A regular ‘ol vacuum cleaner can only do so much. While they can power through dry dirt, grime, and debris, they’re no match for the deep-set stains, ingrained pet hair, and embedded dirt residing within your carpet. To tackle those pesky residents, you’ll need help from a carpet cleaner.
These handy devices are designed to pick up where the average vacuum lets off. They power through grime a regular vacuum can’t handle using water, heat, and powerful suction, leaving you with a cleaner carpet. But which carpet cleaner is best for your needs? This guide explores our findings of the best carpet cleaners in Canada for 2024 to help you choose the best model for your home.
Best Carpet Cleaners for Canadians: Fresher Carpets in 2024
- Best Overall: Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner
- Best for Large Capacity: Hoover Smartwash Upright Carpet Cleaner
- Best for Pet Homes: Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush Carpet Cleaner
- Best for Ease of Use: Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner
- Best Splurge: Bissell ProHeat Revolution Premier Clean Shot Carpet Cleaner
- Best Multi-Functional: Hoover CleanSlate Plus Carpet Cleaner
Why Did We Choose These Carpet Cleaners in Canada?
Some carpet cleaners naturally perform better than others. You may need a different option based on how you’ll use it and your preferences, which is why we’ve included such a broad range of carpet cleaners on our list. We uncovered the best option for your home based on research and expert opinions, which is why we are confident that there is a carpet cleaner on our list for you. Here’s why each of the best carpet cleaners in Canada for 2024 made our list.
The Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner is an outstanding choice for Canadians seeking a capable, portable model. This compact carpet cleaner is lightweight and easy to carry, allowing you to traipse around your home without lugging a hefty cleaner. It’s perfect for cleaning carpets, upholstery, car seats, and more.
The Hoover Smartwash Upright Carpet Cleaner is next on this list, securing its place as our top pick for a large-capacity model. This model can hold up to one gallon of water at a time, eliminating the need for frequent trips to your sink to refill the tank. This is ideal for Canadians with more carpeted square footage to clean, as it’ll save you a few trips for refills.
The Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush Carpet Cleaner was designed with pets in mind, and its array of features reflects that. From a powerful four-row cleaning brush roll to dual-tank tech, this model is perfect for busy households with pets.
The Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner is perfect for Canadians who want an easy-to-use carpet cleaner. This model features heated drying, powerful SpinScrub tech, and an automatic detergent mixing system to make cleaning your carpets easier than ever.
The Bissell ProHeat Revolution Premier Clean Shot Carpet Cleaner comes at a steeper price but is teeming with handy features, securing its spot as the best splurge pick on this list. From a pre-treater feature to tackle tough stains to three cleaning modes, this carpet cleaner can do it all.
The Hoover CleanSlate Plus Carpet Cleaner earns its spot for its multi-functionality. It works perfectly for deep-cleaning carpets, rugs, upholstery, and car interiors, making it a versatile pick for Canadians with varying cleaning needs.
Best Overall
Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner
The Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner is an excellent choice for Canadians who want a portable option. It’s a handy, versatile and portable carpet cleaner, ideal for tackling spots and stains on upholstery, stairs, area rugs, and auto interiors. All of these features make it our choice for the best carpet cleaner in Canada overall.
It’s equipped with Heatwave Technology that maintains a consistent water temperature throughout the cleaning process, enhancing the effectiveness of the cleaning and helping to dry the carpet after a thorough bath.
It features plenty of power and ample suction capabilities to siphon deep-set dirt, grime, pet hair, and stains from your carpets. Multiple attachments help you with the process, including a 3-inch Tough Stain Tool designed to tackle stubborn stains. An included 3-in-1 stair tool helps clean all parts of your stairwell carpet, including the curves, corners, and treads.
The hose cleans itself when you’re done, ensuring you don’t have to worry about trying to reach inside the hose to achieve a thorough clean. This helps eliminate odours due to gunk and grime festering inside the hose while the cleaner sits in storage.
