We walk on our carpet everyday and while we might give it a vacuum each week, how often do we give a really good clean?
While we wash other floor surfaces regularly, such as floorboards, tiles and lino, we may not give the same consideration to our carpets. Certainly not at our house.
We recently renovated and for the first time, we’ve got carpet in our bedrooms and upstairs area. We also have two kids and a dog so there’s a lot for the carpet to deal with. And I have to say, we haven’t given much thought to cleaning it, apart from a vacuum once a week – and while this is vital, sometimes it’s just not enough.
Clean queen, Leanne Neiland who runs popular Instagram page @home.with.leanne has a rule in her house of removing shoes before entering. “We walk in public toilets, fertilised lawn and dirty foot paths and I would like to avoid bringing those chemicals, bacteria and germs into my house,” she says.
However, sometimes the dirt builds up, and no matter how careful you are or how much vacuuming your do, the carpets need a proper clean. Some people, like Neiland, have this done professionally, while others find it more cost effective and convenient to do the job themselves.
While cost of living continues to soar, the idea of buying a carpet cleaner has become increasingly attractive. So, we decided to examine all the carpet cleaners available in Australia, even put a couple to the test. We’ve also read countless reviews and looked at the top recommendations by CHOICE.
As a result, we’ve found the best carpet cleaners to suit a range of budgets that will make you carpet sparkle like new. Why hire or pay for expensive carpet cleaning companies when you can invest in one of these beauties and get the job done yourself. So, sit back, relax and read on. Your carpet will thank you for it…
Best overall carpet cleaners
Bissell PowerClean 2889F, $319 The Good Guys
The Bissell PowerClean comes highly recommended by CHOICE with a whopping 80 per cent expert rating, not to mention a host a five star reviews from customers who have put it to the test. Lightweight and easy to use, its four-row brush roll teams up with Bissell’s cleaning formula to remove stains and embedded dirt. And a dual tank system means dirty and clean water are separated so you’ll only ever use clean water on your carpet. An effective machine for a reasonable price.
“I find it’s light to use, it cleans well and the overall cleaning looks great and smells fantastic,” commented one reviewer. Another said, “Great machine, works better than a bunnings hire machine and done a much better job than the professionals I hired to clean the carpets. Highly recommend” and another said, “Was not expecting this good a clean. Completely revived my carpets after 2 puppies.”
Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Washer, $599, Godfreys
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The nifty Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Washer makes carpet cleaning as easy as vacuuming. Its triggerless design automatically switches from washing to drying, simply by pushing forward and back – and is equipped with Auto Dry and Heat Force technology for a super fast drying time. Easy-fill dual tank system keeps clean and dirty water separate, while brushes gently remove dirt, debris and pet mess. According to the many five-star online reviews, this machine is easy to operate and works effectively to give carpet a thorough clean.
“The best carpet cleaner I have ever used,” said one happy customer. “I have used many expensive brands before and none of them hold a candle to this Hoover. Seriously excellent machine. Light weight, leaves carpets almost dry, versatile and easy to clean after. 10/10.”
Tineco iCarpet Cleaner, $699, eBay
Thanks to its heating system and temperature controller on the brush head, this carpet cleaner maintains water temperature throughout the cleaning process. Hot water mixes with solution to dissolve stains and refresh carpet. After washing , switch to drying mode, which is super fast and equally effective.
Kidspot’s Lifestyle Editor, Leah Goulis decided to give the Tineco iCarpet Cleaner a go and this is what she had to say:
“The Tineco iCarpet cleaner is a perfect machine to have at home if you have little ones – or a new puppy like me! I found that the spot cleaners just weren’t doing the trick anymore and hiring a carpet cleaner to come out can be a costly exercise. I invested in this appliance and it has honestly been a game-changer. I don’t think I’ll ever call a carpet cleaner out again!
It removes dirt and stains without a long drying time or leaving behind any wet stain marks. It’s not an everyday appliance, but when you need a big job done in a room (or even on a large rug), it works a treat.”
