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Handheld Carpet Cleaners Comparison - May 2025
Overview: When it comes to cleaning your carpets, you have a few options. You can either rent a machine or hire a professional, or you can buy a handheld carpet cleaner. Handheld carpet cleaners are a great option for small jobs or spot cleaning. They are easy to use and relatively inexpensive.
BISSELL Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, Car and Auto Detailer, with Exclusive Specialty Tools, Green, 1400B
Model
Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet, Upholstery & Area Rug Cleaner with Pet Mess Tool, Stain & Odor Remover, Perfect for Car Interiors, Includes 3 Cleaning Tools & Cleaning Solution, White, PX201
Model
Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner Machine for Carpet and Upholstery, Powerful Suction Spot Cleaning Machine with Versatile Tools, Pair with Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner Solution
Model
BISSELL Stain Eraser Duo, 2-in-1 Cordless Portable Deep Cleaner and Hand Vacuum with PET PRO OXY Spot & Stain Formula, 3705, Black
Model
BISSELL® Little Green® Max Pet SmartMix Portable Carpet and Upholstery Deep Cleaner, Car/Auto Detailer, with SmartMix Technology, Self-Cleaning Tough Stain Tool and Pet Hair Removal Tool, 38572
Vacmaster SCB301 400 Series Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner Machine, 15Kpa Power Suction with Versatile Tools for Pets, Area Rugs and Couches
Brand
Bissell
Brand
Shark
Brand
Dirt Devil
Brand
Bissell
Brand
Bissell
Brand
BLACK+DECKER
Brand
Vacmaster
Reviews
235,680 reviews
Reviews
1,761 reviews
Reviews
3,441 reviews
Reviews
231 reviews
Reviews
48 reviews
Reviews
3,840 reviews
Reviews
30 reviews
Features
Simple to use
9.1
Simple to use
9.6
Simple to use
9.3
Simple to use
7.9
Simple to use
7.4
Simple to use
7.0
Simple to use
7.0
Simple to clean
9.1
Simple to clean
9.4
Simple to clean
9.1
Simple to clean
7.0
Simple to clean
7.0
Simple to clean
7.2
Simple to clean
7.0
Vacuum strength
9.1
Vacuum strength
9.3
Vacuum strength
9.1
Vacuum strength
7.0
Vacuum strength
7.0
Vacuum strength
7.0
Vacuum strength
7.0
Worth the money
9.1
Worth the money
9.4
Worth the money
8.9
Worth the money
7.0
Worth the money
8.4
Worth the money
7.0
Worth the money
7.0
Tech Specs
item weight
9.65 pounds
item weight
8.51 pounds
item weight
11.06 pounds
item weight
6.78 pounds
item weight
8.2 Pounds
item weight
5.6 pounds
item weight
8.67 pounds
customer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars 78, 560 4.5 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 587 ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1, 147 ratings 4.4 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 77 ratings 4.0 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 16 ratings 4.4 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 1, 280 ratings 3.5 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 10 ratings 4.3 out of 5 stars
Here are the top 3 recommended products with more information to help you find the right product for you
9.7
1
Bissell
19% Off
BISSELL Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, Car and Auto Detailer, with Exclusive Specialty Tools, Green, 1400B
9.1Simple to use
9.1Simple to clean
9.1Vacuum strength
Why we love it
Powerful suction removes tough stains and odors.
Portable design for easy cleaning anywhere.
Includes specialty tools for versatile use.
Main highlights
REMOVES STAINS & ODORS. Use Spot & Stain formula with Febreze Freshness to tackle tough stains and odors.
POWERFUL SUCTION. Remove tough pet spots and stains from carpets, upholstery, car interiors, and more.
PORTABLE & VERSATILE DESIGN. Easily clean multiple surfaces throughout the home.
LARGE TANK CAPACITY. 48 oz. tank means you can clean more between refills.
EVERY PURCHASE SAVES PETS. BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets.
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9.4
2
Shark
15% Off
Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet, Upholstery & Area Rug Cleaner with Pet Mess Tool, Stain & Odor Remover, Perfect for Car Interiors, Includes 3 Cleaning Tools & Cleaning Solution, White, PX201
9.6Simple to use
9.4Simple to clean
9.4worth the money
Why we love it
Lightweight and portable design.
