Best Car Carpet Cleaner Reviews and Buying Guide 2014

Are you in search for the best car carpet cleaner?

We understand how frustrating it can be to clean your car. The available space to work on is so cramped and professional detailing can be very expensive. Fortunately, the market is ripe for car carpet cleaning products right now, offering owners with an array of choices to meet their needs.

Of course, with so many options today it’s understandable for you to feel a little confused when buying. With that in mind, we have taken the liberty of collecting and comparing the best car carpet cleaner products in the market today.

Aside from providing a list of product features and specifications, we’ll also be providing honest and comprehensive reviews of each product. By the end of this article, you should have a firm grasp on what you need and what product meets those specifications!

Top 5 Car Carpet Cleaner in the Market

Prior to discussing car carpet cleaning products in detail, we’ll first present you with the top 5 items in the market today. So far, these are the ones that are getting excellent reviews from selling sites like Amazon:

·        Hoover Max Extract Dual V WidePath Carpet Cleaner, F7412900

·        McCulloch MC-1275 Heavy-Duty Steam

·        Bissell Spotbot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner with Deep Reach Technology, 33N8A

·        Bissell SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner 3624

·        Bissell Little Green ProHeat Compact Multi-Purpose Carpet Cleaner, 14259

Top 5 Best Car Carpet Cleaner Reviews

In this review, we’ll be presenting the 5 most popular products in the carpet cleaning community. Under each product, you’ll be presented with the different features and specifications that make them more notable than others. Here goes!

#1: Hoover Max Extract Dual V WidePath Carpet Cleaner, F7412900

Basic Features: The cleaner comes with three wonderful features: SpinScrub Technology, SpinScrub Powered Hand Tools, and Intuitive Controls. SpinScrub Technology offers a completel 360-degree clean through the rotating brushes. Counter-circular movements allow for a deeper and extensive cleaning capacity that goes all the way to the carpet’s roots. To increase your cleaning capacity, the Hoover Max Extract also features the Powered Hand Tools, a small attachment that lets you target small spaces for cleaning, ensuring that you reach even the tiniest crevices in your car’s carpeting. Lastly, there’s the impressive Intuitive Controls which can be activated with a single-touch. Positioned within easy reach, users can turn the cleaner on and off with just a slight adjustment of their fingers.

Cleaning Action: Perfect as a car cleaner, the Hoover Max comes with several attachments for multiple cleaning options. The different brushes increases your cleaning capacity by up to 20%. It also comes with an elongated hose that lets you reach all the way in the trunk of the car without having to bend over. Although advertised mostly for car carpets, this particular product also works well with car upholstery.

Specifications: Measuring at 20.2 by 15.8 by 29.2 inches, the product weighs roughly 27 pounds and is covered by 1-year limited warranty. Powered by a 12 amp cleaner, the model comes with 3 speed settings and a controlled suction power.

#2: McCulloch MC-1275 Heavy-Duty Steam

Basic Features: The biggest selling point of this product is the fact that it comes with 18 accessories to help with cleaning. This includes: squeegee, microfiber pads, jet nozzle, extension wads, mop head, triangle brush, water funnel & measuring cup, brass utility brush, scrub pad, and nylon utility brushes. Each one provides a different level of cleaning, depending on the common car carpet problems you encounter. Product use is also cheaper because it only requires 50 ounces of water to work – no chemicals! The extension line connected with the steam cleaner helps clean even hard-to-reach crevices within the car.

Cleaning Action: Cleaning action is impressive thanks to the steam cleaning power provided by a 1500 watts engine. It can also handle car upholstery as well as dirt and grime found in the back of the car. Although perfect for car cleaning needs, the vacuum also works for in-house cleaning such as furniture, stairs, patio and more.

Specifications: One of the more compact car cleaning products available today, the McCulloch MC-1275 should fit nicely in the trunk of your car. It measures 20.1 by 13 by 12.6 inches and weighs at just 15.8 pounds.

