6 Best Carpet Cleaners for Dogs

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Dogs track in mud, shed hair onto every rug and, now and then, have an accident on the carpet. A good vacuum handles the hair; a carpet cleaner (a machine that sprays a cleaning solution and pulls the dirty water back out) handles the marks.

This page looks at four machines and one cleaning solution that dog owners often look at: a compact carpet washer, a steam cleaner, an upright vacuum and a manual sweeper. Everything is described from the maker’s Amazon listing. We have not tested any of them in person, so read the specifications as the maker’s claims, not our results.

Check each listing for your own country before you buy. Some of these products are sold and certified for the United States only, and a mains appliance built for 120 V will not run safely on a 230 V supply.

Carpet cleaning also has a pet-safety side: the carpet must be dry before your dog goes back on it. We cover that at the end of the page, using the ASPCA.

Why Dog Owners Need A Carpet Cleaner

Regular vacuuming removes loose hair and dry dirt, but it does not lift mud, drool or the marks from an accident. A machine that washes the carpet can. If your dog sheds heavily, brushing helps too: see our guide to grooming a fluffy dog.

How To Choose A Carpet Cleaner For A Dog Household

• Type of machine. A vacuum lifts hair and dry dirt only. A carpet washer sprays solution and extracts it. A steam cleaner uses hot steam, mostly on hard surfaces. Many homes use a vacuum plus a washer.
• Weight and tank size. You will carry it up and down stairs and fill and empty a tank, so check the weight in kilograms and the tank or dust-cup size in litres. The listings below give pounds and ounces; we have converted them.
• Solution. Most washers need a separate cleaning solution. Read the label and the machine’s manual to see which solutions it accepts.
• Drying. Damp carpet takes time to dry. Some listings mention faster drying; open a window or run a fan, and keep your dog out until it is fully dry.
• Power supply. Check the plug, voltage and cord length (in metres) against your home before you order.

Four Machines And One Solution For Dog Owners

Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner

The Amazon listing describes a lightweight, compact carpet washer for carpets, area rugs and upholstery, with an antimicrobial pet brush roll and “HeatForce” technology for faster drying. It says a sample of Hoover solution is included and that the machine is meant to be used with a Hoover carpet shampoo solution. The listing does not give a weight in the text we read, so check it on the page.

Hoover Pet Carpet Cleaner Solution

The listing calls this a 64 oz (about 1.9 L) enzyme-based pet solution for urine, vomit and tracked-in dirt, made “without phosphates, phthalates or parabens”. It is meant for use in Hoover carpet cleaning machines. That is the maker’s claim; we have not tested it.

McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam Cleaner

This is a steam cleaner, not a carpet washer: the listing positions it for tile, grout, wood, laminate, appliances and car interiors, with carpet and furniture also mentioned. It lists a 48 oz (about 1.4 L) water tank that heats in under 12 minutes and gives up to 90 minutes of steam, 58 PSI (about 4 bar) of steam pressure, an 18 ft (5.5 m) power cord, a 7 ft (2.1 m) hose and 20 accessories.

Important outside the US: the listing says it is “built to meet U.S. voltage requirements” and is certified and warrantied for use only in the U.S. Do not plug it into a 230 V supply.

Eureka NEU182B PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum

A vacuum, so it removes hair and dry dirt but does not wash the carpet. The listing gives 10 lb (about 4.5 kg), a 4.1 L dust cup, five height settings and a hose with a 7 in (18 cm) crevice tool, a dusting brush and an upholstery tool. Vacuum before you shampoo, so the machine is not working through loose hair.

Bissell Natural Sweep Carpet And Floor Sweeper

A manual sweeper that needs no electricity. The title gives 4.2 lb (about 1.9 kg) and the listing mentions dual rotating brush rolls and two corner edge brushes for crumbs, dirt and pet hair on carpet, rugs and hard floors. It is a quick-tidy tool between vacuuming sessions, not a deep cleaner.

Keep The Dog Off Until The Carpet Is Dry

The ASPCA says of carpet shampoo: “Most carpet cleaning products can be used in pet households. Allow the carpet to dry before allowing pets into the area. This will help to prevent the risk of skin irritation or gastrointestinal upset.”

So close the door, use a baby gate or a crate, and wait until the carpet is fully dry. Rinse the carpet as the machine’s instructions say. Follow the product label, and if your dog licks the carpet or you think they have swallowed some solution, call your vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice.

The Bottom Line

For hair and dry dirt, a vacuum or sweeper is enough. For marks and accidents, you need a machine that washes and extracts, plus a solution it accepts. Compare the listings for your country and power supply, and keep your dog off the carpet until it is dry.