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If you’re searching for the best carpet spot cleaner, you’re probably dealing with pets, kids, late-night spills, or mystery stains that have been haunting your rugs for months. I’ve spent a lot of time comparing the top portable cleaners—including Shark, Hoover, and BISSELL—and after testing performance, suction, stain removal, and ease of use, I’ve narrowed it down to the 5 best carpet spot cleaners you can buy right now.
Quick Verdict:
- Shark StainForce is the best cordless option for fast, everyday cleanups.
- Shark StainStriker delivers the deepest cleaning power for tough carpet stains.
- Hoover CleanSlate Pro is the best for large spills and high-traffic homes.
- BISSELL Little Green remains the best all-around value.
- BISSELL Little Green Mini is the best tiny-but-mighty option for small spaces.
Why this matters: Most people buy the wrong spot cleaner because they assume all of them work the same. They don’t. Picking the right one saves time, frustration, and potentially your favorite rug.
Best Carpet Spot Cleaner: Comparison Table
Best Carpet Spot Cleaners
Product | Cleaning Power | Portability | Cordless | Best Use Case | Tank Size | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Good | Excellent | Yes | Quick spills, pets, cars | Small |  | |
 | Excellent | Good | No | Deep stains, carpets | Medium | | |
 | Very Good | Good | No | Everyday stains, upholstery | Medium | | |
 | Excellent | Fair | No | Large stains, carpets | Large | | |
 | Good | Excellent | No | Light stains, tiny spaces | Small | |
Top 5 Carpet Spot Cleaners: Quick Overviews
Below are the top performers based on suction, stain removal, versatility, and real-world usability.
1. Shark StainForce — Best Cordless Spot Cleaner
Perfect for quick cleanups, pet accidents, stairs, and cars. It’s incredibly convenient and fast to deploy—no outlet required. Great if you clean frequently and want zero hassle.
2. Shark StainStriker — Best Deep-Cleaning Power
If you need real suction and the ability to pull out embedded stains, this is the strongest performer in Shark’s lineup. It handled tough stains in fewer passes during my comparison testing.
3. BISSELL Little Green — Best All-Around Value
A fan favorite for years. Deep cleans well, has great suction for the price, and works on everything from carpets to couches. If you want a reliable, versatile cleaner without overthinking it, start here.
Side note: If you’re comparing machines like this, you might also enjoy my breakdowns of bigger floor-cleaners like the ones in Which Tineco Is Better? — it’s surprisingly helpful when choosing cleaning tools overall.
4. Hoover CleanSlate Pro — Best for Large Stains & High-Traffic Carpet
This one surprised me. The suction is strong, the attachments are useful, and it leaves carpet noticeably drier than many competitors. Great for pet households or homes with lots of carpet.
5. BISSELL Little Green Mini — Best Compact Cleaner
Ideal for apartments, dorms, small homes, RVs, and anyone who wants a super-light machine. Not as powerful as the others, but extremely easy to store and fantastic for everyday messes.
Design & Usability: Which Spot Cleaner Is Easiest to Handle?
Some people want strong suction. Others want something they can grab in 5 seconds. That’s why portability vs power matters.
- Shark StainForce is the clear winner for ease of use—cordless, lightweight, and perfect for reactive cleaning.
- Hoover CleanSlate Pro offers the most functional tools (wide-path + tight spot), making big jobs more manageable.
- Shark StainStriker is slightly heavier but provides deeper cleaning power because of the corded design.
- BISSELL Little Green (both versions) hits the sweet spot for simplicity and storage.
Performance & Features: Which Cleans the Deepest?
If raw cleaning power is your priority:
- Shark StainStriker and Hoover CleanSlate Pro provided the best extraction in my tests.
- BISSELL Little Green offers excellent performance for its price.
- StainForce is great on fresh stains but slightly less effective on older or deeply embedded ones.
If you deal with wine stains, coffee, pet urine, or kid-induced chaos, the corded machines almost always pull ahead.
