Adulting Hack Alert: You Need a Portable Carpet Cleaner

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Cats and doggos are cute AF, but we all know the truth: they're expensive. Another truth: they're messy—like hide your valuables, keep them off your rugs messy. The cost of dog ownership is high enough without factoring in the cost of removing pet stains or buying vacuums for pet hair so your apartment doesn't end up in shambles. That's why it's important to invest in good, quality products that'll actually work to remove any pet-related (or clumsy-related) messes, which is where these 7 best portable carpet cleaners come in handy.

As a cat mom, trust me when I say that if a pet has a choice between vomiting on the carpet or vomiting on the easy-to-clean bathroom tile, they will choose the carpet. Every. Single. Time. And sure, you can invest in machine washable rugs and spot clean when necessary to avoid any permanent stains, but some accidents simply require the big guns, i.e., portable cleaners.

And these nifty little machines aren't just useful for pet parents, anyone with a couch and a love of red wine knows that when stains happen, sometimes it takes a little more than club soda and a prayer to get them out. Trust me: Make your life easier and get yourself one of these top-rated portable carpet cleaners.

Little Green Pet Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner

The Little Green Pet Deluxe portable carpet cleaner is perfect for cleaning up after fur babies or tackling small stains. It's the attachments that really set this machine apart from others, most notably the stain trapper tool, which can take on small spills without using up the whole tank of water.

THE REVIEW: "The first day I got this, I attacked stains that have been in my carpet for months. It pulled them out with no problem and left my carpet white and smelling fresh again," one reviewer writes. "It's very intuitive and easy to use. The portability is also a huge plus."

Pet Portable Spot Cleaner

With its 64 ounce capacity tank, this portable cleaner from Rug Doctor is capable of tackling slightly bigger projects, though it is still far from a full-size professional carpet cleaner. At 18.34 lbs, this one is on the heavier side, but reviewers also say that it's very stable and will stay upright when cleaning uneven surfaces, which makes it especially good for cleaning stairs.

THE REVIEW: "This is the one. It has better suction than my full-sized carpet cleaner," writes one reviewer. "Worth every penny for my dog who is still potty training."

PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner

This upright carpet cleaner is great for those with a bad back, knees, or wrists because it's easier to maneuver than the other carpet cleaners on this list. It also uses Heatforce Technology to dry after spot treatments, so your carpet or rug won't be left soggy.

THE REVIEW: "This is SO EASY to use and it scrubbed my carpet beautifully. All the stains disappeared," writes one tester. "The water tank and waste tank were simple to change... It also removed water so well that the carpet was only lightly damp at the end of the process."

StainStriker Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner

This portable carpet cleaner comes with a crevice tool to help you get into all those hard-to-reach places stains might stick. It's also relatively light (weighing in at just over 8 lbs), so a great option if you need to go up and down stairs.

THE REVIEW: "This thing is amazing," one tester writes. "I was skeptical of how well it would work because we have 2 dogs and 2 little kids, and this has been getting out all of the stains—new and old ones!"

Pet Stain Eraser Plus

If you don't have space for a bigger portable carpet cleaner in your home (every inch of storage is sacred, OK?), consider getting a smaller machine, like the Pet Stain Eraser Plus from Bissell. This one is completely handheld and battery operated, so it's easy to carry around the house (or to your car) and won't take up too much space in your broom closet.

THE REVIEW: "From small coffee drips on the carpet to my cat having hairball issues, this thing has you covered," writes one reviewer. "I have used it 4-5 times on a single charge, and it does a great job of dispensing fluid, scrubbing, and sucking it up."

CleanSlate Pet Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner

The CleanSlane cleaner from Hoover comes with four attachments to tackle a variety of surfaces, so it's perfect for homes with a mix of carpeting, tile, hardwood floors, or fabrics that need cleaning. It also comes with a 7-inch wide path tool to tackle bigger spills.

THE REVIEW: "I just love it," writes one tester. "Having a fabric couch, play pen, bassinet, and throw rugs to clean—this is a game changer... Yes, you do need to put in some arm work, but it's so worth it."

Portable Spot Cleaner for Carpet & Upholstery

This portable cleaner will automatically stop working if the tank is full of dirty water, so it's great for those who tend to get distracted watching dirt getting sucked up from the carpet. It is a bit on the heavier side (a little over 11 lbs), but it makes up for it with its 15 foot cord length.

THE REVIEW: "I've had this white chair for a year. Big mistake buying the chair with 2 kids and a dog. This tool is helping me love the chair again," one tester writes. "I love the small size and the ease of use."

Carpet Freshener

After you've removed the stains from your carpet, give it a quick refresh with the Pur Home carpet freshener. This pet-friendly product works to neutralize odors and comes in three scents—Lavender + Ylang, Frankincense + Myrrh, and Cashmere.

How to choose the right portable cleaner for you:

Once you've determined your budget, there are a few things to consider when trying to find the best portable carpet cleaner for you:

Consider your messes

The most important thing to ask yourself before you buy a portable cleaner is what you actually want to be cleaning. Are you hoping to give some carpeted stairs new life or clean the stain your puppy left on your new couch? These details will determine what kind of portable cleaner works best for your task—whether you need something cordless or a cord that extends up to a certain distance, or whether you're looking for something strictly for rugs vs. tile or hardwood floors.

What portable cleaner tank size is best for you?

The tank size of a portable cleaner will determine how often you have to go back to the sink, empty the dirty water, and add more. This can become quite the process, especially if the machine has a tendency to spill or the tank is tricky to remove. If you're hoping to clean bigger areas, you're going to want to make sure your tank is big enough to keep water changes to a minimum.

Consider your storage space

Portable cleaners are small when compared to their full size counterparts, but that doesn't mean they're tiny. You will need a place to store them, so make sure to check the dimensions before you purchase.

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