Carpets get really dirty. This shouldn't be groundbreaking news, but I think many of us would be surprised at just how dirty they become. Vacuum cleaners only suck away dry material, but they don't sanitize the floors by any means. This results in constant, musty odors and long-term damage to your floors.
A carpet cleaner, on the other hand, actually washes the carpet fibers, making our homes smell and feel eternally fresher. And after testing ten of these powerful floor cleaners, I recommend the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam above all.
Using steam to break down stains, then washing them away with cleaning solution, strong suction, and a fast-spinning brushroll, the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam rigorously washes your carpets. It's so powerful that I cleaned two-year-old stains left by a dog at a local pet shelter.
Read more in my five-star Bissell Revolution HydroSteam review.
This Bissell Carpet Cleaner Will Wash Away Stains and Odors
Think about it: We mop hard floors, we wipe down surfaces, but most of us only ever vacuum the carpet. Of course, vacuuming does a great deal in removing dust and debris, but it doesn't do anything to wash or sanitize the floor. Even the best vacuums for carpet aren't actually deep cleaning carpet.
This isn't hygienic, especially considering that carpets harbor much more dirt than smooth surfaces, as all kinds of dirt and grime get embedded within carpet fibers. Even the National Library of Medicine has published that carpets, to some extent, act like a sink.'
I won't get too detailed here, but everything from household allergens like dust mites to bacteria and mold can live within unwashed carpets. This causes odors, affects the carpet's aesthetic, and damages your floors over time.
This is why you need a carpet cleaner. These large vacuums use water and cleaning solution to wash the dirt and grime out of even the thickest materials, then suck the dirty liquid away, leaving a floor that smells fresh and is free of pollutants.
The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam has topped all of our carpet cleaning tests. It's so powerful that, when testing in a local cat and dog shelter, it was able to clear dog stains that were more than two years old:
The staff hadn't been able to get the stains out themselves, and were grateful that they didn't have to work alongside that smell anymore. With the Revolution HydroSteam, it only took around half an hour and a few passes of the floor to get rid of them.
This is largely owed to its unique steam-powered cleaning, using high-temperature steam that breaks down stains and bacteria more effectively than other carpet cleaners.
I tested it side-by-side with the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro carpet cleaner, and the steam power made all the difference. And it's so easy to use that you can pull the trigger over a stain, let the steam pre-treat it, then wash it away with the vacuum's high suction and rapidly spinning brushroll.
I've since donated this carpet cleaner to my parents, and after living in their home for almost 20 years, they have been able to restore their floors almost back to their original glory. As they have a lot of carpet, it completely refreshed the house.
It's also painless to use. Simply fill the tank with water and cleaning solution (there are markers on the tank so you always get the ratios right), let it heat up for about a minute, and then it's ready to deep clean your home.
It may seem like a high initial cost, but it's an essential one, and according to home service provider Angi, it can cost between $123 and $241 to have your carpets cleaned. So, after two to three cleans, you'll have spent around that amount anyway.
Also, the effects of dirty carpets on your indoor air quality should not be ignored. As carpets hold so many allergens and pollutants, all it takes is a footstep to brush these particles into the air, making them airborne and breathable. And unless you have one of the best air purifiers, this will trigger allergies and make it more likely for mold and bacteria to spread.
Basically, I've been testing floor care appliances for over two years now, and I could talk for hours about why we need to pay more attention to cleaning our carpets.
The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam is available for $329.99 at Bissell.
More to Shop
If the Revolution HydroSteam's out of your price range, here are a few others we've tested and love.
All prices correct at time of publication.
It doesn't have the high-powered steam cleaning of the Bissell, but for more than $100 less, the Shark CarpetXpert still demonstrated how rigorously it can clean carpets, rugs, upholstery, and even outdoor furniture.
Read more in our five-star Shark CarpetXpert review.
Or, if you're not ready to commit to a full-sized appliance, you can get the Shark StainStriker by itself. It's a great, nifty spot cleaner that can pull stains from furniture and carpets, and it costs just $99.99 right now.
As it isn't housing as much tech as the Revolution HydroSteam, this alternative Bissell carpet cleaner isn't as cumbersome to push around the house, and it costs a little bit less, too.
Read more in my full Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro review.
Next, learn the seven carpet cleaning tips that will spruce up yours quickly, and why we love cleaning carpets with a steam mop.
