The Best Portable Carpet Cleaners for Spots
We have reviewed the best handheld carpet cleaners available this year. Let’s have a look!
Our Top List
# | Image | Name | Our Rating | Shop Link |
1 |  | Bissell 3624 SpotClean | ||
2 |  | Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner | ||
3 |  | Bissell 1400B Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner | ||
4 |  | Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush 2837 | ||
5 |  | Bissell SpotClean 2458 Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner | ||
6 |  | Black+Decker Spillbuster Portable Carpet Cleaner | ||
7 |  | Bissell SpotClean 2694 Portable Spot Carpet Cleaner |
1. Bissell 3624 SpotClean
This is an extremely powerful portable carpet cleaner from Bissell that uses a combination of scrubbing action, superior suction, and powerful Bissell cleaning solutions to get rid of stubborn stains, spots, and embedded dirt to give you a very thorough clean. It’s a very compact machine at just 13-pounds that makes it easy to store or move from space to space as you use it without fatigue, and you can reach a host of difficult areas when you use it like area rugs, carpets, upholstery, stairs, vehicle interiors, and other soft surfaces. You get a six-inch stair tool and a three-inch stain tool to ensure you can clean all of the necessary areas in your home, and the trial-size bottle of the Pro Max Clean + Protect product will remove pet stains.
Each purchase of one of these portable handheld carpet cleaners helps homeless pets because Bissell donates a portion of each sale’s proceeds to the Bissell Pet Foundation. You’ll get a professional-level clean when you use it without worrying about causing any damage, and it has 5.7-amps to help power it and ensure it can tackle tough stains that have set in for weeks.
Key Features:
- Brand: Bissell
- Included Tools: Stair tool and a tough stain tool
- Weight: 13-pounds
Pros
- Very portable and compact design
- Comes from a very well-known brand
- Easy to use on large or small spots
- Can use it on hard-to-reach areas
- Has a comfortable and ergonomic handle
Cons
- Difficult to source replacement parts if something ever breaks
2. Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner
Indoor pets can make a mess of your flooring or furniture, and this portable handheld cleaner from Rug Doctor will give you an immediate fix when your pet decides to have an accident on your soft surfaces. You get rubberized bristles on this product that dig deep down into the carpet to help lift stains from the bottom out, and it can work well on tough odors, stains, pet hair, vomit, or urine without leaving a trace behind. You get powerful suction that ensures your soft surface isn’t soaked once you use it, and you get a retractable handle with carpet-friendly wheels that allow you to easily move it from accident spot to spot without a huge hassle.
You get a dual tank system on this portable handheld cleaner that keeps the clean and dirty water separate to ensure that you get a professional-grade clean when you use it, and it offers an impressive 1,200-watts of cleaning power. The hose folds up into the integrated area in front of the machine when you’re not using it to make carrying or storing it an easy process, and there is also an integrated cord wrap to keep the power cord neatly wound until you need it again.
Key Features:
- Brand: Rug Doctor
- Included Tools: Cleaning attachment
- Weight: 19-pounds
Pros
- Rubberized bristles dig into the carpet
- Powerful suction to pull most of the water back out
- Has an integrated hose and cord winding system
- Handle retracts when it’s time to store it
- Dual tank system for clean and dirty water
Cons
- Spray head doesn’t have good suction
3. Bissell 1400B Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Bissell’s Little Green portable cleaner features a strong spray and powerful suction to help get down into embedded stains to lift them completely out of your carpeting so they don’t resurface later, and the suction will pull most of the water back out of the area to leave it damp. This is a very compact model that you can use on large or small-scale messes with ease, and you get a larger 48-ounce tank capacity that allows you to clean for a decent amount of time between refills. The removable tanks make it easy to dump out the dirty water and add new to keep cleaning, and the transparent design allows you to keep an eye on your water reservoir so you don’t run dry.
There is a Hydro Rinse attachment on this product that makes maintenance easy because it’s easy to clean out the hose after every use with it to help prevent clogs or buildup that could negatively impact how your system works. You get a three-inch tough stain tool that allows you to easily get right into the stained area without worrying about the space around it, and you get a trial-size spot and stain formula that can help kickstart your cleaning process as soon as you get it.
