Best carpet shampoo: top products to shift dirt and stains at home

Mumsnet users rave about Rug Doctor carpet cleaners, so it was no surprise that their carpet shampoo also comes highly rated by online reviewers.

The Rug Doctor Carpet Detergent can be used with or without a cleaner, although using a Rug Doctor carpet cleaner will provide the most effective deep clean and stain removal results. The good news is, you don’t necessarily have to buy one – you can easily hire Rug Doctor carpet cleaners for the weekend from as little as £30, collecting from your nearest Tesco store. 

With a large two-litre bottle offering enough liquid to clean up to four standard-sized rooms, the Rug Doctor Carpet Detergent can help remove marks and spill stains as well as revive and refresh high-traffic areas, leaving them clean and smelling fresh. Unlike some chemical cleaners, it’s completely safe to use around pets and thanks to the SpotBlok anti-stain solution, it can even actively protect your carpet after use, helping you keep it cleaner for longer. 

Removing stains like mud, lipstick, wine or chocolate from your carpets can be really challenging, but Mumsnet users find Dr Beckmann’s Carpet Stain Remover impressive on pretty much everything your family can throw at it.

In an easy-to-use bottle, liquid is added to the stain using the attached brush applicator, before gently rubbing into the affected area. The Oxy-Power formula sets to work in minutes, lifting even dried-in stains while being gentle on your carpet fibres (even wool!)

Suitable for use across carpets and upholstery, the odour-neutralising properties also make this a popular choice for families with pets or young children. As with the Vanish foam above - it can sometimes make other areas look dirty, so be sure to give the entire carpet a good vacuum before use. 

If you’re keen to remove dirt and stains while also making your carpets more hygienic, the Vax Platinum Antibacterial Carpet Cleaner solution can kill up to 99.99% of bacteria, making it a popular choice for families with pets or allergies.

Applied using a Vax carpet cleaner with the ability to cover large surface areas, this carpet shampoo includes powerful Oxy Lift, helping draw up ingrained dirt and stains from deep within the carpet fibres. The fresh citrus scent is long-lasting after use and thanks to the carpet guard stain prevention, it can help protect the carpet from future spills and stains too.

The downside? The price tag is fairly eye-watering for a 1.5L bottle and it won’t go as far as the other brands such as the Rug Doctor or Bissell carpet cleaner shampoos above.

If you’re looking to spot clean or remove small stains and unsightly marks across your carpets, curtains or upholstery, the vegan-friendly Astonish Specialist Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner makes an effective, budget-friendly choice. 

Available in an easy-to-use, liquid spray bottle, Astonish can be used without the need for a carpet cleaner. Simply vacuum the area first, before spraying directly onto the stain and gently clean with a cloth or sponge. Pat dry with another clean cloth before running over the area again with the vacuum, repeating if necessary to tackle more stubborn stains.

With impressive cleaning results, reviewers praise Astonish carpet cleaner for its ability to remove even old stains, neutralise odours and leave a fresh lotus flower scent. 

If you’ve got large areas to clean, or simply want to remove stains and lift embedded pet hair, this Bissell carpet cleaner could quickly become your new best friend. 

Suitable for use with any full-sized carpet cleaner, the Bissell Wash & Refresh Carpet Cleaner comes in a concentrated liquid form, with a 1.5-litre bottle being equivalent to three litres of unconcentrated formula (enough to clean six to eight rooms across your home).

This powerful carpet detergent penetrates deep into your carpet’s fibres, providing a tough and effective deep clean that can break down stains, dirt and odours while refreshing high-traffic areas such as hallways or areas in front of your sofa. With a long-lasting yet delicate blossom breeze scent, it’ll leave your room smelling lovely and clean without being too strong or overpowering. It doesn’t come cheap however so you may want to use this for occasional full carpet refreshes than everyday spot cleans.

If you’ve been travelling with your kids and pets in tow, your car seats and upholstery can quickly look dull, dirty and stained. 

This easy-to-use interior shampoo can be used across your car's entire interior - from floor mats and upholstery to your dashboard, doors and steering wheel. Simply spray and wipe across hard surfaces, or use a clean cloth or firm sponge to activate before rinsing with water on fabrics.

As well as removing everyday dirt and dust for an instant refresh, Autoglym Interior Shampoo has a subtle scent that will leave your car smelling clean and fresh with no sticky residue left behind. 

This easy-to-use Vanish foam is ideal for targeting high-traffic areas such as doorways, stairs and the areas in front of your sofa. Claiming to remove five times more dirt and three times more pet hair than vacuuming alone, it refreshes odours and removes stains while helping lift and replenish carpet fibres.

It’s worth noting that this Vanish foam is a highly effective cleaner, so if the rest of your carpet is dirty it can leave a noticeable ‘clean patch’ when used on smaller areas. If your entire carpet could do with a refresh, you may be better off opting for a carpet shampoo using a full-sized carpet cleaner.

If you’ve got pets, have spilt milk or your child has had some potty training ‘accidents’, your carpets can be left smelling musty and unpleasant, with some odours being really hard to shift. 

The citrus-smelling Carpet 1001 cleaner can remove odours without the need to vacuum. Simply shake the can and spay (around 40cm from the carpet) and then leave it - the fine foam will penetrate deep into the carpet fibres allowing the impressive odour eliminator formula to work its magic. For more substantial odours, you may need to repeat the treatment as required.

For really significant stains, you may need to opt for a powerful carpet detergent to restore your carpets to their former glory.  

While the strong scent of the HG Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner means you’ll need to ventilate the room well during use, this easy-to-use spray offers extra strong stain lifting abilities, getting right to work on even stubborn stains like wine, coffee, grease and oil.

Suitable for cleaning sofas, cushions, rugs, curtains and soft furnishings, there’s no need to dilute or pre-treat before use, simply spray onto the affected area, leave for five minutes and wipe away with an absorbent cloth. 

It may be pricey, but a little of the Dyson Dyzolve spray goes a long way. 

Suitable to use on carpets and upholstery, this easy trigger spray features four active enzymes that penetrate deep into the carpet fibres for thorough cleaning. It’s particularly useful for reviving large rugs or floor coverings that are prone to building up dirt, dust and grime or becoming musty over time.