Carpet cleaners

What's behind our carpet cleaner Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 9 models in carpet cleaners to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Based primarily on performance and convenience. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Cleaning
Cleaning shows how well each machine removed muddy topsoil from carpet.
Dryness
Dryness indicates how much solution was left behind. The best left a few ounces; the worst left over a pint in the area cleaned.
Ease of use
Ease of use includes machine weight, cord length, and tank access, filling, and emptying.
Coverage
Coverage is how much carpet a machine can clean before it needs to be either refilled or emptied.
Noise
Noise is a measure of how loud each machine was during operation. None were quiet. All were noisy, some dangerously so.
Weight (lbs.)
Weight is just for the machine. All will be heavier when cleaning solution is added.

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Recommended carpet cleaners

Recommended carpet cleaners are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended carpet cleaners

Carpet cleaner buying guide

To find the carpet cleaner that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Carpet cleaners Ratings

Find out which Carpet cleaners scored the best on our tests. Our tests are based not only on government and industry standards but also on standards our specialists think should apply, which re-create the experience you will have with the product.

Latest carpet cleaner ratings

While today's carpets resist stains and soiling better than ever, no carpet is fully stain-proof. Professional cleaning, recommended every 12 to 18 months, does the best job, but can be expensive. Rental machines are also available. If you're looking for information about carpet cleaners, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ carpet cleaner reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our carpet cleaner buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and carpet cleaner reviews to help you choose the best carpet cleaner for your needs.

Ratings & recommended carpet cleaners

Carpet cleaners (9)

Recommended models are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices among models, weigh performance, features, price, and attributes that matter to you, such as color, size, or style.

Carpet cleaner buying guide

Regular vacuum cleaners remove loose dirt, but they hardly touch the dirt and oils that stick to carpet fibers. Carpet cleaners are supposed to go a step further: They typically spray on a detergent, sometimes working it in with moving brushes then vacuum up the dirty solution.

A machine's effectiveness depends in part on how aggressively it scrubs to loosen dirt and how powerfully its suction pulls dirt in. But too much aggressiveness could damage carpeting. (Powerful suction doesn't pose such a problem.) Some of the machines we've ... Read more

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