Carpet cleaners are high-tech devices, designed specifically to remove dirt, grease and stains from carpets and can be a great tool for any household with carpets. Whether your carpet stains were caused by small kids, pets, work boots, or red wine the right carpet cleaner can help you restore any carpet no matter the texture or color.

Newly introduced features like heated drying, dual nozzle spraying, and automatic mixing can make it difficult to determine what you need and what you can do without if you’re shopping on a budget. After reading this shopping guide you’ll have a better idea of how to navigate the dense market of carpet cleaners.

What is the size and weight of the cleaner?

When you first begin your search for the best carpet cleaner to fit your particular needs, the portability of the cleaning device may not be at the top of your priority list. Like most household items, as technology has advanced over the last decade carpet cleaners have gotten lighter and more compact. More efficient nozzles, smaller auxiliary water tanks and lighter, more efficient construction have all led to carpet cleaners that can be found under 20lbs! While 20lbs may not seem like a lot, it’s important to remember that there will be an additional gallon or so of water and cleaner which will add even more weight to the vacuum.

If rolling around a 25lb carpet cleaner does not concern you, one thing that may is the size of the entire device. Most households that own a carpet cleaner are not likely to use it for daily or even weekly cleaning. For storage reasons, a smaller, more compact carpet cleaner that can fit into a small hallway closet or a designated place in the garage can be extremely beneficial. If you live in an apartment, condominium or if space and storage are a problem, a carpet cleaner that folds or comes with a convenient stand may be what you should look for.

What is the cleaning method?

With such a large variety of carpet cleaners on the market you may have already come across a few different makes and models that have completely different methods of cleaning. Some carpet cleaners operate with powerful jet nozzles in combination with circular rotating brushes while others rely on a drip system combined with a single, cylindrical brush. While both do work, their effectiveness will depend on the type of carpet you are attempting to clean. For example, if you are cleaning a longer, shag style carpet, jet style nozzles may work better for deep cleaning. But if you are working with a vintage, short textured carpet, a gentler carpet cleaner is the way to go.