As a pet owner of three dogs, Bella, my Cockapoo; Barney, my Labrador cross, and Gina, my Yorkshire Terrier cross, I know how much mess our furry friends can bring into the home. Carpets make for a cosy living space but they’re also a magnet for dirt, dust and bacteria – especially with pets around. That’s why I’ve put together this round-up of the best carpet cleaners for pet owners so you can find the perfect solution to keep your home looking and feeling fresh.
While you won’t have to worry about scratches and scuff 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, which is another challenge entirely. I’ve been there trying to tackle stubborn stains and endless fur with just a vacuum but using specialist carpet cleaning products will make the job considerably easier and less stressful. A carpet cleaner looks a lot like a regular vacuum but works by using water and a specially formulated cleaning solution to lift dirt right out of the carpets.
Best carpet cleaner for pets at a glance:
Whether it’s muddy paws or the occasional toilet mishap, accidents and messes are bound to happen when you’ve got a home with pets. I’ve learned the hard way that sometimes, a standard carpet spray or a spot carpet cleaner 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.
To help you find the best carpet cleaning machines for pets, I’ve researched the market for the best available models to suit all budgets, from big brands, such as VAX, Bissell, and the Rug Doctor. So why not check out the picks below that will make carpet cleaning a whole lot easier and will often make your carpet look as good as new?
The best carpet cleaner for pets UK
Best carpet cleaner for efficiency
BISSELL/AmazonThe 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
| Dimensions | 38 x 32 x 110 cm |
| Weight | 8.62kg |
| Clean Tank Capacity | 3.7L |
| Power | 800W |
| Tools | Tough Stain Tool2-in-1 Pet Upholstery Tool3-in-1 Stair ToolUpholstery hose, Nozzle cleaning tool |
TESTED
Best carpet cleaner with choice of attachments
Yours.co.uk/VAXThe 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
| Dimensions | 48.9 x 40.4 x 38 cm |
| Weight | 6.4kg |
| Clean / Dirt Tank Capacity | 2.7 / 1.5L |
| Power | 800W |
| Tools | 1 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
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
| Dimensions | 106 x 25 x 33 cm |
| Weight | 5.7kg |
| Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity | 1.8/2.7L |
| Power | 840W |
| Tools | N/A |
TESTED
Best versatile carpet cleaner
BISSELL/AmazonIdeal 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 because you can keep track of where you've cleaned and where you haven't. That being said, our Yours.co.uk tester still found that it collected larger amounts of pet hair that was missed by a regular vacuum while using the cleaning feature. Customer reviewers on Amazon commented that they were impressed with the suction of the vacuum and it has a very good drying time.
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
| Dimensions | D35 x H118 x W33 cm |
| Weight | 4.9kg |
| Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity | 0.83 / 0.62L |
| Power | 1560W |
| Tools | Storage Tray Charging Station, Dual Action Multi-Surface Brush roll, Multi-Surface Formula |
Best spot carpet cleaner for pets
Vaxwww.currys.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
| Dimensions | 38.2 x 35.8 x 24.1cm |
| Weight | 3.9kg |
| Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity | 1.5 / 1L |
| Power | 1200W |
| Tools | 1.52m 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
VAXVax.co.uk
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
| Dimensions | 110 x 34 x 41 cm |
| Weight | 9.6kg |
| Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity | 3.5 / 2.9L |
| Power | 1200W |
| Tools | 2 x 250ml Platinum solution1 x 250ml Pre-treatment solution, Pre-treatment hose, Upholstery tool, Spin scrub brush, Hard floor tool |
TESTED
Best carpet cleaner for smaller spaces
Rug Doctor/AmazonThe 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
| Dimensions | 40 x W 41 x 28 cm |
| Weight | 7.4kg |
| Clean / Dirty Tank Capacity | 1.9 / 1.1L |
| Power | 1100W |
| Tools | Motorised 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.
Rosie Floyd is a Senior Home & Pets Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.