We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Shopping Home Reviews Floor Care Reviews The 8 Best Carpet Cleaners for Tackling Pet Messes in 2024 We tested 95 carpet and upholstery cleaners and found the best options for all households with furry friends. By Tanya Edwards Tanya Edwards Tanya Edwards is an award-winning writer and editor with bylines at The Boston Globe, CNN, Glamour, Yahoo, Allure, Refinery29, Aol, Huffington Post and many more. As a copywriter, she has worked on brand projects for Fresh Direct, Conde Nast, Meredith Publishing, and others. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Alida Nugent Alida Nugent Alida Nugent is a commerce writer with over 10 years of media experience, with six of those spent creating unique shopping content. She has also written 2 books. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on January 3, 2024 Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Learn about BHG's Fact Checking Process In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line Our Testing Process What to Know Before Shopping Others We Tested Your Questions, Answered Who We Are What Is BHG Recommends? Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson Whether you’re a big family or a smaller household, staying on top of cleaning carpets and upholstery can be a major challenge. Add a dog, cat, or multiple pets into the mix and you’ve got a recipe for messy floors. No matter how well-trained your animals are—and how many pet hair cleaning tools you have—accidents can happen, and you’ll want to clean them up before they settle into or stain the carpet. “Try to treat stains or messes immediately to avoid long-term staining and damage,” says Kathy Cohoon from Two Maids and a Mop. Quite simply, this means you’ll need to work quickly. One way to do that is to use a carpet cleaner. These machines are your best line of defense against stained carpet, upholstery, rugs, and the seats in your vehicle. There are lots of fantastic options on the market. We tried 95 carpet and upholstery cleaners to find the best carpet cleaners for pets that treat stubborn stains from our beloved four-legged friends. What We Tested 95 Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners: We evaluated almost 100 models for their efficacy on carpet and upholstery using a variety of stain types: mustard, red wine, dark soda, and marinara sauce.Machine vs. DIY: For each stain type we compared the machines with a DIY cleaning solution to see how they measured up.Cleaning and Suction: Carpet cleaners use two modes to remove stains—cleaning and suction. We counted how many passes of each were required for each machine to do its job thoroughly. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Hoover CleanSlate XL Deep Clean Spot Cleaner at Amazon ($135) Jump to Review Best Budget: Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner FD13000 at Amazon ($80) Jump to Review Best Splurge: Bissell Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner at Amazon ($443) Jump to Review Best Portable: Bissell Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner at Amazon ($120) Jump to Review Best for Spot Cleaning: Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner at Amazon ($149) Jump to Review Best for Upholstery: Hoover Carpet Cleaner at Amazon ($114) Jump to Review Best Small: Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro at Amazon ($135) Jump to Review Best Upright: Hoover PowerDash Pet Advanced Carpet Cleaner at Amazon ($140) Jump to Review Best Overall Hoover CleanSlate XL Deep Clean Spot Cleaner View On Amazon $135 View On Walmart $148 View On Hoover.com Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 4.5/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Portability 4.5/5 Noise Level 5/5 Why You Should Get It This carpet cleaner has nice design elements like a retractable handle, clear markings on the solution tank, and a 22-foot long cord. Keep in Mind Some visible staining from hard-to-clean food items like marinara or mustard remained. Using the Hoover CleanSlate XL was a smooth experience from start to finish, making it the best carpet cleaner for pets overall. We found it both easy to set up and successful in removing the majority of stains on the upholstery and the rug. It took less than five minutes to get the machine ready to clean, and the solution tank was easy to remove because of its handle, with clear lines on the side that designate how much water and solution to add. During testing, we never needed to refill the water tank or empty the dirty water tank. As for its cleaning power, the machine’s effectiveness on the rug varied by stain type, but it did a good job overall. Each stain required five cleaning passes, although suction passes did vary depending on the staining agent. Dark soda disappeared the fastest, while red wine also came off the rug quickly—although we did note a very, very light red hue remained behind. Some slight discoloration was still visible from the yellow mustard stain as well. The machine left no sticky residue and a fresh, clean scent on the rug. We had excellent results with the couch cushion, removing red wine and dark soda with only two cleaning passes, while mustard and marinara needed five. As for suction passes, red wine and dark soda required only two passes, while marinara and mustard took 10 and 12, respectively. The red wine and dark soda were completely removed afterward, and while the marinara stain was not, the stain was incredibly light. Mustard, on the other hand, did