The 5 Best Carpet Spray Cleaners for Removing Dirt, Pet Stains, and Wine Spills
When disaster strikes, you want to be prepared. One of the most stressful household disasters? Stains, especially stains on carpet. In order to act fast, you need to have the best carpet spray cleaner in your arsenal.
According to Claudia Meneses, CEO of Avanti Green Eco Cleaning, the most common household stains she sees are coffee, tea, and soda. Pet owners have more specific needs. “The pet might have an accident or come in after playing in the mud,” she says.
We put 27 different spray cleaners to the test, using them to treat mud, red wine, barbecue sauce, and pet stains on carpet and upholstery. Based on the results, we named four as the best carpet spray cleaners you can buy.
Top Picks:
-
Best Overall:
OxiClean Carpet Stain Remover at Amazon $12 -
Best for Pet Stains:
Kids 'N' Pets Instant All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover at Amazon $14 -
Best for Red Wine:
The Hate Stains Co. Chateau Spill Red Wine Stain Remover at Amazon $10 -
Best for Old Stains:
Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Oxy Stain Remover at Amazon $20 -
Another Pet Stain Remover Option:
The Spruce Stain & Odor Remover at Amazon $12
The Bottom Line
Our vote for the best carpet spray cleaner is the OxiClean Carpet Stain Remover, which completely eliminated all four types of stains while testing, both fresh and set-in. This versatility allows you to be prepared for any stain that arises, without owning multiple products.
Our Testing Process
Our test involved four notoriously-tricky stains—barbecue sauce, animal urine, red wine, and mud. We applied a teaspoon of each to carpet and upholstery twice. The first time was the day before testing to create “set-in” stains; the second was 1-30 minutes prior to testing for “fresh” stains.
We timed how long it took to treat each stain, from the moment we applied the formula to when the carpet or upholstery was dry. We followed the manufacturer’s recommendation for how long we waited after applying to start agitating the fibers. If there were none, we waited five minutes.
After at least 15 minutes of drying, we ranked the cleaners by ease of use, effectiveness, scent, and value (based on the price) on a scale of 1-5. If a stain was still present, we repeated the process and evaluated if there was any change.
What to Know About Carpet Spray Cleaners Before Shopping
Stain Type
Some of the best carpet spray cleaners are formulated for specific stains, such as red wine or pet stains, though they can also work for others, with varying results. For general stain treatment, your best bet is a multi-purpose option such as our favorite, the OxiClean Carpet Stain Remover.
Regardless of the stain type, Meneses recommends first wetting the spot, soaking it up really well, and then seeing how much stain you have left before applying the cleaner.
Wait Time
It may be tempting to attack the stain right after applying cleaner, but be patient. “Stain removers need time to set because the cleaning agents inside them need to penetrate the fibers,” Meneses says. “We call this dwell time, which can range from five to 15 minutes.”
Formula
There are two formula types for spray cleaners—liquid (which is what we tested) and foam. According to Meneses, liquid is best for deep stains because it can penetrate the carpet fibers effectively, while foam sits on top of the surface. “I recommend foam for thinner commercial carpets,” she says.
Your Questions, Answered
What ingredients should you avoid when cleaning carpet?
The number one ingredient Meneses recommends avoiding in carpet cleaners is bleach. “When you buy a home, you really don’t know what type of carpet you have, and there are some that are safe to use bleach on, but I still don’t like to take that risk,” she says. Meneses also says you should stay away from high-residue soaps, like dish soaps, if you’re into DIYing a cleaner.
Are spray carpet cleaners safe for pets?
Some spray carpet cleaners are safe for pets—it all depends on the formula. Luckily, according to Meneses, manufacturers make this obvious on the packaging. “You always want to check the label. It should say ‘nontoxic’ or ‘pet safe’ on it.”
A potential pro to pet-safe cleaners? “These formulas usually don’t have a strong fragrance to them,” she says. No need to crack a window open after.
Who We Are
Quincy Bulin is a writer who covers products and home, making this story the ideal intersection of her work. She consulted with Claudia Meneses, CEO of Avanti Green Eco Cleaning, for expert intel on carpet spray cleaners.
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.
Source: Better Homes & Gardens
This article was originally published by Better Homes & Gardens on July 24, 2025.
The 5 Best Carpet Spray Cleaners for Removing Dirt, Pet Stains, and Wine Spills
