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The best carpet cleaners to buy in 2026
The Shark CarpetXpert EX151 wins for strong stain removal, easy handling and a lower price than premium full-size cleaners.
| Best overall | Best value | Cheapest that's still good | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Shark CarpetXpert Upright Carpet & Area Rug Cleaner for Pets, EX151 | Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner, FH52000 | Bissell TurboClean Pet XL Carpet Cleaner, 3746 |
| Price | about $250 | about $200 | about $160 |
| Why | Vacuum Wars ranked it best overall, noting strong stain removal and above-average suction at the floor head. At about $250 on Amazon, it costs less than the premium HydroSteam models. | Good Housekeeping praised its strong suction, automatic solution mixing and simple push-to-wash, pull-to-dry operation. At about $200 on Amazon, it’s clearly cheaper than the top pick. | Consumer Analysis found the TurboClean Pet XL cleaned test stains quickly, and Vacuum Wars lists it as a budget pick. At about $160 on Amazon, it costs less than the other two picks. |
| Good to know | Its small clean-water tank needs frequent refills for whole-room cleaning. | Its 22-foot cord is shorter than those on some competing full-size cleaners. | It uses a lot of water, leaving carpet wetter and requiring more tank stops. |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
picture by AIVacuum Wars ranked it best overall, noting strong stain removal and above-average suction at the floor head. At about $250 on Amazon, it costs less than the premium HydroSteam models.
Good to know: Its small clean-water tank needs frequent refills for whole-room cleaning.
See on Amazonpicture by AIGood Housekeeping praised its strong suction, automatic solution mixing and simple push-to-wash, pull-to-dry operation. At about $200 on Amazon, it’s clearly cheaper than the top pick.
Good to know: Its 22-foot cord is shorter than those on some competing full-size cleaners.
See on Amazonpicture by AIConsumer Analysis found the TurboClean Pet XL cleaned test stains quickly, and Vacuum Wars lists it as a budget pick. At about $160 on Amazon, it costs less than the other two picks.
Good to know: It uses a lot of water, leaving carpet wetter and requiring more tank stops.
See on AmazonDanilli may earn a small commission from Amazon or the store when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Pictures marked "picture by AI" are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.
What matters
Look for stain removal, water extraction and how often you’ll need to refill or empty the tanks. Weight, hose reach and cleanup matter too, especially if you’ll use it on stairs or upholstery.
Who this is for
These picks cover whole-room cleaning, a convenient mid-priced upright and a lower-cost option. For occasional spills or furniture, a small portable cleaner may be easier to store than an upright.
The picks, one by one
Best overall: Shark CarpetXpert Upright Carpet & Area Rug Cleaner for Pets, EX151
Vacuum Wars ranked it best overall, noting strong stain removal and above-average suction at the floor head. At about $250 on Amazon, it costs less than the premium HydroSteam models. It weighs about 16 pounds, has a 25-foot cord and includes a built-in hose for stairs and upholstery. In controlled testing it scored near the top on grape-juice stain removal. The compact 0.6-gallon tank means more refills on big jobs, and its five-foot hose is short. Skip it if you mainly need to clean large areas in one go.
Good to know: Its small clean-water tank needs frequent refills for whole-room cleaning.
See on AmazonBest value: Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner, FH52000
Good Housekeeping praised its strong suction, automatic solution mixing and simple push-to-wash, pull-to-dry operation. At about $200 on Amazon, it’s clearly cheaper than the top pick. The forward pass dispenses solution and the backward pass extracts dirty water, so there’s no trigger to hold. It weighs about 20.5 pounds and includes an eight-foot hose and pet-oriented attachments. Testers reported that it pulled up fur, dust and grit even after vacuuming. Its cord is shorter than some full-size competitors.
Good to know: Its 22-foot cord is shorter than those on some competing full-size cleaners.
See on AmazonCheapest that's still good: Bissell TurboClean Pet XL Carpet Cleaner, 3746
Consumer Analysis found the TurboClean Pet XL cleaned test stains quickly, and Vacuum Wars lists it as a budget pick. At about $160 on Amazon, it costs less than the other two picks. It’s a budget upright for smaller or occasional carpet-cleaning jobs. In comparative stain testing, it cleaned faster than the Hoover PowerScrub, but used more water. That means wetter carpet and more frequent tank refills and emptying. Skip it if you want to clean a large home in fewer passes or prioritize quick drying.
Good to know: It uses a lot of water, leaving carpet wetter and requiring more tank stops.
See on AmazonHow we chose
Reviewers tested stain removal with controlled spills and measured suction, water recovery, drying, tank coverage and ease of use. Good Housekeeping also assessed drying time and set-in stains; Vacuum Wars reports timed stain passes and color measurements. Danilli read the reviews and tests listed below and compared current prices; it does not take money from brands to pick a product.
Sources
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Written with Danilli's AI from the sources above and refreshed about once a month; prices change, check Amazon for today's price. Danilli may earn a small commission from Amazon or the store when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Pictures marked "picture by AI" are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.