leave a noticeably bright yellow stain. When compared with the results from a DIY carpet cleaning solution, the Hoover outperformed when it came to both the marinara and mustard stains. It’s a fairly portable machine, thanks to a retracting handle, but at 16 pounds with no wheels, people with less strength or mobility might need assistance. The hose was easy to use but not incredibly flexible. We would’ve liked a triangular fitted brush head to go into the corners of the stairs. Since the carpet was left smelling clean and fresh and the liquid stains were completely removed, we have confidence it would perform quite well for a variety of common messes. Product Details: Weight: 16.32 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and Upholstery  | Cord Length: 22 feet | Capacity: 96 fluid ounces| Decibel Level: 81.2 decibels Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best Budget Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner FD13000 Amazon View On Amazon $80 View On Target $90 View On Wayfair $90 Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 4.2/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Portability 5/5 Noise Level 5/5 Why You Should Get It This small-but-mighty machine works great on both upholstery and carpeting. Keep in Mind With a capacity of only 19 fluid ounces, you’ll have to refill the tank a few times for larger messes. The Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner also took under five minutes to set up. The cleaning tank is considerably smaller at 19 fluid ounces, but we only needed to be empty the dirty water tank once during the test. This was simple to do without a mess. When it came to cleaning the rug, red wine needed the full five passes, marinara and mustard needed four, and the wine and soda only needed three. As for suction passes, both red wine and soda needed five passes while the marinara and the mustard needed 20. The red wine and soda cleaned up completely with no trace of stains, but mustard and marinara both left behind a slight trace of color upon completion. Red wine and soda both took four passes on the upholstery and marinara took five. We used many more suction passes on the upholstery with this machine: 10 for red wine, five for dark soda, 30 for marinara, and 45 for mustard. As with the carpet, the soda and the wine were removed completely, while light stains remained from the mustard and marinara. The DIY cleaner did a slightly better job at removing the marinara and mustard, although the results were incredibly close. The Dirt Devil has a smaller footprint than other models, further enhanced by the ability to wrap the cord and hose close to the machine body to create less bulk. It also features a handle to carry it around with ease. Overall we found that it cleans stains well and also works quickly on more liquid stains, so it should be an effective option for pet owners who want to quickly clean accidents on a carpet. Product Details: Weight: 11.03 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet and Upholstery | Cord Length: 15 feet | Capacity: 19 fluid ounces | Decibel Level:  78.9 decibels Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson Best Splurge Bissell Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner Amazon View On Amazon $443 View On Wayfair $443 View On Bissell.com Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 5/5 Noise Level 3/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Portability 5/5 Why You Should Get It This one is worth the price if you occasionally rent a carpet cleaner and have multiple pets. Keep in Mind There’s not great storage for attachments. This is one of the pricier cleaners we tested, but the Bissell Big Pet Pro is worth every penny. The hard-working machine will pay for itself over time—you’ll no longer need to rent a carpet cleaner or pay a professional as often since it reliably gives good results.This machine comes with an attached hand vac, which is perfect for picking up dirt and hair before attacking stains. We passed over each stain three times in wet and then dry mode. The coffee stain was completely removed, while the dirt, chocolate, and wine were extremely faded. After a few more passes the wine stain disappeared, and the attached wet/dry scrub brush took care of the remaining chocolate and dirt stains. The machine comes with two attachments, a stain trapper tool and a stair tool, and an extra 9-foot-long hose that’s perfect for cleaning carpeted stairs or upholstered furniture. It also comes with a full-size bottle of Pet Pro Oxy Urine Eliminator cleaning solution. While the decibel level is higher than some of the other machines we tested, we didn’t find it crazy loud. Product Details: Weight: 41 pounds empty | Surface Types: Carpet, upholstery | Cord Length: 25 feet | Capacity: 48 ounces | Decibel Level: 91 decibels Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best Portable Bissell Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner Amazon View On Amazon $120 Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 3.5/5 Noise Level 5/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Portability 5/5 Why You Should Get It This lightweight, quiet cleaner is so portable we could carry it with one hand. Keep in Mind The directions are a bit hard to follow, and the machine leaks occasionally. When looking for the best carpet cleaner for pets, one of the key factors to consider is portability so that you can easily clean spaces only pets seem to find. We loved Bissell Little Green’s compact size and