Best Carpet Stain Removers of 2023

By
Jeneva Aaron
Jeneva is the founder and CEO of thehousewire.com where she provides honest and objective reviews on home and cleaning products. She is a cleaning enthusiast. She got inspired to build her own cleaning blog when she realized how cleaning can make an impact on our lives and how a cleaner home can affect a person's mood.
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Updated June 8, 2023

Tackle those tough stains to get your carpet looking like new

Best Carpet Stain Removers of 2023
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In our busy households, carpet stains caused by pet accidents, red wine, coffee, blood, and rust are a common occurrence. But you don’t want to have to get a bulky appliance out every time to tackle them.

A carpet stain remover is a convenient way of getting rid of spills on your carpets and upholstery. It’ll work quickly to remove most day-to-day messes.

Here we’ll tell you what you should look out for when buying this type of product. And we’ve reviewed the best carpet stain removers on the market so you can compare their price, effectiveness, and the specific stains they’ll work on

Our Top Picks

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Best Carpet Stain Removers of 2023
Folex Carpet Spot Remover, 32 ozBest Overall

FOLEX Instant

Folex Carpet Spot Remover, 32 oz

  • No harsh chemical smell

  • Compatible with Carpet Cleaning Machines

Puracy Professional Carpet Cleaner Machine Detergent, 4x Concentrated Upholstery Cleaner, Natural Carpet Shampoo, Pet Stain Remover & Deodorizer, Makes 20 Gallons of Cleaning Solution, 25 OunceBest Natural

Puracy Professional Carpet

Puracy Professional Carpet Cleaner Machine Detergent, 4x Concentrated Upholstery Cleaner, Natural Carpet Shampoo, Pet Stain Remover & Deodorizer, Makes 20 Gallons of Cleaning Solution, 25 Ounce

  • Environmentally friendly

  • Fresh citrus scent

Black Diamond Stoneworks Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner: This Fast Acting Deep Cleaning Spot & Stain Remover Spray Also Works Great on Rugs, Couches and Car Seats. (1-Quart/1-Gallon)Best for Old Stains

Black Diamond Stoneworks

Black Diamond Stoneworks Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner: This Fast Acting Deep Cleaning Spot & Stain Remover Spray Also Works Great on Rugs, Couches and Car Seats. (1-Quart/1-Gallon)

  • Great for getting rid of pet messes

  • Multi-functional

Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator for Strong Odor - Enzyme Pet Odor Eliminator for Home - Carpet Stain Remover for Cats and Dog Pee - Enzymatic Cat Urine Destroyer - Carpet Cleaner SprayBest for Pets

Rocco & Roxie Professional

Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator for Strong Odor - Enzyme Pet Odor Eliminator for Home - Carpet Stain Remover for Cats and Dog Pee - Enzymatic Cat Urine Destroyer - Carpet Cleaner Spray

  • CRI Approved

  • Great for pet accidents

BISSELL Professional Power Shot Oxy Carpet Spot and Stain Remover, 14 ounces, 95C9Best for Deep Cleaning

BISSELL Power Shot Oxy

BISSELL Professional Power Shot Oxy Carpet Spot and Stain Remover, 14 ounces, 95C9

  • Multi-surface cleaner

  • Leaves a pleasant smell

Wine Away Red Wine Liquid Stain Remover, 12– ozBest for Red Wine

Red Wine Stain Remover

Wine Away Red Wine Liquid Stain Remover, 12– oz

  • Ideal for pet messes and odors too

  • Affordable price

What to Look for in a Carpet Stain Remover

Let’s consider what features you should look out for in a carpet stain remover.

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Types of Stain Removers

Think about what type of stains you’ll be cleaning up before you choose a stain remover that contains one or more potent agents. These will be useful for tackling different stains around your house.

  • An alkaline cleaner is good for fats, grease, and other protein-based stains. The chemical bases of these cleaners will dissolve the oil in these types of messes.
  • A solvent cleaner also contains chemicals that are good at dissolving grease stains and oily deposits.
  • A detergent cleaner contains surfactant chemicals which means “surface active agents”. These will help to loosen dirt by bonding water to it – once this has occurred, the grime will break up and wash away.
  • You might also opt for a stain remover that has added enzymes. These are great for getting rid of odors and breaking down spot-stains so that they can be wiped away.

