10 Best Carpet Shampoos

Keeping a fabric carpet clean is something that can quickly become very frustrating. It seems as if something is always at risk of wreaking havoc to your floors. If it’s not children, then pets or even adults that spill beverage or walk on them with their shoes. Stains can be picked up easily with a black light, or even smelled. If you’re planning to shampoo your floors soon, the following carpet shampoos are the best that you’ll find around. There’s ten of them, picked for scent, concentration, and their ability to permanently remove stains/lingering odors. Once the reviews are done, head over to the Buyer’s Guide for additional tips to help you buy. The top two products are named at the end.

Hoover CleanPlus Concentrated Solution Formula Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer – Best Carpet Shampoo for Older Carpets (Editor’s Choice)

Hoover CleanPlus Concentrated Solution Formula Carpet Cleaner and DeodorizerThe Hoover CleanPlus Formula is a concentrated carpet shampoo that’s powerful enough to get rid of most tough stains without doing multiple passes on a dirty floor. Most carpet cleaners are compatible with the solution.

Just be sure they properly measure the amount of water you’re adding, paying special attention to machines that force you to separate the two. It won’t clog them as long as you don’t fill too much in the reservoir. Urine smell goes away immediately and won’t produce any lingering whiffs after your carpet has dried. Try it out for its peasant smell; one bottle is all that you’re likely to need for a medium to large-sized home.

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Pros

Pros
  • Works well with older carpet cleaning machines; doesn’t clog
  • Does a good job of neutralizing pet urine and eliminating their odor
  • The smell is pleasant and not overbearing
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Cons

Cons
  • May not work well on severely stained carpets

Hoover PETPLUS Concentrated Formula – Best Carpet Shampoo for Scent (People’s Choice)

Hoover-PETPLUS-Concentrated-FormulaThe Hoover PetPlus Concentrated Formula looks almost identical to the previous Hoover cleaner shown but has a different scent. This one smell very close to what you’re familiar with when taking fresh clothing out of a dryer machine.

As for the solution itself, there are no harmful chemicals added to the mix, including phosphates are other elements that would harm your drainage. It’s built for pet odors and will kick them out of your carpet on the first run. This includes stains also. Your carpet will look and feel new again, and best of all, it’s concentrated. Expect to get through hundreds of square footage without the need to buy more.

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Pros

Pros
  • The scent is almost identical to fabric softener
  • Contains no phosphates and doesn’t damage drainage pipes
  • Formulated specifically for pet orders; deep cleans urine stains
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Cons

Cons
  • Urine stains that are old may still smell

Carpet Miracle Concentrated Machine Shampoo – Best Anti-Allergy Carpet Shampoo

Carpet-Miracle---Concentrated-Machine-ShampooThe Carpet Miracle Shampoo is another concentrated formula with a great smell. The scent alone is enough to knock out strong odors from the carpet that have settled into the floor for a long time. If preferred, you could also use it for spot cleaning.

In such a case, try to find a good scrubbing brush, and the result will look just as good as things would with a machine (at least in teh spots that you clean). Since it’s built to get out the dirt from carpets with several years worth of grime, the appearance after the treatment looks astonishingly different from before. When you’re done cleaning, remember to ventilate any rooms where the cleaner was used. The smell is nice but quite strong.

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Pros

Pros
  • Doesn’t cause allergies in people and pets
  • Can be used by hand for cleaning in tough spots
  • Heavily soiled carpets will be noticeably brighter during cleaning
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Cons

Cons
  • Although the scent is aromatic, proper ventilation is necessary due to its strength

Carpet Miracle Concentrated Machine Shampoo – Best Concentrated Carpet Shampoo

Pet-Odor-Eliminator-and-Stain-RemoverThe Carpet Miracle Shampoo continues with the trend of great smelling concentrates that will lift stains without leaving you tired from taking a long time with the cleaning. Only this time, the smell will stay in your carpets and rooms for a long time.

Even after a week passes from teh time that you cleaned the floor, you’ll still smell it. But what you won’t scent are those pesky food and dog/cat odors that existed before. And although it’s concentrated, the water will still dry very quickly regardless of how much you soak sections of your carpet. Only one pass should be all that’s needed, except for stains that are deep and old. Regardless, the Carpet Miracle is recommended for people that hate when the shampoo smell of other products goes away too fast.

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Pros

Pros
  • Produces a nice fragrant scent during cleaning that lasts for several days
  • Dries fast on floors
  • Fewer treatments will be needed than what’s recommended by other competing brands
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Cons

Cons
  • Difficult to get out tough stains such as red wine

Hoover AH30035 Carpet Cleaner – Best Carpet Shampoo for Multiple Machines

Hoover AH30035 Carpet Cleaner and Upholstery Detergent SolutionThe Hoover AH30035 Carpet Cleaner can be used in the machine, or manually. If you do add it to a power scrub, it shouldn’t matter what brand you use. But the biggest benefit to using this carpet cleaner is that no pretreatment products are needed alongside it.

