Portable carpet cleaners (also known as spot cleaners) are similar to vacuum cleaners but are specifically designed for spot-cleaning a range of fabric surfaces, including car carpets and fabric seats.
They’re capable of removing tough marks and stains that even the best vacuum cleaners would struggle with, such as ink or lipstick, using a combination of concentrated suction and injecting carpet shampoo into the fabrics.
For those of you who transport kids, pets, groceries, and other messy things in your car, a carpet cleaner will be just the tool for treating those inevitable stains. They tackle stains that any normal corded car vacuum simply couldn’t clean.
The best spot cleaners for cars 2025 at a glance
There’s use for a portable carpet cleaner beyond the car, they’ll make cleaning your home easier and more effective too. Take a look around the average home, and you’re sure to find plenty of upholstered surfaces that are a magnet for spills and stains. All of which a spot cleaner will tackle just as well as a handheld vacuum cleaner.
How we test: spot cleaners
Each spot cleaner that we’ve had our hands on for testing has been thoroughly pushed to its respective limits. We tried some of them both in our homes and in some car interiors as well, but mostly for car seats and carpet cleaning. We’ve tested them in a variety of cars, from classics to modern vehicles, and had a go with all the attachments.
All tests were performed on cars out in the car park at Parkers HQ, and as some were corded units, we hooked them up to available sockets. In terms of battery life testing, each machine was generally used for one car at a time, so we could get a realistic idea of how long they last on an average cleaning job.
What we look for in spot cleaners
Primarily, we’re looking for cleaning ability of the machines each time we test them. If they can’t lift dirt and leave a carpet looking immaculate, then they’re simply not going to be recommendable. These are machines that are a step above vacuum cleaners, and like a good vacuum, should be at least fairly easy to use. This applies to handling the spot cleaner, setting it up, and ultimately operating it.
Build quality is another crucial aspect we seek as spot cleaners can be fairly pricy, depending where you look, which neatly leads onto value for money. Is the deep cleaning machine you’re looking at worth your while, or are others representing better value for money? We outline it all in our tests.
The best spot cleaners for cars tested 2025
Tested product
The best spot cleaner
That's because, assuming you insert the correct ratio of carpet cleaner and water, it makes deep cleaning a breeze. The handle and trigger are very comfortable to hold, and I could pretty much get a set of carpets clean in one or two runs. It weighs only 1kg, so moving it around isn't a hassle either.
Its runtime is around 35 minutes if you run it in Eco mode, which will drop if you switch to the faster Turbo mode. The SpotClean was tested in two cars: one having the front carpets cleaned and the other having a going-over in the front and rear carpets. I'm happy to report there was still charge left to spare. You might struggle, however, on a properly deep clean where the cabin is caked in mud after a day of hiking.
Second opinion: Naveed Hussain
"The Bissell cordless spot cleaner is ideal for use in the car, from cleaning spillages to general cleaning – this lightweight appliance is designed with ease-of-use in mind and is great at getting into some of the harder-to-reach areas like underneath the seats. It’s intuitive as well, with a simple trigger on the handle to spray cleaning fluid, which is then vacuumed without any excess left behind.
The 35-minute run-time might be a bit short for deeper cleaning tasks but should be enough to give your car a quick touch-up, and the compact shape makes it easy to store. For more conscientious car enthusiasts the Bissell SpotClean is suited for the task at hand."
Pros
- Easy enough to carry around at 1kg
- Performs impressive results with not that much effort
- Sleek, modern design and feels like a quality item
Cons
- 35-minute running time may be an issue for longer cleaning tasks
- Diluting the spot and stain cleaner requires precision
| Dimensions | 34.4 x 34.2 x 23.1 cm |
| Water tank capacity | 900ml |
| Hose length | 1.7m |
| Cord length | N/A |
| Weight | 1kg |
Tested product
Editor's pick
Of course, being a corded device, it was an inconvenience having to take my test vehicle to a socket in order to try it out. That's an unfortunate con to these things, but the business of power very quickly balances this out. Upon my first trigger, I could tell this was a clear step above all the cordless spot cleaners I've tested. The spray and suction power is profound, and it really does a quick, thorough job of making a carpet immaculate.