It features a slimmer profile, allowing it to tuck away easily when you’re not using it. It’s also reasonably lightweight, ensuring you don’t have to lug around an overly heavy cleaner as you traverse the stairs.
Key Features
- Self-cleaning hose. The hose cleans itself, ensuring pet hair, dirt, and grime are never left in the hose while the system sits in storage.
- Portable. This model features a handle for easy carrying and a slim profile for convenient storage. If you don’t have a lot of space to store a carpet cleaner, this is an ideal option.
- Included attachments. A handful of attachments designed for stairs and stains mean you can get more done with this carpet cleaner, especially if you don’t want to purchase them separately.
- Heatwave Technology. This technology helps maintain a consistent temperature while cleaning for a deeper, more thorough cleaning.
Our Expert’s Take
“This model is an outstanding choice for those with stairs, upholstered furniture, or vehicles with cloth seats. It’s incredibly portable so you can clean all of your spaces.”
Best for Large Capacity
Hoover Smartwash Upright Carpet Cleaner
The Hoover Smartwash Carpet Cleaner is a worthwhile consideration for Canadians with larger homes and more carpeted square footage to clean. It features an impressive capacity with a one-gallon tank and a full-size design for quickly and efficiently cleaning larger spaces.
It’s an advanced, upright carpet cleaner that simplifies the cleaning process with automatic technologies. The cleaner is designed with Automatic Cleaning Technology, which pushes to clean and pulls back to dry, eliminating the need for multiple passes.
It features HeatForce technology for faster drying, helping to minimize the possibility of mould and mildew growth. On top of that, it features Auto Mix to precisely mix and dispense cleaning detergents for optimal cleaning to reduce the guesswork involved in trying to select the perfect amount of detergent to use.
An Auto Dry feature that delivers powerful extraction with HeatForce for faster drying. The FlexForce PowerBrushes gently remove deep dirt, debris, and pet messes, while the 1-Step Removable Nozzle makes it easy to clean the brushes and ensures your brushes stay clean and ready for use.
It also includes a 2-in-1 Antimicrobial Pet Tool, an eight-foot hose, an accessory storage bag, and a trial-size cleaning solution bottle. It comes with everything you need to get started, eliminating the need to buy detergent for at least one quick cleaning session.
Key Features
- Large capacity. The tank holds an impressive amount of water to ensure you get further before needing to refill it. the ability to clean your carpets in one pass is invaluable.
- Lengthy hose. This cleaner can be hefty and cumbersome for carting up the stairs, but the eight-foot hose helps minimize the need to cart it with you up too many stairs.
- HeatForce drying. The heated drying technology helps ensure your carpets aren’t overly wet after cleaning to prevent mould and mildew buildup.
- Automatic cleaning. The cleaner automatically recognizes when to wash and when to dry, eliminating the need for multiple passes.
Our Expert’s Take
“If you have a larger home with lots of carpets, this cleaner is a solid choice. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t require frequent refills.”
Best for Pet Homes
Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush Carpet Cleaner
The Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush Carpet Cleaner was designed with pet messes in mind, making it a phenomenal choice for Canadians with pets. Each feature helps tackle pesky pet messes, from accidents to spills.
For example, a Four-Row DeepReach PowerBrush Roll blazes through the gunk on your carpet, lifting dirt and stains away from the carpet and leaving your floors in better condition. The nozzle is easily removable to ensure you can keep your machine clean and ready for your next cleaning task.
The cleaner features a 7.5-inch cleaning path, allowing you to clean more at once. While it isn’t the largest option out there, it works well for small to mid-sized spaces with numerous carpeted surfaces. It’s lightweight, so you can easily cart it up and down stairs without too much of a hassle.
It features two-tank technology, ensuring you’ll never clean your floor with dirty water. The upper tank contains fresh, clean water, while the lower tank traps the grubby water siphoned from your floor after cleaning. Both tanks are easily removable for effortless filling and emptying.
Key Features
- Dual tanks. Two tanks keep clean and dirty water separate, ensuring you never wash your carpets with grubby water. It’s simple to empty the tanks, too.
