The 12 Best Carpet Spray Cleaners of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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We found Oxi-Clean Carpet Stain Remover to be the best overall choice for cleaning up household messes. ceiling fan cleaning brush

Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson

No household mess is exactly greeted with applause, but if ever there was an “oops” to elicit shrieks or even tears, it’s one with the potential to stain your carpet. However, the best carpet spray cleaners give you a fighting chance to erase stains and odors from your carpet and upholstery, keeping them looking brand-new. However, not all stains are created equal, which is why it’s important to find the best carpet spray cleaners to tackle your home’s most common messes.

To put the best carpet spray cleaners to the test, our team of home cleaning experts spent an entire day in our lab using these cleaners to remove a number of stains—including dirt marks, red wine spills, and even animal urine—from carpet and upholstery. We had our testers evaluate each spray cleaner based on its scent, ease of use, effectiveness at removing different stain types, and overall value for the price. Then, we compiled these insights to create a list of the best carpet spray cleaners.

It removed all stain types from our tests without a trace, making it the most versatile stain remover.

It works better on dried wine stains than fresh ones.

Accidental spills can come in all sizes, colors, and smells, so it’s important to have a versatile carpet spray cleaner on hand for tackling messes as they happen. We found that the Oxi-Clean Carpet Stain Remover was powerful at removing a wide variety of stains, making it our top pick for the best carpet spray cleaners.

We sprayed the Oxi-Clean on four different carpet stains—including red wine, barbecue sauce, and even animal urine—to see how well the product removes odors and discoloration. According to the manufacturer, it takes 10 minutes for the solution to settle in and do its job, which we noted was not long compared to other cleaners we tested. While we were waiting for the 10 minutes to be up, we found that you could actually start to see the stains lift from the carpet fibers.

It only took a little bit of scrubbing to get rid of all four stain types, and we found that the urine odor was also removed when using the Oxi-Clean Carpet Stain Remover. When removing the red wine stain, we noted that the spray seemed to be more effective when the wine had dried. For this reason, we recommend letting wine stains dry before applying this carpet stain remover instead of spraying it on fresh spills.

It also took out the barbecue sauce, dirt, and urine stains very well, making it the most versatile carpet spray cleaner from our tests and a great all-purpose product to have on hand. There is a slight scent to this Oxi-Clean that’s reminiscent of laundry detergent, though we noted it’s not too overpowering.

Product Details: Amount: 24 ounces | Best for: Pet stains, food and drink stains, dirt, and odors | Less-effective on: N/A | Wait time: 10 minutes | Not intended for: Not listed

Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock

It removes smells from your carpet as it cleans without leaving behind a chemical smell.

The spray bottle doesn’t saturate the carpet as quickly as we would have liked.

If you’ve got children or pets, or are just plain clumsy, you’ll want to keep this budget-friendly cleaner on hand. During testing, most of the stains came right out with just one application of the Shout Carpet Stain Remover and Odor Eliminator Spray.

This powerful cleaner removed all traces of both the fresh and set-in red wine stains, making it great for cleaning up accidental drink spills. The mud and barbecue sauce spills needed more scrubbing to remove from light-colored carpet, and though the stains were still partially there at the end of the test, they significantly faded. We also found that the Shout spray was effective at getting rid of the urine smell from carpet, which is a great feature if you have pets.

Though the instructions on the bottle were easy to follow, we found the spray bottle itself to be the issue—it took tons of sprays to saturate the stained carpet as suggested. However, since the wait time before scrubbing is just five minutes, you won’t have to stand around for very long in between steps. We also found that this carpet spray cleaner had no odor, meaning your home won’t smell like chemicals once you’re done scrubbing.

Given its lower price, we concluded that the Shout Carpet Stain Remover and Odor Eliminator Spray is an excellent alternative to some of the pricier products on our best carpet spray cleaners list. It’ll certainly come in clutch if you’re house training a new pet since it removes odors from your carpet and rugs, but it’s also inexpensive enough to keep in multiple closets for any “oops” moments in your house.