If you have blood or food stains, look for a remover with a “protease” enzyme. These are designed to remove stains from protein sources.

Enzymes called “lipases” are suitable for grease and oil stains. Finally, if you’ve got starchy spots to get rid of, look out for “amylases” enzymes

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Concentration

Check whether the stain remover is concentrated or not. The type you opt for depends on your budget and how convenient you want the cleaner to be.

  • Concentrated carpet stain removers need to be diluted in water before you use them. This adds time to your cleaning tasks, but you’ll usually save money in the long run.
  • Complete carpet stain removers can be sprayed directly from the bottle and offer good convenience. But they’ll cost you more because you’ll use them up more quickly.

Also, see how many applications the manufacturer recommends for removing stains and nasty odors. Some may need multiple layers for the best results – again, this will be more expensive as you’ll use more of the product.

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Usage

Consider where the stains and spills are in your home, and what type they are. Some cleaners will be good for certain stains only or specific surface types, whereas some have more varied uses.

  • A multipurpose stain remover can be used throughout your home and to tackle different stain types. They’ll have a formula that is safe to use in different situations. So this option offers you versatility. And they’ll save you money on having to buy more than one cleaner to tackle different stains or surfaces.
  • Or if you have, for example, a lot of pet stains, you might opt for a cleaner that’s designed specifically for this. See this spray from Nature’s miracle, Cat Stain and Odor Remover, which works to remove cat messes.
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Ingredients

Think about what type of cleaner you want in terms of safety but also how effective it’ll be.

Chemicals

A chemical carpet cleaner will have strong ingredients. Some harsh chemicals can cause asthma, birth defects, or even cancer, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) (1).

In the US, the manufacturers of cleaning products don’t need to list all the ingredients on the bottles, unlike food manufacturers. So you might not always know what it’s in the solution you’re buying.

But, chemical carpet stain removers tend to be more efficient at doing a good job. Therefore, if you do opt for a chemical cleaner, check that it’s got the “Safer Choice” label.

If you can’t see this label, it’s a good idea to wear gloves and a mask when using a strong cleaning agent.

Also, look at whether the product has an “oxy” formula. These can alter the color of your carpet dye, so check with the carpet manufacturer first – you don’t want to discolor your floor and then find out that the warranty is voided!

Natural

A natural carpet cleaner will have chemicals that come from natural resources such as corn, rather than from petroleum.

But, although the ingredients are from renewable resources, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re better for the environment or your health. And, you can’t always tell whether they’re safer or not, unless you know exactly what the ingredients and their effects are (2).

In addition, some “natural” ingredients can do more harm than good to your carpet! For example, baking soda won’t remove a stain but absorbs moisture.

Keep In Mind

So it’ll stick to your carpet fibers and scratch them due to its abrasive quality when you walk over your floors. And as it’s water-soluble, while cleaning it’ll disappear but then reappear as a white residue once your carpet is dry.

This could lighten the color of your carpet and make the fibers look less lustrous and new. So you need to check labels for baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and avoid them for stain removal – also avoid products with calcium carbonate, sodium silicate, or hydrated silica.

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CRI Seal of Approval

Finally, check whether the product has a rubber stamp from The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI). Top carpet stains removers will have their seal of approval (SOA).

The SOA tells you that the cleaning product has been rigorously tested. It looks at 7 performance attributes.

The CRI has full lists of those solutions that have their approval. You can also see which ones they’ve certified as “green” (3).

The Best Carpet Stain Removers in 2023

We’ve spent many hours looking at the top carpet stain removers. Our research has covered manufacturer specs, product details, and feedback from consumers.

You can read our reviews to pick the stain remover that’s the best fit for you. You can compare types of cleaners, affordability, stain-specific products, and much more.

1. Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover

Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover

Best Overall Carpet Stain Remover

View on AmazonView on Walmart

“The Solution To Your Stain”! This is Folex’s promise on the front of their stain remover bottle, and you can be sure that it works quickly to get rid of your most stubborn stains.

