Carpet Cleaners: Reviews

Updated April 2012

You can pay a professional to clean your carpets, or you can purchase a carpet cleaner and do the job yourself. While some carpet cleaners are clearly better than others, reviewers say, no machine is perfect. On consumer opinion sites, we found that even the highest-rated carpet cleaners are often prone to problems, such as leaking, leaving carpets too damp and mechanical problems or breakdowns. ConsumerSearch recommends whole-house and spot carpet cleaners, based on expert and owner opinion.

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Best carpet cleaner

Hoover SteamVac With Clean Surge F5914-900

*Est. $145 Compare Prices

The Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900 is recommended in more reviews than any other upright carpet cleaner. There are hundreds of glowing reviews of the SteamVac, which is less expensive and works better than… expandother Hoover carpet cleaners. In tests, this machine has better suction better than more expensive models and receives the fewest complaints from consumers. The Clean Surge feature delivers an extra squirt of cleanser for tough stains. The SteamVac comes with an 8-foot hose and upholstery and hand-tool attachments. Other Hoover models receive lower ratings from consumers. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests nine carpet cleaners, including the Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900.

Amazon.com: More than 2,400 users weigh in on this carpet cleaner, nearly all of whom give this model a 4- or 5-star rating.

BestBuy.com: More than 260 owners weigh in on the Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900 at BestBuy.com, giving it an overall rating of 4.6 stars out of 5.

Epinions.com: About 70 owners rate the Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900 at Epinions.com, where it earns an overall rating 3.5 stars out of 5.

Target.com: More than 25 reviews on this site reinforce what other users say: The Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900 delivers great results for a fair price.

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Buy from Amazon for $169.99
VCDiscounte- r for $159.95	GoVacuum for $179.00	eBay for $149.99

Best spot cleaner

Bissell SpotBot Pet Deep Cleaner 33N8

*Est. $140 Compare Prices

The Bissell SpotBot Pet Deep Cleaner gets great reviews in part because it can clean stains on its own. You park it on a tough stain, and the agitator brush will scour it automatically after injecting cleaning solution… expandinto the carpet fibers. The SpotBot also comes with a special cleaning solution made specifically for removing pet stains and odors, although the Bissell Little Green solution can be used for regular stains. A 5-foot hose with a 3-inch nozzle can be used for manual cleaning and in areas too small for the unit to be used as a whole. Some owners wish it didn't cost quite so much. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Amazon.com: About 200 owners contribute to an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.

Target.com: There are fewer reviews here than on Amazon.com, but the Bissell SpotBot Pet maintains a 5-star average rating.

Viewpoints.com: About 10 owners review the Bissell SpotBot Pet, which has an average rating of 83 points out of a possible 100.

Lowes.com: The Bissell SpotBot Pet earns an overall rating of 4 stars out of 5 in about 15 owner reviews.

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Buy from Amazon for $145.72
VCDiscounte- r for $139.95	Overstock.c- om for $159.99	Air & Water for $149.95

Portable carpet cleaner

Bissell Little Green 14007

*Est. $90 Compare Prices

The Bissell Little Green 14007 is a lightweight, compact cleaner for removing small stains. Unlike the SpotBot Pet, you don't park the Little Green on a stain and walk away; you use the two cleaning heads for a variety of… expandcleaning applications. Although professional reviewers aren't overly impressed with its cleaning power, users say it works well on small stains and is easy to use. They do note that its suction is fairly weak, leaving the carpet rather wet. One major selling point of the Little Green portable cleaner is its design, which incorporates recycled and PVC-free plastics, and its earth-friendly cleaning solutions. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Amazon.com: The Bissell Little Green 14007 gets an overall rating of 4 stars from about 275 reviewers.

Walmart.com: In more than 175 reviews, the Bissell Little Green 14007 earns an overall score of 4.4 stars.

Epinions.com: About 60 reviewers at Epinions.com give the Bissell Little Green 14007 an overall rating of 3 stars out of 5.

ConsumerReports.org: Although the ratings from this report on carpet cleaners are only available to subscribers, the introduction is freely viewable.

BestBuy.com: In roughly 30 reviews, the Bissell Little Green 14007 earns an overall score of 4.3 stars out of 5.

HSN.com: About 40 users give the Bissell Little Green 14007 an overall score of 4.6 stars out of 5.

About.com: About.com's former guide to stay-at-home parents, Barbara Whiting, includes the Bissell Little Green 14007 in a roundup of recommended carpet cleaners.

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