Product Details: Amount: 12.4 ounces | Best for: Pet stains, food and drink stains, dirt, and odors | Less-effective on: N/A | Wait time: Three to five minutes | Less-effective on: Not listed

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It’s effective at removing urine stains and smells from even light-colored carpet.

It couldn’t fully remove dirt and barbecue sauce stains.

A lot of carpet spray cleaners use harsh chemicals to get stains out of floors and upholstery, but they could ruin your carpet, and they’re not so great to inhale. However, buying a natural-based spray doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on cleaning power—we gave The Spruce Pet Stain and Odor Remover high marks for its effectiveness on stains and smells alike.

It’s easy to use, too—just spray, let it soak, and blot with a rag or sponge. As the name suggests, this is a carpet stain remover for pet stains and odors and we found that it lives up to its name. After spraying it on carpet with animal urine on it, the cleaner removed all discoloration and foul smells and left behind a pleasant scent.

While it took a couple applications to get rid of the red wine stain, ultimately the cleaner pulled up all discoloration from the carpet fibers. We also noted that The Spruce Stain and Odor Remover spray worked best when they blotted the stain with a damp cloth first.

However, this natural spray cleaner simply wasn’t up to the task of removing stains like barbecue sauce and mud. We found that it partially removed these stains, but there was still a faint mark on both the carpet and the upholstery we tested it on.

We recommend this product to pet owners who want a more natural solution to pet-related stains and smells in your home. If the most common stains in your home are food stains, though, we suggest shopping a different product on our list of the best carpet spray cleaners.

Product Details: Amount: 17 ounces | Wait time: 10 to 15 minutes | Best for: Pet stains and odors | Less effective on: Food and drink stains and dirt

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It works like a charm on pet-related smells and stains like dirt and urine.

You’ll likely need two applications to get rid of stains and odors.

Sharing a house with pets can make it difficult to keep your carpet, rugs, and upholstery looking clean. Whether you’re house-training a new puppy or your pets constantly track dirt in from outdoors, the best carpet spray cleaners help you combat smells, stains, and spills as they happen.

When testing out the Kids ‘N’ Pets Instant Stain and Odor Remover in the lab, we noted it was one of the best we've seen at removing pet urine from rugs. In just one treatment, the cleaner caused urine odors and stains to vanish from the carpet. Though it took two spray treatments to remove smells from the upholstery, these stains disappeared, too. Plus, the cleaner’s scent is gentle and not at all overpowering, even with double applications, so your home won’t smell like chemicals once you’re done.

In testing, we found that this spray cleaner also worked on red wine, barbecue sauce, and dirt, making it a great all-around carpet spray cleaner. However, we had to apply the cleaner twice to get them fully removed, and since you’ll need to let the spray soak in for 10 minutes each time before scrubbing, it quickly becomes a time-consuming process.

Product Details: Amount: 27 ounces | Wait time: At least 10 minutes | Best for: Pet stains, dirt, and odors | Less effective on: N/A

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It removed all fresh messes and even some set-in stains.

You’ll have to clean out the brush after every use.

Whether you’re dealing with a spill left overnight or a stain on high-pile carpet that won’t come out with normal cleaners, heavy-duty messes aren’t for the faint of heart. That’s why we loved the Carbona Two-in-One Oxy-Powered No-Scent Carpet Cleaner, which comes with a cleaner brush attached to the lid. The stiff bristles help you dig debris out of rugs, carpet, and upholstery to better remove stains. And according to our testing, it’s a combo that works really well.

When treating fresh wine spills, dirt stains, and urine, we found that fresh stains came out with no trouble at all. Dried wine and urine, which we left to soak on light-colored rugs for 12 hours before treating, came out just fine, which is good news for messes you discover hours later. Dried-on barbecue and mud came out after two applications, though there was still a faint mark.

