The best carpet cleaners in the UK 2024

In general, carpet cleaning devices use two different cleaning methods:

1. water pressure spraying

2. rotating brush agitation

Carpet extractors use water pressure spraying. They dissolve dirt by spraying water at high pressure onto the respective surface. The dissolved dirt is then vacuumed back up. 👍

Carpet cleaners that use rotating brushes to get at the dirt are usually more expensive. Dirt is not removed by water pressure, but by brush movements.

The advantage of these devices is that you don't have to pay so much attention to how you move them over the surface. 🙌

Ultimately, however, the cleaners of both groups provide thorough deep cleaning.

Before buying a carpet cleaner, there is often some uncertainty as to whether these devices can really be used on every type of carpet.

The answer we have deduced is yes.

In our carpet cleaner test, we were able to clean all types of carpets and upholstery without any problems. So it doesn't matter if you have short pile or long pile carpets or even shaggy rugs.

What you should pay attention to when using a carpet cleaner, however, is that you fill it with the right cleaning agent. Carpet shampoo packaging usually contains information on which materials you can use it on and which to avoid.

If you are reading this article, you are probably interested in one thing in particular. Namely, how good the results from a carpet cleaner really are. 🧐

In our tests, we were very satisfied with the cleaning performance of the carpet cleaners.

Both carpets and sofas were cleaned and felt and smelled really fresh afterwards.

What about the suction power?

Carpet cleaners with powerful suction ensure that as little residual moisture as possible remains in carpets and upholstery.

There were quite big differences between the machines we tested. Cleaners like the Tineco Carpet One, which are also equipped with a drying function, achieved very good results. 💪

The surfaces were still a little damp, but much less so than with appliances without a drying function.

High pile carpets naturally take longer to dry than short pile.

Many people are of the opinion that you can simply fill a vacuum cleaner with liquid detergent or washing-up liquid instead of buying carpet shampoo.

Carpet cleaning devices are highly complex and can be damaged by cleaning agents that are not adapted to them. This starts with the fact that mixtures with detergents or washing-up liquid can foam very strongly, which is not good for the appliance.

So we advise you to use special products intended for use with carpet cleaners.

Unfortunately, not all of them are good. Many prefer to use cheap products, but their cleaning effect often leaves much to be desired. Moreover, some of them contain aggressive chemicals. Such cleaning products are harmful to our health.

Let’s take a look at some of the best carpet cleaning products for carpet washers.

Dirtbusters Carpet Shampoo

Dirtbusters Carpet Shampoo* has numerous positive reviews in various online shops.

It can be used in all carpet cleaners, is suitable for cleaning both carpets and sofa upholstery and is scented to leave your home smelling fresh.

The liquid carpet cleaner comes in a 1 litre bottle and only 10ml is needed for every 1L of cleaning water, so it will last you. If you think this isn’t enough, it also comes in a larger bottle.

The Dirtbusters carpet cleaning liquid has dirt- and grease-dissolving properties and is cruelty-free, vegan, non-toxic, biodegradable and made in the UK.

Vax Platinum Professional Solution

Another popular agent for carpet and upholstery cleaning is Vax Platinum Professional*. It not only removes stubborn stains and odours, but also reduces the number of allergens and dust mites.

Vax Platinum Professional is designed for use in Vax carpet cleaning machines. It is perfect for tough dirt and can be used for pre-treating stains.

Bissell Multi-surface floor cleaner - for different floor types

Bissell multisurface cleaning formula* is recommended for cleaning carpets and rugs with Bissell carpet cleaners.

It can also be used on tiles and wood. It is pet and family safe and leaves a fresh spring scent in your home.

If you have already made the decision to buy a carpet cleaner, you need to decide which one is right for you!

The criteria listed below should be taken into account when choosing your model.

Tank size

If the dirty water and/or clean water tank is too small, you may not be able to complete a cleaning session in one go. Depending on the size of the area, you may even need to stop several times. That’s why you should pay attention to the tank capacity when buying a carpet cleaner. 😤

Containers with a capacity of 2 to 4 litres are sufficient for areas of about 60 sqm.

You can use this rule of thumb as a guide when you want to determine the right container size for your home. 👊

How long is the cable?

You have probably noticed how annoying it is to have to keep switching sockets while cleaning. This happens when the cable of the cleaning device is too short. 😠

The longer the power cable, the more room you have for cleaning.

Generally, carpet cleaners have a slightly shorter cable than hoovers.

Size and weight of the carpet cleaner

In terms of their dimensions, carpet washers are of course not comparable with super-light and compact cordless hoovers. They are complex devices equipped with powerful technical components. No wonder, then, that carpet cleaners are larger and heavier.

A carpet cleaner should also not be too light, otherwise it can tip over too easily. 💁

Conversely, if the machine is too heavy, it cannot be manoeuvred around furniture and other obstacles as easily.

How powerful does a carpet cleaner have to be?

A carpet cleaner’s power is strongly related to the cleaning performance. In the case of devices that work with water pressure, attention should be paid to the spray pressure. But they must also be equipped with good suction power in order to reliably suck up the residual moisture after removing the stains.

In general, the average cleaning power for carpet cleaners is between 1,000 and 1,500 watts.

Where should the carpet cleaner be used?

Before you decide on a carpet cleaner, you should always think about where you want to use it. 🤔

Do you really only want to clean textiles like carpets, upholstery and mattresses? Or are there many hard floors in your home that you also want to clean with it?

What accessories are needed?

The various carpet cleaner models sometimes differ greatly in the accessories included.

As standard, you will usually find an extension hose and various nozzle attachments in the package contents. This means you can usually start cleaning right away. 😎

You then have the choice of buying additional accessories separately.

Which? is an independent consumer organisation that regularly reviews household products. They have many reviews in the home cleaning sector.

They’ve also paid some attention to carpet cleaners, with many different models put to the test and rated out of 100%.

They praise it for its deep-cleaning and brightening abilities, while pointing out its heavy weight and volume level.

In second place, the Bissell Pro Heat 2x Revolution is a Which Best Buy, also scoring 80%. We definitely agree with the high rating of this model, as we also found it to be an excellent carpet cleaner.

Overall, Vax and Bissell models dominate Which’s carpet cleaner reviews. Unfortunately, they do not include reviews of Tineco or Karcher carpet cleaners.

If you’re looking for reviews that include some lesser-known, but super high-performing brands, then you’ll have to stick to Smart Home Fox! 😉

If you have carpets, then buying a carpet cleaner will bring noticeably more cleanliness and hygiene into your home.

Multi-function wet and dry carpet cleaners that are suitable for both carpets and hard floors are ideal for you if you have both in your home.

These 2-in-1 carpet cleaners save you both time and effort.

Once you are familiar with how to use your machine, your carpets will be sparkly clean in no time.

Carpet cleaners also make your carpets walkable again in less time, thanks to the vacuuming of residual moisture.

Special upholstery tools for carpet cleaners ensure your sofas are spotless..

We really were surprised by the amount of dirt that carpet cleaners can suck up from seemingly clean carpets.

Carpet cleaners are often quite an expensive purchase, so you should think carefully about your requirements beforehand.