Vax Platinum Powermax Carpet Washer, $399 The Good Guys
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Customers rave about the Vax Platinum Powermax Carpet Washer, which is easy to use and offers a deep and satisfying clean. Brushes spin in different directions to loosen and lift dirt and debris, while a long 4.6 metre hose allows you to wash, not only carpet, but also car seats and furniture and as well. Cleaning solution is sprayed onto stain before washing for more effective cleaning, and a blast of heat speeds up drying time. Plus the machine has dual tanks that are easy to fill and ensure clean and dirty water are always separated.
One shopper was delighted with the machine and its cleaning results, they left a five star review: “I recently got the Vax Platinum PowerMax Carpet Washer and seriously, I cant stop raving about this machine … 10/10, I love it! It did such a brilliant job cleaning my carpets that the I want to keep using it every day.”
Best carpet cleaners for pets
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Upright Carpet Washer 3631F, $569, The Good Guys
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
This carpet cleaner from Bissell is especially designed to target stains and odours left behind from pets. It’s lightweight at just 8.7kg so easy to grab and use. And with a large water tank, you can do bigger areas in one go. Powerful and super effective.
One happy purchaser said, “My Bissell Revolution Pet exceeded my expectations. It was easy to set up and to use. The results of my first clean were amazing. I have a light coloured carpet and the first use removed stains that had been there for some time. It worked well on my stairs although that operation was not as simple, the hose needed to be a little longer. I highly recommend this product and it has meant that I no longer need professional cleaning.”
Another customer with dogs left this review (Warning! Slightly gross but fantastic): Ironically when I got home with this, my small dog had 2 bouts of diarrhoea. Each bout was in 4 places. YUCK. I tried to clean as much as I could but I knew I had a big task ahead of me. within a few minutes for each accident, the mess had been cleaned perfectly. I was also surprised that the carpet had dried within 2 and a half hours. I also used it to clean stains on other areas of carpet and again it did the job effortlessly. The cleaner was easy to clean too. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.”
Best budget carpet cleaners
Vax Compact Power Carpet Washer VX97, $219 The Good Guys
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Like it’s name suggests, this carpet cleaner is light and compact, so super easy to use and manoeuvre. It’s perfect for cleaning high traffic areas, offering a thorough clean, while twin water tanks ensure clean and dirty water are kept completely separate. A great option if you’re looking to clean your carpets without breaking the bank.
One shopper left a review on The Good Guys website saying, “Very easy to operate and light to lift. Filling water tank so easy . We have done seven rugs of various sizes and the sitting room carpet. Very pleased with results.Highly recommend.” Another said, “I was very impressed with the final outcome. Tough on stains on carpets while gentle on the carpet. Cost effective product that does the job. Probably the best value for money purchase that i have made this year.”
Hoover PowerDash Carpet Washer, $290, Amazon
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
This handy machine is lightweight, easy to use and up for the job. It cleans carpet effectively with PowerSpin brushes and strong suction, while HeatForce technology dries carpets as you clean. Good for cleaning up household grime and pet messes – and all for under $300.
One Amazon shopper left a review saying, “I absolutely love this carpet cleaner. Great performance, quality and price. I thought that my carpet was clean until I used this carpet cleaner. The water was dirty filthy. The carpet was dry in about 2 hours.”
Best spot carpet cleaner
Bissell SpotClean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner, $405.41, Amazon
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
This portable spot cleaner from Bissell is up for the cleaning challenge, with heavy suction that removes hefty stain and pet mess and mud. It has two separate water tanks to keep clean water from the dirty and has been reported by many users as being easy to use wit portability and excellent functionality.
Here’s what one happy shopper had to say about their purchase: “I had this sitting in my cart for months thinking I couldn’t justify the cost. Finally bit the bullet and got it… paid for itself the first day I had it! Dog had an accident on the carpet… cleaned up in a jiffy! Then decided to tackle the cream upholstered dining chairs (stupid colour I know), and it was magic! Have used it several times since with amazing results. I’m recommending it to everyone! I’ve been using it with sunlight soap to get the deep stains out then this baby brushes and sucks the stain away.”