Product | Cleaning Power | Portability | Cordless | Best Use Case | Tank Size | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Excellent | Yes | Quick spills, pets, cars | Small | | |
| Excellent | Good | No | Deep stains, carpets | Medium | | |
| Very Good | Good | No | Everyday stains, upholstery | Medium | | |
| Excellent | Fair | No | Large stains, carpets | Large | | |
| Good | Excellent | No | Light stains, tiny spaces | Small | |
Ease of Maintenance & Long-Term Use
A spot cleaner only helps you if it’s easy to maintain:
- Shark StainForce: Easiest to clean, smallest tanks, quick rinse.
- Shark StainStriker: Hose and tank cleaning is straightforward but more involved than StainForce.
- Hoover CleanSlate Pro: Best hose-rinse system.
- BISSELL Little Green: Reliable long-term but tanks need routine cleaning to avoid odors.
If you hate maintenance? Go Shark StainForce.
If you want longevity? Choose BISSELL Little Green or Hoover CleanSlate Pro.
Pros & Cons of Each Spot Cleaner
⭐ Shark StainForce (Cordless)
Pros
- Cordless and ultra-portable
- Fast grab-and-go cleaning
- Perfect for small spills, cars, and stairs
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Not ideal for deep stains
- Smaller tanks
- Limited runtime
⭐ Shark StainStriker
Pros
- Excellent suction for deeply embedded stains
- Great on carpets, rugs, and upholstery
- Strongest cleaning power in Shark’s lineup
Cons
- Corded
- Heavier
- More setup than StainForce
⭐ BISSELL Little Green
Pros
- Strong performance for the price
- Trusted, proven, consistent results
- Easy to use
- Deep cleans carpets and upholstery well
Cons
- Bulkier than cordless options
- Hose can be tricky to clean
⭐ Hoover CleanSlate Pro
Pros
- Strongest extraction in the group
- Multiple tools for different stain types
- Ideal for large stains and full-room spot cleaning
Cons
- Corded
- Slightly loud
- More setup required
⭐ BISSELL Little Green Mini
Pros
- Very compact & portable
- Great for small homes or small stains
- Easy to store
Cons
- Not as strong as larger models
- Smaller tanks
Major Differences (And Who Each One Is Best For)
Need | Best Option |
|---|---|
Quick cleanups, apartments, cars | Shark StainForce |
Deep carpet stains | Shark StainStriker |
Big areas or repeated messes | Hoover CleanSlate Pro |
Balanced performance & price | BISSELL Little Green |
Tiny spaces or occasional use | BISSELL Little Green Mini |
If you want an easy, cordless lifestyle tool—StainForce.
If you want the most raw cleaning power—StainStriker or CleanSlate Pro.
If you want value and dependability—BISSELL Little Green is unbeatable.
And hey—if you’re researching cleaners like this, you may enjoy my comparison of larger smart floor cleaners like Tineco S9 vs S5.
FAQs
What is the best overall carpet spot cleaner?
BISSELL Little Green is the best all-around option for most homes because it balances suction, cost, and reliability.
What is the best cordless carpet spot cleaner?
Shark StainForce is clearly the top cordless pick.
Which cleaner removes deep stains best?
Shark StainStriker and Hoover CleanSlate Pro both provide excellent deep stain removal.
Which is best for pet owners?
Shark StainForce for fresh messes — Hoover CleanSlate Pro for older or stubborn stains.
What’s the best cleaner for apartments or small spaces?
BISSELL Little Green Mini or Shark StainForce.
Other Interesting Articles
- Which Tineco Is Better? The 5 Best Models For Real Homes
- Tineco S9 vs S5: Top Tineco Floor One for Everyday Use
- Tineco S9 vs S6: Which Tineco Floor One Model Cleans Best?
- Tineco Floor One S9 Artist vs Dreame H15 Pro Heat: Which Cleaner Gets the Gold?
- Tineco S9 vs S7: Which Smart Floor Cleaner Should You Buy?
About the Author
VacuumsPal specializes in hands-on testing, side-by-side comparisons, and real-world cleaning insights. We break down complex choices so you can feel confident picking the right tool for your home.