#3: Bissell Spotbot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner with Deep Reach Technology, 33N8A

Basic Features: The product comes with several features namely: Handsfree Spot & Stain Cleaner and Microban Antimicrobial Product Protection. The Handsfree option lets you just turn on the product and watch it run through the carpet, cleaning every inch along the way. If this isn’t to your liking however, there’s also a handheld attachment that lets you manually run through the spaces and crevices for a complete clean. For car owners with pets, the Antimicrobial feature is designed to remove lingering odor by treating the carpet down to its very roots.

Cleaning Action: The brushes clean with a circular movement, ensuring that they get right past the first layer and into the very roots of the thread. Combined with Bissell’s special cleaning solution, the product can get rid of long-standing stains while deodorizing the cramped space of the car, leaving it fresh-smelling as ever. Also featuring the Automatic Smart System, it figures out the correct amount of water and soap to be released into the carpet, removing the guess work out of the user! There are multiple buttons to choose from – simply push the button for the kind of stain you’re dealing with and let the cleaner do its job!

Specifications: Measuring at just 9 by 17 by 12.5 inches, the product would fit nicely in the trunk with room to spare. Highly portable, it only weighs 18.2 pounds, allowing you to easily lift it in and out of the car for immediate use. Product is covered by a 1-year limited warranty.

#4: Bissell SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner 3624

Basic Features: This particular Bissell product is not a steam cleaner, but it is capable of heavy-duty cleaning with excellent suction ability. It features a long hose, letting your reach even the smallest spaces of the car without any trouble. It can handle car carpets as well as car upholstery, providing a professional deep-through clean. The product also boasts a large-capacity tank for water, allowing you to clean large spaces without having to periodically throw and refill the water and detergent tank.

Cleaning Action: Upon product purchase, you’ll find yourself getting a free Deep Cleaning Formula from Bissell. There’s also a 3 tough stain tool included as well as 6 stair tool.

Specifications: This wonderful little device comes with a 2-year limited warranty which effectively beats the other products in the list. It’s a good size, measuring at just 10 by 14 by 14 inches with a weight of just 16.3 pounds. The cord is wonderfully long, letting users shift and move from one spot to another without any problems.

#5 Bissell Little Green ProHeat Compact Multi-Purpose Carpet Cleaner, 14259

Product Features: Another product from Bissell, this ProHeat compact is capable of cleaning all kinds of surfaces other than your car carpet. As the name suggests, it comes with a built-in heater that enhances the cleaning capacity of the liquid. There’s also a crevice tool designed to go in and out of small spaces in your car, reaching all the way down the chair. Product features a stain tool, specially designed to remove tough and long-lasting stains.

Cleaning Action: The heat feature of the product really increases its cleaning capacity. It works by suctioning and then drying section of the carpet quickly, allowing users to cover a large expanse of area in just a few minutes. The item comes with a trial Little Green Formula that you can use during cleaning.

Specifications: One of the smallest pieces from Bissell, this item only weighs 13.4 pounds and measures 8.2 by 17.2 by 12.5 inches. The lightweight portable device would fit well in the back of the car and features a long cord that allows for easy in-car movement. It’s possible that the product is covered by a warranty although not expressly stated by the seller.

Your Buying Guide to Choose the Best Car Carpet Cleaner

1.   Ease of Cleaning Use

Cars are compact spaces, which mean that you really can’t use a full-scale vacuum cleaner to take care of the carpets. This is why you should look for a model that easily fits in your hand and can be manipulated within the confined space of a car. At the very least, it should have a long hose that can be used to run over the carpet for a complete clean.

The product’s weight should also be taken into consideration. Look for something you can easily take in and out of the garage to clean the car. If this is not possible, the cleaner should at least have wheels to help drag it from one point to another!

2.   Car Use

Each car carpet cleaner comes with 2 or more features, but would these features actually be useful for your specific needs? Take the frequency of your car use in mind. If you constantly transport kids and have incredibly muddy carpets, then a heavy-duty cleaner might be best. If your car stays relatively clean most of the time however, even a medium-heavy type would work well.

What if you use your car to transport pets or perhaps you love to eat food in the car? If you have to deal with heavy stains resulting from pets and food spills, then opt for a vacuum cleaner with excellent horse power. Trapped smell in the car is also distracting and not easily removed with a freshener. If this is a frequent problem for you, then getting a vacuum cleaner with deodorizer would be best.

