to use and noted if they had carrying handles, which is a plus. We also considered how convenient it was to fill and clean the water tanks; the most user-friendly ones are designed with flat bottoms so you can set them down.
We examined whether or not the hose was long and flexible enough to provide a decent cleaning radius, and we noted if it stored easily. We also assessed a model’s cleaning attachments and how easily and securely they snapped on and off.
As for noise, all of the portable carpet cleaners we tested were uncomfortably loud.
Reliability, customer service, and warranty: Portable carpet cleaners aren’t especially durable. Amazon reviews complain about broken spray triggers, leaks, and cracked hoses. We focused on the models that have the best (or least-worst) reliability, as well as good customer service. Most spot cleaners come with a one- or two-year warranty.