Best portable carpet cleaner
Bissell Cordless Portable Spot Cleaner, $145, Amazon
This little bite-size cleaner is light, portable and perfect for ‘grab-and-go’ style cleaning. It’s effective in cleaning those small messes that a family (and their pets) leave in their wake all day long. Convenient, immediate and ready for action.
Shoppers have posted heaps of positive comments about this device such as , “Is great for those accidental spills. We bought it to clean up after our elderly dog but also great for human spills like red wine!”. Another said, “This little machine has saved my carpet time and time again! I have a 4 month old puppy who just loves to wee on the carpet. Suck up the bulk of the wee with paper towel and then a few minutes with some carpet cleaner and run this over, good as new.”
Best professional style carpet cleaner
Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine, $1,495, Bing Lee
If you’re looking for a professional grade clean, this this baby is for you. With an 81 per cent exert rating from CHOICE, the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine does an excellent job of removing stains, dirt and debris that builds up in the carpet. The two separate tanks, one for clean water and one for dirty, are easy to fill and empty – and once you’ve done the job, your carpet will feel dry in just four hours.
One shopper posted an online review saying, “I bought this machine out of pure frustration. I love the lightweight ease of the Bissell, easy use and two way clean. I use the Bissell Big Green Carpet Machine in a 8 bedroom house living with a large family 2 dogs included. This shampooer cleaned with ease on extra dirty carpets where using other professional carpet cleaners had failed Removed family and dog stains with ease and left my carpets looking brand new. Love it Love it Love it, worth every cent.”
Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner, $876.15, Amazon
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Another machine for a deep professional style clean, the Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner is easy to use with carpet-friendly wheels and ‘simple lift’ clean and dirty water tanks. It removes deep stains and cleans up a huge amount of mess. It’s a hefty size, however for many shoppers, this purchase has been a totally worthwhile investment.
“Couldn’t believe how much dirt this machine picked up,” said one reviewer. “The carpet wasn’t over wet after either. Completely dry by the next day and looking like new. The water tanks do empty and refill quicker than expected but that’s not such a big deal. Easy to use, very pleased with the results.
How often should carpets be cleaned?
According to Neiland, carpets need to be cleaned annually. “I get my carpets professionally cleaned once a year,” she says. And as we mentioned above, Neiland has a ‘shoes-off at the door’ policy to protect carpets from everyday grime and dirt. “We walk in public toilets, fertilised lawn and dirty foot paths,” she says. “And I would like to avoid bringing those chemicals, bacteria and germs into my house.”
Is vacuuming enough?
In Neiland’s opinion, it is. “However, it needs to be done at least once a week,” she says.
What to consider when buying a carpet cleaner
COST
You need to look at how much carpet you have and look at the cost of having it cleaned. It might be cheaper in the long run to buy a carpet cleaner, giving you the freedom to clean whenever is convenient. Or it may be more cost effective to book a professional from time to time, or simply hire the equipment from the supermarket or hardware and do it yourself.
TIME
Do you have the time to clean carpets or will it just not get done? You need to look at your schedule and lifestyle to ensure you have the time to put the carpet cleaner to good use. It’s not going to clean the carpets while sitting in a cupboard!
STORAGE
This is an important factor, as some carpet cleaners are large and bulky, so take up a fair bit of space. You need to choose a size to suit your house and make sure you have room, for example, in the laundry or garage to store it.
Leanne Neiland
Leanne Neiland is the cleaning expert behind @home.with.leanne, an Instagram account with over 59,000 followers that is dedicated to cleaning and organising, offering simple hacks and hot tips. As a busy mum and a Registered Nurse, Neiland effortlessly juggles her responsibilities while sharing practical advice, through five daily habits that revolutionised her cleaning routine. Leanne also firmly believes in taking a break from cleaning and washing on the weekends, allowing you to fully enjoy your well-deserved downtime.
Want to shop more must-have time saving cleaning devices? Have a look at our list of the best robot vac and mop combos you can buy and where to get the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair in 2024. Ready for more great deals? Pop over to news.com.au and see what’s on offer on our coupons page.
