Keep your floors fur-free with the best carpet cleaners for pets

These carpet cleaners will have your house looking as good as new.

carpet cleaner for pets

by Jade Moscrop |
Updated on

Carpets are great for creating a cosy living space, but they're also a minefield for trapping dirt, dust and bacteria, especially if you have furry friends - so, why not give our round-up the best carpet cleaner for pets a peruse? While you won’t have to worry about scratches and scuffs from your pet's paws and claws as you would on a wooden floor, you will have to deal with removing pet hair and ground-in grime. Carpet cleaning products will make this job considerably easier and less stressful. How does that sound?

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. Carpet cleaners look similar to hoovers and are used in a similar way, too. The main difference is that you fill them with water and a specially formulated cleaning solution, which is what will clean the carpet. The results are fantastic, and they leave many carpets looking fresh and as good as new.

Best carpet cleaner for pets at a glance:

Best carpet cleaner for efficiency: BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner – Buy now on Amazon UK
Best carpet cleaner with choice of attachments: VAX Dual Power Pet Advance Carpet Cleaner – Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best lightweight carpet cleaner: VAX Compact Power CWCPV011 Upright Carpet Cleaner – Buy now on AO.com

Pet owners will know that accidents are bound to happen, and sometimes, a standard carpet spray or spot carpet cleaner sometimes doesn't cut it when it comes to wee or mud stains. If you have a pet that is guilty of messing up your beloved carpets, carpet cleaners are a great investment as their powerful scrubbing brushes mix with amazing suction. With our top picks, you'll have faith in knowing your carpets have been properly cleaned from top to bottom.

To help you find the best carpet cleaning machines for pets, we've researched the market for the best available models to suit all budgets, from big brands, such as VAX, Bissell, and the Rug Doctor.

The best carpet cleaner for pets UK

Best carpet cleaner for efficiency

BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet CleanerBISSELL/Amazon

The BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner is a top-rated carpet cleaner, specifically designed for homes with pets. An update to the Pro Heat 2X revolution carpet cleaner, this comes with two rotating brush rolls, which confidently lift dirt and grime away.

The CleanShot Pre-treater lets you tackle tough spots, such as pet mess stains, and the three-metre cleaning hose gives you plenty of freedom and flexibility. In Express Clean Mode, the machine dispenses just the right amount of solution so you can have dry carpets in as little as half an hour - perfect if you're expecting a last-minute visit from guests. For times when you need a tougher clean, use the deep clean mode to go in hard on those tough stains.

With over 27,000 reviews, this carpet cleaner is highly reviewed by customers on Amazon. It has an average star rating of 4.5 out of 5, with reviews remarking on how easy it is to assemble and the overall quality of the machine. It's one of the heaviest on our list, so that's something to bear in mind if you have limited strength in your arms. Reviewers have also commented that it's quite noisy.

Pros

  • Two rotating brush rolls to lift dirt and grime off carpets
  • Two cleaning modes: Deep Clean and Express Clean, with express being particuarly great if you need to clean and try a mess in a hurry

Cons

  • Heavier than some others on our list
Dimensions38 x 32 x 110 cm
Weight8.62kg
Clean Tank Capacity3.7L
Power800W
ToolsTough Stain Tool2-in-1 Pet Upholstery Tool3-in-1 Stair ToolUpholstery hose, Nozzle cleaning tool

Best carpet cleaner with choice of attachments

Vax Dual Power Pet Advance Carpet CleanerYours.co.uk/VAX

The VAX Dual Power Pet Advance Carpet Cleaner has dual rotating brush bars to lift tough, deep-down pet dirt and other household mess from your carpets, and the Twin Tank technology separates clean water from dirty water to make emptying it a breeze.

The pre-treatment wand and solution will help to tackle stubborn stains in high-traffic areas, such as hallway carpets and stairs, while the 2.4m stretch hose and wash tool makes it easier to tackle muddy paw prints on upholstery.

Yours.co.uk Group Hub Editor, Stephanie Spencer tested this carpet cleaner in her home where she has two dogs, and two cats, plus with her partner working on a farm, she could really put it to the test against the footprints of dirty boots as well as muddy paw prints and fur. Stephanie found this carpet cleaner to be lightweight so she had no trouble moving it from room to room as well as carrying it up and down the stairs. She said you have to bear in mind that you need to allow time for the carpets to dry, as they take at least an hour to fully dry but found it was worth it because she could immediately see the difference it's made on her carpets and rugs.

Want to know more about what we thought? Read our full, in-depth VAX Dual Power Pet Advance Carpet Cleaner review.

Pros

  • Extra long stretch hose to clean hard-to-reach areas, including upholstery
  • Lightweight, easy to carry

Cons

  • It can take up to an hour for carpets to dry
Dimensions48.9 x 40.4 x 38 cm
Weight6.4kg
Clean / Dirt Tank Capacity2.7 / 1.5L
Power800W
Tools1 x Vax Dual Power Pet AdvanceWash Tool, Pre-treatment wand, Accessory Bag, 1 x 250ml Ultra+ Pet solution, 1 x 250ml Pre-treatment solution

Best lightweight carpet cleaner

VAX Compact Power CWCPV011 Upright Carpet CleanerVAX
Price: $89.99

ao.com

The super-light VAX Compact Power CWCPV011 Upright Carpet Cleaner weighs just 5.7kg, so it's ideal for those who don't want to lug a heavy machine up and down the stairs.