Key Features:
- Brand: Bissell
- Included Tools: Brush attachment
- Weight: 12-pounds
Pros
- Has a bigger 48-ounce water tank
- Comes with a three-inch stain brush attachment
- Has powerful suction on it
- Features a Hydro Rinse attachment to prevent clogs
- Very compact and lightweight design
Cons
- Only offers a limited warranty
4. Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush 2837
This Bissell cordless portable carpet cleaner comes specially designed to tackle small and large pet messes with ease, and it comes outfitted with a powerful rotating DirtLifter PowerBrush that will rotate into whatever you put it on to break down the stain to the base area of your carpet and help lift it out. This product can work well on stairs, carpeting, upholstery, car interiors, area rugs, and other soft surfaces without causing any damage, and you get a powerful Lithium-Ion battery that gives you excellent stain-fighting power for an extended cleaning session. You get a stationary pet tool that will take on new or old pet messes, and it has an impressive 7.2-amp power rating.
You get a formula that is ready to use without any additional mixing needed or water, and you can store it right in the machine between uses without clogging it, so it’s ready to go wherever you are. This is a lightweight and compact device that is easy to carry from mess to mess, and it doesn’t take up a huge amount of storage space when you’re not using it. The clear brush area and reservoir allow you to keep a lookout for clogs or debris to help keep your machine in top shape, and Bissell will donate up to $10.00 per purchase to the Bissell Pet Foundation to help homeless pets.
Key Features:
- Brand: Bissell
- Included Tools: Brush attachment
- Weight: 12-pounds
Pros
- 7.2-amp power rating
- Rotating DirtLifter PowerBrush included
- Can store the cleaning solution in the tank
- Has an ergonomic handle
- Very sleek and modern design to it
Cons
- Has trouble with thicker pile carpeting
5. Bissell SpotClean 2458 Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner
You’ll use the cleaning solution, deep brushing action, and powerful suction to get superior cleaning results on your soft surfaces with this handheld portable cleaner, and it’ll dig down into the stain to remove stubborn pet hair, dirt, vomit, or urine stains from the area quickly and easily. You get a bigger ¾-gallon tank that allows you to seamlessly clean a bigger area or an older mess without having to stop multiple times to dump the water and refill it, and you get a stain trapper and a tough stain tool in each order to make it easier to take on a range of messes. The 22-foot hose and longer power cord help to extend your reach and make it easier for you to get into hard-to-reach spots in your home to get a high-quality clean.
This product comes with a trial-size bottle of Bissell Professional Pet Urine Eliminator + Oxy that will break down any pet stains and remove them, so your pet doesn’t feel the urge to come back and mark the area again. Each purchase makes a donation to the Bissell Pet Foundation with the mission to help homeless pets, and you get a slightly larger and ergonomic handle at the top of the machine that makes it easy to pick up and move as you use it.
Key Features:
- Brand: Bissell
- Included Tools: Stain brush attachment
- Weight: 13-pounds
Pros
- Comes with a longer 22-foot hose
- ¾-gallon water tank
- Percentage of each purchase goes to the Bissell Pet Foundation
- Longer power cord makes maneuvering easy
- Comes with an ergonomic handle
Cons
-
Can leak with heavy use
6. Black+Decker Spillbuster Portable Carpet Cleaner
This is another nice portable handheld carpet cleaner from Black+Decker that offers a wide nozzle and powerful suction to pick up chunky or wet messes without leaving residue behind or requiring multiple passes, and you get a powered scrub brush that will help lift any set-in stains out of your carpeting, upholstery, or rugs. You also get an easy-to-clean collection bowl that will fully open up to make it easy to get in to clean and air-dry between uses, and you can put the vacuum nozzle, and collection bowl into the dishwasher on the top rack to clean it after you remove the foam filter.
The built-in formula dispenser on this handheld carpet cleaner allows you to get the perfect mix of water and cleaning solution on every stain to maximize the cleaning potential, and you get a battery indicator that will let you know exactly how long you have left before you have to charge the unit. You can replace the filter and scrub brushes as necessary, and this is a very lightweight tool at just five pounds, so it’s easy to pick up and take with you from stain to stain without experiencing user fatigue.
Key Features:
- Brand: Black+Decker
- Included Tools: Stain brush attachment
- Weight: 5-pounds
Pros
- Can take on wet or dry messes
- Very lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Has an extra-wide nozzle
- Collection bin opens wide for cleaning
- Comes with a battery indicator light
Cons
- Have to manually pump to deliver the formula spray
7. Bissell SpotClean 2694 Portable Spot Carpet Cleaner
The final product on our list is one that will permanently remove tough stains and spots while having a lightweight and portable design that makes it very easy to carry right to the area in question, and the tanks on this handheld carpet cleaner are very easy to empty or fill as you work. The compact design on this product makes it very easy to store between uses without taking up a huge amount of space, and it has Heatwave Technology built into it that helps ensure you get a constant water temperature throughout the cleaning process, and all you have to do is add hot tap water.