It is quite a bulky device to carry around. It's a little bit bigger than the others on this list, so portability is a slight issue - especially as you have to ensure the cord has plenty of leeway. It also weighs 5.5kg, so it is on the heavy side even before you fill it up.
The most impressive part for me was the fact that it was uber-simple to understand the instructions. You get very handy markers on the outside of the clean water tank, which you can apply your water-solution mixture before getting on with the task in hand. I was able to get started with this machine within 60 seconds, and that's great stuff for anybody new to carpet cleaners.
One thing I didn't like so much was the fact the SpotWash Max Duo was noticeably noisier than the others I've tried. According to Vax, it peaks at around 81dB, so it's not noisy enough to be a disturbance to your senses. But it's one thing to keep in mind when shopping around. But with the vast array of attachments, powerful cleaning performance, and long cord at its advantage, this machine is simply superb.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Immensely powerful cleaning performance and great coverage from the large attachment
- Large 2.8L tank, meaning it can last for a long cleaning session
- Reassuringly easy guide and instructions labelled on the product
Cons
- There will always be socket limitations with a corded device
- It's a heavy unit with a dry weight of 5.5kg
| Dimensions | 28 x 38 x 40.6cm |
| Water tank capacity | 2.8L |
| Hose length | 1.7m |
| Cord length | 6.5m |
| Weight | 5.5kg |
Tested product
The most stylish spot cleaner
Still though, my impressions of the SE 3-18 remain very strong. It proved itself to be a powerful cleaning machine with decent spray and suction power. It seemed to consume a lot from the clean water tank, and considering I tested this on a sports car and had to refill the tank after cleaning one carpet, you may need to refill it a few times for your average family saloon, estate or SUV.
The cleaning performance itself was excellent for the machine's power and price point. You get plenty of spray, which allows you to cover a lot of ground in your car's carpets, and you can get a set of carpets cleaned very quickly. The refilling part is really the only criticism I would have. By the end of my test, after cleaning both of the MX5's carpets, the battery charge dropped to 61% from 100. So, it's fair to say, the SE 3-18 will be pretty comfortable deep-cleaning an average-sized family vehicle on one charge of battery.
I loved the design and build quality, too. There's a solid, modern feel to it which makes it ever so more visually appealing than the options from Vax, BISSELL and so on.
However, the appeal is cut short by what I found to be some fearsomely complicated instructions - especially when I was trying to find out what ratio the solution and water should be. It says to fill 100-200ml of cleaning fluid for every 4L of water, but with a 1.7 litre tank on hand, it's a fuss to do the maths - especially when the container has no measurements labelled.
Other than that however, I do like the SE 3-18 a lot. It's easy to use and in terms of the machine itself, a more simplified approach to the spot cleaner market. I just wished it was easier to use.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Great quality construction, as per Karcher products
- Powerful machine, even as a cordless unit
- Simple to use and compact design for easy storage
Cons
- Battery not included in base purchase
| Dimensions | 46.8 x 22.5 x 26.1cm |
| Water tank capacity | 1.6L |
| Hose length | 1.9 metres |
| Cord length | N/A |
| Weight | 4.98kg |
Tested product
The best steam spot cleaner
The answer is very well. You do get a rush of steam as soon as you pull the trigger, and this makes the cleaning process a bit more of an event compared to the other options. It does lift up dirt and grime from carpets very nicely - and easily leaves them spotless after you've finished. It delivered a consistent flow of cleaning solution, water and steam to each application, and each one was perfectly dry after a single going over with the extractor.
You have to wait for around 30-seconds for the steam to build up, so you're never having to wait around forever until you can begin cleaning. The 4.5-metre cord is long enough if you have a socket on your driveway, but can be an issue if you need to stretch out in order to reach your vehicle.
