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Top 5 Carpet Stain Removers
- Most Versatile: Shaw R2X Carpet Stain & Soil Remover
- Best Enzyme Cleaner: BISSELL Professional Stain & Odor Remover
- Best Quantity Options: FOLEX Instant Carpet Spot Remover
- Best For Wine Stains: Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover
- Best Powdered Cleaner: Resolve Pet Carpet Cleaner Powder
Compare Top Stain Removers
| Product | Cleaner Type | Size | Effecitve On |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaw R2X Carpet Stain & Soil Remover | Spray | 32-ounce bottle | Soil, oil, and more |
| BISSELL Professional Stain & Odor Remover | Spray | 22-ounce bottle | Urine, feces, blood, vomit, grease, and more |
| FOLEX Instant Carpet Spot Remover | Spray | 32-ounce bottle | Ink, red wine, coffee, and more |
| Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover | Spray | 12-ounce bottle | Red wine, coffee, blood, and more |
| Resolve Pet Carpet Cleaner Powder | Powder | One-pound container | Urine, vomit, blood, and more |
| Product | Cleaner Type | Size | Effecitve On |
Most Versatile
Shaw R2X Carpet Stain & Soil Remover
- $13
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Works on wool rugs and carpets
✔ Safe to use on furniture, clothing, and upholstery
✔ Doesn’t require rinsing after application
✘ May sometimes require multiple sprays to eliminate stains
✘ Only available in one bottle size
Key Features
- Spray cleaner
- 32-ounce bottle
- Effective on soil, oil, and more
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who were happy with this stain remover said that it worked on multiple surfaces, was easy to use, and eliminated stains quickly. However, unhappy customers had difficulty using the sprayer. They also said that the product had an unpleasant odor.
Best Enzyme Cleaner
BISSELL Professional Stain & Odor Remover
- $14
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Designed with pet stains and odors in mind
✔ Can be used on any water-safe surface
✔ Doesn’t contain heavy metals, optical brighteners, phosphates, or dyes
✘ Takes longer for the enzymes to eliminate stains
✘ Has a small bottle size of 22 ounces
Key Features
- Spray cleaner
- 22-ounce bottle
- Effective on urine, feces, blood, vomit, grease, and more
What Customers are Saying
Customers were pleased with the effectiveness of this cleaner, stating that it removed stains and their associated odors. However, those who didn’t like this product said that it didn’t work well on all food stains.
Best Quantity Options
FOLEX Instant Carpet Spot Remover
- $7
- $24
- 71% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Uses a water-based, odor-free formula
✔ Safe to use around children and pets if it’s used as directed
✔ Is available in multiple pack sizes
✘ Doesn’t always deodorize stains
✘ Can bleach a carpet if too much is used
Key Features
- Spray cleaner
- 32-ounce bottle
- Effective on ink, red wine, coffee, and more
What Customers Are Saying
Pleased customers said that this spray removed stains quickly came with simple-to-follow instructions, and had a pleasant scent. However, some customers were unhappy that it didn’t have a return policy. Others claimed that it adversely affected the color of their carpet.
Best For Wine Stains
Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover
- $10
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Doesn’t contain bleach or phosphates
✔ Works on carpet, fabric, and upholstery
✔ Has a fresh citrus scent
✘ Can require follow-up to completely remove a stain
✘ Not effective on non-washable fabrics
Key Features
- Spray cleaner
- 12-ounce bottle
- Effective on red wine, coffee, blood, and more
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers said that this carpet stain remover was effective on dried stains. They also said that it worked well on clothes. However, those who were unhappy claimed that it was ineffective on pet stains and that it sometimes leaked from the bottle.
Best Powdered Cleaner
Resolve Pet Carpet Cleaner Powder
- $13
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Can be used on wool, nylon, and polyester rugs and carpets as well as hardwood floors
✔ Doesn’t have a strong fragrance
✔ Comes in a large one-pound container
✘ Not made for wet spills
✘ Not as effective on old stains
Key Features
- Powder cleaner
- One-pound container
- Effective on urine, vomit, blood, and more
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that this powder worked well on pet stains, was effective on multiple types of carpet, and didn’t have an overpowering scent. However, those who were unsatisfied claimed that it clogged their vacuum cleaner. Others said that the container wasn’t completely full upon arrival.
Buyer’s Guide
There are several factors that you should consider before deciding on what carpet stain remover is best for your needs. The type of stain, surface, and odor all come into play when determining the best stain remover. Read our buying guide below for more information on carpet stain removers.
Type of Stain
Read the label or product description of the cleaner you’re considering to make sure it can remove the types of stains you will most often need it for. Some cleaners are designed for pet accidents, while others clean hard-to-remove red wine. Some common spills you might see listed on a cleaner’s bottle include:
- Mud
- Red wine
- Coffee
- Urine
- Feces
- Vomit
- Blood
- Spaghetti sauce
- Grease
Type of Surface
In addition to listing the types of stains they can target, stain removers also mention the surfaces they can remove stains from. Most cleaners can remove stains from rugs, clothes, upholstery, and furniture as well as carpets.
Form
Carpet stain removers typically come in liquid or powder form. Liquid-based cleaners are effective on small stains here and there because they come in small spray bottles. However, powder cleaner can be applied to large, high-traffic areas and vacuumed to give your carpet new life.
Odor Elimination
Most stains, such as urine, feces, and coffee, are accompanied by a scent. That’s why many carpet stain removers either eliminate the scent or cover it up with a new one.
Formula
Some carpet cleaners include ingredients, such as bleach, chlorine, peroxide, phosphates, propellants, aerosols, and sulfates. While effective, these ingredients are harmful to you, your family, and the environment. However, in recent years, more non-toxic cleaners that use plant-based ingredients and essential oils have hit the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I eliminate stains from my carpet?
To remove a stain from your carpet, start by blotting it. Then, check the instructions on your stain removal of choice, and use it as directed. Some stains require a few sprays and patting with a paper towel. Others need to be scrubbed or vacuumed. If you don’t have a cleaner on hand, try using a vinegar and water solution.
What stains can’t be removed from carpets?
Urine, feces, vomit, red wine, and chocolate cause tough-to-remove stains. However, most stains can be removed as long as they’re treated quickly and properly. Stains that change the color of your carpet, such as bleach, can’t be removed.
How do I combat odor caused by a stain?
You can choose a stain remover and odor eliminator combination cleaner. Another option is to use candles, oil diffusers, fragrance sprays, or other products to cover up the scent.
How We Selected the Best Carpet Stain Removers
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of carpet stain removers with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
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