3.   Attachments

You never really know when you might need a specific attachment to help with your cleaning needs. As much as possible, opt for a automobile carpet cleaner with more than 3 attachments, letting you attack whatever kind of stain/dirt that might be present.

Of course, this isn’t always possible. If the product you prefer doesn’t come with attachments, at least find a provider that sells optional attachments at a cost. That way, you can buy them as needed. A plus for this is the fact that if any of the parts and attachment break down after the warranty, you’ll easily find replacement thanks to the manufacturer’s wide market.

4.   Multipurpose

Although you may only be looking for a carpet cleaner for your car, the fact is that this device can provide multiple services. You can use it for the stairs, the upholstery in the house, the living room carpet, and so much more. Hence, don’t just consider the kind of stains your car has but rather, think about the stains in your home.

Most cleaners come with multiple button options, allowing you to choose between “soft”, “average”, and “heavy-duty” cleaning. If possible, opt for products with these options as they let you take care of non-car stains. With this, you’ll be buying two products for the price of just one!

5.   Water Tank

The water tank should be big enough to let you clean the car without having to replace the water several times. This way, you don’t have to stop in the middle of the process to dump the dirty water contents and then mix up another solution to finish the job.

Now, the size of the water tank depends on your cleaning needs. For an average-sized car, a 50 ounce water tank should do the trick. If you’re hoping to clean more than that however, then you can choose large sizes – although this might mean a heavier carpet cleaning product. Keep in mind that a too big water tank might mean wasting water and detergent on very little carpet problems.

6.   Care and Maintenance

How exactly are you supposed to load the water into the vacuum? Now how are you supposed to take it out? Choose a cleaner with non-complicated instructions, preferably something with a push-button system for use. Ideally, the cleaner should be easy to clean as well with parts that can be detached from each other, washed and then attached again.

Also, try to stick to products that do not require special cleaning agents. Although some detergents are suggested, it’s best to find cleaners that can still function perfectly if you just load it with a basic cleaning solution like vinegar, water, and bleach. This is especially true if you’re trying to save on expenses or have an allergy on commercial cleaning products.

7.   Warranty

The best car carpet cleaner should be covered by a warranty – at least 12 month’s worth. Note that the warranty might be limited so it’s best to ask beforehand what this entails.

Note that even with good warranty coverage, the company offering the product may not be reliable. For example, it might take them a long time to respond to any inquiries. That being said, make sure you find a product that comes from a trusted brand with excellent customer service – otherwise it’s best to just skip it.

8.   Reviews

Don’t purchase a product unless you’ve managed to read at least a dozen positive reviews about it from trusted buyers. This is crucial since a product may advertise deep-cleaning features but the question is: do those features actually work?

Take the time to run through different websites and make comparisons between different features before making a decision. The 5 brands and models already listed here should give you a good place to start if you find that none of them work for your needs.

9.   Cost

Don’t forget to compare the prices of the cleaners with each other! Note that the best car carpet cleaner need not be the most expensive one. A budget of anywhere between $100 to $200 is preferable to make sure that you get quality materials with long-lasting service.

A good advice is to search car cleaners by price. Set the search button to limit the cost of the product so you’ll only get the results that fall within the amount you’re willing to spend. This way, you won’t find yourself going overboard with the purchase!

Conclusion

Finally, we’re done talking about the best carpet cleaner for cars out in the market today. You’ve seen the top 5 car carpet cleaner products we recommend and hopefully, you now have an idea about what you want and need for your own automobile.

From where we stand, the best product out of the five is the Bissell Spotbot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner with Deep Reach Technology, 33N8A. It meets all the most basic needs for a car carpet cleaning machine which is: ease of use, portability, heavy-duty cleaning and odor-control. Sure, the other 4 products also provide excellent service but it’s really the odor-control feature of the Spotbot that clinches the deal. As we all know, cars are confined spaces where a distinct smell can often show up. The Spotbot comes out as the best car carpet cleaner because it’s the only one capable of providing this service while still meeting basic cleaning needs!