quiet noise level. The machine does a great job spot cleaning despite its size. It works by circulating a mix of water and cleaning solution on the affected spot and lifting away dirt from rugs, car interiors, and upholstered furniture. During testing, Little Green completely removed the coffee stain with about 10 passes of the stain trapper attachment. The wine and dirt stains only faintly remained after cleaning. The chocolate stain was toughest to tackle, with the Bissell removing about 50% of the stain. The 15-foot cord gave us plenty of length for most tasks, as did the hose. A stain trapper and tough stain tool attach to the hose for extra deep cleaning, and a handy hydro-rinse self-cleaning tool makes it easy to get built-up gunk out of the hose and tank. This appliance was easily the most portable that we tested, and easy to carry with one hand. The setup was a little cumbersome, taking about 10 minutes to get the machine out of the box and assembled. We needed a screwdriver to put the machine together, and the directions were a bit tricky to follow. One of our favorite things about this portable carpet cleaner for pets was how quiet it was, noting that it had a muffled sound—nothing obnoxious. Product Details: Weight: 9.65 pounds | Surface Types: Upholstery, carpet | Cord Length: 15 feet | Capacity: 48 ounces | Decibel Level: 70 decibels Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best for Spot Cleaning Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner Amazon View On Amazon $149 View On Walmart $149 View On Home Depot $149 Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 4.5/5 Noise Level 3/5 Ease of Use 4.5/5 Portability 5/5 Why You Should Get It This model eliminated even the toughest stains disappear in three passes. Keep in Mind It was slightly tricky to fill the tank with water in a sink. If you have pets, especially older ones, you know that spot cleaning is essential to keeping your carpet and upholstery looking their best. Rug Doctors Pet Portable is the best for spot cleaning, thanks to excellent cleaning features and portability. This machine effectively treated all of the stains in our testing session, completely removing the coffee stain after the first pass and making chocolate, wine, and dirt stains disappear from the carpet after three passes. Pretreating is essential to successful stain removal with this machine. A retractable handle lets you release and roll the machine like a suitcase, so you can easily wheel it around the house or to the car for convenient stain treatment. The hose isn’t as long as some of the other models we tested, but the shorter hose length wasn't a dealbreaker, necessarily. Setting up the spot cleaner takes less than three minutes out of the box, and there’s no assembly required, so you can get to the task at hand right away. You’ll need to use a pre-treatment solution and wait five minutes, but after that, it’s smooth sailing. The water tank is a little tricky to fill in a sink, so you may want a buddy to help you. Since the tank is rounded and can’t stand on its own, we had one person hold the tank steady while another added water and soap. We also noted that this machine is on the loud side and difficult to talk over, so you may want to put your pet in another room while using it. Product Details: Weight: 18.34 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet, upholstery | Cord Length: 28 feet | Capacity: 1 gallon | Decibel Level: 90 decibels Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best for Upholstery Hoover Carpet Cleaner Amazon View On Amazon $114 View On Hoover.com $120 Our Ratings Setup 4/5 Effectiveness 4.5/5 Noise Level 3/5 Ease of Use 3/5 Portability 5/5 Why You Should Get It This cleaner comes with extra tools that make cleaning upholstery easier. Keep in Mind The tank is tricky to remove and put back. If your pets are allowed on the furniture in your home, it’s hard to think of a more practical use for a pet cleaning appliance than cleaning upholstery. The Hoover CleanSlate impressed us with its portability, how little water and solution were needed to fight stains, and the included cleaning tool attachments. We used the Tight Spot Tool on chocolate and wine stains. Very little water and cleaning solution was needed for any of the stains, which saw the chocolate and coffee completely removed. The dirt and coffee stains, however, remained faintly visible. The ergonomic handle allows for comfortable one-handed carrying and multitasking, freeing up the other hand to use the cleaning hose. The Hoover CleanSlate’s small, lightweight design makes it a great choice for anyone looking for an effective spot cleaner that is easy to store and can tackle hard-to-reach stains. No assembly is needed, and we took no more than five minutes setting up the machine. However, filling the water tank was awkward as the tank couldn’t sit upright on its own. We found the noise level decent at 92 decibels, although it may be too loud for an animal, so put your pets in a different room or expect them to hide while cleaning the couch. Product Details: Weight: 9.4 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet, upholstery | Cord Length: 15 feet | Capacity: 40 ounces | Decibel Level: 92 decibels Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best Small Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro Amazon View On Amazon $135 View On Wayfair $129 View On Walmart $127 Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 3/5 Noise Level 3/5 Ease of Use 4/5 Portability 5/5 Why You