With many other cleaning shampoos, pretreating your floors is a must, but not the with this one. You can get through your entire home with this solution, and still, have more of the concentrate to spare when done. Strong pet odors might not go away from just a single cleaning session, so don’t be afraid to make a second go-round if urine the smell is strong in some areas.

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Pros

Pros
  • Safe to use with most power scrub brands for cleaning
  • While it can be done, pretreatment is not required to use the product
  • The concentrated solution is sufficient enough to clean more than one large room
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Cons

Cons
  • Doesn’t cover strong scents well

Bubbas Super Steamer Carpet Cleaner – Best Carpet Shampoo for Pet Stains

Bubbas Super Steamer Carpet CleanerThe Bubbas Super Steamer Carpet Cleaner is good on old carpets with “permanent” stains. Whether its urine, food, or stains from beverages, this product will knock it all from your floors. You can put in a majority of machines, but be sure that you’re not voiding the warranty of it before you do (or breaking any rules, if it’s a rental).

The smell is acceptable but might be a bit too strong for people with sensitive noses. If you have any problems with the product at all, it’s easy to get in touch with Bubba’s customer service reps for better instruction that what’s given on the label.

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Pros

Pros
  • Will rid the carpet of old urine and wine stains, including lingering odors
  • Compatible with most carpet cleaners and shampoos
  • Prompt customer service from the company
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Cons

Cons
  • The scent is strong and an acquired taste

Nature’s Miracle Tropical Bloom Scent Deep Cleaning Carpet Shampoo – Best Carpet Shampoo for Large Homes

Nature's Miracle Tropical Bloom Scent Deep Cleaning Carpet ShampooNature’s Miracle Tropical Bloom is a carpet shampoo that isn’t concentrated, yet can still be used sparingly. You’ll need a little bit more than you would with a shampoo that was concentrated, but nothing that’s completely over the top.

When all is set for cleaning, you should be able to cover all your home, even if it consists of over a thousand square feet of carpet. But even if you’re going into the product completely blind, following along with the instructions is a breeze. But things like red wine and other stains with dark hues might take lots of work before they dissipate.

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Pros

Pros
  • Great smelling aroma
  • Only a small amount of formula is needed to clean large sections of carpet
  • The instructions are easy to understand and follow
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Cons

Cons
  • Dark-colored stains are hard to get out

Bissell 78H63 Deep Clean Pro – Best Carpet Shampoo for Fast Cleanups

Bissell-78H6B-Deep-Clean-Pro-2X-Deep-Cleaning-Concentrated-Carpet-ShampooThe Bissell 78H63 Deep Clean Pro is the degreaser of carpet cleaners. If stains in your carpet are oily and embedded deep within the fabric in areas that you can’t see, the formula will get them out the first time you use the product.

And when you’ve wrapped everything up, your carpet will feel as if you hired a professional cleaning service for restoration. The solution is made with non-hazardous chemicals, and residue from the treatment will never show on your floor. Unfortunately, the smell is very strong. If you think that you can bear it or have good windows to let the smell air out, then give the Deep Clean Pro a try.

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Pros

Pros
  • Fast-drying action
  • Cleaning results are comparable to professional cleaning solutions
  • Doesn’t leave carpet greasy after treatment is completed
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Cons

Cons
  • The odor could be nauseating to sensitive people

Zep All-Purpose Carpet Shampoo – Best Carpet Shampoo for Deep Cleaning

Zep-All-Purpose-Carpet-Shampoo-ConcentrateThe Zep All-Purpose Carpet Shampoo is very effective on carpets that have gone through a great deal of neglect. The result is similar to cleaning a carpeted floor with a steamer, and there will be a clear contrast if you were to take a before and after photo of a cleaned floor that was dirty earlier.

Multiple scrubs over the same area aren’t necessary and the solution won’t clog up your machine with too much foam (or let it get on your floor). The biggest let down is the smell of the cleaner. The scent is mild but you’ll notice the distinct smell of ammonia with it. The latter’s a lot more powerful, making this product another that’s advisable to use in a ventilated setting.

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Pros

Pros
  • Works perfectly on a carpet that receives a large amount of foot traffic
  • Affective on only one pass (when used with a carpet cleaner)
  • Doesn’t become overly foamy when cleaning
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Cons

Cons
  • Has a faint smell of ammonia

Carbona 2-In-1 Carpet Cleaner – Best Carpet Shampoo for Hand Scrubbing

Carbona 2-In-1 Carpet CleanerThe Carbona 2-In-1 Carpet Cleaner is the final product reviewed, but not the worst. It has a handly little scrubbing brush on the top of the bottle, which you can use to go over tough to reach areas. It’s also a good way of treating any stained furniture that’s fabric, making the product not limited to floors alone.

