“Some cleaners are tough to use and contain harmful ingredients, while others are too weak to fully remove stains,” says Andrii Gurskyi, co-founder of HomeClean. To put the best carpet spray cleaners to the test, our team of home cleaning experts spent an entire day in our lab using these cleaners to remove a number of stains—including dirt marks, red wine spills, and even animal urine—from carpet and upholstery. We had our testers evaluate each spray cleaner based on its scent, ease of use, effectiveness at removing different stain types, and overall value for the price. Then, we compiled these insights to create a list of the best carpet spray cleaners. After rigorous testing, the top-performing carpet spray cleaners was the Oxi-Clean Carpet Stain Remover, which proved effective at handling a variety of household spills. Here are the best carpet spray cleaners. Keep in Mind: It works better on dried wine stains than fresh ones. Our testers sprayed the Oxi-Clean on four different carpet stains—including red wine, barbecue sauce, and even animal urine—to see how well the product removes odors and discoloration. According to the manufacturer, it takes 10 minutes for the solution to settle in and do its job, which our tester noted was not long compared to other cleaners we tested. While they were waiting for the 10 minutes to be up, testers found that you could actually start to see the stains lift from the carpet fibers. It only took a little bit of scrubbing to get rid of all four stain types, and we found that the urine odor was also removed when using the Oxi-Clean Carpet Stain Remover. When removing the red wine stain, our testers noted that the spray seemed to be more effective when the wine had dried. For this reason, we recommend letting wine stains dry before applying this carpet stain remover instead of spraying it on fresh spills. It also took out the barbecue sauce, dirt, and urine stains very well, making it the most versatile carpet spray cleaner from our tests and a great all-purpose product to have on hand. There is a slight scent to this Oxi-Clean that’s reminiscent of laundry detergent, though our tester said it’s not too overpowering. Price at time of publish: $17 Amount: 24 ounces | Best for: Pet stains, food and drink stains, dirt, and odors | Less-effective on: N/A | Wait time: 10 minutes | Not intended for: Not listed Keep in Mind: The spray bottle doesn’t saturate the carpet as quickly as we would have liked. This powerful cleaner removed all traces of both the fresh and set-in red wine stains, making it great for cleaning up accidental drink spills. The mud and barbecue sauce spills needed more scrubbing to remove from light-colored carpet, and though the stains were still partially there at the end of the test, they significantly faded. We also found that the Shout spray was effective at getting rid of the urine smell from carpet, which is a great feature if you have pets. Though the instructions on the bottle were easy to follow, testers found the spray bottle itself to be the issue—it “took forever, and a ton of sprays” to saturate the stained carpet as suggested. However, since the wait time before scrubbing is just five minutes, you won’t have to stand around for very long in between steps. We also found that this carpet spray cleaner had no odor, meaning your home won’t smell like chemicals once you’re done scrubbing. Given its lower price, our tester concluded that the Shout Carpet Stain Remover and Odor Eliminator Spray is an excellent alternative to some of the pricier products on our best carpet spray cleaners list. It’ll certainly come in clutch if you’re house training a new pet since it removes odors from your carpet and rugs, but it’s also inexpensive enough to keep in multiple closets for any “oops” moments in your house. Price at time of publish: $8 Amount: 12.4 ounces | Best for: Pet stains, food and drink stains, dirt, and odors | Less-effective on: N/A | Wait time: Three to five minutes | Less-effective on: Not listed Keep in Mind: It couldn’t fully remove dirt and barbecue sauce stains. It’s easy to use, too—just spray, let it soak, and blot with a rag or sponge. As the name suggests, this is a carpet stain remover for pet stains and odors, and according to our experts, it lives up to its name. After spraying it on carpet with animal urine on it, the cleaner removed all discoloration and foul smells and left behind a pleasant scent. While it took a couple applications to get rid of the red wine stain, ultimately the cleaner pulled up all discoloration from the carpet fibers. The tester also noted that The Spruce Stain and Odor Remover spray worked best when they blotted the stain with a damp cloth first. However, this natural spray cleaner simply wasn’t up to the task of removing stains like barbecue sauce and mud. We found that it partially removed these stains, but there was still a faint mark on both the carpet and the upholstery we tested it on. We recommend this product