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The 10 best carpet cleaning machines to buy in the UK

Picture of a carpet cleaning machine

When looking for the best carpet cleaning machine for your home, it’s a good idea to do plenty of research so you find the most suitable model for your needs. While there are many great carpet cleaning machines out there, there are also many low-quality machines that are well worth avoiding. So, be sure to check out the guide below on how to find the right carpet cleaning machine for your home:

What are carpet cleaning machines?

As the name suggests, a carpet cleaning machine is a device used to clean carpets. While designs and functions can vary from each model, every carpet cleaner works to remove deep dirt and stains embedded within a carpet. For the most part, this is done through soaking the carpet with hot water treated with a good carpet cleaner before extracting the now-dirty water, leaving the carpets much cleaner and fresher.

Why should you buy a good carpet cleaning machine?

The best carpet cleaning machine allows homeowners to maintain a high standard of hygiene in their carpets. As most people just vacuum their carpets, there’s a lot of dirt and debris that remains embedded in the fibers that can cause allergies and look rather unpleasant. So, by using a good carpet cleaning machine, your carpets will not only look and smell much nicer, they will be more hygienic and likely to last much longer. If your home has a lot of carpets, then the right carpet cleaning machine is a fantastic investment!

How to choose the right carpet cleaning machine in 2024?

Another picture of a carpet cleaning machine

There are plenty of carpet cleaners out there worth buying, but there are also plenty of less than reliable machines that are best avoided. To ensure you get the best carpet cleaner possible, consider some of the following:

  • Features: The more cleaning features the machine has, the better. This is because they can help make the cleaning process faster and more efficient, so be sure to look out for features such as auto-mix, dry vacuuming, water tank heater and attachable brushes.
  • Power: Carpet cleaning machines with more power perform better. If you want a machine that will clean deep and through, look for something with a high wattage.
  • Weight: An often-overlooked aspect, the best carpet cleaning machines tend to be the heaviest, and this can be troublesome for some people. Anyone that may have problems constantly moving a heavy machine should look for a more portable or lightweight type of carpet cleaner, as you don’t want to struggle using it!
  • Water Tank Capacity: If you have a lot of carpets that will be cleaned frequently, then a carpet cleaning machine with a large water tank will be the better option. This will save constantly having to refill the tank at the sink, reducing the time needed for cleaning.

What is the best kind of carpet cleaning machine in the UK?

There is a huge range of quality carpet cleaning machines out there. Some will be more suited for certain carpet sizes and conditions, while others will provide a range of additional features that you may find useful.

  • Shampoo Carpet Cleaners: The standard carpet cleaning machine, it typically resembles an upright vacuum cleaner. It shampoos the carpet to remove stains, dirt, and spillages, helping to restore its appearance, making them great for most homes. They do leave the carpet wet, however, unless they come with a vacuum feature, which most modern machines do. Should it not, you will need to let the carpet dry naturally.
  • Steam Carpet Cleaners: By utilizing steam as the main cleaning method, steam carpet cleaning machines are highly effective for sanitizing and cleaning carpets. Working at very high temperature, the steam and cleaning solution combine to clean very deep, making them one of the best performing carpet cleaning machines.
  • Spot Carpet Cleaners: Small and compact, these carpet cleaning machines are great for minor maintenance and dealing with spills and stains as they occur. To make them more portable they do have smaller tanks, so they aren’t ideal for cleaning large areas of carpet. But as they are lightweight and easy to use they still make for a great cleaning tool in most households.

Top 10 list of carpet cleaning machines in the UK (2024)