In general, we recommend dealing with stains as quickly as possible for the best results, but we were pleasantly surprised by how well this spray cleaner worked on old wine and urine stains. Keep that brush handy to work the product into your floors or upholstery, and avoid replacing your rug or couch when spills occur. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to clean out the brush attachment after every use, which is an added step that most other sprays don’t require.

Product Details: Amount: 27.5 ounces | Wait time: 30 minutes; 60 minutes or longer for set-in stains | Best for: Fresh stains, set-in wine, and urine stains | Less effective on: Set-in dirt and food stains

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It works fast to remove fresh stains and penetrates deep to remove older stains and odors.

It removes drink stains faster than food stains.

A spilled glass of wine won’t have nightmarish consequences for your carpet or upholstery when you’ve got a bottle of Bissell Advanced Oxy Stain Stain Pretreat. For fresh stains, just spray some on the affected area, wait three to five minutes, and blot it away. It’s also good as a first step before deep cleaning an entire carpet since it can take on set-in stains and odors.

During testing, we were impressed at how effective the spray was in removing wine and soda in about a minute with some light scrubbing. It took only two minutes to remove the marinara sauce. However, we were still scrubbing past the two-minute mark with the mustard spill and were left with a light, barely noticeable stain.

We found the bottle comfortable to hold and easy to switch from mist to spray, saving you precious time when pretreating a stain before it sets in. We didn’t notice any lingering scent with this product, so it’s a good choice for anyone with fragrance sensitivities.

This Bissell spray has been awarded the Safer Choice label by the US Environmental Protection Agency, which acknowledges that it’s better for the environment and also safe to use in the presence of human and fur-covered members of your household. It’s less expensive than other options, too, so it’s worth it to keep a bottle on hand to save the day in the event of food and drink spills.

Product Details: Amount: 22 ounces | Best For: Carpet and upholstery | Less Effective On: Mustard | Wait Time: Three to five minutes | Not Intended For: Not listed

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It can easily remove mustard stains.

It’s got a strong chemical odor that disappears when dry.

Resolve has long been known as the go-to brand for making stains vanish from carpet and upholstery, and we were reminded of this when testing the Resolve Multi-Fabric Cleaner & Upholstery Stain Remover. All it takes is a few sprays to cover the affected area, then wait five minutes for the magic to happen.

We noticed that for the wine and soda, the stains were nearly gone by the end of the waiting time. For the marinara and mustard tests, we only needed to scrub a little to fully remove both—quite a feat, especially for how stubborn a condiment mustard has proved to be.

The nozzle just has an on/off setting, not a toggle between spray and mist like some of the others on our list, but we found it offered ample coverage with each spray. The spray turns to foam as you scrub, and when we wiped it away, we were impressed to see that not only was the stain gone, but there was no residue like you get with some other products.

The scent might be called Fresh Linen, but it’s more of a chemical smell that some stronger cleaning products have. The good news is that it dissipates as it dries, so if you’re not too sensitive to scents, it might be worth the trouble to ventilate the area when using it.

Who knew mustard could be such a deciding factor in the carpet spray cleaner game? Based on how well it removed the yellow stuff, we’re sold on this product. It’s better than any DIY method we tried to clean carpet and upholstery stains, and at such an affordable price point, it’s worth keeping a bottle on hand even for an infrequent “oops” moment.

Product Details: Amount: 19 ounces | Best For: Carpet and upholstery | Less Effective On: NA | Wait Time: Five minutes | Not Intended For: Not listed

Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson

It removed almost all of the set-in stains on carpet and upholstery during testing.

It leaves behind a minty scent that some people may dislike.

When you find a mysterious mark on your once-spotless rug, the best carpet spray cleaners will be able to remove the stain no matter how many hours it’s been sitting there. Based on testing results, we chose the Rocco and Roxie Stain Remover as the best choice for old stains.

We found that this oxy-powered stain remover was effective and simple to use with very little wait time. Fresh stains—that includes wine, dirt, and even urine—came out with just one application. However, this product truly shone when it came to removing stains that had been sitting for 12 hours or longer.