Where the HydroSteam lacks unfortunately, is in its ability to clean the tightly-woven seats in the Volvo C30 test vehicle we cleaned the interior of. Despite all our efforts, the upholstery was still feeling quite damp, so you will have to allow a long time to let it dry. But in our experience, they were left slightly soggy after immediate use. I also felt a little more power could've made the HydroSteam an even better product, but it still remains a great option if you like a bit of steam.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Impressive cleaning performance with a great combination of steam and cleaning solution
- Great quality and relatively easy to set up and use
- A fabulous alternative to the norm of spot cleaners
Cons
- We found it struggles on woven upholstery
- Cord will always be a limitation if you don't have a socket near your vehicle
| Dimensions | 39 x 32 x 36.8cm |
| Water tank capacity | 1.8L (clean) |
| Hose length | 1.5m |
| Cord length | 4.5m |
| Weight | 5.9kg |
Tested product
The best spot cleaner for embeded stains
Its size hampered it, but the build quality more than made up for these shortcomings. It’s an excellent way of breathing new life into a car and is our top pick for a car carpet cleaner.
Read our full BISSELL SpotClean Pet Pro review here.
Pros
- Ergonomic and clever design
- 2.8-litres of water storage is useful
- Excellent stain-removing abilities
Cons
- Rather large, which can make carrying it quite bulky
| Dimensions | 25 x 36 x 35.6 cm |
| Water tank capacity | 2.8 Litres |
| Hose length | 1.5 metres |
| Cord length | 6.5 metres |
| Weight | 5.8kg |
Tested product
The best car carpet cleaner on a budget
The stand-out feature of the SpotWash is that it can plug into itself to flush out debris and keep everything clean. For budget carpet cleaning, it’s a solid choice. It is a fantastic little machine for around the house and the car.
Read our full Vax SpotWash review here.
Pros
- Affordable, yet mostly effective at the task of deep cleaning
- Self-cleaning feature, which is useful
- Easy to carry around, thanks to large top handle
Cons
- Not the most powerful spot cleaner out there
| Dimensions | 38.2 x 35.8 x 24.1 cm |
| Water tank capacity | 1.6 litres |
| Hose length | 1.5 metres |
| Cord length | N/A |
| Weight | 3.9kg |
Tested product
The best mid-range spot cleaner
A very capable machine despite it's size and reliance on batteries, it's even comes with swappable head attachments for crevices and wider cleaning. If you're wanting a properly cleaned car interior (or home), and don't want to be reliant upon power sockets, this takes some beating.
Read our full Vax SpotWash Home Cordless review here.
Pros
- Fully cordless, which makes portability limitless
- Very solid performance for the price point and type
- Takes a 4.0Ah battery, which is always good for capacity
Cons
- Limited battery life (25-minutes of run time)
| Dimensions | 28.9 x 23.4 x 21.6 cm |
| Water tank capacity | 0.7L |
| Hose length | 1.25m |
| Cord length | N/A metres |
| Weight | 4.5kg |
Tested product
The best car carpet cleaner for versatility
The suction offered as a regular vacuum is exceptional, and the number of attachments included means that this vacuum can be used for upholstery and even on delicate surfaces. As a spot cleaner it’s equally powerful and is capable of dragging years’ worth of dirt out of fabric. This all comes with Numatic’s famed dependability and it features that iconic smiley face too, lovely stuff. It’s a bit of a faff to swap parts over but it’s the ultimate fabric-cleaning device currently on sale.
Read our full George Wet and Dry Vacuum review here.
Pros
- Bank-vault construction, as per Henry vacuums and the like
- Perfect for car cleaning on your driveway/garage
- Quite powerful suction and cleaning abilities
Cons
- Heavy to carry around and more compromised than cordless units
- Doesn't represent as good value as the others
| Dimensions | 35 x 51 x 35.5 cm |
| Water tank capacity | 9L wet, 6L extraction |
| Hose length | 5-metres |
| Cord length | 10-metres |
| Weight | 14.68kg |
Recommended product
The best newcomer for spot cleaners
With the pet model, you get two cleaning solutions from Shark: Carpet Xpert and Stain Striker bottles. The firm says that when combined, it provides 20 times more cleaning power than the brand's Deep Clean Cro Formula solution.
