When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreOur recommendations for the best portable carpet cleaners are based on hands-on testing with a variety of stain types, including wine and chocolate.Shannon Ullman/Business InsiderNothing ruins the vibe faster than a spilled glass of wine or an unexpected pet mess on the rug. While professional deep cleaning is great for yearly upkeep, owning a portable carpet cleaner is the most cost-effective way to save your upholstery, stairs, and car seats on a daily basis. I know this firsthand. As an Airbnb host, I regularly clean up every guest disaster imaginable. To find out which spot cleaners actually work, I skipped the spec sheets and did the dirty work. I consulted industry pros and pitted today's top models against real stains (from red wine to makeup) to find the absolute best portable carpet cleaners. Tackling a whole room? Check out our top full-size carpet cleaners first. Get to the point: Bissell dominates this category, and the Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro is our top pick for its superior suction, large water tank, and targeted cleaning tools. For a more affordable option, the Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner is super lightweight and easily tackles pet stains. Find out more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.Our top picks for the best portable carpet cleanersBest overall portable carpet cleaner: Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro - See at AmazonBest budget portable carpet cleaner: Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner - See at WalmartBest compact portable carpet cleaner: Bissell Little Green - See at AmazonBest portable carpet cleaner for pets: Bissell Little Green HydroSteam - See at AmazonMost versatile portable carpet cleaner: Hoover CleanSlate Plus - See at AmazonBest portable carpet cleaner for spot cleaning: Shark StainForce Cordless - See at AmazonBest overallMy dream cleaning machine. The Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro is the machine I used in my Airbnb before testing. It removed coffee and wine stains with minimal scrubbing thanks to its three-inch-wide cleaning head, making it ideal for targeting specific stains, especially on furniture. The SpotClean Pet Pro also performed the best of the bunch at removing red wine stains, which were barely noticeable after cleaning. It also has particularly strong suction, which was helpful at working on tough carpet stains like makeup and crayons.In this photo, you can see the Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro actively suctioning up melted chocolate from our testing carpet sample.Shannon Ullman/Business InsiderDesigned for most stains, with an emphasis on targeting pet stains and odors. As the host of a pet-friendly Airbnb, I needed this aspect of the carpet cleaner to work, and I was impressed when it lifted pet stains and odors that I'd spent far too much time removing with spot cleaning and my vacuum cleaner. The included stain trapper tool isolated the urine stain in its own tank, so I didn't have to worry about it contaminating the main tank. Pet hair did tend to clog, but not as badly as other portable carpet cleaners I've tried. The large 96-ounce tank lets me focus on the dirty corners longer without constantly changing the water. When it needs a change, it has a straightforward folding mechanism to open it. It's also compact and easily fits in my storage cupboard.Lighter than a traditional carpet cleaner, but heavier than most portable models. It's still easy to maneuver, though. The extendable nozzle made it easy to clean tight spaces, like car crevices, during testing, and it's held up well so far, despite some online reviews saying it's prone to deterioration. I also didn't experience a leaky water tank, which was also mentioned across a few reviews, which may come down to properly securing the tank. Just note: Bissell requires its own cleaning solution to maintain the two-year warranty.Best budgetA powerful machine that costs under $100. The Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner has a slightly wider cleaning head than the Bissell, at 4.5 inches. However, it's still small enough to concentrate the solution in one spot, allowing for relatively easy removal of food stains like chocolate and wine. It didn't get the entire amount out, however, leaving the test carpet a light pink in spots.The Dirt Devil wasn't able to lift away all of the wine stain, and left a light pink residue on the carpet sample.Shannon Ullman/Business InsiderLightweight and effective, but it feels less durable. The Dirt Devil looks sleek, but the plastic feels cheaper than that of other models I tested, with a thinner water tank that feels prone to cracking if dropped and a fold-out handle that may wear over time. Still, it handled both fresh and set-in stains well in testing.Compact size means more refills and one design flaw. Its 19-ounce tank is much smaller than most, so I had to refill it often — not ideal for bigger jobs. I also accidentally lifted the
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