We reported that the Rocco and Roxie stain remover tackled old stains effortlessly, removing all discoloration without a trace. The only mess it failed to completely remove was the barbecue sauce stain; after two applications, there was still a faint stain on the carpet.

Some carpet spray cleaners leave behind a weird chemical smell even after you’ve thoroughly scrubbed your rug or upholstery. We raved over the Rocco and Roxie Oxy Stain Remover’s scent, noting that we've never smelled a cleaner that smelled as good. However, if you’re looking for an odorless product, you may not like the mint scent it leaves behind.

If you have pets, this product is great at removing the smell of urine from carpet and upholstery, decreasing the likelihood that your pet will continue to use that spot to relieve themselves. When you consider that this could save you from having to replace a carpet or couch, it’s well worth the price tag.

Product Details: Amount: 32 ounces | Wait time: A few minutes | Best for: Fresh and set-in wine stains, pet messes, and dirt | Less effective on: Food stains

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This carpet cleaner is Green Seal-Certified.

Though it mostly removed dirt and sauce stains, these may still be slightly visible on white carpet.

If you have concerns about how the cleaning products you use may impact the environment, we recommend the Biokleen Bac-Out Stain Remover for Clothes and Carpet. According to the manufacturer, this stain-fighting cleaner uses a plant-based solution that’s biodegradable, uses no artificial fragrances or dyes, and is free of phosphates, chlorine, ammonia, or brighteners. Plus, it’s Green Seal-Certified, meaning it passes rigorous standards for sustainability and product performance.

When testing this eco-friendly carpet cleaner in our lab, we found that the fresh wine stain came out in just one attempt. The same was true of the urine stain, which disappeared along with any lingering odors after a light scrubbing.

After two passes with the spray and a sponge, we found that barbecue sauce and dirt mostly disappeared, too. Note that on white carpets, the stain may still be slightly visible with dirt and sauces, but you won’t be able to see it on colored fabrics.

We noticed that the Biokleen Bac-Out Stain Remover worked equally well whether the stain was fresh or had already settled in, so as long as you have a bottle on hand, you’ll be able to tackle messes and keep your floors and upholstery looking new. We also thought the instructions for this cleaner were simple to follow, and the spray bottle was sturdy and easy to use. The formula is odorless and we liked its lower price point compared to other carpet spray cleaners on our list.

Product Details: Amount: 32 ounces | Wait time: 5 minutes | Best for: Fresh and set-in wine stains, dirt stains, and pet messes | Less effective on: Light-colored carpets and upholstery

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It’s a heavy-duty cleanser that works very quickly.

It left some residue and a strong disinfectant-like odor.

We were impressed to see that this easy-to-use Chemical Guys spray indeed lives up to the “lightning fast” part of its name—at least for drink stains. We tested this pick on a swatch of carpet and were impressed that the soda and red wine stains were gone in a flash with some gentle scrubbing after letting the foam soak into the carpet for a bit.

The marinara stain needed more elbow grease, and though it faded, there was still a slight pink tinge left behind. Unfortunately, the mustard stain wound up spreading and made an even bigger mess, so we’d suggest using this more for drink stains than food spills.

Keep a wet cloth on hand to remove the cleanser, as its foaming formulation will leave a bit of residue; the manufacturer also recommends vacuuming after cleaning. We also noticed there was a strong, disinfectant-like odor that lingered until it fully dried—granted, it was better than mustard, but this could be an issue if you’ve got scent sensitivities.

Now, it’s clear from the name that this is a chemical-based cleanser. In fact, you may want to wear gloves to avoid any skin dryness or irritation. But if your DIY method isn’t cutting it when cleaning up a stain on your car’s upholstery, this spray from Chemical Guys should do the trick.

Product Details: Amount: 16 ounces | Best For: Upholstery and carpet | Less Effective On: Food stains | Wait Time: N/A | Not Intended For: Not listed

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It cleans and conditions leather to look new.

