Best carpet cleaners for home carpets and upholstery

Top pick: BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro — the best all-rounder for whole-home carpets plus upholstery. It heats the water as it cleans, has a large tank so you're not refilling constantly, and comes with tools for stairs, sofas and pet messes. The bundle version adds extra attachments for the same money.

Who the others suit:

• BISSELL Little Green — small jobs only: spots, car seats, a sofa cushion. Not for a whole room.
• Hoover PowerScrub XL — big rooms and heavy traffic; long cord and wide path, but bulky.
• Hoover PowerDash Pet — tight spaces and small flats; light and easy to store.
• BISSELL PowerForce PowerBrush — a simple, no-frills upright for occasional deep cleans.
• Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 — near-professional power for very dirty, large carpets; heavy and pricey.
• Shark CarpetForce — lighter lifting and carrying up stairs.
• PrettyCare portable — a cheap handheld for upholstery and spills.

Check the tank size and cord length against your room count — that's what separates these more than cleaning power.