9 Best Carpet Cleaners for Pet Messes, Tested & Reviewed

This full-size carpet cleaner from Hoover has plenty of loyal fans — in fact, our testers liked it so much it earned a Cleaning and Organizing Award. One of our testers used the model to clean up old pet stains from their carpets and found it worked better than any other models they had tried in the past.

Among the features that make this a stand-out option are the onboard wand of stain solution to precisely target stains and the Heatforce technology that helps carpets dry faster so your furry friends don't have to be kept out of the room for long. When you pull back on the handle for the backward pass, this Hoover carpet cleaner switches automatically from washing to drying.

There's a 1-gallon water tank and a 16-ounce cleaning formula tank that take the guesswork out of preparing a cleaning solution. They automatically mix in the proper proportions before they are dispensed onto your carpet. With a 12-foot hose, a two-in-one pet tool and a stair tool, you can tackle messes off the ground and in tight spaces too. And keeping all of the extra attachments together is easy, thanks to the included accessory bag that can be stored onboard.

The power cord is a little shorter than many other full-size models we've tested in the past, but at 22 feet long, it should still be suitable to reach most spots in many homes.

Weight: 20.5 lbs | Cord: 22 ft | Attachments included: Two-in-one pet tool, stair tool, sample bottle of cleaning solution, 12-ft hose

Chances are, you've seen this viral cleaner on TikTok at some point over the last few years. It was one of the first portable carpet cleaners on the market, but is still one of the most sought-after. Our pros have tested it many times in both the GH Cleaning Lab and in home settings — each time, it earned high marks and positive reviews.

It's ideal for furniture and upholstery, thanks to a 4-foot hose that extends the reach of the cleaning nozzle so you can reach the nooks and crannies other cleaners can't. It also has an impressive 48-ounce tanks that won't require refilling or emptying that often, although the machine is louder than most.

We had great success removing fresh and 24-hour set-in stains of red wine, blueberry pie filling, spaghetti sauce, tea and more. In home tests, the small but mighty machine even erased a peanut butter stain from a light pink couch. When you're ready to stash it, disassembly is intuitive, and we found the hydro-rinse tool very handy to help flush out the hose and remove trapped gunk and debris.

Weight: 9.65 lbs | Cord: 15 ft | Attachments included: Tough stain tool, HydroRinse self-cleaning hose tool, spraying crevice tool

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: As a Cleaning Expert, Here's Why I Recommend Bissell's Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner

Pet stains, including dog and cat urine, are problematic not just because the stain looks unsightly. If left untreated, the odor can draw your four-legged friend back to do their business in the same spot over and over again. To prevent that, our Lab pros say this spray solution from Bissell is, unequivocally, the best choice.

A liberal spray and blot will help erase the stain, then simply place a moist cloth over the area and let it sit for a good 12 to 72 hours. As the solution sits where the mess once was, the enzymes will keep working to eliminate the scent, not just mask it.

In our tests, we were impressed by the efficacy and the versatility of this formula. In addition to pet messes, the Bissell spray completely erased food stains too. What's more, it works on other fabrics including upholstery and mattresses — great for any human accidents, like a bed-wetting toddler. It does need more time than most — up to 72 hours — to really work its magic, but our Lab pros say the payoff is certainly worth it.

Size: 22 oz | Safe for use on: Carpet, water-safe surfaces | Enzymatic cleaner? Yes

This Best Cleaning & Organizing Award-winner works much like an enzyme cleaner but harnesses the power of probiotics to get the job done. It works on carpets, pet bedding and other upholstery and is just as safe and gentle as its enzymatic counterparts. Our Lab pros could hardly believe how effective it was, even on hard surfaces. The probiotics eat away at the odor-causing bacteria in pet messes for up to three days after use, eliminating both the stain and the odor.

It's a must-have in homes with dogs and cats and even little kids. One tester used the cleaning spray to clean up human urine from a potty-training accident, noting it got rid of both the stain and the odor almost instantly. It doesn't have much of a scent, which can be a pro or a con depending on your preference.

Size: 16 oz | Safe for use on: All moisture-tolerant and colorfast surfaces like sealed floors, carpet, furniture, pet bedding and crates | Enzymatic cleaner? No

Small but mighty, the Kenmore's SpotLite Portable Spot Cleaner earned a Cleaning & Organizing Award for its large tanks, extra-long 6-foot hose and two cleaning attachments (one large, one small), all of which make cleaning fresh and set-in carpet stains easier and quicker. We also found you can tackle an entire sofa, back included, in a single cleaning session.