Removes tough stains effortlessly.
Ideal for pet owners.
Main highlights
WHOLE HOME CLEANING: Designed to remove spots and stains from carpets, area rugs, upholstery, car interiors, and more.
WHAT'S INCLUDED: Shark StainStriker, Mini Stain Eliminator, 3.5" Stain Eliminator, Pet Mess Extractor, 6oz Deep Clean Pet Formula, 12oz OXY Multiplier Formula.
ULTRA-POWERFUL SUCTION: Pulls out embedded spots and stains to deliver like-new results.
Shark StainStriker is a portable carpet and upholstery cleaner with the pet mess extractor that combines dual-activated formula and ultra-powerful suction to remove embedded spots and stains – perfect for pets, car interiors, and whole-home cleaning.
POWERFUL TOUGH STAIN ELIMINATION: Shark’s dual-activated solution automatically mixes inside the handheld spot & stain remover to deliver 20x more stain-striking power.*
PERFECT FOR PETS: Instantly & permanently removes stubborn, lingering odors – even pet urine and smoke.^
LIGHTWEIGHT & COMPACT DESIGN: At under 9lbs, tackle stains whenever and wherever they happen and conveniently store away when finished.
*vs. Shark Deep Clean Pro Formula ^when using Shark cleaning solution.
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9.3
3
Dirt Devil
10% Off
Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner Machine for Carpet and Upholstery, Powerful Suction Spot Cleaning Machine with Versatile Tools, Pair with Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner Solution
9.3Simple to use
9.1Simple to clean
9.1Vacuum strength
Why we love it
Powerful suction for deep cleaning.
Compact and easy to store.
Simple to use and maintain.
Main highlights
VERSATILE TOOLS: With a 2-in-1 pet tool for erasing pet stains with ease, a 4” stain tool for tackling tough embedded dirt and stains, and a kink-free hose for easy maneuverability and added reach, this spot cleaning machine tackles any mess.
EASY-TO-USE DESIGN: The Dirt Devil Portable Spot Compact Carpet Cleaning Machine comes with all the features necessary for simple and effective spot cleaning, making refreshing your home easier than ever.
EASY MAINTENANCE: This Dirt Devil spot cleaner machine features a built-in hose rinse and removable lid for easy post cleanup. 19 oz. tank capacity means multiple messes can be tackled without stopping to refill.
DIRT DEVIL CLEANS EVERYTHING: No one wants to spend their entire Saturday afternoon cleaning. With a variety of versatile, effective tools, Dirt Devil helps you get a better clean, faster.
COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT: This small, compact and lightweight spot cleaner provides ultimate portability and easy storage. Refresh carpet, stairs, upholstery and more with this small but mighty machine.
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Our ranking system
At BestChoice.com, our team curates a selection of top products from a vast array available online, using a sophisticated ranking system based on carefully defined criteria. While traditional hands-on testing has its merits, our use of AI technology offers distinct advantages. AI allows us to process and analyze vast amounts of data from multiple sources, providing a comprehensive view that goes beyond what manual testing can achieve. This approach enables us to deliver insights that are aligned with current trends and consumer preferences, ensuring our reviews are both relevant and up-to-date.
Features
Our AI-driven analysis examines key attributes, capabilities, and other critical factors tailored to each product category. This method allows us to assess effectiveness from various perspectives, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation.
Consumer Reviews
We aggregate and evaluate consumer feedback from across the internet, giving weight to ratings and reviews that reflect the most reliable insights. AI enhances this process by filtering and prioritizing data, offering a balanced view without the need for direct personal endorsements.
Popularity
Our system also considers the popularity of products, analyzing factors such as market presence, reputation, and user satisfaction. By leveraging AI, we capture a comprehensive picture of a product's standing in the market, which may not always be evident through traditional testing.
Value for money
AI allows us to compare products based on attributes like price, specifications, and user feedback, helping to determine their value for money. This data-driven approach offers an efficient and reliable way to assess how products stack up against one another in terms of cost-effectiveness.
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9.6 
9.7
1Bissell19% Off
Powerful suction removes tough stains and odors.