- DeepReach roll. The DeepReach cleaning brush roll helps lift embedded dirt and pet hair from your carpets to achieve a cleaner result.
- Solid cleaning path. A 7.5-inch cleaning path covers more ground at once, so you can spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your clean carpets.
- Removable nozzle. The nozzle pops off the cleaner for easy cleanup and maintenance after you finish bathing your carpets.
Our Expert’s Take
“While this carpet cleaner isn’t anything fancy, it’s equipped with everything it needs to get the job done. You can get all of your carpet cleaning done easily with this simple machine.”
Best for Ease of Use
Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner
The Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner is designed to deliver comprehensive, professional-grade cleaning for your carpets without complex controls that require combing through a confusing manual. It provides high-end results without the complexity of an overly fancy system, earning its place as our top pick for usability.
It features SpinScrub Brush Technology that safely scrubs carpet fibres from every angle to tackle tough dirt and stains while extracting pet hair and other greebles lodged in the carpet. Multiple accessories allow you to adjust your approach based on the type of surface you’re cleaning, whether it’s a car seat or your favourite rug.
The heating technology speeds up drying time while the wash/rinse selector ensures your carpets undergo thorough cleaning and rinsing by placing utmost control in your hands. Its Smart Tank system is easy to fill, empty, and clean, ensuring there’s no hassle for that part of the process.
The automatic detergent mixing system further accelerates the process, quickly supplying the best mix of detergent and water for optimal cleaning results. An included hose lets you elevate your cleaning efforts higher than your carpets, switching things up to clean car seats and furniture.
Key Features
- SpinScrub Tech. The spinning brush technology helps achieve a deeper clean by dislodging deep-set gunk from your carpet fibres.
- Heating tech. Heating technology speeds up the drying process by delivering forced heated air to evaporate the water. You won’t have to spend hours waiting for your carpet to dry.
- Smart tank setup. The tank design offers convenient filling, refilling, emptying, and cleaning. You won’t struggle with this tank, giving it an edge over other options on the Canadian market.
- Automatic mixing. The detergent mixing system combines the perfect amount of water and detergent for effortless cleaning.
Our Expert’s Take
“This model removes the headache from carpet cleaning by delivering helpful functions. SpinScrub technology and automatic detergent mixing make this machine great at cleaning your carpets.”
Best Splurge
Bissell ProHeat Revolution Premier CleanShot
The BISSELL ProHeat Revolution Premier CleanShot Carpet Cleaner is a high-powered, versatile tool designed for Canadians with busy households who need to deal with a variety of messes. It’s pricier than other options on this list, earning its place as our top splurge pick, but its features match the cost.
For example, this cleaner features CleanShot Pretreater, which sprays a solution to tackle tough stains, helping you restore your carpet to its former glory. Built-in Heatwave Technology helps maintain water temperature throughout the cleaning process, ensuring you always have toasty water to achieve a thorough cleaning.
It has three cleaning modes: Max Clean Mode for a thorough clean, Express Clean Mode for a quick, efficient clean that dries in about 30 minutes, and Deep Clean Mode for a deep, intensive clean. The CleanShot Protreater tool designed to tackle stubborn stains only sweetens the deal.
This cleaner comes with an array of accessories, including a 2-in-1 tool designed to blaze through pet messes and siphon pet hair ingrained within the carpet fibres. Included Bissell sample formulas ensure you can get started as soon as you receive your carpet cleaner.
A low-profile foot offers easy maneuverability around and under furniture, and an included hose lets you power through dirt and grime on furniture and stairwells.
Key Features
- Multiple cleaning modes. Three cleaning modes give you multiple options and applications, allowing this cleaner to accommodate many different cleaning needs.
- Full-size. This model is large enough to tackle bigger jobs with its full-size design. You can clean more carpets more efficiently with this option.
- Included accessories. Multiple included accessories act as tools to help you achieve a better, cleaner result. You’ll have everything you need to get started.
- Heatwave technology. Built-in heating technology helps keep your wash water nice and toasty as you clean, which can help reduce bacteria and provide a better, more thorough clean.