Its consistency is light enough to be used with steamers and shampoo machines, and the brush will never raise the strands of your carpet. But if you are planning to use the brush when you clean, it’s recommended that you purchase at least two of them. The liquid inside will be used up very fast this way, but go for a lot longer if all you’re doing is dumping it into a machine.

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Pros

Pros
  • Has a scrub bring on the handle for on the spot cleaning
  • Can be worked into steamers and shampoo machines
  • The brush doesn’t pull up lint from carpets
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Cons

Cons
  • When using the brush, the bottle will be depleted very fast

Buyer’s Guide

Here are a few tips that will help you pick the right carpet shempoo for our floor.

Understanding What’s Concentrated and what Isn’t

Although many of the carpet shampoos shown in the reviews are concentrated, not all of them are. When this is the case on a product, the brand will usually tell you so on the label or product’s title description. Concentrated shampoos can last much longer than ordinary solutions since less is needed when mixing with water. But not all shampoos that aren’t concentrated must be used in a large quantity either.

The Size of your Floor Span

You’ll want to take a quick look at the size of the area (in square feet) that you plan on covering when you shampoo your carpet. It’s doesn’t have to be accurate to the teeth, but a general idea of your treatment area will do a lot in saving you from getting more than what’s needed for your home. Remember, many of the products are either concentrated or can still bee mixed with water. And all of them are safe for machines. Knowing this, start with a single bottle first if there’s any doubt about having too much for the first treatment.

Check your Machine for Compatibility

You could put all the carpet shampoo products in most machine cleaners. But some aren’t recommended. If you’re using your machine, check with the instruction manual first to see if placing any brand inside the cleaner would void the warranty. Some of them have stipulations that make it where products that aren’t made from the same company can only be used. Secondly, don’t mix anything inside of a rental shampoo machine that isn’t allowed. Rentals often come with additional products, but you could ask the retailer to see if placing something else in it would be okay with them.

Check your Carpet before you Clean

By checking your carpet, this could mean acquiring a black light flashlight, which would help you detect stains that you may not have known existed. It’s also a great way to spot urine stains from pets, especially if you can’t tell where the smell is coming from. Then when you have all the products ready for cleaning, do a pretreatment, using care to follow the directions listed on the labels of everything. This is where a lot of people get it wrong. Not treating the carpet sufficiently could result in stains remaining in the fabric and smells not going away. Again, always treat before you shampoo when it’s suggested!

Video Tutorial: How to Shampoo a Carpet

Knowing when one Pass may not be Enough

As you start shampooing your carpet with the cleaning solution, don’t just pass over extremely dirty stains once. They might require several passes, or even for you to scrub it by hand. Do it the old fashioned way if you notice any spots that are either difficult for the cleaner to reach, or have been sitting in such a condition for a very long time. Some cleaners (there’s one in the reviews) might include a brush with the solution. If it doesn’t choose one that’s hard but thin along with the tips. And consider the make of your carpet too, especially if you think it will tear the fabric too much. Most importantly, wear protective gear if you need to. Some people are very sensitive to the smell of carpet cleaners. Cover your nose if you need to, and always ensure that the rooms you clean have places that will air the smells out with a nearby open window.

FAQ

How can I make my old carpet look better

Improving your carpet is pretty straightforward. Usually, thorough cleaning and disinfecting do the trick. However, some people have allergies to particular cleaners, or they may have difficult stains like blood or grease to remove. The first thing is to find a cleaner that you trust and purchase or rent a quality carpet cleaner. Then, pre-treat any deep or set-in stains for the best results.

If the shampoo is something new for you, then we suggest taking a small dab of the product and applying it to a tiny area in a spot people will not notice. This method helps you detect any problems before you apply the cleaner to your favorite antique rug or oriental carpet. You will also see how well the product works for your fabrics.

To ensure your flooring remains vibrant and clean, you can apply a protective spray to seal the fibers. Routine carpet cleaning puts allergens at bay and keeps your floors looking brilliant. Some of the products on our list remove pet odors and messes as well.

Using the right cleaner is important for keeping the floors clean and tidy. Products with a lot of suds can leave sticky residues that attract dirt and dust. These cleaners may make it necessary to clean floors more often, costing more money. Not to mention, it creates a lot more work. Using low-suds options can prevent this issue.