to pet owners who want a more natural solution to pet-related stains and smells in your home. If the most common stains in your home are food stains, though, we suggest shopping a different product on our list of the best carpet spray cleaners. Price at time of publish: $12 Amount: 17 ounces | Wait time: 10 to 15 minutes | Best for: Pet stains and odors | Less effective on: Food and drink stains and dirt Keep in Mind: You’ll likely need two applications to get rid of stains and odors. When testing out the Kids ‘N’ Pets Instant Stain and Odor Remover in the lab, one of our experts noted it was one of the best she’d seen at removing pet urine from rugs. In just one treatment, the cleaner caused urine odors and stains to vanish from the carpet. Though it took two spray treatments to remove smells from the upholstery, these stains disappeared, too. Plus, the cleaner’s scent is gentle and not at all overpowering, even with double applications, so your home won’t smell like chemicals once you’re done. In testing, we found that this spray cleaner also worked on red wine, barbecue sauce, and dirt, making it a great all-around carpet spray cleaner. However, we had to apply the cleaner twice to get them fully removed, and since you’ll need to let the spray soak in for 10 minutes each time before scrubbing, it quickly becomes a time-consuming process. Price at time of publish: $19 Amount: 27 ounces | Wait time: At least 10 minutes | Best for: Pet stains, dirt, and odors | Less effective on: N/A Keep in Mind: You’ll have to clean out the brush after every use. When treating fresh wine spills, dirt stains, and urine, our tester found that fresh stains came out with no trouble at all. Dried wine and urine, which we left to soak on light-colored rugs for 12 hours before treating, came out just fine, which is good news for messes you discover hours later. Dried-on barbecue and mud came out after two applications, though there was still a faint mark. In general, we recommend dealing with stains as quickly as possible for the best results, but we were pleasantly surprised by how well this spray cleaner worked on old wine and urine stains. Keep that brush handy to work the product into your floors or upholstery, and avoid replacing your rug or couch when spills occur. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to clean out the brush attachment after every use, which is an added step that most other sprays don’t require. Price at time of publish: $15 Amount: 27.5 ounces | Wait time: 30 minutes; 60 minutes or longer for set-in stains | Best for: Fresh stains, set-in wine, and urine stains | Less effective on: Set-in dirt and food stains Keep in Mind: It’s not effective at removing other stains from carpet or upholstery. The Chateau Spill Wine Stain Remover comes in a miniature spray bottle that’s easy to store or take with you on the go, and we found that it’s incredible at completely erasing wine stains from rugs, carpet, and upholstery. Our experts recommend that, if the wine stain has already dried, spray the mark with water first so the cleaner can work better. Once our testers pre-treated the stain, they found the cleaner to be excellent at taking out wine stains with little to no blotting necessary. While effective at removing wine stains from all the surfaces we tested, we found that it worked the best on upholstery. Our tester noted that the spray bottle required a little more dexterity to spritz than other cleaners on our list, but after a few sprays, it was easier to use. We also loved that it has a color-safe formula, so it won’t remove the vibrant hues from your clothes or flooring. It’s important to note that this spray cleaner is specifically designed to remove wine stains, not necessarily other messes. While the Chateau cleaner did okay at removing barbecue sauce during our tests, it didn’t do so well with soil. And as far as odors, it wasn’t able to remove the smell of urine from any surfaces. Price at time of publish: $22 Amount: Three-pack of 4-ounce bottles | Wait time: None | Best for: Wine stains | Less effective on: Dirt, food stains, and urine Keep in Mind: You’ll have to wait up to 60 minutes after spraying this product before scrubbing. Our testers were shocked to find that wine stains “literally disappeared with no blotting needed” after applying the spray cleaner. We also found that the spray effectively removed ground-in dirt stains and fresh soil spills, though it was most-effective on stains that had been there for a while. We don’t recommend using this cleaner to get rid of food stains, since the barbecue sauce spill was still slightly visible on the couch. When it came to urine stains and smells, the Rocco and Roxie Stain and Odor Eliminator was equally effective at removing both. Testers said it left behind a “clean scent”—not too overpowering or chemical-y. This carpet spray cleaner is easy to use, but the drawback is that you do have to wait 30 minutes for it to settle in—and that’s if you