If you’re reading this, you’re most likely looking for the best portable carpet cleaner for cars to improve your car cleaning. This is just the right place as this article contains a list of the best portable carpet cleaners for cars. Read on to find the perfect cleaner that will refresh, restore, and make your car interior — and even some exterior parts — look heavenly.
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What is the best carpet cleaner for your car?
To make a worthwhile carpet cleaner purchase, it is essential to pay attention to details and see if they match your needs and what you have. A giant carpet cleaner in a small home with little storage space will end up becoming a nuisance as you won’t be able to store it properly. Factors such as price too will determine what’s the best carpet cleaner for your car.
Another factor to put into consideration is how easy they are to assemble, use and store. You don’t want to be stuck with a carpet cleaner that will end up making you do most of the work!
While you keep these factors in mind, you should also watch out for the suction power, water tank, and cord length – if the carpet unit is corded. These will determine the level of function and comfort you get each time you use the carpet cleaner.
How can I clean the carpets in my car?
Start by removing the floor mats. Then, vacuum the carpet with a dry vac so as to remove loose dirt and debris from the surface. If you don’t have a vacuum, simply sweep the carpet. Whichever method you use, what matters is that you remove as much loose dirt and debris as possible. After doing this, you can deep clean with your carpet cleaner according to the instructions on the manufacturers’ manual.
✅ PRO TIP: While there are many portable carpet cleaners for cars, the best bang for your buck will be the Bissell Spot Clean Professional. the product page hereYou can check out or see the full review below.
What’s the Best Portable Carpet Cleaner for Cars?
- Best Overall: Bissell Spot Clean Professional
- Best Car Upholstery Cleaner: Hoover Spotless Portable Cleaner
- Best Handheld: Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush
- Best Budget: Bissell Pet Stain Eraser
- Best Cordless: Hoover ONEPWR Spotless Go
- Best Commercial Grade: Bissell Little Green Pro
- Best Steam Cleaner: Bissell Power Steamer 3 in 1
Compare them all here or keep reading for individual reviews.
Best Overall: Bissell Spot Clean Professional
The Bissell Spot Clean Pro provides everything you need in a carpet cleaner and more. It is designed for the cleaning of auto interiors amongst others and provides superior cleaning of your car carpets through powerful suction, effective scrubbing, and active cleaning solution.
This cleaner works by washing deep down into the carpet fibers to remove tough stains and embedded dirt. Its deep cleaning gives professional results, no doubt. After permanently removing tough stains from your car, this cleaner goes further to protect it from future stains with its stain protect feature. If you understand the stress that comes with having to wash your car every other day because your kids and pets won’t stop messing around, you’d realize how big of a deal the stain-protect feature is.
Despite its effectiveness, the Bissell Spot Clean Pro doesn’t compromise ease. Its tank capacity of ¾ gallon lets you enjoy complete car cleaning without going for refills.
- Every Bissell purchase helps save pets. Bissell proudly supports Bissell pet foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets.
- Our most powerful portable spot and stain cleaner for carpets, stairs, upholstery, auto interiors, and more.
- Combines superior suction, scrubbing action and professional cleaning solution to remove stubborn pet stains, embedded dirt and more.
- Provides a deep clean that leaves you with professional-style results.
- Permanently removes tough messes and protects from future stains with the power of stain protect.
- Includes a 6" Stair Tool, which makes cleaning stairs easy. Also comes with a 3" Tough Stain Tool and a trial-size bottle of Pro Max clean with protect formula. Power Rating: 5.7 amps
Best Car Upholstery Cleaner: Hoover Spotless Portable Cleaner
For a thorough cleaning of your car upholstery, the Hoover Spotless Portable Cleaner will give you the best results. Cleaning your car upholstery with this carpet cleaner after a good vacuum will provide two outcomes — improve your car interior looks and get rid of that annoying lingering smell that comes with dirty upholstery.
It combines powerful suction and deep cleaning tools to give your car upholstery a total wash. A multipurpose tool is included to extract all spots and stains while eliminating every bacteria, mold, and mildew in your car.
This cleaning device features a dual tank technology that keeps clean water separate from dirty water. This way, you get to clean with clean water only, and you also find it easy to fill, empty, and rinse the tank when you’re done.
As a result of the 5ft hose + 14ft cord length of this machine, you can easily reach every part of your car and remove stains and dirt. The almost weightless and portable nature of the device also makes it easy for you to move around.
- LIGHTWEIGHT: Achieve ultimate portability with this lightweight design to reach and remove stains virtually anywhere
- CONVENIENT DEEP CLEAN: Spray, scrub, and remove anything from pet messes to everyday mishaps
- LONGER REACH: Easily reach spots and stains on carpet, upholstery, stairs and more with the 5feet hose
- SELF-CLEANING TECHNOLOGY: Flushes the hose after each use to help remove dirt
- DUAL TANK TECHNOLOGY: Keep clean and dirty water separate so you can easily fill, empty and rinse the tanks
- WHAT'S INCLUDED: rubber nub tool and trial size solution
Best Handheld: Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush
For proper maneuverability, the handheld Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush is suitable for your car cleaning tasks. It packs a heavily rating power brush that lifts all specks of dirt as it powers through tough spots and stains.
This cleaner uses the power of an OXY formula to instantly remove every tough pet mess, embedded dirt, spills, and more. Whatever the stain is, wherever it is from, it will be lifted entirely from the roots and permanently eliminated. And you don’t have to do too much to prep this cleaner before use. Its ready-to-use formula and formula storage feature afford you the ability to pick it up, and straight-up do some cleaning whenever you need to.
As it is cordless, this machine allows you to easily clean different angles of your car without the extra stress of maneuvering a power cord around. Plus the extended run time of the lithium-ion battery is enough for you to get your cleaning done.
- Every Purchase Saves Pets. BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets..Run Time : 20 Minutes, Carry Handle : Yes..Cleaning Path Width : 3"
- Rotating DirtLifter PowerBrush. Our only portable carpet cleaner with a rotating brush to power through tough spots and stains with minimal effort.
- Grab & Go Convenience. Cordless machine includes a lithium-ion battery with extended run time. Power Rating: 7.2 V
- OXY Formula included. Instantly remove tough pet messes, embedded dirt, spills, and more.
- Ready-to-Use Formula. No mixing with water required, plus formula can be stored in the machine, so it's already ready to clean when needed.
- BONUS Stationary Pet Tool made to tackle tough pet messes.
Best Budget: Bissell Pet Stain Eraser
The Bissell Pet Stain Eraser will prove to you that inexpensive devices can be effective too. It instantly and permanently removes all stains from your car. Be it stains from mud, wine, motor oils, grease, or pet messes, the spray, scrub, and suction function will get to work instantly to remove it permanently. You’ll be surprised at how clean your car interior will be afterward!
When you use this model, you get to enjoy the ease that comes with an increased tank capacity. You get to clean for so long without having to keep going back inside the house for refills.
This cleaner is built to cater to all your car interior cleaning needs. You can use it with total ease and freedom. Its cordless nature, portable form, and light weight make sure of that. It is also made so that you don’t have to do much to get it ready for use. With a stored-in formula that doesn’t need to be mixed with water, it is always ready for straightforward use.
- Every Bissell purchase helps save pets. Bissell proudly supports Bissell pet foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets.Power Rating 7.2 V
- Spray, scrub and suction to remove pet stains and messes from carpet, upholstery, stairs, area rugs, auto interiors, and more.
- Grab and go cordless convenience; enjoy the freedom of a lithium-powered handheld carpet cleaner that lifts away stains using formula and powerful suction.
- Formula conveniently stores in the machine and doesn't need to be mixed with water, so it's always ready for use. Charge Time: 4 Hours, Run Time: 15 Minutes
- Instantly and permanently removes stains like urine, feces, vomit, dirt, mud, blood, grass, tomato sauce, red wine, makeup, food grease, vegetable oils, coffee, cola, motor oils and more.
- Includes two trial-size formulas.
- 2019 Version with increased tank capacity
Best Cordless: Hoover ONEPWR Spotless Go
Enjoy the convenience and maneuverability that comes with the Hoover ONEPWR Spotless Go. This model makes car cleaning a walk in the park. Its lightweight design, compact design, and cordless nature all come together to ensure you have an enjoyable cleaning experience.
For all the convenience this cleaner offers, it launches a strong attack on spots, spills, and messes. Its strong suction, with the help of the customized solution that’s included, is effective in removing stains. And the multipurpose pet tool scrubs and lifts away tough messes.
This carpet cleaner is effective for car cleaning. Its removable hose provides extra reach for you to get to some hard-to-reach areas. At the end of each cleaning, you can quickly and conveniently store it wherever you want.
With this cleaning unit, what you get is an equally clean car, rid of all dirt and stains. No hassle, no disappointments. Just 13 minutes of powerful cleaning and free convenience.
- GRAB & GO PORTABLE SPOT CLEANING: Tackle accidents, spills and pet messes without being tethered to a cord
- CORDLESS: Delivers cord-free convenience powered by the removable and rechargeable ONEPWR Battery
- LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: Makes it easy to clean stairs, upholstery and more
- COMPACT: For easy and convenient storage
- MULTI-PURPOSE PET TOOL: Scrubs and lifts away tough messes
- DUAL TANKS: Keeps solution and dirty water separate so you can easily fill, empty and rinse
- WHAT'S INCLUDED: Cordless portable carpet cleaner, 4 inch scrubbing tool, removable hose, 9 ounce recovery tank with safety float, ONEPWR 2.0 Ah battery, charger, trial solution
- Battery Volts 20 Volts
Best Commercial Grade: Bissell Little Green Pro
The Bissell Little Green Pro is the ideal commercial carpet cleaner for your car interior cleaning. With it, you can forget about paying professional cleaners and enjoy a good wash all by yourself. Don’t get me started on how much money you’ll get to save!