Should Get It The tough stain and stain trapper tools work wet and dry. Keep in Mind This cleaner runs louder and could scare your pets. The Bissell Spot Clean Pet Pro is the best carpet cleaner for pets if you need a small machine because it’s easy to use and ideal for spot cleaning around the house or in the car. It's a quick, no-fuss solution for addressing pet messes.The attached tough stain and stain trapper tools work wet and dry but can take a few passes to remove stains. The coffee stain was removed completely, and the wine stain faded by 80%. Unfortunately, this machine struggled with the dirt and chocolate stains, leaving both messes still visible on the carpet. Suction power wasn't as strong as expected, which could be why the spot cleaner performed inconsistently when treating various stains. Another thing to consider before purchasing is the noise level on this model; we would describe the sound as medium to high. It could scare a skittish pet. You’ll need to use Bissell’s Pet Pro Oxy Urine Eliminator solution, and the Spot Clean Pet Pro, both of which are included with the machine as 8-ounce samples. According to the manufacturer, the solution targets and removes lingering smells. Mix with hot tap water (no need to heat beyond that) and start cleaning. The best feature of the Bissell Spot Clean Pet Pro (and the reason it made our list) is its compact, lightweight design. We love that it’s easily picked up with one hand so you can take it up and down the stairs—or stop on the stairs to clean up a mess. Product Details: Weight: 13 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet, upholstery | Cord Length: 20 feet | Capacity: 96 ounces | Decibel Level: 88 decibels Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best Upright Hoover PowerDash Pet Advanced Carpet Cleaner Amazon View On Amazon $140 View On Target $140 View On Wayfair $140 Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 5/5 Noise Level 3/5 Ease of Use 3/5 Portability 4/5 Why You Should Get It An upright model can be easier on your back and knees. Keep in Mind It’s well-priced but may be too small for large cleaning jobs. The Hoover PowerDash is a self-contained pet carpet cleaner that’s lightweight and easy to use. This upright-style machine works much like a vacuum, gliding across carpet—no crouching or bending over required. It’s ideal for large carpeted rooms but not well-suited for detailed cleaning jobs. We found this upright cleaner easy to assemble, without too many parts that need to be put together. The cleaner uses a Power Spin brush to lift stains and dirt and heatforce technology to dry carpets quickly after cleaning. During testing, the coffee was easily removed with three wet and dry passes. We had to treat the wine, chocolate, and dirt stains with additional passes of the brush tool after the initial cleaning didn’t fully remove the spots. The one thing we didn’t like was the unclear instructions for attaching the hose. What stood out about this carpet cleaner was how lightweight it felt, and the list price, which was under $150. This feels relatively inexpensive for a wet and dry carpet cleaner. Product Details: Weight: 13 pounds | Surface Types: Carpet, upholstery | Cord Length: 20 feet | Capacity: 76 ounces | Decibel Level: 94 decibels Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock The Bottom Line The Hoover CleanSlate XL Deep Clean Spot Cleaner stood out as the best carpet cleaner for pets thanks to its effectiveness in cleaning liquid stains on both carpet and upholstery, long cord, and easy-to-fill (and empty) water tank. Our Testing Process In order to find the best carpet cleaners for pets, we gathered the following to test the product’s effectiveness on stains: mustard, red wine, dark-colored soda, and marinara sauce. For upholstery, we measured out ¼ of a teaspoon, while carpeting required a full teaspoon. We placed the staining agents 2 inches apart on a rug. For the upholstery test, we created two of each stain on a couch cushion so that we could test them with both the machine and a DIY solution. All stains were left to set for 20 minutes. Afterwards, we timed the setup of each machine being tested. Once that was complete, we used a decibel reader to record the noise level of the machine on its highest and, if applicable, lowest settings. Next we wiped the excess staining agents off the rug and clamped it securely in place. We recorded how many cleaning (where upholstery cleaner was deposited) and suction passes (picking up the excess water to go into the tank) it took to thoroughly clean each stain. If the stain was still there after five cleaning passes, we moved directly onto suction. Finally, we set a towel over the stains for five seconds to see how much moisture was left over after the suction passes. For upholstery, we applied the same test to the first panel of stains. For the second set of stains, we applied a DIY cleaning solution and a damp washcloth to compare it to the machine’s results. Finally, we made one suction pass and one cleaning pass on a carpeted stair using an appropriate attachment to test the functionality and maneuverability on stairs. Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson What to Know About Carpet Cleaners for Pets Before Shopping Weight The weight of a carpet cleaning is a major consideration, especially if you’re trying to clean up a mess under furniture, on stairs or in the car. We noted both the listed weight and how heavy the carpet cleaners actually felt to help you make an informed decision. Surface Types All of the best carpet cleaners for pets can tackle carpet and upholstery, which are the primary surfaces most people would use them on. When looking for a new cleaner, make sure to note what type of surfaces your pet is usually on and if the product you’re planning to purchase can tackle them. We also tested these cleaners on carpeted stairs to assess their ability to squeeze into tight corners and maneuver trickier areas. Cord Length When shopping for a carpet cleaner for pets, a key factor is how long the power cord is, as you are likely going to be dragging it around your home. As you’re shopping, consider if you’re going to use the machine in the car or in spaces that don’t have an outlet close. We’ve noted cord length, when available, for all of our picks. Capacity As you take your cleaner all over your house, you won’t want to keep coming back to a drain to dump out the dirty water. We note the capacity of all the cleaners we tested. It’s important to remember if you’re going to use the cleaner for quick spot cleanups, you may not need that much capacity. However, if you’re dealing with ongoing large messes, you might need a larger tank. Decibel Level If you’ve ever had a loud vacuum or any kind of appliance, you know the struggle with finding the right machine that cleans well but doesn’t terrify your animal companions. For our testing, we looked for machines that were below 80 decibels, as this is the average noise level for carpet cleaning machines. Other Carpet Cleaners for Pets We Tested Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Commercial Carpet Cleaner We found the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Commercial Carpet Cleaner bulky and hard to use. The base was so large we couldn’t tell if we were actually going over the stains. Another strike against this machine, which did clean well, was that it ran very loud. WeClean C1 Carpet Upholstery Cleaner Machine Portable Spot Cleaner Stain Remover We liked the lightweight, “no frills” WeClean C1 Carpet Upholstery Cleaner Machine Portable Spot Cleaner Stain Remover. It was easy to carry up and down stairs, and emptying the tank was also simple. However, for the price, the WeClean didn’t get rid of stains at an acceptable level. Kirby Avalir 2 While we liked the idea of an “all-in-one” vacuum and carpet cleaner, getting the Kirby Avalir 2 set up to actually clean was time consuming, confusing, and ultimately messy. When filling the tank, we ended up with water everywhere. Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Your Questions, Answered How often should you shampoo your carpets if you have pets? Roughly every six months, say our experts, but of course, it’s situationally dependent—how much of a mess are your pets making? “We recommend refreshing your carpets every six months, but it’s great to add additional deep cleans if you notice your carpets accumulating dinge or taking the brunt of dirty paws and other messes pets leave behind,” Jay Kellis, chemist at Bissell, told us.Cohoon notes it’s important to keep on top of spot cleaning any messes as well, saying, “While shampooing will help elongate a carpet’s looks over time and give a good deep clean, the key to keeping carpets fresh with pets around is vacuuming often and spot treating any pet-related stains.” How do you get old pet stains out of carpet? It’s possible, with a little pre-treating. Kellis says, “While pretreating is important for any stain, it’s especially important to do when you’re tackling older, set-in stains." “Pretreatment actually helps freshen a set-in stain, which dries out and loses moisture, becoming harder to remove. Think of pretreating your carpet like pretreating laundry stains," he adds. "With older stains, just spray your pretreatment, let it sit for five minutes, and then use a moist towel on the stain. It might take a few rounds of the same step to achieve complete stain removal.” You can also pretreat before using a carpet cleaner to enhance effectivenss. What is the best carpet cleaner for people with pets? The best carpet cleaner for pets will likely be used primarily for pet accidents and pet refuse, so it’s important that it works particularly well on liquid stains and leaves carpets smelling fresh. Leftover staining from heavily pigmented messes is probably less of a concern when it comes to pet waste. Other benefits are portability and ease of use, including the ability to swap attachment heads or remove the water tank. After these considerations, we found that the best carpet cleaner for pets and pet owners was the Hoover CleanSlate XL Deep Clean Spot Cleaner. Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Who We Are Tanya Edwards is an award-winning writer and editor with bylines at Better Homes & Gardens and other publications. She’s passionate about keeping a clean house, even with a big chunky cat, and loves to learn about the best products to do so. For this story, Tanya worked with data from the testing team and cleaning experts Jay Kellis, Chemist, Staff Development at Bissell and Kathy Cohoon from Two Maids and a Mop. The story was updated by Alida Nugent. She has been a commerce writer for over six years, with previous experience in commerce editorial, testing, and strategy as well. She has tested and researched a number of different carpet cleaners and vacuums, as she has a lot of experience in the home appliance space. What Is BHG Recommends? Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products. Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit