The 5 Best Portable Carpet Cleaners, According to Our Testing

Even if you regularly vacuum your carpeted floors and upholstered furniture, most soft surfaces in your home could benefit from the occasional deep clean. If you’re looking for a convenient tool to lift stubborn stains and embedded debris, the best portable carpet cleaners are just as capable as their larger counterparts. The Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner has long been a favorite of Dream Reside editors, especially those with young children and pets, and we think it’s the best option for most people.

There are a few important reasons to regularly deep clean your carpets and upholstery, but the main one is that it helps them last longer. Consistent deep cleaning can also improve indoor air quality, since fabric often traps allergens and irritants. Just like washing the dishes or doing laundry, “carpet cleaning is all about developing a routine,” says Darrell Hagan, director of technical and programs at The Carpet and Rug Institute. “If you get into a good routine and keep it up, you will see great results.” Read on for our recommendations for the best portable carpet cleaners for home use.

• Best Portable Carpet Cleaner Overall: Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner
• Best Value Portable Carpet Cleaner: Dirt Devil Portable Carpet Cleaner
• Best Portable Carpet Cleaner For Upholstery: Bissell Little Green Pro Portable Carpet And Upholstery Cleaner
• Best Portable Carpet Cleaner For Pets: Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet Cleaner
• Best Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner: Hoover CleanSlate Cordless Carpet Cleaner

Best Portable Carpet Cleaner Overall

A Top-Rated Machine That’s Popular Among Our Editors

Dimensions: 8.3 x 17.3 x 12.5 inches | Weight: 9.8 pounds | Water capacity: 48 ounces | Cord length: 15 feet | Tools: Stain, crevice and self-cleaning tools

What you’ll love:

• Works on upholstery as well as carpet
• Simple cleanup with self-rinse attachment
• Easy to tote around

Keep in mind:

• 15-foot cord may limit reach in larger rooms

Though it’s not a new product, the Little Green Machine has remained popular among consumers and reviewers since its release. Its compact size and lightweight design make it perfect for apartments or homes with limited storage, and the large handle makes it easy to carry around. Despite its small size, the tank capacity is surprisingly generous.

Its portable design also makes it great for freshening car upholstery, as long as there’s an electrical outlet nearby. Just keep in mind, the Little Green requires a Bissell-brand cleaning solution. A small sample is included, but you’ll need to reorder when it runs out. If what you love the most about the Little Green is its compact size, you might be interested in the new, even smaller Bissell Little Green Mini—the same machine everyone loves, but even smaller. We haven’t tried it out yet, but are looking forward to seeing how it compares.

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Best Value Portable Carpet Cleaner

A Lightweight And Affordable Option

Dimensions: 14.8 x 12.9 x 10.3 inches | Weight: 8 pounds | Water capacity: 19 ounces | Cord length: 15 feet | Tools: Stain and pet attachments

What you’ll love:

• Relatively inexpensive
• Very lightweight
• Built-in hose rinse

Keep in mind:

• Small tank capacity

The Dirt Devil portable carpet cleaner is perfect for quickly grabbing to tackle wine stains or pet messes. One thing people love most about this machine is how lightweight it is, which makes it easy to move around to clean carpeted stairs, car mats, and upholstery. The downside to its portability is its somewhat flimsy plastic build and tiny 19-ounce water tank. The small tank means it’s not the best for cleaning large carpeted areas, but it easily handles individual stains.

The flexible hose wraps conveniently around the unit, making it easy to store, and the cord neatly winds away. The Dirt Devil comes with a trial size of the company’s premixed cleaning solution, but you’ll need to order more. 

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Best Portable Carpet Cleaner For Upholstery

A Small But Mighty Pick That Refreshes Furniture

Dimensions: 15.4 x 11 x 13.9 inches | Weight: 13.3 pounds | Water capacity: 96 ounces | Cord length: 20 feet | Tools: Stain and deep stain tools

What you’ll love:

• Large tank capacity
• Long cord
• Additional attachment specifically for deep stains

Keep in mind:

• Doesn’t have a self-rinse hose

We all love the Bissell Little Green Machine, and the Little Green Pro is an upgraded, slightly larger (though oddly not green) version that also excels at refreshing upholstery and removing tough stains. With its generous water tank capacity and long cord, it’s also better suited for larger spaces. However, the larger tank does make it heavier to carry around. 

It’s worth noting that this Bissell model does not feature a self-cleaning hose attachment, so it’s a bit more finicky to clean when you’re finished using it. The Little Green Pro comes with trial-size bottles of two different cleaning solutions: the Bissell Pro Max Clean + Protect and the Bissell Pro Max Deep Clean + Antibacterial formulas.

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Best Portable Carpet Cleaner For Pets

Built To Handle Any Kind Of Pet Mess

Dimensions: 12.8 x 11.6 x 15 inches | Weight: 8.5 pounds | Water capacity: 40 ounces | Cord length: 12 feet | Tools: Reversible bristle, pet, crevice, and self-cleaning tools

What you’ll love:

• Dirty water from pet waste is held in a separate chamber
• Multiple attachments, including a pet tool
• Lightweight

Keep in mind:

• It’s recommended to use two solutions
• Short cord

Not only is this a very convenient and portable carpet cleaner from a trusted brand, but it has elements that make it particularly suited for use by households with pets. One of its multiple attachment tools is designed specifically to hold dirty liquid that may include pet waste in a separate, easy-to-empty chamber. It also features a built-in “Stain Striker” handheld tool to really target serious, ground-in stains. 

Note that it does require two Shark-brand cleaning solutions that mix inside the device for powerful stain removal with Oxy. Shark claims the solution is effective at eliminating pet and smoke odors from your home. If you’d like, you can order a bundle of the Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet Cleaner with a full-size bottle of both cleaning solutions. 

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Best Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner

No Tangled Cords While You Clean

Dimensions: 12.8 x 13.3 x 10.3 inches | Weight: 11 pounds | Water capacity: 40 ounces | Cord length: N/A | Tools: WidePath, tight spot and hose rinse tools

What you’ll love:

• Cordless
• Hose rinse feature
• Has a light to help track down stains

Keep in mind:

• 15 minutes runtime

The best feature of the Hoover CleanSlate is that it’s cordless, which allows you to move freely around your home while cleaning; it also makes it easy to carry the device to your car. If your household already has other Hoover devices that use the OnePWR battery, this fits seamlessly into your arsenal. But note that if this is your first purchase in that line, you will have to invest in at least one battery and a charger from the Onepwr line. The company claims that one charge gives you about 15 minutes of cleaning time.

Since it’s cordless, it’s super convenient for cleaning car mats and upholstery, as you can work wherever you’re parked, even with no outlet nearby. You may prefer the “TightSpot” attachment for cleaning your car, but the 7-inch wide cleaning tool attachment allows you to quickly eliminate even large stains on your carpet. Even better, it has a built-in light that helps illuminate dark corners, stairways, and under furniture. If a persistent stain is giving you trouble, the “Boost” mode can eradicate it. When you’re done, the convenient hose-rinse system flushes any residual dirt out so it can be cleanly stored. Just make sure to use Hoover-branded cleaning solution.

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How We Chose The Best Portable Carpet Cleaners

When choosing the best portable carpet cleaners, we leaned on our editors’ expertise, looked to trusted brands, consulted experts, and heavily researched top products.

• When putting together this list, we looked at products from popular retailers and trusted brands, including Bissell, Hoover, Shark, and more.
• We prioritized factors such as ​​tank capacity, special attachments and features, weight, and portability. We included both corded and cordless models.
• To guide our recommendations, we relied on insights from experts at the Carpet and Rug Institute.
• When possible, we included insights from Dream Reside staff who have tested these products firsthand.
• We carefully considered online consumer reviews to ensure we only recommend top-rated products that hold up well over time.

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What To Look For In The Best Portable Carpet Cleaners

Darrell Hagan of the Carpet and Rug Institute recommends “professionally deep cleaning your carpets every 12 to 18 months to remove embedded dirt and grime.” But most of us encounter stubborn spills and pet messes more frequently, making a portable carpet cleaner handy to handle smaller jobs between professional cleanings. Here’s what to consider when shopping for the best portable carpet cleaner for your home.

Corded Vs. Cordless

All of the carpet cleaners on this list have dimensions and weights suited for portability. Aside from that, whether you choose a corded or cordless model depends largely on where and how you’ll use it. If you’re unlikely to clean your car, for example, a corded model might be perfectly fine. If you anticipate bigger cleaning jobs, a corded cleaner ensures you won’t run out of power before you finish. Before purchasing, take note of the cord length, especially if your home has large rooms or tall staircases.
For many people, a cordless machine is the most convenient solution for small jobs, allowing you to carry it anywhere without worrying about cord length or tangles. If you opt for cordless, remember you’ll need a charger and a compatible battery, which often can be swapped among other tools within the same brand. Pay attention to the runtime per charge, and consider having a backup battery to swap in when one dies.

Water Capacity

A large water tank lets you finish even bigger jobs without having to refill. But the larger the capacity, the heavier the device is when it’s full of water. If portability is your main concern, choosing a carpet cleaner with a smaller tank capacity might be more convenient.
With a lower-capacity tank, you’ll have to refill it more frequently. Consider how often you’ll use your cleaner and whether you’ll mostly tackle individual spills or entire carpets to determine the best water tank capacity for your needs.

Attachments

Portable carpet cleaners come with a wide range of attachments. It’s always great to have options, but more isn’t necessarily better if you have no use for them. While having plenty of options is nice, more isn’t always better if you’ll never use them. Some of the most useful attachments are those designed for cleaning tight crevices, attachments with specialized bristles, and tools made specifically for pet messes.
Other helpful features include separate tanks to isolate dirty water contaminated by pet waste, and built-in hose rinses that flush out debris from the hose after use. Extras like these prevent mold or unpleasant odors from developing while the cleaner is stored.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is The Best Portable Carpet Cleaner For Home Use?

Many factors influence which portable carpet cleaner is best for your home. Some things to consider are how much carpeting or how many rugs you have, whether you’d prefer a corded or cordless model, and whether you have pets to clean up after. Overall, we think the popular Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner is the best portable carpet cleaner for most people. 

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Are Portable Carpet Cleaners Worth It?

The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends first taking preventative measures, like trying to “stop dirt at the door by using mats outside and in and taking your shoes off when you enter the space.” But sometimes, despite your best efforts, stubborn stains or spills still happen. If your home has carpets, rugs, or upholstered furniture, it’s absolutely worth having a small carpet cleaner on hand to handle spills, ground-in dirt, and pet messes between professional cleanings.

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Is It Better To Clean Carpets With Plain Water Or A Cleaning Solution?

You can use a portable carpet cleaner with plain water to remove surface dust and dirt, as long as it isn’t deeply embedded. But for optimal cleaning of stains like red wine, coffee, pet messes, or anything oily or sticky, using the appropriate cleaning solution will get you better results. “If an in-tank cleaning solution is used in the equipment, cleaning should be followed up with a clear water rinse,” the Carpet and Rug Institute advises.