The Best Carpet Cleaners for Pets Reviewed

It takes longer than you might expect to house train your dog. Unfortunately, your dog may not be fully able to stop having accidents even after that point passes. As such, you’re always going to need to have the tools on hand to take care of messes left by your pet. If you’re concerned about long-term damage to your carpets, this will almost always mean picking a carpet cleaner that is designed for pets.

If you’re going to buy a carpet cleaner, it really should be the best carpet cleaner for pet owners. That’s why we’re here – to locate the best carpet cleaners for pets out there today and to tell you about where and why they should be purchased. If you want to make sure that your carpets stay clean no matter what your pets are up to, you’ll definitely want to take some time to take a look at all the carpet cleaners on this list. 

Best Carpet Cleaner For Pets In 2021

Every pet carpet cleaner is a little bit different from the other units that are for sale. Though our research has helped us to identify the carpet cleaners that work best with pets, we know that every consumer is going to want something that fits their own individual needs. That’s why we’re providing pet owners with information about how these pet carpet cleaners work and why people love them. This will allow you to make an informed choice about your carpet shampooer purchase, and make sure that you’ve chosen the best pet carpet cleaner for your home.

Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner

If you’re looking for a carpet cleaner for pets, there’s a good chance that you’re looking for something that’s able to handle pet hair and heavy-duty stains. After all, pets have an amazing ability to get spaces dirty and some of the methods by which they do that are generally more than a simple pet stain eraser spray can handle. If you are looking for something that’s able to deal with the deepest, ground-in pet stains, you’ll need to look for something that’s got a lot of power behind it. That’s why so many consumers seem to love ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro from Bissell, which we’ve selected as our top pick amongst today’s best carpet cleaners.

It’s really hard to overstate how powerful this heavy-duty pet carpet cleaner is, especially when you compare it to some of the more middle-of-the-road units that are available for sale right now. The Pet Pro is a carpet shampooer that’s really meant to get in there and take care of ground-in pet stains, dealing with the kind of problem spots that can really only come from years of pet accidents. The Pet Pro is also better than average at dealing with smells, it’s actually engineered to be tough enough to remove skunk spray from an area. You really don’t get much more powerful than this in an upright carpet cleaner. 

While the power of this Bissell pet stain remover is good, you also want something that’s going to be easy to use. With a weight of under eighteen pounds, this carpet cleaning machine is actually really easy to move around your home. Though there are some other, more light-weight models out there, this one combines the toughness of the biggest machines with the maneuverability of the smaller models. Even the smaller footprint of the machine makes it easier to get into corners and behind furniture, allowing you to get to the hidden pet stains in your home without having to move everything out of the rooms that you are deep cleaning. Plus, the removable brush roll cover makes this machine quite easy to maintain. For all of these reasons and more, we can confidently stand by the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro as our top choice amongst today’s best carpet cleaners for pets.

Hoover FH50700 PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner

One of the big problems with most carpet cleaners is their size. While it makes sense that many carpet cleaners would be big enough to hold a powerful motor and a sizable tank, that’s not much of a consolation if you have a very limited amount of room to store the carpet shampooer. That’s why it’s excellent to see units like this one from Hoover, which combines some of the best cleaning technology with a low-profile design that takes up less space in your home.

The Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact carpet cleaner is lightweight even compared to some of the lightest models available right now. That makes it easy to take up and downstairs, easy to use in larger areas one of the best fits for anyone who struggles with bigger carpet cleaners. It’s also designed to take up less space in storage, which means that it’s a good fit for any consumers who live in apartments or other areas in which storage space is at a premium. This really does feel like a carpet cleaning machine that is designed for pet owners who have less space in their homes. 

Small doesn’t mean that it isn’t strong, though. The Hoover PowerDash Pet carpet cleaner can still deal with tough messes and pet hair fairly easily. It even leverages the same kind of drying technology as some of the bigger carpet cleaners out there so that you won’t have to deal with wet floors all day. If your space is at a premium but you still want to clean up after your pets, this might be the best carpet cleaner for you. 

BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full-Size Carpet Cleaner

One of the best things about buying a product from Bissell is that you can generally feel comfortable with almost anything that comes with that label. The company has done an excellent job of putting their highest-end technology in a number of different carpet cleaning products across the line, with only a few minor differences separating them. If you are a fan of the first Bissell product listed here, you’ll be happy to know that this unit has almost all of the same features in a slightly different package.

In fact, it’s safe to say that this machine is virtually identical to the other Bissell unit on this list. It has the same carpet drying technology, for example, and the same ability to deal with heavy-duty, ground-in stains thanks to the Max Clean mode. The only thing it really lacks is the ability to deal with extreme odors, a feature that might not be as important to some consumers as it is to others. This is an excellent carpet shampooer for those who need something powerful and who want to make sure that they’re getting some of the best technology that is currently available.

