Carpets are soft to walk on and make our homes cosier; however, pets and carpets are not always the most compatible. When furry friends walk or play on the carpet, the fabric will rapidly trap dirt, dust, and bacteria.
Deep cleaning the carpets may seem like a daunting task, especially if you have an entirely carpeted home, but you will be surprised how quickly you can get the job done with the right carpet cleaner.
Here is our pick of the best carpet cleaners for households with pets. Whether you have entirely carpeted floors or just a few segments, here are the best available carpet cleaner for all budgets.
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The best carpet cleaners for homes with pets:
BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro
The best all-round carpet cleaner
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One of the top-rated carpet cleaners on the market is the BISSELL Pro Heat 2x Revolution Pet Pro, an update to the Pro Heat 2X revolution carpet cleaner. The carpet cleaner is made with pets in mind; it comes with two rotating brush rolls with 12 rows of dirt-lifting power brushes made to lift away any dirt build-up. In addition, the CleanShot Pre-treater will combat any tough spots, and the three-metre cleaning hose provides you with good flexibility to manoeuvre around the room. When using the Express Clean Mode, the cleaner dispenses the perfect amount of solution so your carpets will be completely dry in under 30 minutes.
Key specifications
Weight: 8.62 Kg
Clean tank capacity: 3.7L
Dimensions: 38 x 32 x 110 cm
Power: 800 watts
What is included:
Tough Stain Tool
2-in-1 Pet Upholstery Tool
3-in-1 Stair Tool
Upholstery hose
Nozzle cleaning tool
Review: "Used numerous times now and absolutely love it! I even go over my cream carpets in rooms that hardly get used and absolutely amazed at how much dirt comes out of them."
Vax ECR2V1P Dual Power Pet Advance Carpet Cleaner
Editor's Pick
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The Vax ECR2V1P is designed with Twin Tank Technology that separates clean water from dirty water and is convenient to fill and empty out. It uses dual rotating brush bars to lift tough, deep down dirt from your carpets and a pre-treatment wand and solution to tackle stubborn stains.
Key specifications
Weight: 6.4kg
Dimensions: 48.9 x 40.4 x 38 cm
Clean tank capacity: 2.7L
Dirty tank capacity: 1.5L
Power: 800 watts
What is included:
1 x Vax Dual Power Pet Advance
Wash Tool
Pre-treatment wand
Accessory Bag
1 x 250ml Ultra+ Pet solution
1 x 250ml Pre-treatment solution
Review: "I don't often leave reviews. But I felt this needed a 5* review. Really simple to put together. Really simple to work. Pulls out so much dirt. I knew our carpet needed a clean due to our puppy having a couple of accidents. I was shocked how much dirt it actually got out!"
VAX Compact Power CWCPV011 Upright Carpet Cleaner
The best compact cleaner
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If you are looking for a compact super-light carpet cleaner, this model from Vax is ideal for smaller homes. It weighs just 5.7kg, so it's perfect for storing and transporting around the house. The Aquaspin brush bar combats everyday stains, and grime and the narrow head will help you to get into even the smallest spaces. With Twin Tank technology, this carpet cleaner is easy to empty out and keeps dirty water separate. As it is a basic carpet cleaner, it does not have any additional attachments u2013 but if you are looking for something compact to get the job done, then this carpet cleaner would be a great pick.
Key specifications
Weight: 5.7 kg
Dimensions: 106 x 25 x 33 cm
Clean tank capacity: 1.8L
Dirty tank capacity: 1.5L
Power: 840W
Review: "I've bought a few carpet cleaners in the past and found them very heavy. As I now suffer from arthritis, heavy equipment is a no-go. I'm so pleased with the lightness and performance of this little machine. Some might find it a nuisance that the tank needs replenishing quite quickly, but I find that is a very small price to pay. I'm over the moon!!!!"
BISSELL HydroWave
The best carpet cleaner for deep cleaning
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The BISSELL HydroWave is another lightweight option that cleans deep into carpet fibres and dries in 30 minutes when using the Express Mode. It is designed with a motorised XL brush roll with ten rows of DirtLifter power brushes and Clean Shot technology to tackle tough stains. The tank will need to be emptied more frequently due to its small compact size to be better suited to those living in a flat or smaller home.
Key specifications
Weight: 6kg
Dimensions: 38 x 25 x 112 cm
Clean tank capacity: 1.7L
Dirty tank capacity: 0.6L
Power: 385W
What it includes:
Hard Surface Tools
Review: "I've mostly used the HydroWave on the express clean setting for my kitchen and lounge rugs. I used the deep clean setting on the landing once and thought the carpet would come up to suffice to say it's quite powerful! The HydroWave does exactly as described. It's surprisingly lightweight when I compare it to other carpet cleaners I've used in the past. The "CleanShot" which effectively shoots bursts of cleaner into the carpet fibre like some sort of cleaner's water pistol, is a decent touch and adds to the range of use for this. It's great in the kitchen, as mentioned, for targeting problematic areas. It's not too bulky to store away and is surprisingly efficient with power."
VYTRONIX TUB1600 Multifunction 1600W 4 in 1 Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner & Carpet
The best multi-purpose carpet cleaner
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This multi-purpose appliance is ideal if you do not want to purchase several tools for your cleaning needs. It contains a powerful bagged hoover that can collect dirt and spills in a breeze. If the carpet cleaning head is attached, you can freshen up your carpet and leave it smelling like new. This model also has a built-in blower function.