This cleaner is designed specifically to work on set-in stains on your carpets. It’s surfactant-based, so you know it’ll work well on loosening and then removing all types of marks, including grease, oil, wine, coffee, ink, cosmetics, and dirt.

You can use this product safely around children and pets as it’s water-based and doesn’t contain VOC chemicals, petroleum, or solvents.

Plus, it’s odorless so you won’t be left with any harsh smells once you’ve finished cleaning.

Pros
  • Number 1 Best Seller on Amazon in their Household Carpet Cleaners
  • Buy in bulk, saving you money, and buy larger bottles to refill your spray bottle resulting in less plastic waste
  • No harsh chemical smell left behind
  • Works well in your carpet cleaning machine
Cons
  • Area remains quite wet and takes a while to dry fully
  • Once it’s dry, some users found that the stain came back again

Technical Specs

Weight 2.15 pounds
Application Method Spray bottle
Product Form Liquid
Concentrated No
Ready to Use Yes
Features No-Rinse, Odorless

2. Puracy Natural Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo

Puracy Natural Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo

Best Natural Carpet Stain Remover

View on AmazonView on Puracy

Natural, chemical-free, and hypoallergenic. Puracy has a reputation for making non-toxic and plant-based cleaning products that are safe to use around your house.

You can dilute it with water and use it by hand with a cloth, or pop some in your carpet machine. This shampoo will create a small amount of foam to get to work on any stains, but it won’t discolor your carpets or upholstery.

Puracy’s solutions also have a cruelty-free certification and are biodegradable.

Plus the manufacturer makes a contribution to local children and families in need for every product that they sell.

Pros
  • Pleasant, fresh citrus scent that isn’t overbearing
  • Carpets left looking like new
  • Great customer service – quick to respond and offer useful tips
  • Environmentally friendly
Cons
  • More expensive than other cleaning options
  • Doesn’t work as well for deep-cleaning chores

Technical Specs

Weight 1.7 pounds
Application Method Damp cloth
Product Form Liquid
Concentrated or Ready to Use Concentrated
Features Eliminates Odors, Vegan, Chemical-Free

3. Black Diamond Stoneworks Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner

Black Diamond Stoneworks Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner

Best Carpet Stain Remover for Old Stains

View on AmazonView on Walmart

Tackle those set in stains on your carpets. This professional-strength cleaner will work to lift and remove those especially tough & stubborn stains that you might’ve struggled to get rid of before.

The Black Diamond brand is family-owned and from the US. Their products are safe to use around pets and children and are also hypoallergenic.

You can use this spray on old stains and messes made by wine, coffee, grease, and dirt.

Plus, it’ll work not just on carpets but all over your house – use it to clean your upholstery and car too as it’s suitable for cotton, wool, and nylon surfaces.

Pros
  • Good value for the set – one spray bottle and one larger bottle for refilling
  • Great for getting rid of pet messes
  • Multi-functional as you can also use it as a laundry pre-spot
  • Works as an odor eliminator too
Cons
  • Some users said it left watermarks on their carpets
  • A few customers said the spray trigger stopped working

Technical Specs

Weight 11.5 pounds
Application Method Spray bottle
Product Form Liquid
Concentrated or Ready to Use Ready to Use
Features No-Rinse, Residue-Free

4. Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator

Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator

Best Carpet Stain Remover for Pets

View on AmazonView on Petsmart

“If it’s gross, it’s gone”. Pet owners can be sure that this formula will remove all those nasty pet messes – urine/vomit/etc. – and also the unpleasant smells that they leave behind.

This solution has bio enzymes to tackle stains and is chlorine-free, making it safe to use around your children. And it’s color-safe so you won’t risk affecting your carpet color, or marking your upholstery.

As well as your floors and furniture, you can also use it on your pet beds, clothing, litter boxes, and kennels. Plus, as it eliminates the stain and embedded smells made by your pets, it’ll also prevent them from re-soiling that area so there’s no risk of future accidents!