The bestseller list compares brands and their carpet cleaning machines. Which carpet cleaning machine is the best?
Best choice TOP 1
Image of Vax W86-DP-B carpet cleaning machine
Vax Dual Power Carpet Cleaner, Carpet Washer, Carpet Cleaning Machine,…
  • 1 year guarantee.
  • Lightweight at 5.8 kg; Cord: 8m, Dirty Capacity-1.5 L and Clean Capacity- 2.7L.
  • Twin Tank technology keeps clean and dirty water separate, Cleaning width: 30 cm…
BUY NOW
TOP 2
Image of Vax CDCW-RPXR carpet cleaning machine
Vax Rapid Power Refresh Carpet Cleaner | Deep Clean and Leaves Carpets…
  • COMES WITH VAX PLATINUM PROFESSIONAL SOLUTION - so you can clean straight away
  • QUICK DRY TIME – Carpets are dry in less than 1 hour leaving your carpets dry…
  • DEEP CLEANING – SpinScrub brushes rotate in different directions to effectively…
BUY NOW
Offer TOP 3
Image of Vax CDCW-CSXA carpet cleaning machine
Vax SpotWash Duo Spot Cleaner | Lifts Spills and Stains from Carpets,…
  • 2 YEAR GUARANTEE – For extra peace of mind
  • SELF CLEAN FUNCTION – Conveniently flush the hose clean after each use
  • PORTABLE AND COMPACT SPOT CARPET CLEANER – Slim design fits comfortably on…
BUY NOW
TOP 4
Image of Vax 1-1-143200 carpet cleaning machine
Vax SpinScrub Power Carpet Cleaner, Carpet Cleaning Machine, Stain…
  • 6 YEAR GUARANTEE - When registered with Vax
  • ABOVE FLOOR CLEANING - SpinScrub Power comes with Vax's Upholstery Tool, 2.5m…
  • QUICK DRY TIME - Our HEATBLAST technology combines hot air and powerful extraction…
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TOP 5
Image of Vacmaster SCA0801-01 carpet cleaning machine
Vacmaster EasyClean Rapid Carpet Spot Cleaner for carpets, stairs…
  • VACMASTER BY CLEVA - We use the latest processes and highest engineering standards…
  • LONG REACH - An extra-long 6m power cord and 1.8m long hose ensures you can reach…
  • CLEANING FORMULA INCLUDED – The included 236ml of cleaning solution is developed…
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TOP 6
Image of VYTRONIX SWASH450P carpet cleaning machine
Vytronix SWASH450P Spot Cleaner | Spot & Stain Remover | Clean…
  • POWERFULLY SIMPLE: We like to keep it simple. How? By creating home appliances that…
  • SELF-CLEAN FUNCTION: Equipped with a self-cleaning nozzle, the SWASH450P simplifies…
  • POWERFUL PICK UP: No more getting on your hands and knees with a sponge and spray…
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TOP 7
Image of VYTRONIX VYTRONIX carpet cleaning machine
VYTRONIX P800CW Upright Carpet Cleaner | Lightweight Deep Cleaning…
  • POWERFULLY SIMPLE: We like to keep it simple. How? By creating home appliances that…
  • LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: With its powerful 800W motor and lightweight 5.6kg design, the…
  • REFRESH & DEEP CLEAN: Keep your carpets looking like they’ve just been…
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TOP 8
Image of Rug Doctor 93306 carpet cleaning machine
Rug Doctor 93306 Portable Spot Cleaner, Plastic, 1100 W, 1.9 liters,…
  • Ideal for smaller areas or spot stains for use on carpet, upholstery, soft surfaces…
  • Large Tank Capacity; for an efficient clean and less trips to the sink
  • Lightweight and Convenient; with wheels and a retractable handle for increased manoeuvrability…
BUY NOW
TOP 9
Image of Vax CDSW–MPXA carpet cleaning machine
Vax SpotWash Home Pet-Design Spot Cleaner | Kills over 99% of bacteria*…
  • 2 YEAR GUARANTEE – For extra peace of mind
  • COMPACT SPOT CARPET CLEANER – The compact design fits neatly into a cupboard…
  • ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANING – Removes over 99% of bacteria*
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TOP 10
Image of Vax CUR232403 carpet cleaning machine
Vax Platinum Power Max Carpet Cleaner, Removes 93% of Bacteria, Proven…
  • 6 YEAR GUARANTEE - for complete peace of mind
  • TARGETS STAINS AND ELIMINATES ODOURS - The portable and convenient Pre-Treatment…
  • VERSATILE TOOL ATTACHMENTS - With the motorised SpinScrub Hand Tool, 2.5m Hose and…
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We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We consider only products that are available on Amazon while the ranking is based on factors such as customer reviews, number of sales and keyword. Last Update: 2024/12/23.