The Aquaspin brush bar tackles everyday mess and grime left behind by your pet as well as everyone else in your home, and the narrow head helps you get into every nook and cranny. The 2.7-litre dirty water capacity means that you'll be able to cover a larger area before needing to empty the tank, and due to its compact size overall, it's ideal for storing in smaller homes.

As it's a basic carpet cleaner, it doesn't come with any attachments compared to others on our list but it does come with a carpet cleaning solution for convenience. Customers on AO.com have given it an overall star rating of 4.8 stars out of five, with it scoring highly for how lightweight and easy to manoeuvre it is, with many raving about how well it cleans their carpets.

Pros

  • Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre
  • Larger water tank so you can cover a larger area before emptying

Cons

  • It doesn't come with any additional attachments so it'll just be carpets you'll be able to clean with it, but the brush head is narrow so you should still be able to get into every nook and cranny
Dimensions106 x 25 x 33 cm
Weight5.7kg
Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity1.8/2.7L
Power840W
ToolsN/A

Best versatile carpet cleaner

BISSELL CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Floor CleanerBISSELL/Amazon

Ideal for regular, routine cleaning as well as those messy accidents that happen in an active family home, this BISSELL CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Floor 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. The two-tank system keeps clean and dirty water separate, ensuring you're always using fresh water and solutions on your floors.

Our reviewer liked that you can switch from hard floors to carpets at the click of a button but found that it was easier to use on hard floors than carpets. Customer reviewers on Amazon commented that they were impressed with the suction of the vacuum and it has a very good drying time.

Our Review: "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."

Pros

  • 3-in-1 floor cleaner (Vacuums, washes and dries simultaneously)
  • Two tank system keeps clean and dirty water separate

Cons

  • Our reviewer found it was better on hard floors than carpets but still pretty good on carpets
DimensionsD35 x H118 x W33 cm
Weight4.9kg
Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity0.83 / 0.62L
Power1560W
ToolsStorage Tray Charging Station, Dual Action Multi-Surface Brush roll, Multi-Surface Formula

Best spot carpet cleaner for pets

Vax Spotwash Spot Carpet CleanerVax/Argos
Price: $90 (was £130)

www.argos.co.uk

The VAX Spotwash Spot Carpet Cleaner is an amazingly affordable option if you're looking for a compact carpet cleaner to lift stubborn pet stains. You can also use it on the stairs, sofas, upholstery and more.

With various attachments to optimise its performance, this spot cleaner has edge-to-edge cleaning, sucks up spills and has a self-cleaning mechanism that flushes the hose out when finished. Ideal for smaller spaces, cleaning rugs and upholstery, this multi-purpose machine also has a 2-year warranty.

With an average rating of 4.7 stars, this VAX Spotwash is recommended by 94 per cent of customers on Argos. As it's a spot cleaner, customers love that it's lightweight, easy to use and store but due to its size, it's not designed to cover larger areas of carpet and is best suited for smaller pet stains and accidents on upholstery.

Pros

  • Small, compact, storage-saving
  • Great for a more targetted clean on smaller areas

Cons

  • It is not ideal for cleaning large floor areas
Dimensions38.2 x 35.8 x 24.1cm
Weight3.9kg
Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity1.5 / 1L
Power1200W
Tools1.52m hose, 1 x Multi-purpose Attachment 1 x Hard Floor Scrub Attachment, plus 1x 250ml Spot Washer Cleaning Solution.

Best carpet cleaner for allergy sufferers

VAX  ECB1SPV1 Platinum Power Max Carpet CleanerVAX
Price: $270

The VAX ECB1SPV1 Platinum Power Max Carpet Cleaner claims to be able to remove up to 93 per cent of bacteria, fungi and allergens, leaving your carpets fresh and dry within an hour.

The hand wash tool and stretch hose let you easily clean any stubborn spots in your home, including stairs and upholstery. It has a large 3.5L tank, so there's no need to stop and empty it out. It also has an XL brush bar with seven rotating brushes inside to really get rid of embedded dirt and pet hair in your carpets.

92 per cent of Very customers recommend this VAX carpet cleaner, with customers finding it offers good performance and is easy to maintain. Some reviewers have had issues with the cleaning solution leaking from the base of the unit, but one customer found that if they didn’t fill the cleaning solution to the max mark, this didn’t happen.

