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Nov 24, 2023

7 Best Carpet Steam Cleaners of 2023

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? Whether you need something portable or heavy-duty, one of these options can reset

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

Whether you need something portable or heavy-duty, one of these options can reset your carpets in no time.

It’s safe to say you probably have a vacuum cleaner, but what about a carpet steam cleaner? This cleaning appliance is designed for those heavy-duty messes and carpet stains, whether from muddy dog paws, dirt from your shoes, or a spilled glass of wine. Even without a specific stain to tackle, carpet steam cleaners are great for those high foot traffic areas where dust and dirt get pushed deep into the carpet with daily use.

The process of shopping for a carpet steam cleaner can be daunting, with options ranging from industrial-grade cleaners to vacuum-like picks that fit in your closet. There are options ranging from lightweight portable steam cleaners to multipurpose steam cleaners that work for a variety of surfaces around your home, including upholstery. We’ve rounded up the best options and all the most important considerations so you can be sure before you buy.

Steam carpet cleaners all operate in a different capacities, and the price point generally rises as you search for deeper cleans and more features. Here are the important things to keep in mind.

Tank capacity refers to the tank where the steam cleaner collects the dirty water it extracts from your carpets. Most carpet steam cleaners have two separate tanks—one for clean water and one for dirty water. As for the size, this depends on how large the area is that you’re cleaning. If your entire house is carpet from top to bottom, splurge for a tank with at least a gallon of tank capacity. For those smaller spaces or spot cleaning, you can likely get away with a tank less than one gallon.

Carpet steam cleaners vary in price depending on the size, what’s included, how powerful it is, the brand, and more. Some steam cleaners for carpets include attachments for specific uses like cleaning grout, removing pet hair, and steaming curtains, which generally add to the price.

Most of the cleaners we recommend vary between $100 and $250, with a few budget and splurge options outside of this range. If you are looking to invest in a more professional carpet steam cleaner, prepare to spend a few hundred dollars.

To find the best carpet steam cleaner for every home, we looked at the best-selling options on the market. We reviewed recommendations from our colleagues at Good Housekeeping, as well as customer reviews. We prioritized price point, tank capacity, in-home use, and special features, making sure to only recommend high-value steam cleaners that leave your carpets fresh and feeling new.

The best overall carpet steamer on this list is a steal at just over $100 at the time of publication. Bissel’s top-rated carpet cleaner utilizes a four-row roller brush that works to pull deep stains like pet urine and wine stains, while also scrubbing for dirt that traditional vacuums don’t pick up. And unlike some other carpet steam cleaners out there, this one is lightweight, making it easy to maneuver around as you work your way through your house. Plus, with two tanks you can rest assured that you’re using only clean water to clean your carpets during the entire process.

This is one of the few steam cleaners that falls below the $100 price point, and it works well, too. Not only is it a best-seller on Amazon, but customers also praise its versatility and simple, lightweight design. Unlike other carpet steam cleaners, it’s designed to tackle carpets, furniture, glass, mirrors, floors, and tiles.

With a heating time of 30 seconds and three adjustable modes to choose from, you can bang out about a half hour of steaming (depending on the setting you choose) to finish up that pesky spring cleaning in no time.

If you have a dog, you know our furry family members bring dirt and unwanted messes into the home all the time.

This carpet steam cleaner is designed to not just clean, but also remove foul odors from accidents. It has 12 rolls of dirt-lifter brushes for a professional-quality clean and removes those old stains that rest far below the surface, which a typical vacuum can’t do.

With its included 2-in-1 pet upholstery tool, you can easily remove unwanted pet hair and stains from the couch and seat cushions.

You can’t go wrong hiring a professional to steam clean your carpets, but it costs a lot—probably more than this professional-grade device you can have at your disposal whenever you need it. This dual-tank cleaning gadget works on carpets, floors, and windows to remove unwanted stains and dirt from surfaces.

It features two-rolling wheels and a 16-foot power cord for easy mobility, so you can take it around your house without constantly unplugging and re-plugging it in. It comes with 19 different accessories to choose from for many cleaning needs including a microfiber pad, mop head, scrub pad, water funnel, triangle brush, carpet glider, nylon brush, bass brush, and more.

Portable carpet cleaners come in handy for those people who have multiple floors in their home or need something portable for multiple properties. At just under 10 pounds, it’s light enough to carry without having to break an arm and a leg.

Whether you’re looking to clean stairs or closet corners, the Hoover CleanSlate has wide and tight tools to help you navigate more efficiently and get those hard-to-reach areas.

Plus, it comes with its own cleaning concentrate, which can help to remove pesky stains whether that’s dog urine or mud from your last adventure.

This carpet steam cleaner takes the elbow grease out of household chores with its automatic cleaning technology that works by pushing forward to clean and back to dry. The device mixes your cleaning solution for you, too, so you don’t have to lift a finger.

While it’s one of the most expensive options we recommend, it does include a 12-foot hose, a sample bottle of cleaning solution, a storage mat, and an accessory bag. It is a bit heavy so if you need to use it on multiple floors, make sure you can lift 25 pounds first.

If you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars on a carpet steam cleaner, then you might as well choose one that does more than just clean the carpet.

This is the most expensive one on our list ringing in at nearly $500, but it has professional-grade features in return, like a large water tanks (3.9 gallons) and a universal hand tool that works on pet beds, rugs, upholstery, stairs, car interiors, and more. Plus, it even has a one-year limited warranty if anything were to happen to it after the initial purchase.

Casey Clark is a freelance journalist who specializes in beauty, health, and style-related commerce content. She graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in journalism. Her work has been published in Women's Health, Forbes, Better Homes & Gardens, and more.

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