This is also a good choice for those who don’t want to deal with a heavy carpet cleaner. Also weighing in at under eighteen pounds, this carpet cleaning machine is perfect for those who have to go up and down stairs or who are cleaning larger spaces. If you’re a fan of Bissell’s carpet cleaning machines, this is one carpet cleaner that you need to consider. 

BISSELL SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot and Stain Carpet Cleaner

Spot cleaners can be a great alternative to upright pet carpet cleaners. If you are in a smaller space or you typically only have to deal with messes in very specific spots, it makes sense to grab something that you can use on the go. These units are also best for those who don’t want to deep clean massive stretches of carpet at one time, as spot cleaners really are designed to deal with individual spots without having to deal with the surrounding areas. If you are going to buy one of these units, though, you’ll want to go with something like Bissell’s SpotClean ProHeat cleaner.

This cleaner is a really good example of the kind of functionality that you can get out of a top-end spot cleaner. It has a huge tank, allowing you to clean up big spaces without having to stop the cleaning process just to empty out the dirty water from the tanks. The water tanks are removable, though, so you can remove them, dump, clean them, and get them ready to go without having to move the entire spot cleaner every time it is used. It’s incredibly easy to operate in a way that’s hard to match, especially if you are coming from the world of pet upright carpet cleaners.

Overall ease of use is good, but being good at deep cleaning pet messes is even better. This unit is not only among the best at suctioning up cleaning solution, but it has a number of tools that can help you to get those messes that have been really worked into your carpet. If you are looking for something that’s going to help you deal with smaller messes or that won’t require you to clear out your rooms every time you need to clean something up, this spot cleaner is definitely a product at which you should look. 

Hoover FH52000 SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner

Carpet cleaning really shouldn’t be rocket science. If you’re trying to clean up your pet’s messes, you definitely don’t want to spend much time having to mess around with dials or trying to figure out how to use all of your carpet cleaner’s cleaning features. If you’re like most consumers, you’ll probably want a carpet cleaner that just works. This unit from Hoover is absolutely what many consumers have been looking for, as it takes most of the measuring and 

Almost everything on this Hoover SmartWash carpet shampooer is automatic. All you have to do to clean your carpets is push forward while pulling back will help you to soak up the water and dry things off. The carpet cleaner even does the hard work of appropriately mixing the water and cleaning formula in your carpet cleaning machine so that every spray will have the maximum amount of cleaning power. The Hoover SmartWash Automatic carpet cleaner is honestly one of the easiest-to-use pet upright carpet cleaners that is available right now and that ease of use is going to translate into cleaner carpets for your home.

One might think that this easy-to-use pet carpet cleaner would have to sacrifice something for its user-friendliness, but the truth is that it’s actually still as powerful as some of the other best units on this list. Able to get out tough stains and deal with common pet odors, it even uses HeatForce technology to dry your carpets out quickly once they have been cleaned. This unit is one of the best examples of how carpet cleaning machines can be easier to use and it is hopefully an example of the types of technology that will be used more wildly in years to come. 

Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner

Generally speaking, choosing between a spot cleaner and an upright carpet cleaner is a matter of choosing between maneuverability and power. Fortunately, Bissell has created a spot cleaner that will allow you to get everything you need in one package. This unit is one of the few spot cleaners that brings most of the power of an upright model while still keeping the same small size that makes a spot cleaner such an attractive choice. If you’re looking to get a significant amount of power in a smaller size, this is definitely going to be the best choice for your home.

This spot cleaner is all about the deep cleaning power. Rated as Bissell’s most powerful spot cleaner, it’s going to use its extreme level of suction power to get all but the most difficult of spots out of your carpet. It’s very easy to see the power of this unit as soon as you start using it, and you’ll be able to use it virtually anywhere thanks to its ergonomic design. Though it may not cover as much room as an upright carpet cleaner, this portable carpet cleaner is still going to deliver the same kind of power whenever you’re trying to clean specific messes. 

This portable carpet cleaner comes with two different tools. The Stair Tool is, as you might imagine, great for cleaning stairs but also best for cleaning anything that’s at an angle. The Deep Clean tool is best for getting the toughest spots out, helping you to maximize the power of the spot cleaner in a single spot. This is the type of spot cleaner you’re going to want to use if you’re dealing with tough messes but you’re still not quite ready to invest in a bigger carpet cleaner. Though the latter has its uses, it’s hard to see this spot cleaner as anything but one of the best alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get rid of pet odors on the carpet?