The controls on the portable carpet cleaner are intuitive to use and the large tanks are easy to fill. Clear markings indicate how much solution to add for both small and big jobs. Once running, it did a great job removing all kinds of stains: grape juice, tomato sauce, coffee stains and more.

On the downside, it's a bit heavier than similar models we've tested. There's no hose cleaning feature, either, but we were able to work around this by drawing clear water through the hose to rinse it prior to storing. And, unlike some other portable carpet cleaners, you don't have to stick to the brand's solution — any brand of portable cleaner solution can be used without voiding the warranty.

Weight: 10.23 lbs | Cord: 20 ft | Attachments included: Large and small upholstery tools

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Bissell floor cleaning appliances have long been strong performers in our Lab tests and favorites of our experts, and this model offers one of the best values out there. When we tested this model in the Cleaning Lab alongside six other portable carpet cleaners, it earned the best overall score and even outperformed many of the larger models we tested. We found the appliance easy to clean and maintain after we were done testing too.

Skip the measuring and mixing of carpet cleaner solution by using any of Bissell's pre-mixed carpet cleaners in the 8-ounce tank onboard. (It comes with two 8-ounce bottles of spot and stain remover.) While the tank is on the smaller side, that keeps the model incredibly lightweight, even when the tank is full.

We also like how quiet this model is, as pets are often startled by the loud sounds full-size vacuums and carpet cleaners make. And if you're facing a particularly stubborn pet mess, the stationary rubber pet tool does a fantastic job. You can even turn off the rotating brush to prevent damaging delicate fabrics.

Weight: 4.4 lbs | Cord: Cordless | Attachments included: Stationary pet tool

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Sometimes an all-purpose cleaner just isn't enough to tackle stubborn pet messes, even with the best carpet cleaning machine. For tough pet messes, reach for this carpet shampoo from Hoover to give your appliance the boost it needs. It has the ingredients necessary to break down stubborn stains and odors, including enzymes that tackle pet stains. According to the manufacturer, the formula also contains ingredients that protect carpets against future stains.

Several users highlighted the pleasant cotton breeze scent the cleaner leaves behind on cleaned surfaces. Just keep in mind that you shouldn't use this product without a carpet cleaning appliance. You'll also have to dilute the formula with water before adding it to your carpet cleaner machine.

Size: 64 oz | Safe for use on: Rugs, carpets, upholstery | Enzymatic cleaner? Yes

We've tested previous iterations of this carpet cleaner with wow-worthy results, but the new Revolution HydroStream Carpet Cleaner from Bissell (true carpet specialists, if you ask us) brings something truly special to the table. It uses steam to treat stains and clean, then harnesses a unique quick-dry mode to dry carpets faster, allowing you to tackle a tough task in what feels like record time.

In our tests, we steamed out tough messes, including mustard and wine stains, with ease. The controls are intuitive, the machine is easy to maneuver for a heavier upright and our pros especially liked the two attachments — a two-in-one upholstery tool made specifically with pets in mind and a 6-inch tough stain tool. The large tank allows you to clean expansive areas before refilling and the long 8-foot hose lets you tackle stairs and upholstery. It is, however, on the heavier side for a portable option.

Weight: 22 lbs | Cord: 25 ft | Attachments included: Two-in-one pet upholstery tool, 6-inch tough stain tool

If you're looking to get a professional-level pet stain removal service at home without hiring a professional carpet cleaner, this full-size appliance from Rug Doctor might just be the one for you. With an almost 4-gallon clean water tank and a 2.6-gallon dirty water tank, you can clean large areas of your home without needing to stop to empty or refill the water tanks. In tests, we were impressed with the results, and this particular model has even earned a gold rating from the Carpet and Rug Institute for soil removal, water removal and gentleness.

Though this is the most expensive option on our list, the Mighty Pro X3 can be rented from your local hardware store for a fraction of the price as needed. A great option, according to our Lab pros, especially since this bulky 40-pound model is harder to store than most.

Weight: 39.5 lbs | Cord: 22 ft | Attachments included: None