Bissell Big Green Professional
A practical carpet cleaner (upright washer) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
Should You Buy or Hire a Carpet Cleaner?
You can hire a carpet cleaner (like a Rug Doctor) from supermarkets, or pay a professional - so is it worth buying your own? Here's how to decide.
When buying wins
If you'll deep-clean carpets more than once or twice a year - which most homes with pets, children or pale carpets will - buying quickly works out cheaper than repeated hire fees or professional visits. Owning one also means you can deal with spills and accidents the instant they happen, rather than waiting for a hire slot, and you're not lugging a machine back to the shop by a deadline. A mid-range Vax or Bissell pays for itself within a few cleans.
When hiring or a pro makes sense
If you only need a deep clean very occasionally - say once a year or before moving out - hiring a powerful machine like a Rug Doctor can be cheaper than buying and takes up no storage. For very large, heavily soiled or delicate carpets, a professional clean may give the best result and saves the effort. The more often you'll do it, though, the more owning makes sense.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to buy or hire a carpet cleaner?
If you'll clean carpets more than once or twice a year, buying is usually cheaper - hire fees and pro visits add up fast. For rare, one-off deep cleans, hiring a powerful machine can be the cheaper, no-storage option.
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..