The Deep Stain Tool will work to dispense your formula deep into your carpets to break up stains at the lowest portions and lift it from the area, and the Tough Stain Tool is versatile enough to quickly clean up a variety of surface messes. The HydroRinse is a self-cleaning tool that will allow you to quickly and easily rinse the hose out when you finish using it to get rid of any lingering odors, build-up, and pet hair to keep your machine running in top shape. The larger 37-ounce tank capacity allows you to tackle bigger problem areas without having to go back and repeatedly dump out the dirty water and refill it.
Key Features:
- Brand: Bissell
- Included Tools: Deep stain, tough stain, and HydroRinse tool
- Weight: 3-pounds
Pros
- Get dual cleaning tools
- HydroRinse will clean the hose
- Compact and lightweight design
- 37-ounce water tank
- Gets formula deep into the carpet or soft surface
Cons
- Doesn’t get very hot
What is the best portable spot cleaner?
Bissell 3624 SpotClean
Pros
- Very portable and compact design
- Comes from a very well-known brand
- Easy to use on large or small spots
- Can use it on hard-to-reach areas
- Has a comfortable and ergonomic handle
Cons
- Difficult to source replacement parts if something breaks
Our pick for the best portable handheld carpet cleaner is the Bissell 3624 SpotClean because it packs a lot of power into a very compact and lightweight machine and it allows you to seamlessly clean a large range of areas without a problem. You get a few attachments to help you clean more challenging areas in your home, and we liked that each purchase triggered a donation to the Bissell Pet Foundation. Finally, it was easy to clean and maintain between uses, and it comes from a very well-known brand.
Portable Carpet Cleaner Buying Guide
It’s a good idea to pick out a few items to use to compare the various handheld carpet cleaners when you start shopping. Doing so will help to ensure that you get a device that you’re going to use over and over, and it’ll also help you have confidence in your final choice. If you are looking to clean commercial premises, check our list of commercial carpet cleaners. We also tackle the top steam cleaners for carpets!
Tank Capacity
The tank capacity is more of a personal preference, but if you want to be able to clean larger areas without stopping, you’ll want a bigger tank at 30-ounces or more. However, if you only plan to spot clean your soft surfaces, you can go with a smaller tank capacity because you won’t have to use a lot of water to clean it. However, you should note that you’ll have to empty a smaller tank more often, and you’ll have to stop and refill it more often for longer cleaning sessions.
Suction Power
The suction level on your portable carpet cleaner for spots should also get based on your cleaning preferences. Using this product is very similar to using a traditional vacuum with a motor, but some carpet cleaners split their power between suction and heating the water. This is great for breaking down set-in stains, but it also reduces your suction power. If you don’t want to mess with heating water, look for a machine with three to five amps of power.
Weight
Any portable carpet cleaner that you pick out should be compact and lightweight because you don’t want to struggle to carry it up and down your stairs. You should also remember that it’ll get heavier as you fill it, and this is especially true for a bigger water reservoir. Try to pick something that is below 20-pounds when it’s empty so you can lift it without an issue.
Warranty
You should pay attention to the warranty length, whether it’s a full or limited model, and what it covers when you purchase your new machine because it can be expensive. Ideally, you’ll want to get a full warranty that lasts for at least three months or up to a year, and it should cover both the machine and the attachments. Also, see if you have to have a special cleaner or if you can put anything you want in your machine without voiding the warranty.
Attachments
Any cleaning machine you pick out should come with a few different attachments to help you clean other areas of your home like the stairs or upholstery. Having one attachment with stiff bristles allows it to scrub down deep into your carpeting and lift set-in stains, and having an attachment that is specifically designed for drapes or upholstery can help you clean more areas without worrying about damaging them. Make sure you have storage areas for these attachments, too, so you can keep them all neatly organized.
Corded or Cordless
A corded machine gives you constant power from the time you start cleaning until the end, and this includes bigger projects that take a few hours. A cordless model will only give you an hour or two of cleaning time before you have to stop and recharge it, but you get more freedom of movement. You should decide right away if you want a corded or cordless model because this can really narrow down your choices when you shop.
Brand
Any portable spot cleaner you pick out should come from a well-known and reputable brand because they usually care more about the build, materials, and overall quality of their products. It also makes it easier to get in touch with the customer service team if you need them, and they usually have better warranties on all of their products.