caught the mess soon after it was made. For set-in stains, the instructions say to wait at least 60 minutes or even overnight, so patience is a virtue when you’re using this carpet spray. Still, our testers found the results to be worth the wait. Price at time of publish: $20 Amount: 32 ounces | Wait time: 30 to 60 minutes | Best for: Wine stains, dirt, and pet stains | Less effective on: Food stains Keep in Mind: It leaves behind a minty scent that some people may dislike. Our tester found that this oxy-powered stain remover was effective and simple to use with very little wait time. Fresh stains—that includes wine, dirt, and even urine—came out with just one application. However, this product truly shone when it came to removing stains that had been sitting for 12 hours or longer. Testers reported that the Rocco and Roxie stain remover tackled old stains effortlessly, removing all discoloration without a trace. The only mess it failed to completely remove was the barbecue sauce stain; after two applications, there was still a faint stain on the carpet. Some carpet spray cleaners leave behind a weird chemical smell even after you’ve thoroughly scrubbed your rug or upholstery. Our testers raved over the Rocco and Roxie Oxy Stain Remover’s scent, saying they’d “never smelled a cleaner that smelled this good.” However, if you’re looking for an odorless product, you may not like the mint scent it leaves behind. If you have pets, this product is great at removing the smell of urine from carpet and upholstery, decreasing the likelihood that your pet will continue to use that spot to relieve themselves. When you consider that this could save you from having to replace a carpet or couch, it’s well worth the price tag. Price at time of publish: $20 Amount: 32 ounces | Wait time: A few minutes | Best for: Fresh and set-in wine stains, pet messes, and dirt | Less effective on: Food stains Keep in Mind: It doesn’t remove odors. The spray cleaner successfully removed fresh dirt stains, wine spills, and animal urine, though it was unable to fully remove barbecue sauce from rugs and upholstery. Since almost all carpet spray cleaners struggled with this stain, this didn’t surprise us too much. The Scotchgard Oxy cleaner also removed stains that had been sitting overnight, meaning you don’t have to worry about spots and spills you find a few hours after they’ve happened. Though it’s advertised as a pet stain remover, note that it won’t remove odors. Our testers detected a light urine odor that lingered on rugs and upholstery after scrubbing. On the plus side, this spray doesn’t have an overpowering chemical scent, which is ideal for cleaning up less-smelly messes. Price at time of publish: $13 Amount: 26 ounces | Wait time: Not listed | Best for: Dirt stains, wine stains, pet messes | Less effective on: Odors Keep in Mind: Though it mostly removed dirt and sauce stains, these may still be slightly visible on white carpet. When testing this eco-friendly carpet cleaner in our lab, we found that the fresh wine stain came out in just one attempt. The same was true of the urine stain, which disappeared along with any lingering odors after a light scrubbing. After two passes with the spray and a sponge, we found that barbecue sauce and dirt mostly disappeared, too. Note that on white carpets, the stain may still be slightly visible with dirt and sauces, but you won’t be able to see it on colored fabrics. Our tester noticed that the Biokleen Bac-Out Stain Remover worked equally well whether the stain was fresh or had already settled in, so as long as you have a bottle on hand, you’ll be able to tackle messes and keep your floors and upholstery looking new. Testers also thought the instructions for this cleaner were simple to follow, and the spray bottle was sturdy and easy to use. The formula is odorless and we liked its lower price point compared to other carpet spray cleaners on our list. Price at time of publish: $20 Amount: 32 ounces | Wait time: 5 minutes | Best for: Fresh and set-in wine stains, dirt stains, and pet messes | Less effective on: Light-colored carpets and upholstery
Our Testing Process
To test the best carpet spray cleaners on the market, we assembled a team of home cleaning experts to create stains on carpet swatches and pillow covers using red wine, mud, barbecue sauce, and even wolf urine. After the appropriate pretreatment—blotting, vacuuming, or cleaning up clumps—they followed all manufacturer’s instructions to remove fresh stains and some that had been left for 24 hours. Our testers took detailed notes on how well each cleaner removed stains, noting which were easy to use, if a second application was needed, and if any odors remained. They also took into account which ones had a harsh smell. Lastly, our testers determined which spray cleaners had the most value for their results. Our editorial team then compiled these insights and created a final list of the best carpet spray cleaners, based on testing results.
