Bissell Big Green Professional
A practical carpet cleaner (upright washer) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
How to Use a Carpet Cleaner (Step by Step)
A carpet cleaner does a far better job than a vacuum on ground-in dirt, but only if you use it correctly. Here's a simple step-by-step that works for popular machines like Vax and Bissell.
Quick answer
Vacuum first, fill the clean-water tank with warm water and the recommended carpet-cleaning solution, then slowly push the machine forward to release solution and pull it back to suck up the dirty water. Work in overlapping strips, finish with a dry suction pass, and let the carpet dry fully before walking on it.
Before you start
Vacuum thoroughly to lift loose dirt, treat any stains with a pre-spray, and move furniture out of the way. Do a quick test on a hidden patch to check for colour-fastness, and open a window to help drying later.
Step by step
1. Fill the clean-water tank with warm (not boiling) water and the correct amount of solution. 2. Push forward slowly while pressing the trigger to release solution. 3. Release the trigger and pull back slowly to suck the dirty water up. 4. Work in overlapping strips across the room, towards the door. 5. Do a final 'dry' pass (no solution) over each strip to pull out as much water as possible. 6. Empty the dirty-water tank when full and refill clean water as needed.
Drying and aftercare
Don't over-wet the carpet - more passes with the trigger off remove more water and speed drying. Ventilate the room, and expect several hours to dry (sometimes overnight). Keep off it until dry, then give it a light vacuum once dry to lift the pile. Rinse the machine's tanks after use.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How do you use a Vax carpet cleaner?
The same way as most machines: vacuum first, fill the tank with warm water and Vax solution, push forward to spray and pull back to suck up, in overlapping strips, then do a dry pass. Check your model's manual for tank details.
How long does carpet take to dry after cleaning?
Usually a few hours, sometimes overnight, depending on how wet it got and the ventilation. Doing extra dry-suction passes and opening windows speeds it up.
Can you use too much water in a carpet cleaner?
Yes - over-wetting leaves the carpet soggy, slow to dry and can affect the backing. Use the right amount of solution and finish with dry-suction passes.
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..