10 Best Portable Carpet Cleaners 2025 in the United States

The BISSELL Little Green Mini is a lightweight, portable carpet and upholstery cleaner weighing about 7 pounds, making it easy to carry and use around the house or in your car. It features a 16-ounce tank capacity, which is on the smaller side, so it’s best for quick spot cleaning rather than deep cleaning large areas. This model offers solid cleaning power with its spray, scrub, and suction action, effectively tackling stains, pet messes, and dirt embedded in carpets, upholstery, and car interiors.

The 4-inch Tough Stain Tool and HydroRinse self-cleaning hose are useful attachments that help target stubborn spots and make maintenance easier by cleaning the hose after use. Its compact size suggests it’s designed for close-range cleaning rather than large room coverage. This cleaner stores easily in small spaces and includes an 8oz bottle of BISSELL’s Little Green Formula, which helps remove stains and odors.

This cleaner is ideal for pet owners or anyone needing a convenient, portable spot cleaner for carpets, furniture, and car interiors, though its smaller tank means frequent refilling during bigger jobs.

The Shark Carpet Cleaner Machine, also called the StainStriker, is a versatile and portable carpet cleaner. It boasts a dual-activated stain eliminator that doesn't require premixing, making it highly convenient for tackling tough stains and odors on various surfaces such as carpets, rugs, upholstery, and even car interiors. The powerful suction helps to deeply clean and refresh surfaces, making them look like new. With a relatively lightweight design at under 9 lbs, it's easy to maneuver and store away.

This cleaner is especially useful for pet owners, as it effectively removes pet hair, urine, and smoke odors. The package includes four tools: a crevice tool, a 3.5” reversible bristle tool, a 7” wide path tool, and a pet tool, providing a range of options for different cleaning needs. Additionally, the cleaner comes with two cleaning solutions for enhanced performance.

However, some potential drawbacks include the 2-liter tank capacity, which might require frequent refilling for larger cleaning tasks, and the fact that it is battery-powered, so ensuring the battery is charged could be a consideration. Despite these minor limitations, the Shark StainStriker offers a robust and user-friendly solution for home and car cleaning tasks.

The Shark StainStriker HairPro is a powerful portable carpet and upholstery cleaner, especially suited for pet owners and car interior cleaning. It offers strong suction and a unique dual-activated cleaning formula that tackles tough stains, odors, and deeply embedded pet hair without pre-treatment or heat, enhancing convenience and effectiveness. The HairPro technology is designed to pick up pet hair without clogging or tangling, a common problem with many cleaners. It includes four specialized cleaning tools and two cleaning formulas to address a wide range of stains and messes.

With a tank capacity of about 24 fluid ounces, the cleaner provides a decent cleaning time before needing a refill, though larger jobs might require multiple refills. Weighing around 13 pounds, it is moderately heavy for a portable unit, which might feel bulky during extended use or for those seeking ultra-lightweight options. The self-cleaning feature offers convenience by allowing quick cleaning of the tool and hose after use, saving time and effort on maintenance.

If you need a reliable, pet-focused portable cleaner with strong cleaning power and helpful accessories, the Shark StainStriker HairPro is a solid choice. For users prioritizing a very lightweight device or requiring continuous long cleaning sessions without refills, other options may be preferable.