Keeping the carpets clean might seem like a never-ending task, and shoving furniture over stains only works so much.
If you throw in dirty shoes, food, and pets, your flooring may be beyond its prime.
Hence, we’ve compiled a list of the best carpet shampoos to remove household stains from carpets permanently.
Always use a small amount of one of these cleansing formulas at first, particularly if you haven’t used it previously.
It may be necessary to clear persistent stains multiple times, but be cautious not to wet the area and make the stain more obvious.
1. VAX Platinum Antibacterial Solution
This product removes 99% of germs from your carpets and is designed for use with the VAX Platinum SmartWash carpet washer.
The cleaner also comes with a stretch hose, a hand tool, and a 2-in-1 cleaning tool useful for removing tough stains off furniture and stairs.
Just pour this solution directly from the container into the cleaning machine’s special tank, add warm water, switch it on, and press the washing cycle ahead to begin.
The brush bars below the washer move the carpet fibers to remove stubborn stains, dirt, and spills.
After washing your carpets, switch on the “dry only mode” to dry them swiftly.
Since the cleaner automatically dispenses the proper mixture of clean water and solution as you press forward to wash, the carpet will dry rapidly after cleaning.
Pouring any residual solution back into the bottle for the next time after you’ve completed washing is simple. This is undoubtedly one of the best carpet shampoos.
2. Bodhi Dog Pet Carpet Powder
Certain natural and plant-based formulas might fall short regarding effectiveness, but that is not true with Bodhi Dog powder.
However, like with any powder, you should use it sparingly; it works well for spots, stains, and thorough cleaning.
Cat owners will particularly appreciate the solution as it substitutes ground corn cobs for baking soda, which may cause cats to urinate on freshly cleaned carpets and rugs.
Also, the formula is friendlier on carpets and rugs than baking soda-based powder solutions; therefore, users with particularly sensitive carpets or rugs should successfully use this product.
3. Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Oxy Carpet Shampoo
Generally, any carpet shampoo that doesn’t call for rinsing should be avoided.
Encapsulation shampoos, a more recent choice in home carpet shampoos, produce a distinct chemical reaction.
After the product has dried, vacuum it (along with any crystallized residue left behind) rather than wash and extract it with water.
Use the Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Oxy Carpet Shampoo to attempt this approach.
However, remember that the procedure differs from those for the best carpet shampoos listed here and that you’ll need to account for drying time and vacuuming in your schedule.
Pre-treatment is also advised for carpet stains that are difficult to remove.
A range of choices is available from Rocco & Roxie Supply Co., but each is sold separately.
The Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Oxy Stain Remover, however, stands out as the stain remover making it one of the best carpet shampoos.
4. Vanish Carpet Care and Upholstery Vacuum Up Foam
Both carpets and upholstery can be cleaned with this multipurpose foam cleaner. This is undoubtedly one of the best carpet shampoos.
Thanks to the additional conditioning ingredients, this foam cleans and deodorizes your carpet while effectively removing tough stains.
Routine vacuuming doesn’t thoroughly clean your carpet’s fibers, making it simple to spot stains and germs that are still present below the surface.
When you have a handy foam cleaner like this on hand, you can remove spills fast and keep any stain residue from penetrating your carpet’s deeper layers.
Make sure to vacuum the carpet to remove any loose dirt before using this cleaner.
Shake the container well before spraying the foam over the area that needs to be treated.
Using a soft brush or a clean, wet sponge, gently push the foam into the carpet before allowing it to soak for a few hours.
Run a vacuum over the carpet once the foam thoroughly cleans the stained spot. It is important to test this foam’s color fastness before using it, especially on upholstered surfaces.
Test the fabric, rug, carpet, or sofa in a hidden area. Repeat the procedure if the stain does not go away.
5. Biokleen Carpet & Rug Shampoo Concentrate
The 64-ounce Biokleen jug can produce more than 30 gallons of shampoo.
It is gentle enough for some of the more delicate carpets and fabrics you may wish to brighten up since it claims to be safe for all washable fabrics.
It is still powerful enough to clean carpets daily. We like the list of plant-based, eco-friendly ingredients and the fact that it degrades naturally.
However, this mixture is absent of any of the more potent chemicals and soaps required for the task if you need to clean or sanitize your flooring.
Also, it doesn’t have an unscented alternative, so you may want to avoid it if you or anybody else in your home has a smell sensitivity.