What to Know About Carpet Spray Cleaners Before Shopping
Stain Type
Not all stains can be treated equally—which is why it’s important that you use a carpet spray cleaner powerful enough to tackle the mess at hand. During testing, we had our experts take detailed notes about which products could remove specific stains and which ones left a faint mark behind. “Water-based stains are pretty easy to get rid of, but fat- and oil-based stains will require tougher chemicals to separate the oil from the petroleum in synthetic carpet fibers,” Gurskyi says. “Protein-based stains come from bodily fluids or animal products (like juice from a piece of meat). These stains should be treated without applying heat or using acidic ingredients, as this can make the stain adhere to the carpet.” As for adhesive stains that might result from stuck-on glue or gum, Gurskyi recommends calling in a professional cleaner to avoid any damage to your carpet.
Active Ingredients
Gurskyi says to skip any spray cleaners with formaldehyde, acids, pesticides, disinfectants, or lye. “Go for non-toxic ingredients or make your own homemade cleaning mixture to avoid introducing allergens or toxins to your carpet,” he recommends. “Vinegar is an excellent ingredient to remove tough stains, while sprinkling some baking soda can help eliminate the odor.”
Intended Use
While our testers tried out each spray cleaner on four different stains, it’s important to note that not all cleaners are designed to work for every mess. Since pet messes can leave behind lingering odors, it’s important to find a formula that will help remove bad smells. Other stains, like red wine, will come out more easily if you use a product that’s designed for such spills. To keep your cleaning closet stocked, we recommend buying an all-purpose spray that handles all sorts of stains and supplementing it with one or two specific stain fighters for your home’s most common messes.
Other Carpet Spray Cleaners We Tested
Hate Stains Miss Mouths Messy Eater Stain Remover
The Hate Stains Miss Mouths Messy Eater Stain Remover was effective at removing fresh and old wine stains on the first attempt, but it required a second application to make a dent in barbecue sauce, dirt, and urine spots. We also found that a strong odor remained on carpets and upholstery even after removing the urine stain, so we don’t recommend this product to pet owners.
Woolite Heavy Traffic Carpet, Rug, and Upholstery Cleaner
Though the Woolite Heavy Traffic Carpet, Rug & Upholstery Cleaner successfully erased fresh wine stains and set-in mud stains, it failed to get rid of barbecue sauce and urine. Plus, the aerosol can produced copious amounts of foam, which didn’t wow our testers, making it a more difficult product to apply than all the other spray bottles on our list.
Formula 409 Carpet Cleaner
Unfortunately, the Formula 409 Carpet Cleaner failed to remove all stains from carpets and upholstery alike, no matter how soon after a spill it was applied. We noticed that it barely faded the brightness of stains on the first application and second attempts didn’t make any further progress, so we don’t recommend this cleaner.
Your Questions, Answered
How do you get old stains out of carpet?
It is possible to get old, set-in stains out of a carpet. However, it may take a little bit of patience and elbow grease to get the job done. In many cases, you might have to use more than one carpet cleaner application and a bit of scrubbing to remove tougher stains. If you’re in a pinch and you don’t have a carpet spray cleaner on hand, Gurskyi recommends making a DIY mixture to help remove spills and stains. “A great way to get rid of old stains is by using a homemade mixture and letting it sit for a while,” Gurskyi says. He suggests mixing a few drops of dish soap in a cup of room temperature water and using a microfiber towel to work the mixture into the stain. “Once you’ve let it sit a few minutes, clean it with fresh water and a clean cloth. Do this as many times as needed to remove the stain,” Gurskyi says. “You can also use a solution of two cups of water with a tablespoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of dish soap for tougher stains.”
Should I vacuum after cleaning my carpet?
Follow the manufacturer’s directions both before and after cleaning your carpet with a spray. Many instructions will direct you to vacuum after cleaning to remove any dried particles left over from either the spray or the stain itself. The best vacuums will also fluff up the carpet again, so it’s a good idea to run the vacuum after the stain is gone anyway.
Who We Are
Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, New York, covering all things home and lifestyle for Better Homes & Gardens and other digital publications. As a dog owner, she has first-hand experience with some of the best carpet spray cleaners. In addition to using lab insights from our carpet spray cleaner tests in Des Moines, Iowa, Barbara consulted with Andrii Gurskyi, co-founder at HomeClean.
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they’re worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn’t an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products and we let you know that we got it for free to remain as transparent as possible about our picks. Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers.