Pros
  • Use on pet accidents on laundry before putting in the washing machine
  • Seal of approval from the CRI
  • Customer service responded well
  • Handy when house training pets as it stops them making messes in the same place
Cons
  • Some found the scent left behind was a little too powerful
  • A few users found they needed to use a lot of product to get rid of some urine stains – so makes it more expensive

Technical Specs

Weight 2 pounds
Application Method Spray bottle
Product Form Liquid
Concentrated or Ready to Use Ready to Use
Features No-Rinse, Eliminates Odor, CRI Approved

5. Bissell Professional Power Shot Oxy Carpet Spot & Stain Remover

Bissell Professional Power Shot Oxy Carpet Spot & Stain Remover

Best Carpet Stain Remover for Deep Cleaning

View on AmazonView on Bissell

Give your carpet a deep clean with this Bissell carpet stain and odor remover which has a special StainLift technology. It’s been proven to out-clean the leading aerosol spot cleaner on drink stains such as those made by red wine and coffee.

The Professional Power Oxy shot formula means that this product will lift old, embedded stains from your carpets and rugs before removing them. And this carpet cleaner will also eliminate odors made by smoke and mold.

Plus, you can be sure that you’re investing in a product where both the solution and packaging are eco-friendly. The detergent is biodegradable and the bottle is recyclable.

Pros
  • Leaves a pleasant smell of grapefruit
  • Multi-surface cleaner so also use it on car seats or as upholstery stain remover
  • Most users said it worked well on pet stains such as urine and vomit
  • Removes stains that are really stubborn and old – one user said it even got rid of a 20-year-old stain
Cons
  • A lot of product is required for large, tough stains, so it won’t last as long as other cleaners
  • A few customers said it discolored their carpets – make sure you spot-test on an inconspicuous area first

Technical Specs

Weight 14 ounces
Application Method Spray bottle
Product Form Liquid
Concentrated or Ready to Use Ready to Use
Features Eliminates Odor, Multi-Surface, StainLift Technology

6. Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover

Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover

Best Carpet Stain Remover for Red Wine

View on AmazonView on Walmart

Rated by Good Housekeeping as the best overall red wine stain remover. And this product has also been featured in Food & Wine, the Washington Post, and on the Today Show, so you know you’ll be in good company when buying this carpet cleaner.

There’s no bleach or phosphates in this solution, but it still works hard to completely remove red wine stains on your carpet that are both fresh and dried-on. It’ll also leave a fresh, citrus scent, so you don’t have to worry about lingering wine smells.

Plus, you can use it to soak marks on your clothing before putting them in the washing machine. And it’ll also get rid of coffee, tea, blood, and pet stains.

Pros
  • Also works on hard areas to remove paint and graffiti and de-grease your surfaces
  • Customers liked the versatility it offered on where they could use it – especially on removing wine stains on their laundry
  • Affordable price
  • Effective at eliminating pet messes and odors too
Cons
  • Doesn’t work on all types of carpet fibers – some found with thicker ones it left the area looking wet.
  • A few users weren’t impressed with the spray function – they said only a fine mist came out so they ended up pouring directly out of the bottle which was a bit messy

Technical Specs

Weight 0.84 pounds
Application Method Spray bottle
Product Form Liquid
Concentrated or Ready to Use Ready to Use
Features No-Rinse, Eliminates Odor

Carpet Stain Remover Comparison Chart

ProductWeightApplication Method Product FormUsageFeatures
Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover2.15 poundsSpray bottleLiquidReady to UseNo-Rinse, Odorless
Puracy Natural Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo1.7 poundsDamp clothLiquidConcentratedEliminates Odors, Vegan, Chemical-Free
Black Diamond Stoneworks Carpet Cleaner11.5 poundsSpray bottleLiquidReady to UseNo-Rinse, Residue-Free
Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain2 poundsSpray bottleLiquidReady to UseNo-Rinse, Eliminates Odor, CRI Approved
BISSELL Professional Power Shot Oxy14 ouncesSpray bottleLiquidReady to UseEliminates Odor, Multi-Surface, StainLift Technology
Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover0.84 poundsSpray bottleLiquidReady to UseNo-Rinse, Eliminates Odor
Jump to the Full Carpet Stain Removers Reviews

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