What can I use instead of carpet shampoo

A few products work well for cleaning carpet stains. Baking soda pastes work excellent for small applications. Vinegar is another item you can use to refresh your flooring. For dark stains like wine and blood, hydrogen peroxide is a great option. Here are a few ways to use these household products as carpet shampoos.

For routine stain removal and everyday cleaning, a baking soda and vinegar combination provides several benefits. This mixture gets down deep into the carpet. It lightens stains and brightens colors. The combination is safe for most fibers and works best for light stains.

Lightly apply the paste to the area you want to clean. Work it in gently with a brush. A toothbrush, hairbrush, or scrub brush will all work. Then, leave the paste alone until it dries completely. A quick vacuum should be all you need to make the spot look new again.

Deeper, more tough blemishes need a different solution. Hydrogen peroxide works well for things like animal blood, grape juice, and tea. To get a good result, apply a small amount of the liquid to the stain and let it fizz. When the bubbling stops, blot the area with a clean, dry rag to soak up the peroxide. Repeat until the area comes clean, being sure to avoid saturating the floor.

When you want a natural steam cleaning product to get your floors looking and smelling fresh, vinegar does a wonderful job. This item is a regular disinfectant, and it removes many odors. To use in a steam machine, it is best to add the same amount of vinegar and water. From there, following the instructions from the shampooer manufacturer is important.

How can I make my old carpet fluffy again

The first step to fluffing up the carpet is to make sure you clean it well with a light shampoo. You want the flooring to have very little residue left in the fabric. The carpet will be lighter and recover better with fewer suds and leftover shampoo.

Another method of adding volume to the carpet is with a slightly wet towel and an iron. You will want to ensure you never touch the material directly with the iron, or it can melt the fibers. The trick is to use a spray bottle to keep the cloth moist as you work on several areas at once. If you only have a spot or two, then the water bottle may not be necessary.

How do you clean old carpet

To clean light stains, a borax and cornmeal mixture will refresh the fibers in the carpet. Using two parts of cornmeal to one part of borax, you can make a powder that you leave on the carpet for an hour. After the time is up, then a thorough vacuum will reveal a brighter, cleaner floor. This application will also help resist mold growth.

Vinegar and water or lemon juice and salt work for stain removal, but you always want to test a spot in a closet or some place safe first. These mixtures can bleach some carpet fibers, making the stain appear cleaner than the rest of the floor. A simple baking soda and water paste will work if you do not want to use an acidic application.

You can also use a broom before you vacuum. This method reduces the amount the bristles go across the carpet fibers. By cutting back vacuuming time, you can reduce fraying and wear spots in older materials. Antique carpets often need a gentler approach, so hand applying the carpet cleaning solution may be best. You may also want to use a brush with soft bristles or a rag to keep the cleanup light.

How do you restore a flattened carpet

Angie’s List says to get rid of the unsightly divots from heavy furniture, you can use an ice cube. Put the ice on top of the mark and let it melt all the way. You can use a hairdryer on the lowest setting to speed it up if you want. Then, use a brush with stiff bristles to work the material and move the fibers back and forth until they loosen and spring back to life.

The brush works well when applying the baking soda and vinegar paste. Adding this mixture to the stain and gently brushing it will loosen the stain and help the baking soda penetrate deep into the fibers. When the floor is dry, you may find the mess is easy to vacuum away, leaving your carpet fresh and vibrant.

What is the best way to clean really dirty carpet

Heavy carpet soiling takes a few steps to remove. Some stains may not come out completely no matter how many methods you try or times you clean the spot. To begin with, a good vacuum is necessary. Then, adding a pre-treat spot remover is next. You can use the vinegar and water, baking soda and vinegar, shaving cream, club soda, or dawn and peroxide as a stain remover before getting to the deeper cleaning job.

When the stain treatment is complete, your floors will need a couple of steam cleanings. The first one will get most of the surface dirt. During this cleaning, you may need to change the cleaning solution frequently if your machine does not have dual tanks. The second cleaning will help remove any leftover mess, smears, and excess cleaning solution. Rinsing the floors with straight warm water following each cleaning is another good tip. Always remember to let the floor dry between each steam treatment to prevent saturating the floor too much.

Conclusion

If you’ve already picked the product that you want from the list, you should certainly stick to that choice. But if things look pretty confusing (or the same) still, there are two that are recommended first before the rest. The CleanPlus Concentrated Solution and Pet Plus Concentrated Formula, both by Hoover, will impress anyone that needs to clean a dirty carpet. The bad smells will go away, and pet odors will be completely wiped out by both products. However, don’t stop with those if you’re still sold on another carpet shampoo. They’re all great in one way or another and could show great results when the floor dries. Pick what you want the most, and say goodbye to pet and food odors once and for all!


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