Bissell Big Green Professional
A practical carpet cleaner (upright washer) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
The Best Carpet Cleaners in the UK (2026)
A carpet cleaner (or carpet washer) deep-cleans carpets, rugs and upholstery by spraying a cleaning solution, scrubbing it in and extracting the dirty water - lifting ground-in dirt, stains and odours that a vacuum leaves behind. The choice comes down to type (full-size upright or portable spot cleaner), tank size, brushes and tools, and whether you need pet features. This guide explains what matters, then lists our top picks.
Quick answer
For whole-room cleaning, a full-size upright washer (Vax, Bissell, Rug Doctor) is the one; for spills, stairs and pet accidents, a portable spot cleaner (Bissell SpotClean, Vax SpotWash) is far handier. Many homes end up wanting both. Vax and Bissell dominate the UK market.
What to look for
- Type - upright for whole rooms, spot/portable for spills and upholstery.
- Tank size - bigger clean-water tanks mean fewer refills.
- Brushes - powered/rotating brushes agitate dirt for a deeper clean.
- Pet tools - for hair, stains and odours if you have animals.
- Heated cleaning - warm air/water helps lift stubborn stains.
- Weight and storage - uprights are bulky; spot cleaners tuck away.
How we pick
We rank on real-world cleaning ability: type, tank size, brushes, tools and ease of use. We don't show scraped prices or star ratings; our editorial score reflects how well each deep-cleans typical UK carpets. Remember a carpet cleaner is for wet deep-cleaning, not everyday vacuuming. Check the live Amazon price, as these go on deal often.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Bissell SpotClean Pro
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable, 750W) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
#3 
Vax Rapid Power Refresh CDCW-RPXR
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable, 1200W) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
#4 
Vax Rapid Power Revive
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable, 1200W) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
#5 
Vax SpotWash CDCW-CSXS
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
#6 
Vax Compact Power
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable, 800W) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
#7 
VAX SpotWash Duo CDCW-CSXA
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
#8 
Bissell SpotClean ProHeat
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable, 330W) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
#9 
Vax SpotWash Home Pet-Design CDSW-MPXA
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
#10 
Vax SpotWash Home and Pet CDSW-MPDP
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
Frequently asked questions
Do carpet cleaners really work?
Yes - they spray solution into the carpet, scrub it with brushes and extract the dirty water, lifting ground-in dirt, stains and odours a vacuum can't reach. Results depend on the machine, the solution and letting carpets dry fully afterwards.
Vax or Bissell - which is better?
Both are excellent and dominate the UK market. Vax is the best-selling brand with strong upright washers and SpotWash spot cleaners; Bissell are carpet-care specialists, especially good for pets (SpotClean, Big Green). Choose by the specific model and whether you want upright or spot cleaning.
Is a carpet cleaner the same as a vacuum?
No - a vacuum picks up dry dirt, while a carpet cleaner wet-washes the carpet with solution and extracts the dirty water for a much deeper clean. You still need a vacuum for everyday use; the carpet cleaner is for periodic deep cleans.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Bissell Big Green Professional (our score 9.6/10) - A practical carpet cleaner (upright washer) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home..