Reality enters a Matrix-like slow motion when a glass of red wine is knocked from a dinner table. It clinks and wobbles before myriad arms shoot out from every direction in a desperate attempt to prevent disaster.
Two possible scenarios are imagined by the clumsy soul who managed to dislodge the glass from its place on the table: one in which fate and luck team together to intervene and prevent the glistening white rug beneath from ruin, and one where the perpetrator sits with their head in hands before promptly scrubbing the disastrously stained carpet with white wine, vinegar, baking soda, and anything else they can get their hands on.
Thankfully, no matter how stark the stain following an intimate dinner party, pet accident or baby mishap, spot cleaners exist to alleviate stain anxiety.
What are spot cleaners and how do they work?
Designed to target localised spills and dirt, spot cleaners are handheld devices which release a mixture of water and dedicated cleaning solution to saturate and dislodge the stain in question before hoovering the liquid up to remove stains from carpets and upholstery for good.
Like traditional carpet cleaners, some have automatic bristles, but the majority of commercial spot cleaners require some manual scrubbing to ensure the cleaning solution can get to work.
Can you use spot cleaners with any cleaning solution?
Don’t use sudsy cleaning solutions like washing up liquid and laundry detergent with your spot cleaner. However, you can certainly dilute other brands of classic carpet cleaners with a 1:1 ratio. Naturally, most brands will suggest using their branded formula with your machine for the best possible results.
We’ve rounded up a selection of the best spot cleaners on the market for all your cleaning needs. Keep scrolling to take the fear away from potential stains.
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Shark StainStriker HairPro Pet Spot Cleaner
The Shark StainStriker HairPro might not win any awards for visual restraint, but its function more than makes up for its form. Whether or not you live with pets, this is a spot cleaner that earns its keep. It’s particularly good on sofas, rugs, and soft furnishings that don’t warrant a full deep-clean but occasionally fall victim to spills, snacks, or general life.
It’s simple to set up, easy to store, and delivers a solid clean without demanding much in return. The attachments are well thought out, especially the pet-specific one with its separate muck trap, but even in pet-free homes, the core cleaning tools do a thorough job.
The lack of onboard storage for accessories is a small irritation, and the colour scheme might not be to everyone’s taste. But if you’re after a compact machine that handles messes quickly, without fuss, and without soaking your furniture in the process, this one does exactly that.
No drama, no gimmicks — just a very competent, very useful household tool.
Buy now £189.00, Amazon
Vax SpotWash Home Pet-Design Spot Cleaner
One of our all-time favourites within the Vax range, the lightweight, portable, and packable SpotWash Home Pet-Design Duo is a brilliant stain-busting tool for those with smaller spaces and less ample storage solutions.
Just like the majority of spot cleaners within the Vax range, this one removes over 99 per cent of bacteria when used with the corresponding Vax Antibacterial Solution. However, the main difference between the Home Pet-Design and other models is the many, varied brush heads that come alongside it.
The latest addition to the Vax brush head family is the advanced Spinscrub tool, which has automatic rotating bristles that work to remove the deepest dirt and grime lodged inside carpet and upholstery. Other specialised tools designed with pet owners in mind include a ‘messy’ tool that prevents cross-contamination with your everyday cleaning brush head.
Buy now £119.00, Amazon
Shark StainStriker Spot Carpet Cleaner
The Shark StainStriker works by releasing a high-pressure spray which can penetrate carpet and upholstery without running the risk of oversaturating the fibres. The powerful suction can then be employed to extract dirt and liquid. Just be sure to give the stain-removing solution a healthy scrub before extracting it.
The multi-purpose device is equipped with a flexible hose for reaching stubborn stains, while additional handheld attachments such as the Tough Stain Tool and Integrated Crevice Tool help with corners, crevices and particularly deep stains.
Buy now £150.00, Argos
Zennox Electric Carpet Rug Spot Cleaner & Stain Remover
A simple, value-for-money handheld solution to pesky stains, the Zennox spot cleaner is brilliant for quick removal of potentially stubborn messes. We’re big fans of the fact that it doesn’t require its own branded carpet cleaner and works just fine with your stain-busting solution of choice. Simply fill your diluted solution into the clean reservoir tank and watch as stains are hoovered up with ease.
Buy now £54.99, Amazon
Vax SpotWash Duo Spot Cleaner
The original Vax SpotWash Duo makes a versatile and efficient addition to any home cleaning arsenal. It features a range of additional anti-microbial tools, as well as a self-cleaning function that flushes the inner hose clean after every use – so keeping your home smell- and stain-free has never been so easy. While this machine is relatively lightweight, coming in at a mere 3.9kg, it is also equipped with a long-reach hose so that you don’t have to lug the device into each corner of the room that you’re working on.
Was: £139.99
Buy now £122.39, Amazon
Bissell Spot Clean Pro
‘Spots and stains come off in seconds’ with the Bissell Spot Clean Pro, so says Bissell. We spot-cleaned our way around a cream carpet that houses a large golden retriever, and we can confirm that this powerful but compact machine lives up to the hype.
Its lightweight, portable design allows you to remove stains from stairs and upholstery as well as carpets and rugs and it comes with an extra-long power cord plus a selection of brushes to remove ‘it just happened’ stains as well as older, ingrained marks wherever they may occur.
It tackled older stains impressively and got to work on ingrained stains effectively, leaving them surprisingly clear.
The only downside of this powerful machine is that it is pretty noisy, so not one for use late at night or while the baby’s napping.
Buy now £149.00, John Lewis
Kärcher Steam Cleaner SC 4 Easy Fix
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Several professional cleaners recommend the Kärcher SC 4 EasyFix for achieving exceptional results in clients' homes, with its powerful design delivering both efficiency and reliability.
The Kärcher SC 4 EasyFix steam cleaner offers a deep cleaning solution that eliminates 99.999 per cent of viruses and bacteria using nothing but tap water. Its 3.5-bar steam pressure effortlessly tackles grease, dirt, and grime without the need for chemicals, making it perfect for homes with children or pets.
Ready to use in just four minutes, this steam cleaner excelled at removing stubborn grease from ovens and refreshing upholstered furniture and hard flooring. The two-tank system ensures continuous cleaning, while its built-in storage makes accessory organisation simple.
It includes a microfibre floor cloth and a set of versatile nozzles to suit any task. The innovative EasyFix system allows for mess-free cloth changes using its lamella technology, while the descaling filter keeps the cleaner operating at peak performance.
Buy now £228.79, Amazon
Henry Wash
Who doesn’t adore a Henry Hoover? Proudly designed and made right here in the UK, Henry the cheeriest of vacuums has returned, only this time, he’s made for fabrics as well as floors.
Henry Wash revives and refreshes carpets and upholstery for a clean, hygienic, and fresh-smelling home all while looking iconic in your hallway. Just a glimpse of Henry never ceases to make us smile.
There’s no job too big or too small for this blue version of Henry; be it reviving carpets, refreshing the sofa, cleaning out the car, or sucking up spills. Surprisingly, you can even unblock the sink with this model too if the need arises. Our hero.
Buy now £199.00, Currys