It doesn’t come with instructions, so it might take a minute to figure out how to use it.

If you’ve got a leather couch or chair at home, this is one of the best carpet spray cleaners to have at home. There are no instructions for the Furniture Clinic Large Leather Care Kit, so it did take us a moment to determine which sponge went with which cleanser. Once we figured it out, we were impressed that it took less than a minute to clean up each of three separate spills—foundation, syrup, and sunscreen—on our leather couch. There were no rings, stains, or even sticky residue left after we cleaned up each of the messes.

Next, we tried the leather conditioner, which was easy to use and made the leather so soft and supple, it felt like it was new. There’s no need to worry about ruining the leather when you’re actually just trying to clean it because this cleanser and conditioner is super gentle. The citrus scent was an added bonus—don’t worry, it’s gentle and not at all overpowering if you’re sensitive to fragrance.

While this is certainly pricey for a cleaning product, consider it an inexpensive insurance policy for protecting your leather furniture.

Product Details: Amount: 17 ounces | Best For: Leather upholstery and accessories | Less Effective On: N/A | Wait Time: N/A | Not Intended For: Other fabrics

Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson

It cleans up most food and drink stains quickly and easily.

Careful, we found it reacts with red wine and causes discoloration.

Having tried other commercial and DIY cleaning methods on upholstery, we’ve found Oxiclean to work the best. We like the easy-to-use Oxiclean Total Interior Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, which is an aerosol can that comes with a scrub brush attached.

All you have to do to clean carpet or upholstery is to spray the white foam over the affected area and let it sit for about 30 seconds before gently scrubbing. The soda came out quickly, and we were impressed to see that the wine didn’t take much time for it to disappear, too.

The marinara and mustard proved to be more stubborn and needed a full two minutes of scrubbing before they faded. The marinara was finally gone, but we noticed the mustard left a tinge of yellow, so expect to reapply for certain food stains.

We did notice a tinge of blue left behind from scrubbing the wine. At first, we thought it might be the color coming off the brush, but it happened even when we used a separate white brush. It’s possible this is a reaction between the wine and the cleanser, so it makes sense to choose another cleanser for wine spills.

During testing, we found that there was no sticky residue after scrubbing and there was no lingering odor, either—just a faint yet fresh scent. While we wouldn’t use this to clean any future wine stains, it’s inexpensive and effective enough on other stains to warrant having a bottle on hand.

Product Details: Amount: 22 ounces | Best For: Upholstery and fabric | Less Effective On: Red wine | Wait Time: N/A | Not Intended For: Not listed

Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson

No one likes to anticipate household mishaps. But just as you might keep a bottle of stain remover to pretreat your laundry, you’ll want to keep a bottle of the best spray carpet cleaner on hand. Our favorite is the Oxi-Clean Carpet Stain Remover, which does a great job taking out a variety of stains on both carpet and upholstery.

To test the best carpet spray cleaners on the market, we assembled put a variety of options to test at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa. We created stains on carpet swatches and pillow covers using red wine, mud, barbecue sauce, and even wolf urine.

After the appropriate pretreatment—blotting, vacuuming, or cleaning up clumps—we followed all manufacturer’s instructions to remove fresh stains and some that had been left for 24 hours. We took detailed notes on how well each cleaner removed stains, noting which were easy to use, if a second application was needed, and if any odors remained. We also took into account which ones had a harsh smell.

Lastly, we determined which spray cleaners had the most value for their results. We then compiled these insights and created a final list of the best carpet spray cleaners, based on testing results.

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Not all stains can be treated equally—which is why it’s important that you use a carpet spray cleaner powerful enough to tackle the mess at hand. During testing, we took detailed notes about which products could remove specific stains and which ones left a faint mark behind.