Getting rid of pet odors in carpets requires some extra steps in the cleaning process. You may want to pretreat any areas that have significant stains first and then look for a cleaning solution that specifically tackles odors. If you’re dealing with pet odors, you’re also going to want to clean all of your carpeted areas – just a quick spot clean is probably not going to be enough. You will also need to use a carpet cleaner that has a relatively high degree of suction, as many odors come from liquids that have soaked either into or underneath your carpet. 

What do professional carpet cleaners use for pet urine?

Professional carpet cleaners use specialized cleaning formulas to deal with pet urine. Consumers can find products that have similar formulas from most of the major cleaner manufacturers, as well as from some specialty vendors. Generally speaking, most of the products that are formulated for pets are going to contain all of the ingredients needed to deal with pet urine. 

How often should I clean my carpet if I have pets?

The answer to this question depends on your dogs. If your pets are well-trained and infrequently have accidents in your home, a quick carpet cleaning once a month will be more than enough to deal with typical pet odors. If your pets have frequent accidents, though, you need to at least spot clean every time you notice a wet spot in your home. As a rule, cleaning more often is going to do more to eliminate pet smells but cleaning your carpet more than once a week won’t be likely to have much of an impact. 

Should I vacuum my carpet before using the carpet cleaner?

The vast majority of carpet cleaning machines direct users to vacuum before carpet cleaning. This helps to get rid of the large clumps of pet hair and other matter in your carpet that could interfere with the suction in your carpet cleaner or that could clog up the brush roll. You should always vacuum up pet hair and other debris before you carpet clean so that you can get cleaner floors and so that you can make the maintenance process easier when you need to clean out your carpet cleaner. Note that this only holds for upright units – you don’t need to vacuum before a quick spot clean. 

Carpet Cleaner For Pets Buying Guide

There’s no such thing as a carpet cleaner that’s perfect for every home. Instead of automatically buying the best-rated product, you should look for products that have the functions that are the most important to you. Below are a few things to keep in mind before you buy your next pet-friendly carpet cleaner.

Upright vs. Spot

Carpet cleaners for pets come in two varieties – upright and spot cleaners. Upright carpet cleaners look like vacuum cleaners and work in a similar way. They are used to clean out large areas and to handle bigger messes, usually on a semi-regular basis. These tools are similar to those that are used by professionals and tend to be popular among those who are looking to deal with general pet smells and stains as a part of the house cleaning process.

Spot cleaners, on the other hand, are portable units made to deal with specific messes. These cleaners are invaluable when you have a pet that is not house trained, as they allow users to immediately treat and remove messes without having to deal with larger spaces. Another example is if you want to clean up after grooming or if you have a cat, clean spills from the litter box. These units tend to be better for those who want to clean up after pets but who are not necessarily looking to clean large carpeted areas every time their pets make a mess. 

Size and Weight

The size and weight of your carpet cleaner matter for several reasons. The first, and perhaps most obvious, is that these factors impact the ease of use of the devices. A heavier carpet cleaner is harder to push or move between floors, which may make it harder for you to justify using the device. Larger units are also harder to maneuver, which means that you will either have to move your furniture when cleaning or that you will need to use specialized devices in order to clean in hard-to-reach spots.

Why, then, would anyone choose a heavy carpet cleaner? Simply put, heavier units tend to be more powerful. Heavy carpet cleaning machines generally have more powerful motors and can include more cleaning tools, which makes it easier to deal with tougher stains. Figuring out whether this is a necessity for your home isn’t always easy, but it is something that should be considered before you make a purchase. 

Frequency of Cleaning

How often are you going to clean your carpets? If you’re only going to pull out your carpet cleaner once a year, it’s probably not worth your time to find a product that will quickly dry off your floors or that comes equipped with features that are designed for more frequent cleaning. Infrequently used carpet cleaning machines simply need to be powerful enough to clean around your house while frequently used devices need to be more maneuverable, more usable, and generally more user-friendly. Figure out if you’re going to use your carpet cleaner on a regular basis before you decide which model you will buy.

Keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to put your pet in another room or even outside while you clean so that the sounds don’t bother them and they don’t get hurt.

Quality of Life Features

Finally, make sure that you look at the quality of life features. These include features like quick-dry modes, easy-to-remove dirty water tanks, and automatic cleaning solution mixing. Don’t forget the length of the power cord either – you want a power cord that is long enough to give you the range you need, but not so long that it will be a pail to coil. None of these features are entirely necessary, but they can make cleaning easier for you. Try to think about the aspects of carpet cleaning that you generally avoid and then look for features that could make those processes a little easier. If you can find a feature that makes you more apt to use your carpet cleaner, those features will generally be worth the investment.