This commercial spot cleaner utilizes vacuum suction, brushing action, and cleaning solution to lift, scrub and remove dirt and stains. However big — or small — your car is, this Bissell cleaner can handle it. It is built with features to make an effective car cleaning work. One of these is the 20-inch power cord that helps you maneuver the cleaner to clean every carpeted part of the car that needs cleaning. This feature gives this cleaner an edge over many other cleaners as it means the Bissell Little Green Pro reaches hard-to-reach places that other extractors and shampooers cannot reach.
You also get an extra-large tank of ¾ gallons, enough for you to do your whole cleaning without refilling the water tank!
- Powerful and portable commercial spot cleaner by Bissell commercial. Reaches hard to reach spaces that other extractors and shampooers cannot reach
- Large 3/4 gallon tank capacity, long 20' power cord, reaches everywhere and lasts for your whole cleaning job without refilling water tank, Convenient cleaning for hard to reach areas such as stairs, area rugs, upholstery and auto interiors.
- The little green Pro commercial spot cleaner utilizes vacuum suction, brushing action and cleaning solution to remove and lift dirt and stains. Comes with a one year manufacturer commercial Warranty
- Model Number: BGSS1481
Best Steam Cleaner: Bissell Power Steamer 3 in 1
Perhaps you are convinced what your car needs is thorough steam cleaning. Get the Bissell Power Steamer 3-in-1 for this. This steam cleaner uses powerful high temperature to blast away dirt, grime, grease, stains, and mold from a wide variety of surfaces. You can employ it to do the same with your car.
An upright steam cleaner, an extended reach steam cleaner, and a handheld steam cleaner in one, the Bissell steamer is built to handle all your car cleaning needs.
This cleaner is the most versatile on this list, and there is a lot you can do with it. It is not limited to interior car cleaning. While it is also a steam mop, its versatility will allow you to also detail your car from the outside in. It comes with tools and accessories that can be used on the extended reach steam cleaner and the handheld steam cleaner to clean mats, tires, and rims. It also includes a fabric steamer and cloth perfect for car interiors.
- POWERFUL, HIGH TEMPERATURE STEAM to blast away dirt, grime, grease, stains, and mold across a wide variety of indoor and outdoor surfaces. For use in garage and workshop areas; Interior and exterior of auto's, boats, ATV's, and recreational vehicles; windows; outdoor patio furniture and decks; And all sealed hard floor surfaces..Cleaning Path Width : 13". Swivel Head : Yes.Automatic Cord Rewind : No
- 3-IN-1 HEAVY DUTY MULTI-PURPOSE STEAM CLEANER. The upright steam cleaner transforms into both an extended reach steam cleaner and a handheld steam cleaner.
- CHEMICAL-FREE CLEANING. Sanitize with the power of steam, eliminate 99. 9% of germs and bacteria.
- VARIABLE STEAM MODES and on-demand trigger allows you to control the intensity and amount of steam being released.
- CONVENIENT STORAGE with wall mount for easy and convenient storage.
- ON-BOARD ACCESSORY STORAGE carries accessories with you as you clean.
- INCLUDES 29 ACCESSORIES to tacking indoor and outdoor tough messes that can be used on both the extended reach steam cleaner and the handheld steam cleaner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which portable carpet cleaner has the best suction?
When it comes to suction power, the Bissell Spot Clean Pro packs a heavier punch than the rest. The excellent suction power of this cleaner goes deep down into surfaces to extract and eliminate the deepest and most challenging dirt, stains, and messes.
Can I use Bissell carpet cleaner on my car seats?
Bissell carpet cleaners are compatible with cars and upholstery, so you can extend their use to your car seats when cleaning your car interior. A Bissell carpet cleaner designed for upholstery cleaning will get your car seats looking brand new.
So what’s the Best Portable Carpet Cleaner for Cars?
If you’re trying to get the best portable carpet cleaner for your car, the Bissell Spot Clean Pro is your best option. Not only will you be able to remove tough stains from your vehicle, but you will also protect it from future stains.
Now that you know what carpet cleaners can get your car interiors — and exterior – popping, you should consider getting one. It shouldn’t be too difficult to choose. Just go for the one that appeals to you most, and get your car ready to experience the best cleaning experience yet!
- Every Bissell purchase helps save pets. Bissell proudly supports Bissell pet foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets.
- Our most powerful portable spot and stain cleaner for carpets, stairs, upholstery, auto interiors, and more.
- Combines superior suction, scrubbing action and professional cleaning solution to remove stubborn pet stains, embedded dirt and more.
- Provides a deep clean that leaves you with professional-style results.
- Permanently removes tough messes and protects from future stains with the power of stain protect.
- Includes a 6" Stair Tool, which makes cleaning stairs easy. Also comes with a 3" Tough Stain Tool and a trial-size bottle of Pro Max clean with protect formula. Power Rating: 5.7 amps
