Carpet Cleaners: Reviews

Updated December 2010

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 both 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. $135 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. This machine suctions 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 1,600 users have weighed in on this carpet cleaner, nearly all of whom give this model a 4- or 5-star rating.

BestBuy.com: More than 185 owners weigh in on the Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900 at BestBuy.com, giving it an impressively high average rating of 4.7 stars (out of 5). Most reviews discuss both pros and cons of the machine.

Epinions.com: Almost 70 owners rate the Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900 at Epinions.com, where it earns an average of 4 stars out of 5.

Target.com: More than 20 reviews on this site reinforce what other users say: The Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900 delivers great results for a fair price.

ConsumerGuide.com: The Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900 earns a Best Buy designation from this site and receives high marks in all categories.

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Buy from Amazon for $139.83
HSN for $189.95	AJ Madison for $179.00	eBay for $184.99

Budget carpet cleaner

Bissell QuickSteamer PowerBrush 2080

*Est. $95 Compare Prices

For light duty or tighter budgets, reviewers say the Bissell QuickSteamer PowerBrush is a good choice. It's less powerful than the better-rated Hoover SteamVac, and it does not include an internal heater, but it's also… expandvery lightweight and easy to maneuver. This cleaner is best for small areas and rugs due to its smallish half-gallon tank. Like other budget-priced carpet cleaners, this model has some durability problems, especially with the sprayer mechanism. However, user reports say the QuickSteamer PowerBrush is more reliable than other carpet cleaners in its price range. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tests several carpet cleaners, including the Bissell QuickSteamer PowerBrush 2080, and lists recommended models.

Amazon.com: We found nearly 200 reviews that collectively award Bissell QuickSteamer PowerBrush 2080 an average of 4.5 stars out of 5, as good as the best (and more expensive) uprights.

Lowes.com: We found about 20 reviews that reflect what users generally say about the Bissell QuickSteamer PowerBrush 2080: It's a good value for lightweight carpet cleaning.

Epinions.com: About 10 reviewers rate the Bissell QuickSteamer PowerBrush 2080, giving it an average of 4.5 stars.

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Buy from Amazon for $119.99
GoVacuum for $112.86	ABC Vacuum Warehouse for $99.00	Amazon for $89.99

Best spot cleaner

Bissell SpotBot

*Est. $120 Compare Prices

The Bissell SpotBot gets great reviews for a portable carpet cleaner, though it's a bit on the expensive side. The SpotBot's best feature is that it can work entirely on its own. You park the SpotBot on a tough stain and… expandthe agitator brush will scour it automatically. The SpotBot can also be used as a regular carpet cleaner, with a 5-foot hose and small suction nozzle, but reviewers say it's best used as a spot cleaner. Some users warn that this machine can leave the carpet rather wet, although others say the hose can be used to extract the excess water. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Amazon.com: More than 500 users rate the Bissell SpotBot, with a majority praising its stain-lifting prowess and exceptional ease of use.

Target.com: More than 85 users review the Bissell SpotBot at Target.com, and the majority love their SpotBots.

Epinions.com: This site neatly prefaces each review with a quick listing of pros and cons, making it easy to get the lowdown.

ConsumerReports.org: Although the ratings from this report on carpet cleaners are only available to subscribers, the introduction can be viewed without a subscription.

Sears.com: Sears.com helpfully sums up the most commonly cited pros and cons in a set of user reviews, so you can see them all at a glance.

Lowes.com: The Bissell SpotBot only receives a handful of user reviews at Lowes.com, but all of them are positive.

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Buy from Amazon for $149.99
HSN for $134.95	United Vacuum for $139.50	Amazon for $134.99

Portable carpet cleaner

Bissell Little Green 14007

*Est. $70 Compare Prices

The Bissell Little Green 14007 is a lightweight, compact cleaner for removing small stains. Unlike the SpotBot, this model isn't automated; you can't simply park it on a stain and walk away. Instead, it works with a hose… expandand nozzle. 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 sustainable design, featuring recycled and PVC-free plastics and earth-friendly cleaning solutions. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Amazon.com: The Bissell Little Green 14007 gets an average of 4 stars from more than 150 reviewers.

Walmart.com: In more than 125 reviews, the Bissell Little Green 14007 earns an average score of 4.4 stars.

Epinions.com: About 25 reviewers at Epinions.com give the Bissell Little Green 14007 an average rating of 4 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 20 reviews, the Bissell Little Green 14007 earns an average score of 4.5 stars out of 5.

HSN.com: About 15 users give the Bissell Little Green 14007 an average score of 4.6 stars.

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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Buy from Amazon for $89.99
GoVacuum for $112.25	Amazon for $89.99	eBay for $109.24

Hoover SteamVac All Terrain F7452-900 *Est. $215

4 picks including: Amazon.com, Target.com…

Bissell QuickSteamer 1770 *Est. $80

2 picks including: Amazon.com…

Bissell SpotBot Pet *Est. $130

1 pick by top review sites.


	Hoover MaxExtract All-Terrain Carpet Cleaner, F7452900 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Bissell QuickSteamer Upright Deep Cleaner, 1770 In Stock. Average Customer Review: