6 Best Portable Carpet Cleaners, Tested by Stain Removal Experts

In our GH Cleaning Lab tests, this Bissell mini carpet cleaning champ earned our best overall score for performance which included stain and odor removal, sound, run time and more.

It easily removed both fresh and dry red wine and blueberry pie filling stains from our test carpets, and we found the machine was easy to clean and maintain. At just over 4 pounds, it was the lightest model we tested. We especially like that it features a built-in rotating brush for better deep-cleaning, but we also like that the brush can be switched off to clean delicate fabrics like hand-woven rugs and velvet. An included nubby rubber pet tool helps better tackle pet messes.

In testing, we experienced about 20 minutes of run time and a recharge time of four and a half hours. The 8-ounce tanks are small and require more frequent refilling than models with larger ones. Bissell recommends using its own ready-to-use formula, which we think is a good idea because it doesn't require diluting and can be stored in the machine so it's ready to use when you need it. It also earned a top score of three stars for sound — which means it's relatively quiet — with analysts deeming it "good" compared to others in our test.

We love finding a great performer at a great price, and this Hoover perfectly fits the bill. This corded portable cleaner comes with an array of helpful features for a model at this price point. Its 5-foot hose is longer than some other models which makes it easy to pick up spills in hard-to-reach places such as on stair treads or in the car — though it is corded, so your reach may be limited. We loved the big carry handle and found that the included pet attachment efficiently tackled set-in and embedded stains.

This Hoover got top marks for ease of use too. The cord wraps neatly at the back, the hose clips on and its slim design makes it convenient to carry, store and set on a stair step or in the narrow confines of the car. The tanks, though a bit small, stand on their own, delighting our tester who said, "They are super easy to fill without any spilling."

Take note: Hoover requires the use of its own pre-mixed solution or you risk voiding the warranty, but there's no diluting required which we think is a plus. It’s not the quietest nor the loudest machine: Quiet Mark rated it two stars.

Cleaning an entire sofa, an upholstered wing chair or a set of eight dining room chairs might be too much for a small, cordless appliance to handle. That's why we're recommending Kenmore's SpotLite Portable Spot Cleaner.

Its combination of large tanks, an extra long hose and cord and an oversized cleaning attachment means that you can easily reach and more quickly clean the cushions, curved arms and broad backs of upholstered furniture pieces. But its usefulness doesn't end there. It's well-equipped to handle fresh and set-in carpet stains more quickly than cleaners with smaller brush heads.

We tested the Kenmore Spotlite in our GH Cleaning Lab for our 2023 Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards and deemed it a winner. It was intuitive to use and did a great job removing grape juice, tomato sauce, coffee stains and more. The large tanks were easy to fill and markings for small and big jobs let us know how much solution to add. While it lacks a hose cleaning feature, Kenmore recommends drawing clear water through it to rinse the hose before storing.

When you run out of the sample cleaning solution that comes with the SpotLite, any brand of portable cleaner solution can be used without voiding the warranty.

One of the first portable carpet cleaners to come to market, Bissell's Little Green Machine set the bar high and continues to be one of the best, most sought-after cleaning appliances. We've tested it many times in the GH Cleaning Lab and it's been all the rage on TikTok for the last several years. Its 4-foot hose extends the reach of the cleaning nozzle into nooks and crannies where some other cleaners can't go, and the 48-ounce tanks mean you don’t have to refill or empty them that often.

Some portable cleaners can be cumbersome to disassemble and clean for storage, but not this Bissell. We found the hydro-rinse tool very handy to help flush out the hose, ridding it of trapped gunk and debris which can start to smell in storage. In addition, we love that the hose wraps around the base and snaps into the back.

The cord also winds up neatly on the back, and the large top handle makes it easy to carry. The cleaning solution must be diluted before use, and we did find holding the tank with one hand and pouring in the cleaner with the other a bit tricky. This little machine earned "loud" marks from Quiet Mark.

Larger than other models we tested, the Rug Doctor is almost a cross between a portable and full-size carpet cleaner, and with its telescoping handle and wheels, it almost resembles a piece of carry-on luggage. Looks aside, it's a workhorse that powered through our stain tests and did the best job of nixing both the stain and the odor of the yellow ammonia we put down to simulate pet urine. The only downside we found is that it's a bit louder than others we tested, earning a one-star rating from Quiet Mark.

In our tests, the nozzle’s rubberized bristles even grabbed pet hair while removing stains for a more thorough attack on pet messes. Its wheels and carrying handle helped make it easy to maneuver and move from one room to the next. The oversized tanks on Rug Doctor’s corded model hold 64 ounces of cleaning solution, so that means less refilling through big or multiple jobs. We found that filling the solution tank was a bit tricky as the tank does not stand on its own and can be heavy when full, so be sure to balance it well on a flat surface.

Bissell is well known for its vacuums and extractors designed to clean up after pets, and this SpotClean Pet Pro has features that pet parents will find especially helpful.

A 4-foot hose, very long power cord and large tanks make it perfect for cleaning up big messes, especially in hard-to-reach places. We especially liked its “stain trapper” tool that keeps nasty pet messes from reaching the hose or dirty water tank where they can settle and cause odors. In our tests, it was second only to the Rug Doctor in overall stain removal and was excellent at removing the odor of yellow ammonia that we put down on carpets to simulate pet urine.

The cleaning formula that comes with this unit must be diluted before use. It lasts longer but requires this extra step. We applaud the large tanks that need refilling less often, but that does make it heavier to carry than smaller models, especially when the tanks are full. And it received a "loud" rating in our Quiet Mark sound tests.