Pros

  • XL brush bar with seven rotating brushes to work wonders on embedded dirt
  • Great option for allergy sufferers as it claims to remove up to 93 per cent of bacteria, fungi and other allergens

Cons

  • Some reviewers have had issues with the cleaning solution leaking from the base of the unit
Dimensions110 x 34 x 41 cm
Weight9.6kg
Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity3.5 / 2.9L
Power1200W
Tools2 x 250ml Platinum solution1 x 250ml Pre-treatment solution, Pre-treatment hose, Upholstery tool, Spin scrub brush, Hard floor tool

Best carpet cleaner for smaller spaces

Rug Doctor 93306 Portable Spot CleanerRug Doctor/Amaozn
Price: $165.81

The Rug Doctor 93306 Portable Spot Cleaner is ideal for cleaning accidental spills and stains that happen at home as well as cleaning up pet mess, although it isn't designed to clean your whole house unless you're VERY patient. If you have a rug, carpeted stairs or small sections of carpet to clean, it would work well. It can also be used on mattresses, sofas, car seats and in caravans.

It's equipped with a dual-action motorised brush, which does the hard work of scrubbing stubborn stains out, like pet accidents or vomit, so you don’t have to. It’s easy to manoeuvre as well because it comes with wheels and a retractable handle to help you glide it around with ease. 

Both our tester and customers online are impressed with the overall suction and power of this smaller machine and loved how versatile it is as it can be used to clean everything from stairs and mattresses to caravans and cars too. Our tester did report issues with leaking if they tried to lay the machine flat, and not being able to lay the machine flat also made trying to remove the water tank tricker too.

Read our full Rug Doctor Carpet Cleaner review to discover our thoughts in more detail.

Pros

  • The pull handle makes it easy to move around
  • Versatile and can be used to clean a variety of surfaces

Cons

  • Not designed to be laid flat as it leaks, which makes emptying the water tank tricky
Dimensions40 x W 41 x 28 cm
Weight7.4kg
Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity1.9 / 1.1L
Power1100W
ToolsMotorised brush head

We put some of the most frequently asked questions about cleaning carpets when you have pets to Head of Product Management at VAX, Haylee Bourne.

Best carpet cleaner for pets FAQs

How often should you clean your carpets?

“Whilst vacuuming is done habitually, carpet washing is often lower down the cleaning agenda, but it shouldn’t be as deeper down in the carpet pile, bacteria, which is invisible to the naked eye, can lie undetected causing unpleasant odours. A regular, deep-clean, thorough carpet washing is particularly important if you have children and pets in the home, to keep carpets looking refreshed and smelling clean.
“Homes with pets may need daily vacuuming, depending upon the pets you keep and how often they shed. Whilst vacuuming will keep on top of surface dirt, dust and pet hair, at VAX, we recommend a regular deep clean of carpets to agitate and lift stubborn dirt from your carpet, cleaning deep down into the fibres to remove ingrained stains and help prolong its life. Washing your carpets every two to three months with an antibacterial solution will help kill bacteria and remove stains, dirt and pet messes, leaving them revitalised as well as ensuring your carpets keep their appearance for longer.
“There are many carpet washers designed specifically for busy homes with pets. Look for models that come with pet stain and odour-removing pre-treatment solution that can be sprayed onto stains on carpets and in pet beds, to help break down stains before you start washing. Carpet washers with hand tools that are designed to automatically spin and scrub out stains can also be helpful, as less elbow grease is required from you!”

How do you keep a carpet clean with pets?

“Unless you have a breed of dog that sheds less, you are likely to find hair daily around your home. To help agitate and lift stubborn dirt and pet hair from your carpets, look for a pet vacuum cleaner which is designed to tackle tougher cleaning. In addition to your regular cleaning routine, don’t forget to regularly vacuum and wash their pet beds, as well as vacuum other soft furnishings to help get rid of traces of pet hair and dander.
“One of the biggest challenges of owning a pet can be keeping your home clean after being outdoors, as they can bring in all sorts of dirt and debris which can stain or become embedded into carpets. To help remove any excess dirt from muddy paws, dogs may be willing to be towelled off when coming into the house from the outdoors. When they are young, it’s a good idea to train them to stand or sit on a doormat whilst you get them used to drying off their body and paws. Where cats have free access in and out of the home via a cat flap, it can be harder to channel where muddy paws leave their mark. We suggest placing a mat by your cat flap that can take the worst of mud and water to limit the impact on your carpets.
“If you do find dried mud on your carpet, it’s sometimes best to loosen and then vacuum up the excess dirt with your vacuum cleaner. For wet mud, try a spot washer. This is a quick and convenient way to deal with pet mess and stains left on carpets, furniture, pet beds and other areas around the home. Accidents from puppy training or older dogs are best tackled in the moment, together with a cleaning formula and antimicrobial tools specifically designed to remove these types of pet mess.”

This article contains expert advice from Haylee Bourne, Head of Product Management at one of the UK's leading floorcare specialists, VAX UK. She is responsible for developing their floorcare products all the way from idea through to launch with the consumers’ needs at the heart of every decision.

Jade Moscrop is the Commercial Content Editor for Bauer Media Group, specialising in lifestyle topics. When she’s not writing about chic homeware, pet products and beauty buys, she can usually be found wandering the countryside, buying houseplants or listening to female-fronted rock bands.

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