Yet, people believe it to be a success for your routine eco-friendly cleaning requirements. Another traditional fragrance in cleaning products is citrus.
6. Carbona Oxy-Powered 2-in-1 Carpet Cleaner
This choice from Carbona is one of the best carpet shampoos for you if you want to use a foam cleaner to clean your whole rug, carpet, or certain high-traffic areas.
A sponge or bristle applicator head and oxygen-activated ingredients are also used to remove stains chemically and physically.
This Carbona cleanser is great for cleaning high-traffic areas that might collect dirt and grime, and it’s also gentle enough for use on upholstery.
Even though it requires a little more work, the mild cleanser is powerful enough to remove even the hardest stains.
You should avoid delicate fabrics with this cleaner, just as with the Bissell foam formula.
7. Nature’s Miracle Carpet Shampoo
If a product is marketed as “Nature’s Miracle,” you can have high expectations. This carpet shampoo stands true to its name in this case.
Nature’s Miracle is one of the best carpet shampoos for pet stains due to its adaptability and efficiency.
The enzymatic composition not only tackles some of the hardest stains dogs may leave behind, but it also removes smells and provides the refresh that many people seek in a carpet cleaner.
It comes in various scents and container sizes and may be used with any brand of carpet cleaner.
Moreover, it’s still a fantastic choice for treating pet-related stains. Also, the manufacturer offers a range of matching formulae for pre-treatment and spot treatments.
Remember that this shampoo doesn’t provide a sanitizing or disinfecting solution if you’re seeking one.
Yet, it’s a great option for your general stain treatment and carpet cleaning requirements.
8. Arm & Hammer Extra Strength Carpet Cleaner
If you’ve ever moved into a house with carpet that smelled musty, smoky, or dirty, you know how difficult it is to remove those odors.
You need one of the best carpet shampoos to reach all the fibers when cleaning your carpet or rug thoroughly.
Baking soda, a cleaning powerhouse, makes up most of this Arm & Hammer product.
However, it also contains a few other ingredients, such as Oxi Clean, which helps to pull dirt and grime out of the carpet.
If your carpet requires a thorough cleaning, sprinkle it on and let it sit for a few minutes, or gently use a clean, dry brush to scrape the solution into the fibers.
As previously said, use these powders cautiously to avoid harming your vacuum.
9. Bissell Professional Stain & Odor
You should search for a carpet cleaner with an enzyme-based composition to eliminate odors from mishaps like vomit, urine, and more.
The enzymes in the mixture basically “eat” the odor-producing bacteria.
This is crucial for dealing with pet urine stains since animals will continue using the same bathroom spot if they smell urine.
However, this Bissell cleaner is effective on a wide range of stains, not only pet stains.
It has the professional strength to remove stains from eatables, beverages, and other liquids.
To ensure everything is thoroughly removed, Bissell advises covering any especially difficult stains with a wet cloth for 12 to 72 hours after spraying.
10. Puracy Natural Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo
Although many of the best carpet shampoos are designed to be used only with a carpet cleaning machine, there are some choices if you want to wash carpets by hand.
If you choose this path, you can use Puracy Professional Carpet Cleaning Machine Detergent.
While the brand’s name refers to cleaner machines, it also offers manual cleaning instructions. Only a bucket, a towel, and a lot of water are all you’ll need.
Several Puracy brand cleansers have been featured in other roundups on The Spruce, typically praised for the plant-based components and concentrated formulas.
They continue the trend with their carpet shampoo, which provides a four-times-concentrated solution.
11. Bissell Pet Power Shot Oxy
This Bissell foam mixture works well on almost every spill you may make on your carpet, despite being created for pet stains and odors.
After a minute of application, the formula’s oxygen activation swiftly starts to work to remove smells and stains.
Since it works so rapidly, don’t use it as a general shampoo for your carpet or rug and just as a spot treatment.
Also, this powerful mixture should be acceptable for most carpets and rugs; it shouldn’t be used on wool or other fragile fabrics as it can take the color off the rug.
12. Nookary Probiotic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
This probiotic carpet cleaner is an excellent choice for households with kids and pets since it is vegan, cruelty-free, environmentally friendly, and perfume-scented.
When it comes to carpets, odors may become unpleasant since stains can penetrate unnoticed into the carpet’s fibers.
