The Best Carpet Cleaners of 2022

Before You Buy a Carpet Cleaner

You may wonder if it’s wiser to invest in one of these top-rated carpet cleaners or simply hire a service to do the job. Thorough, professional cheap carpet cleaning brisbane costs about $50 per room; that’s $200 for the average 3-bedroom home and between $300 and $600 for larger residences. You also have the option of renting carpet-cleaning equipment and DIY-ing the job at an average price of $30 per day. Either of these routes may make sense if you have just one or two carpeted rooms, but if your entire house is carpeted or you live with furry friends, it may be more cost-effective to compare carpet cleaners and invest in your own unit. Be sure to check reliable carpet-cleaner reviews so you can feel certain that you are purchasing a quality model that can compete with the commercial-grade gear pros use—which means spending between $300 and $500. The best carpet cleaners have a lifespan between 8 and 10 years with regular use, so do the math to figure out what’s right for your home.

Types of Carpet Cleaning

There are various methods that a carpet and upholstery cleaner can use to clean carpeting, and some are more effective than others. While some of the best carpet cleaners use more than one of these cleaning styles, others perform only a single type, so it is important to understand the differences.

Hot Water Extraction

More popularly known as steam cleaning, this method uses hot water applied at high pressure to agitate carpet fibers and dissolve dirt. Any remaining debris is pulled from the carpet with a series of rotating brushes and powerful suction. While hot water alone can be effective, most steam cleaners also use detergent to remove stains and odors. This requires a two-step process—a wash with the detergent, followed by a plain water rinse—before the carpet can be left to dry.

Carpet Shampooing

This method mixes shampoo with hot water from your sink (rather than heating it in the machine, as steam cleaning does). The solution is pushed into carpet fibers by rotating brushes and lifted out with a powerful suction—a one-step process—and then the carpet is left to dry. An oft-cited problem with carpet shampooing is that sticky shampoo residue remains in the fibers, attracting dirt and debris so that the carpet soon needs cleaning again. To reduce that residue, the shampooer can be filled with plain cold water and repeat the process to rinse. Just be sure to avoid hot or warm water, as this activates the remaining soap rather than removing it.

Encapsulation

Encapsulation technology emerged in the 1970s, slowly taking over the market from carpet shampooers. Encapsulation is a two-step process that uses encapsulating chemicals (brand-specific formulas that often include hydrogen peroxide for attracting soil and encapsulating it). The chemicals are sprayed onto the carpet, brushed into fibers with a cylindrical brush, rotary brush, or bonnet, and then the encapsulation chemical and debris from the carpet are vacuumed up.

The chemicals crystalize around soil particles and attract other soils so that dirt can be removed during vacuuming. Any moisture released by encapsulation cleaning dries within two hours. This method does not provide the deep cleaning needed for a stained or grimy carpet.

Bonnet Cleaning

With this method, a cotton, rayon, or polypropylene pad called a bonnet is soaked in a cleaning solution and affixed to a heavy-duty, motorized shampooer. Bonnet cleaning can also be done with a series of rotating brushes that use water and cleaning solution to similarly attract dirt. The machine rotates the cleaning pad or brushes, agitating the top layer of carpet and collecting loose dirt. It’s perhaps the least effective method of home carpet cleaning, but it can be a quick option for spot cleaning if you don’t have time to do the entire room.

Dry Carpet Cleaning

Also known as compound carpet steam cleaning Brisbane, dry carpet cleaning arrived in the 1980s and unlike all other techniques, it’s totally moisture-free. The cleaning compound, typically in a powder form, is brushed into carpet fibers with a motorized, counter-rotating brush machine. This machine “opens up” the carpet so that the compound can settle to the very bottom. After waiting between 30 to 60 minutes, the cleaning compound and collected dirt are thoroughly vacuumed up. You can walk on the carpet immediately afterward, so while not as effective as steam cleaning, dry carpet cleaning can be a boon for busy families who have trouble keeping a damp carpet free of foot traffic until it dries.

What to Consider When Buying a Carpet Cleaner

Consider these key factors when shopping for the best residential carpet cleaner to suit your home, office, or work space.

Spot Cleaning vs. Whole-House Cleaning

Spot cleaning machines are lightweight, portable, and less expensive than whole-house cleaners, but the suction isn’t as strong as larger units. They’re ideal for use on stairs as well as in homes with just one or two carpeted rooms or loose area rugs. This type of small carpet cleaner or personal carpet cleaner is also a good option for cleaning the carpets in your car.

Whole-house carpet cleaners have robust motors capable of producing powerful suction while rotating thick cleaning brushes. These machines may also have the versatility of performing more than one cleaning method. They’re costlier than spot cleaners and use more cleaning products, so they’re best suited to larger homes with many carpeted rooms that see heavy traffic. Using a heavy-duty carpet cleaner helps to remove dirt and grime that have sunk deep into the fibers of the carpet or rug.

Weight and Portability

In general, the heavier the machine, the more powerful its suction motor and rotating brushes will be. Portable units are lighter and are easily maneuvered into any position. There are also mid-weight carpet cleaners that may not be capable of heavy-duty cleaning but do a better job than small handheld machines. Consider your physical limits, the amount of carpeting, and the number of levels in your home when making a decision. For example, if you live in a townhouse with a basement, main floor, and two additional levels of carpet to clean, an easy-to-tote portable model may be your best bet. It’s important to also keep in mind that the weight listed for each machine does not include the added weight of water.

Hose Length

Carpet cleaner hoses are attachments that generally max out at 10 feet, yet some units have no hose at all. A cleaner with a 10-foot hose affords great range, but the longer the hose, the farther the water and/or cleaning solution has to travel to reach the carpeting to be cleaned. During this travel, the water temperature cools, reducing the effectiveness of the carpet cleaner. One handy attribute of a hose attachment is that it allows access under heavy pieces of furniture like your bed or sofa.

Accessories

Carpet cleaner accessories are attachments that can be added to a hose or intake port for cleaning different materials, reaching difficult areas, or dealing with pet hair and odors. Some of the most common types include upholstery tools, crevice cleaning attachments (handy for tight spots like the indent created where the baseboard meets the carpet), or spinning brushes that lift tough, stuck-on stains. Pet attachments include special brushes, guards, and even isolated tanks for trapping fur to prevent it from getting caught in the machine.