Our Expert’s Take
“While this model is pricier than others on this list, it delivers an impressive array of features. A ton of cleaning modes and a full-size design make this machine more efficient overall.”
Best Multi-Functional
Hoover CleanSlate Plus Carpet Cleaner
The Hoover CleanSlate Plus Carpet Cleaner is a compact and portable spot cleaner designed for effective, deep-cleaning of upholstery, rugs, and car interiors. Its versatile nature makes it our top pick for multi-functionality.
It has a powerful suction capability for efficient dirt extraction to ensure it extracts all of the dirt, grime, pet hair, and stains from your carpet. A self-cleaning hose that flushes the hose clean after each use eliminates unpleasant odours associated with a grubby hose.
A dual tank system that keeps clean and dirty water separate for easy filling, emptying, and rinsing. Its multi-purpose tool with antimicrobial materials is another noteworthy mention, making it safe and suitable for various cleaning scenarios.
The product is lightweight, making it easy to carry and maneuver. This makes it ideal for storing in compact spaces but also makes it an excellent option for cleaning various surfaces, from the cloth seats in your car to the rugs adorning your floor. It even comes with a sample bottle of cleaning solution to get you started on your carpet cleaning journey.
Key Features
- Multiple functions. This handy little cleaner works well for various purposes, whether you want to deep clean your car seats, brighten your rug, or breathe new life into your worn-out cloth furniture.
- Dual-tank setup. One tank contains dirty water, while the other holds fresh, clean water, ensuring there’s never any cross-contamination while cleaning.
- Self-cleaning hose. The self-cleaning hose removes the headache from cleaning the system and eliminates unpleasant odours.
- Antimicrobial tools. An included multi-purpose tool features antimicrobial materials to ensure you get a thoroughly-cleaned result.
Our Expert’s Take
“This handy little carpet cleaner can do it all, from your car seats to your rugs. Antimicrobial tools and multiple functions make it a go-to for deep cleaning your home.”
Comparing the Best Carpet Cleaners for Canadians
Category | Carpet Cleaner | Dimensions | Attachments | Heat Function | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner | 30.5 x 16.5 x 36.8 centimetres | Yes | Yes | 37 ounces |
Best for Large Capacity | Hoover Smartwash Upright Carpet Cleaner | 48 x 33 x 110.5 centimetres | Yes | Yes | 1 gallon |
Best for Pet Homes | Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush Carpet Cleaner | N/A | Yes | No | N/A |
Best for Ease of Use | Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner | 55.6 x 37.1 x 58.4 centimetres | Yes | Yes | N/A |
Best Splurge | Bissell ProHeat Revolution Premier CleanShot | N/A | Yes | Yes | 4 litres |
Best Multi-Functional | Hoover CleanSlate Plus Carpet Cleaner | 14.69 x 11.99 x 14.19 inches | Yes | No | N/A |
How We Selected These Carpet Cleaners in Canada
While you could rent a carpet cleaner to occasionally cleanse the carpets that seem to be a beacon for dust, grime, and stains, many homeowners want the convenience of having their own. This way, they don’t have to worry about rental availability and hiccups that can arise in that process.
Finding the best carpet cleaner isn’t always easy. We devoted hours upon hours to extensive research. We combed through hundreds of models, focusing on the most highly-rated models available in Canada. After collecting a handful of options, we began our sifting process, allowing the unimpressive options to slip through the gaps.
As we narrowed our list, we evaluated each carpet cleaner extensively. Each step eliminated more models, narrowing the list to just a select array of carpet cleaners. These models that emerged represent the best models available, excelling in their class for varying reasons.
Here are a few things we looked for in the best carpet cleaners in Canada:
- Usability: Carpet cleaners come with various attachments and accessories to facilitate easy use. We included models with more attachments and accessories, as well as a few with the basics.
- Power: Power and suction are critical considerations in a good carpet cleaner. Each model on this list delivers solid power and suction to get the job done.