Pros
- Immensely powerful at a claimed 20x more powerful than Shark's comparable item
- Lots of attachments included, which adds versatility to cleaning tasks
- Ideal for car cleaning and home jobs as well
Cons
- Only at its best with Shark's specific cleaning solutions
| Dimensions | 29.8 x 28 x 28.7cm |
| Water tank capacity | 720ml |
| Hose length | 1.3 metres |
| Cord length | 4.5 metres |
| Weight | 3.8kg |
FAQs and things to consider when buying spot cleaners
What are spot cleaners?
Spot cleaners – or carpet cleaners to use another term – are either corded or cordless machines that mix water and cleaning solution to provide a deep rinse and clean to your vehicle’s carpets. They’re compact versions of the larger, more thorough carpet cleaners you might use in your home, to be able to fit within your car’s cabin.
Are spot cleaners worth it?
A vacuum cleaner for car interior use can only get off so much dirt. In reality, it’s surface dirt that vacuum cleaners will take care of, whereas spot cleaners can go one level deeper and take care of embedded spills, dirt, and other grime.
In that sense, spot cleaners are absolutely worth it if you’re keen on giving your vehicle a very deep clean and detail inside. If used well, they contribute to a more hygienic cabin to an almost showroom level.
Which spot cleaner is best?
In our testing experience, we were massively impressed by the BISSELL SpotClean Cordless machine. Simply because you don’t have to use it too thoroughly to achieve the results you want, as well as being able to run for up to 35 minutes.
You don’t even have to use Turbo Mode to achieve a great clean, either. It’s perfect for car cleaning tasks and because it only weighs a kilo, it’s not tricky to move around, either.
What’s the difference between spot cleaners and carpet cleaners?
A carpet cleaner will more than likely be shaped like a traditional upright corded or cordless vacuum cleaner and will be designed for use on a floor. They’re only useful if you remove the floor mats and can clean them in an open space. A spot cleaner on the other hand is much smaller and designed to be far more portable. They should be your number one choice if you’re planning to use one in a car’s interior.
A spot cleaner is not the same as a steam cleaner either. Spot cleaners use water, cleaning solution and vacuum extraction, whereas steam cleaners only eject super-heated water. Household-grade steam cleaners are not generally so effective at cleaning fabric because they are not powerful enough to lift carpet and upholstery stains. They sanitise very well, but that’s about it. Thanks to the way spot cleaners work, they do indeed work very well for fabric and upholstery stains. And don’t get the terminology mixed up with wet and dry vacuum cleaners either – those are just more heavy-duty for normal vacuuming jobs.
What are the best brands for spot cleaners?
The two stand-out brands for spot cleaners are BISSELL and Vax. Both offer a selection of excellent spot cleaners that are portable, powerful and will make a difference to a car’s interior. BISSELL is generally more expensive but does have a small performance bonus and a slew of nice ergonomic touches, while a Vax will be of better value and still have top-notch quality.
Looking further afield, Karcher has come up with a fabulous competitor in the form of the SE 3-18, which we love based on its impressive performance, design, and chich-ness alone. The Numatic George is also a behemoth of carpet care but features a price tag to match.
Are carpet cleaners safe for pets?
In principle, spot/carpet cleaners are perfectly safe for pets after use —simply because the area you’ve cleaned will be decontaminated of dirt and grime. However, you must exercise diligence to ensure your pets won’t be harmed, such as keeping the cleaning solution and smaller attachments well away from them.
Are carpet cleaners loud?
With the ones we’ve tested, they’re not loud at all. Every machine like this will generate a noise of some sort, but they’re much quieter than an average corded vacuum cleaner. The Vax SpotWash Max Duo for example, peaks at around 81dB, so while you can notice the noise of that device, it’s still not enough to be annoying.
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