Photography: Jacqui Turk
There are many reasons why many of us prefer carpets over tiled or timber floors. Carpets instantly add warmth and cosiness to your space, and their plush feel is pretty difficult to beat. However, while there is a lot to love about carpets, the maintenance that comes with them may cause a few headaches.
Although many either rent a carpet cleaner from the local supermarket or turn to professional carpet cleaning companies to do the job, investing in your own carpet cleaning appliance may be a good idea for those who live in a carpeted home or space with rugs, in the long run.
Renting a carpet cleaner from your local supermarket may be good for those who are tight on space – or those who are renting. However, these units are usually older models that are subject to wear and tear from previous renters, resulting in a less effective clean. And when you’ve put in all the effort towards this intrinsically tiresome chore, it’s only fair to expect perfectly shampooed carpets in the end.
So, if you have the space to store a carpet cleaner (when not in use) and you have the means to invest in one for your home, we’d highly recommend you do so. Plus, you’ll be able to eliminate the time that is spent driving to your local supermarket and lugging the heavy unit into your car and home – it’s a win-win in our books.
You might also like: the Home Beautiful guide to the best Prime Day deals to shop this week
OUR TOP CARPET CLEANER PICKS
- Bissell SpotClean portable carpet and upholstery spot cleaner, $269 at Amazon (here’s why)
- Hoover Smartwash Automatic carpet cleaner, $549 at Amazon (here’s why)
- Shark StainStriker portable carpet & upholstery cleaner, $249.99 at Amazon (here’s why)
The best home carpet cleaners in Australia 2025
There are a few key aspects to consider when investing in a great carpet cleaner (more on what makes a good carpet cleaner later). Below, we’ve picked out the top carpet cleaning appliances that are worth investing in, with special cleaning features, price points, and size and portability in mind.
01
Bissell SpotClean portable carpet and upholstery spot cleaner
Best: portable carpet cleaner
A cult favourite when it comes to a portable carpet or upholstery cleaner is the Bissell SpotClean. Small but mighty, this unit can cut through the toughest of stains. It’s the perfect little guy to have around for those spot-clean jobs and to freshen up high-traffic areas as you need. Featuring Heatwave technology that helps maintain constant water temperature throughout the clean, and an easy Hydro-Rinse self-cleaning tool that makes maintenance for this machine easier than ever, it’s hard to fault this thoughtfully designed unit.
“Excellent product. Very handy to have for spot-cleaning carpets and upholstery, as well as the car. Highly recommend,” notes a five-star reviewer on their Bissell appliance.
Key features:
- 1.1L tank capacity
- 1.5m hose length
- 5m power cord
- Heatwave technology for constant water temperature
- Clean and dirty water separation
Also available at:
02
Hoover Smartwash Automatic carpet cleaner
Best: full-size multi-surface cleaner and stain remover
Looking for a full-size machine with automatic cleaning capabilities? The Hoover Smartwash carpet cleaner is your answer. Simply push forward to clean and pull back to dry. Further, with its FlexForce PowerBrushes, which feature angled bristles, it’ll lift and remove even the toughest stains and dirt from your carpet without a hassle. Plus, with an average 4.5-star rating on Amazon out of 17,553 reviews, there’s no doubt this Hoover carpet cleaner is a favourite amongst many.
“This machine is awesome! Easy to put together. Easy to use. Easy to fill with water and cleaning solution. Easy to empty dirty water. I was ashamed that my carpet was so dirty! It did a great job getting all the dirt from my carpet and my carpet rug. It’s actually fun to use. Excellent value,” notes a five-star reviewer.
Key features:
- Full-size up-right carpet cleaner
- Automatic cleaning technology (push forward to clean, pull back to dry)
- Auto Clean motion sensing design
- Auto Mix mixes and dispenses solution for optimal carpet washing
- Auto Dry delivers powerful extraction with HeatForce for faster drying
- FlexForce PowerBrushes
03
Shark StainStriker portable carpet & upholstery cleaner
Best for: upholstery and carpets
Given its name, the Shark StainStriker carpet cleaner tackles stains with bite and grit. The StainStriker is designed specifically to lift tough stains using dual action cleaning and powerful suction for carpets, upholstery and car interiors. Weighing in at 3.94, you can easily move up and down the stairs (if you need to clean multiple floors at once).
“I had a new puppy and this appliance worked a treat. Best thing is the separate head and waste dispenser for animal ‘stuff’ and keeps the unit hygienic. I cleaned my fabric lounge cushions and was blown away with what came out and how well the stains came up. Highly recommend,” says a five-star reviewer on their Shark StainStriker.
Key features:
- 3.78L tank capacity
- 3.6m cord length
- Refillable tank seperates clean and dirty water
04
Vax Compact carpet washer
Best: compact upright carpet cleaner
If you’re after an upright machine that is still compact in its profile, then the Vax carpet washer is a great contender. Perfect to clean and maintain high-traffic carpeted areas such as living rooms or dining spaces with rugs within the home that are often prone to everyday stains, pet messes, and more. Its lightweight design is definitely our favourite part (5.7kg, to be exact), making it perfect for multi-level homes. Plus, with its included AquaSpin Brush Bar that does the hard work for you, what’s not to love?
“This carpet cleaner does a fantastic job, and you don’t have to spend big bucks to get a sparkling clean carpet. I’m very happy with my purchase,” said a five-star reviewer.
Key features:
- Full-size, up-right carpet cleaner
- Automatic cleaning technology (push forward to clean, pull back to dry)
- Auto Clean motion sensing design
- Auto Mix mixes and dispenses solution for optimal carpet washing
- Auto Dry delivers powerful extraction with HeatForce for faster drying
- FlexForce PowerBrushes
Also available at:
Carpet cleaner and accessories
Vanish Preen Gold 3 In 1 foam
carpet cleaner, $11.50 at Amazon
Simple Solution pet carpet enzymatic freshener,
$24 at Amazon
Krud Kutter carpet cleaner,
$14.98 at Amazon
47” long handle pet hair remover,
$32.97 at Amazon
What type of carpet cleaning is most effective?
Below are a few key specs to look out for when investing in a great carpet cleaner for the home.
- Size
Size and capacity of your carpet cleaner boils down to how often or how big your space is that you’ll be cleaning. A small-capacity carpet cleaner may be troublesome if you need to empty the tank mid-way through a cleaning task. However, these smaller-capacity units are perfect for spot-cleaning stains and dirt.
Further, upright carpet cleaners tend to take up quite a bit of space in your cleaning cupboard, so to prevent future headaches, make sure you know where you’ll be storing your new carpet cleaner and that it’ll fit within its newly designated area within the home. - Special cleaning features
Like many home appliances these days, special tech features are highly sought after. Most carpet cleaners should have rotating brushes and heating capabilities to clean and dry your carpet. While more advanced features like temperature control or auto-dispensing can be found in newer models – which have proven to be great time-savers in the long run. - Included accessories
If you have carpeted stairs or plan to use your carpet cleaner in your car and on upholstery within the home, looking out for versatile attachments will be a game-changer. Specialised crevice tools to reach under car seats or hard to reach dirt and stains are worth looking into.