- Capacity: The best carpet cleaners can hold more water for longer cleaning times before refills, but not all Canadians need a massive tank capacity. We chose models that meet various capacity needs to ensure there’s something to accommodate varying home sizes.
- Cost: The models on this list span a range of prices to ensure there’s something to meet almost any budget.
Factors to Consider When Shopping For a Carpet Cleaner in Canada
When shopping for a carpet cleaner in Canada, considering your needs and expectations is essential. Otherwise, you might end up with a model that doesn’t truly match your needs. So, to help you find a model that is best suited to you, here are a few factors we recommend considering.
Power and Suction
As you shop for a carpet cleaner, consider the amount of power and suction each model can provide. You’ll want something with plenty of power and suction to ensure a good, thorough clean. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a carpet cleaner that disappoints on multiple fronts.
Most high-powered carpet cleaners are equipped with a robust motor that generates strong suction. This force effectively pulls out the deep-seated dirt, grime, and other residues hiding in your carpets that are often missed by regular vacuum cleaners. The result is a deeper and more comprehensive cleaning.
Additionally, the powerful suction helps in faster drying times, reducing the chances of dampness setting in. Models with poor suction can leave water behind in the carpet, creating the perfect environment for mould and mildew, not to mention a concerningly damp feel underfoot. So, choosing a model that can provide impressive power and suction is critical.
Tank Capacity
The capacity of the product tank is another aspect to consider as you hunt for the perfect fit. The tank capacity determines how much cleaning solution the carpet cleaner can hold at a time, which can impact the amount of time it takes to complete your carpet cleaning project.
A larger tank capacity facilitates a more efficient cleaning process as it requires less frequent refills. This feature is especially beneficial when dealing with larger carpeted areas, minimizing interruptions and expediting the cleaning process.
Of course, smaller tanks are perfectly fine for more compact living spaces. For example, if the only carpeted floor in your home is in your living room, a smaller tank likely wouldn’t pose a problem. You might only use one or two water tanks, so refilling the tank once or twice probably won’t be an issue.
However, if you have a sprawling home with wall-to-wall carpet in every bedroom and living room, consider a model with a larger tank. This way, you don’t need to constantly refill the tank after a short period of use. Otherwise, you might spend an excessive amount of time trekking back and forth between your carpet cleaner and sink to empty the dirty water and refill the tank with fresh, clean water.
Attachments and Accessories
Most carpet cleaners come with a handful of accessories and attachments to get the job done. While the inclusions vary based on the model you choose, the best options usually feature at least a few attachments for cleaning convenience.
A range of attachments, such as a crevice tool, upholstery tool, or stair tool, can significantly enhance your cleaning abilities. The crevice tool, for instance, is ideal for reaching into narrow spaces and corners, while the upholstery tool can be used to clean sofas and curtains. These attachments facilitate the thorough cleaning of various surfaces and hard-to-reach areas.
While choosing a model decked out in attachments and accessories isn’t a must for everyone, it’s not a bad idea to consider the options. For example, if you have a small living room with wall-to-wall carpet and a few furniture pieces, you might not have any small crevices where the regular cleaning head won’t fit.
In contrast, if you have a larger home with stairs or furniture pieces creating small gaps, attachments and accessories come in handy. The broad head of the carpet cleaner might be unable to wiggle into those gaps, preventing you from thoroughly cleaning each part of your home. Of course, some models come with hoses that eliminate this issue, but it’s still important to consider this aspect before you begin shopping.
Ease of Use
Most carpet cleaners are designed for easy use, but it’s essential to consider how you plan to use the product when shopping for one.
The design and construction of the carpet cleaner play a significant role in its ease of use. Ideally, it should be lightweight for easy maneuverability, especially around obstacles and tight spaces. User-friendly features, including easy-to-fill and empty tanks or intuitive controls, also make the cleaning task less tedious and go much smoother.
For instance, let’s say you plan to use your carpet cleaner on your upholstered chairs to remove deep-set pet stains. In this case, a portable model might be your best bet, as they’re easy to carry with you as you go and don’t require any finagling to get the system ready for handheld use.