Key specifications
Weight: 6kg
Dimensions: 40 x 36.5 x 50 cm
Clean tank capacity: 5L
Power: 1600W
What is included:
Wet floor head
Dry floor head
Cloth dust bag
2 in 1 Crevice/dusting tool
Review: "My husband treated us to a new vacuum. I wanted one that washes carpet and vacuums carpet. The price was really good. It came today, so delivery was quick. I was surprised at how good it is. You get free carpet shampoo with it. It's easy to use. I have clean carpets."
Vax ECB1SPV1 Platinum Power Max Carpet Cleaner
The best carpet cleaner for larger homes
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The ECB1SPV1 Platinum Power Max Carpet Cleaner from Vax claims to remove up to 93 per cent of fungi, allergens and bacteria and will dry within an hour. It is designed with a large tank, so it is perfect for larger homes or frequent use. The hand wash tool and added stretch hose allow you to get into every nook and cranny, and the seven SpinScrub brushes and rotating brush bars work to get rid of any dirt lodged in your carpet.
Key specifications
Weight: 9.6kg
Dimensions: 110 x 34 x 41 cm
Clean tank capacity: 3.5L
Dirty tank capacity: 2.9L
Power: 1200W
Dimensions: 110 x 34 x 41 cm
What is included:
2 x 250ml Platinum solution
1 x 250ml Pre-treatment solution
Pre-treatment hose
Upholstery tool
Spin scrub brush
Hard floor tool
Review: "I bought this around one month ago to see if I could restore the house carpets. Amazing results... stains, grime etc, all came out. Equally as effective on the stairs with the wash tool and the hose is more than long enough. I also used it on fabric car seats to remove old coffee and liquid stains... seats are now like new. Also brilliant results on car mats. The platinum cleaning solution works wonders. Quality and versatile. With a six-year guarantee, will be a household staple now. A great thing to have. Great job Vax."
Rug Doctor Spot Portable Cylinder Carpet Cleaner
The best carpet cleaner for spot cleaning
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This carpet cleaner from Rug Doctor is suitable for getting rid of spills and stains. However, it is important to note that it isn't designed to clean your entire house unless you have a lot of time on your hands. This appliance is ideal for cleaning up rugs, carpeted stairs, or small carpet segments and can also be used on fabrics such as car seats, mattresses, or sofas.
Key specifications
Weight: 7.4kg
Dimensions: 40 x W 41 x 28 cm
Clean tank capacity: 1.9L
Dirty tank capacity: 1.12L
Power: 1100 air watts
Review: "Really impressed with the cleaning power on this machine. Easy to use, brilliant suction, carpets dried quickly, and you can visibly see the difference. Great for spot cleaning carpets, sofa etc. and will easily clean a whole carpet with a bit of patience too."
Henry Wash HVW 370-2 Cylinder Carpet Cleaner
The most reliable carpet cleaner
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Many regard Henry as the ultimate vacuum brand in the cleaning world, and this carpet cleaner lives up to its reputation. If you are looking to refresh your carpets, hard floors, or upholstery, this cleaner quickly and efficiently shifts spills and stains. The Henry Wash has a large clean and dirty tank, so it is suitable for a large home or frequent use; one thing to keep in mind is that it is quite heavy at 12.1 kg. A bonus of this cleaner is that it can even help you to unblock the sink.
Key specifications
Weight: 15.3kg
Dimensions: 37 x 36 x 51 cm
Clean tank capacity: 5L
Dirty tank capacity: 9L
Power: 1060W
What is included:
Dual Scrub Floor Tool
Fishtail Tool
Upholstery Tool
NuChem 4 Carpet Washing Solution
Review: "Very happy!! Dries (sic) the carpets in no time I am very happy indeed!! I thought Henry would let me down but nope he didn't so happy with the results. I have done my carpet twice due to young baby crawling and I'm amazed brilliant product and easy to put together very pleased!!"
BISSELL CrossWave Cordless 3-in-1 multi-surface cleaner
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Ideal for regular, routine cleaning as well as those messy accidents that happen in an active family home this cordless cleaner vacuums, washes and dries hard floors and area rugs at the same. The easy-empty tank strainer separates and traps hair and dry debris from the dirty water. And the two-tank system keeps clean and dirty water separate, ensuring you're always using fresh water and solutions on your floors.
Key specifications
Weight: 4.9kg
Dimensions: D35 x H118 x W33 cm
Clean tank capacity: 828ML
Dirty tank capacity: 620ML
Power: 1560W
What is included:
Storage Tray Charging Station
Dual Action Multi-Surface Brush roll
Multi-Surface Formula
Tried and tested by Deputy Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner: "The great thing about the 3-in-1 Crosswave is that you can choose between hard floor or carpet/rug at the click of a button on the handle. It's easier to use on hard floors as you can keep track of where you've cleaned and where you haven't. On carpets, it's still good and collects large amounts of pet hair that was missed by a regular vacuum while using the cleaning feature. I'd probably use this way more for my kitchen and bathroom areas, and less so on my carpet but it's great to know it can do both."
How often should you clean your carpets?
It is advised that you deep clean your carpet at least once a year. However, different environmental factors will change this. For example, every three to six months would be more suitable if you have a large household, several pets, or smoke indoors.
Cleaning your carpets regularly will ensure that any bacteria, dust, pet hair or allergens are eradicated, making it more comfortable for those with asthma or allergies. It also ensures that your home smells fresh and your carpets will keep in good condition for longer.