“Water-based stains are pretty easy to get rid of, but fat- and oil-based stains will require tougher chemicals to separate the oil from the petroleum in synthetic carpet fibers,” Gurskyi says. “Protein-based stains come from bodily fluids or animal products (like juice from a piece of meat). These stains should be treated without applying heat or using acidic ingredients, as this can make the stain adhere to the carpet.”

As for adhesive stains that might result from stuck-on glue or gum, consider calling in a professional cleaner to avoid any damage to your carpet.

Gurskyi says to skip any spray cleaners with formaldehyde, acids, pesticides, disinfectants, or lye. “Go for non-toxic ingredients or make your own homemade cleaning mixture to avoid introducing allergens or toxins to your carpet,” he recommends. “Vinegar is an excellent ingredient to remove tough stains, while sprinkling some baking soda can help eliminate the odor.”

While our testers tried out each spray cleaner on four different stains, it’s important to note that not all cleaners are designed to work for every mess. Since pet messes can leave behind lingering odors, it’s important to find a formula that will help remove bad smells. Other stains, like red wine, will come out more easily if you use a product that’s designed for such spills.

To keep your cleaning closet stocked, we recommend buying an all-purpose spray that handles all sorts of stains and supplementing it with one or two specific stain fighters for your home’s most common messes.

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The Hate Stains Miss Mouths Messy Eater Stain Remover was effective at removing fresh and old wine stains on the first attempt, but it required a second application to make a dent in barbecue sauce, dirt, and urine spots. We also found that a strong odor remained on carpets and upholstery even after removing the urine stain, so we don’t recommend this product to pet owners.

Though the Woolite Heavy Traffic Carpet, Rug & Upholstery Cleaner successfully erased fresh wine stains and set-in mud stains, it failed to get rid of barbecue sauce and urine. Plus, the aerosol can produced copious amounts of foam, which didn’t wow our testers, making it a more difficult product to apply than all the other spray bottles on our list.

Unfortunately, the Formula 409 Carpet Cleaner failed to remove all stains from carpets and upholstery alike, no matter how soon after a spill it was applied. We noticed that it barely faded the brightness of stains on the first application and second attempts didn’t make any further progress, so we don’t recommend this cleaner.

The Woolite Instaclean Permanent Stain and Odor Remover light citrus-scented spray formula is easy to use, and we like having the choice between a mist spray and a concentrated stream, depending on the extent of the stain. We found it worked on the red wine and soda spills like a charm, but it left visible mustard and marinara stains even after scrubbing. For the price, it’s worth keeping a bottle on hand for drink spills, but you’ll need something more effective for taking on food stains.

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It is possible to get old, set-in stains out of a carpet. However, it may take a little bit of patience and elbow grease to get the job done. In many cases, you might have to use more than one carpet cleaner application and a bit of scrubbing to remove tougher stains.

If you’re in a pinch and you don’t have a carpet spray cleaner on hand, Gurskyi recommends making a DIY mixture to help remove spills and stains.

“A great way to get rid of old stains is by using a homemade mixture and letting it sit for a while,” Gurskyi says. He suggests mixing a few drops of dish soap in a cup of room temperature water and using a microfiber towel to work the mixture into the stain.

“Once you’ve let it sit a few minutes, clean it with fresh water and a clean cloth. Do this as many times as needed to remove the stain,” Gurskyi says. “You can also use a solution of two cups of water with a tablespoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of dish soap for tougher stains.”

Follow the manufacturer’s directions both before and after cleaning your carpet with a spray. Many instructions will direct you to vacuum after cleaning to remove any dried particles left over from either the spray or the stain itself. The best vacuums will also fluff up the carpet again, so it’s a good idea to run the vacuum after the stain is gone anyway.

Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, New York, covering all things home and lifestyle for Better Homes & Gardens and other digital publications. As a dog owner, she has first-hand experience with some of the best carpet spray cleaners. In addition to using lab insights from our carpet spray cleaner tests in Des Moines, Iowa, Barbara consulted with Andrii Gurskyi, co-founder at HomeClean.

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