With this useful cleaner, keeping your carpets, upholstery, and textiles fresher for longer is simple.
The non-toxic mix cleverly allows for spot cleaning, fast freshening, or thorough carpet cleaning at various doses.
This product comes in a glass spray container and is refillable. For spot or carpet machine cleaning, the concentrated mix in the 500ml refill pouch may be diluted up to 40 or 10 times.
You may send the pouch back to be filled once it is empty. Add 50ml of cleaner to your spray container and 450ml of water to dilute it for a fast carpet refresher on busy days.
When cleaning up a stain or removing an odor, spray your carpet instead.
Choose from Sicilian Lemon, Peaceful Moments, or English Garden among three perfumes based on essential oils. This is one of the best carpet shampoos.
13. Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator
Sometimes odors rather than stains need attention. Don’t be fooled by this product’s term “Pet Odor Eliminator” if you want to eliminate offensive scents.
Instead, think about using a solution designed specifically for that purpose. It can handle any odor caused by a pet or something else entirely.
When a room needs a quick refresh, or you’ve just cleaned up a mess, you may apply it straight on carpets to combat lingering odors. The orange scent is derived from essential oils.
The company also sells a UV torch so you can locate the source of odors, but be aware that the set is more expensive than the odor eliminator alone.
Once again, this mixture is an odor eliminator rather than a cleaner.
Rooms will smell clean without the need for further washing or scrubbing. Use a clean spray bottle to apply the odor eliminator after mixing it with water.
14. ZEP All-Purpose Carpet Shampoo
With this carpet shampoo concentration, 25 gallons may be produced from a single 128-ounce container. It is one of the best carpet shampoos.
It won’t be easy to find a more economical option to stock up on if you plan on doing a lot of cleaning or want to be prepared.
Most significantly, it’s also efficient in addition to being reasonably priced.
When you look at the outcomes it produces, you probably won’t be able to tell you made a less costly decision.
It does take some time for the ZEP cleaner process to dry, and you’ll also need to vacuum up afterward.
You’ll probably be happy with your decision if you include these cleaning procedures in your routine.
It’s a multipurpose, all-purpose cleaner that will become a mainstay in your cleaning supplies and is designed for Bissell, Hoover, and Rug Doctor carpet-cleaning machines.
15. OxiClean Large Area Carpet Cleaner
OxiClean is one of the best carpet shampoos. It frequently ranks well in several cleaning categories, and its carpet shampoo perfectly matches its competitive peers.
To effectively remove difficult stains and treat worn high-traffic areas, the oxygen-based cleaner generates a chemical reaction that helps to dissolve built-up dirt and stains.
This is precisely what you want from a carpet wash. It is very inexpensive and leaves a fresh scent behind.
This selection has already been rated as one of the best carpet shampoos for carpet cleaning machines, but it merits praise for its ability to tackle vast, high-traffic areas.
Pleshek advises that although oxygen-based cleansers might be effective, it’s important to be careful with how much and how you use them.
You should ensure you adhere to all of the safety instructions provided on the product’s label.
These instructions inform you to use the product in a well-ventilated area, wear safety goggles and gloves to prevent contact with your skin and eyes, and never mix one cleaner with another.
OxiClean does include spray cleansers and spot treatments so that you may choose a comparable item in the same range.
16. Resolve Ultra Fast-Drying Carpet Powder
Powder carpet shampoos are one of the best carpet shampoos.
They are effective on all types of carpets and rugs, but they are particularly helpful to have on hand for more delicate carpets, such as vintage or wool types.
This shampoo’s powder formula makes it an excellent spot treatment to have on hand at all times since it helps remove both smells and germs and soak up the original pet waste.
Always start with a vacuum cleaner with a clean bin or bag to prevent damage while working with powder cleaners. While applying the powder to the carpet or rug, start lightly.
17. Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover
Folex functions so wonderfully that you could convince people it works like magic. After only a few dabs, the stain should be gone.
Since it works well, most stains may be removed without tedious scrubbing or reapplication.
Folex doesn’t need washing, but to remove all residue, you should gently rinse any cleaning with water. It suits kids and pets and may be used on carpets and upholstery.
Folex’s one drawback is that although it works well on stains, it doesn’t get rid of odors of any kind.
Thus, to make sure the smell is gone, use another cleaner with an enzyme-based formula after using it to treat a particularly foul mess. It is still among the best carpet shampoos.