Conversely, this same portable unit wouldn’t be ideal for massive homes with expansive wall-to-wall carpets. Instead, an upright model that can plow through wider swaths of carpet would be the better option.
So, since ease of use hinges on the way you plan to use your carpet cleaner, ensure you consider this aspect, too.
Heat Function
Some carpet cleaners come with a heating feature that aids in faster drying of the carpet post-cleaning. It’s a handy addition to the mix, helping to dry the carpet quicker than letting it air dry on its own.
The feature works by blowing warm air onto the carpet to speed up the evaporation of water. Since mould and mildew flock to warm, moist areas, a wet carpet is an ideal homestead for this issue. The heat feature helps prevent this by ensuring the carpet is dryer and doesn’t harbour moisture that will take excessively long to dry.
Of course, you can always direct a few powerful fans onto the carpet to accelerate the drying process without the heat function. However, the heated design helps speed up this process and keeps the carpets from remaining overly damp for too long.
Budget
Your budget is another critical consideration when shopping for a carpet cleaner. These cleaners can cost anywhere from $100 or less to well over a few hundred dollars – it all depends on the model you choose.
While you don’t need to fork over an exorbitant amount of money to secure a good-quality carpet cleaner, it’s usually best to avoid going with an ultra-cheap option made with poor-quality materials that are likely to break in no time.
Instead, we recommend choosing a model made with good-quality materials that cost slightly more to ensure you get the most out of your investment.
In addition, it doesn’t hurt to outline a budget before you start shopping. Carpet cleaners are available at price points that can match nearly any budget, but it’s important to know what your budget is before you begin your quest to find the perfect match.
Setting a budget allows you to filter your results and ensure the models you see are within your price range. This can help eliminate the disappointment associated with choosing a model that far exceeds your budget, as you won’t even see those models in your search. Many shopping platforms offer an option that allows you to filter by price, so if you’re working with a set budget, we recommend taking advantage of this feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Canadians who live in homes with multiple rooms that are carpeted or own many rugs will appreciate the deep cleaning a carpet cleaner will offer. While a vacuum can pick up dirt and debris, tracked in dirt, pet stains, or food spills need a more thorough cleaning. Carpet cleaners come in many different sizes and models and have varying features that will appeal to all shoppers.
Most carpet cleaners have a drying feature that uses heat to ensure a dry carpet when done cleaning. The degree of its effectiveness can vary, though, and some carpets may feel slightly damp after a carpet cleaning. While carpets will dry naturally in a matter of hours, it’s important not to place furniture on any damp carpets or rugs to avoid mildew or mould.
Carpet cleaners are highly effective in removing stains and dirt but can become quite dirty themselves. In order to ensure that your carpet cleaner will last, make sure that you follow all care and maintenance instructions that come with your cleaner. Always rinse interior tanks and let them fully dry before storing them, and clean and dry the roller brushes.
Unlike a vacuum cleaner, a carpet cleaner can do a great job of removing pet stains left from tracked dirt and accidents. Most carpet cleaners have multiple types of cleaning solutions you can buy, and those with pets should consider a pet-friendly cleaner for the best results. Pet cleaner solutions for carpet cleaners do a great job of cleaning tough-to-remove stains and odours.
Carpet cleaners come in many different sizes and tank capacities. Canadians with smaller homes may want to look for a carpet cleaner with a smaller tank that doesn’t take up a lot of space for storage and can effectively clean their floors. The Bissell Portable Carpet Cleaner is a great choice for small houses that want a high-quality carpet cleaner, all at an impressively low price.
Carpet cleaners in Canada come in a range of costs and are dependent on their brand and features. Typically, you can expect a carpet cleaner to cost anywhere from less than $100 all the way to multiple hundreds of dollars. Those on a budget should look for a model that is more compact, has a smaller tank capacity and less accessories. For large homes and Canadians willing to splurge, a high-end cleaner with multiple attachments and a more powerful motor is an excellent option.