The 9 Best Carpet Stain Removers, Tested and Reviewed (2024)

Final Verdict

Overall, we recommend the OxiClean Carpet & Area Rug Stain Remover for its ability to get out all of our stains without having to apply an excess of elbow grease. Plus, despite its stain-fighting power, it didn’t have a bad chemical smell that often comes with cleaning products.

Our Testing Process

We tested 39 carpet stain removers in our Lab and assessed them on ease of use, effectiveness, scent, and value. Our first test involved evaluating each carpet stain remover’s effectiveness on fresh stains. We stained our rug with red wine, barbecue sauce, mud, and wolf urine. We had those stains sit for a minute and then blotted up the excess of the stain with a dry towel.

After that, we read the carpet stain remover’s instructions and noted how long it took to remove each stain. If the stains remained after cleaning, we did one more application and then recorded the results.

For our set-in stain test, we applied the same substances on our carpet and had them sit overnight. We used the same process as we did in our fresh stain test to determine their effectiveness. To see how these products performed on upholstery, we applied the same stain substances to a pillow cover, waited a minute, and then proceeded to remove the stains per the manufacturer’s instructions all the while recording how long each removal took.

While performing our tests, we noted if the color of our materials changed after using the cleaner, if there was a scent to the cleaner, if there were toxicity warnings on the label, and if it came with extra accessories, like a brush applicator. We used all of this information to come up with the best carpet stain removers.

How to Shop for Carpet Stain Removers Like a Pro

Ingredients

Both Berry and Rapinchuk spoke highly of carpet stain removers that contain enzymes. “Enzymes break down the stain and lift it from the carpet,” says Rapinchuk. Berry also recommended products that contain oxygenated bleach, like OxiClean Carpet & Area Rug Stain Remover, our Best Overall pick. “The oxygen dissolves the bonds between the stain and the carpet fibers, making it easier to lift away,” she says.

She told us that oxygenated bleach works with pet stains, but a carpet stain remover that contains enzymes is even better: “The gold standard for pet stains is a cleaning product that combines both.” (Our Best for Pet Stains pick, The Spruce Pet Stain & Odor Remover, is an enzymatic cleaner.) In fact, enzymes are so effective at getting rid of odors from pet stains that Rapinchuk says pets will not return to that spot to do their business again and make another mess.

When it comes to harsh chemicals to look out for, Berry breaks it to us that we sort of can’t. “You should assume every commercial carpet cleaning product may contain ingredients you must use with caution, and sparingly.” If this makes you uncomfortable, she recommends trying soap and water or other homemade carpet stain removers first.

Compatible Surfaces

One would easily assume that all carpet stain removers are compatible with all carpets, but this isn’t the case. Carpet stain removers that you typically get at the grocery store are designed for synthetic materials, not natural ones. This was definitely affirmed by the care instructions we read from a couple of our top picks. For example, the OxiClean Carpet & Area Rug Stain Remover is not compatible on leather, wool or silk, while the Carbona Two-in-One Oxy-Powered Carpet Cleaner cannot be used on silk, velvet, Haitian cotton, or fabrics that can be ruined by water.

Plus, Berry told us that carpets containing silk, as well as wool, should not be subject to a carpet stain remover and instead be treated by professionals for messes. If you aren’t sure of the materials your carpeting is made of and don’t want to roll the dice with a carpet stain remover just yet, try an at-home cleaning solution first. Berry does advise that natural remedies may take repeated applications to work, prolonging the time it’ll take to get rid of the stain.

Rapinchuk also does not recommend using carpet stain removers on vintage rugs or rugs that you know are hand-dyed. “Hand-dyed and vintage rugs are not color-fast or color set and the yarn is most likely dyed in a different way than we use today,” she says. “It's not that [the carpet stain removers] won't work, but that they may be too harsh on old fibers and dyes.”

Scent

One of the biggest downsides to owning really any cleaning product is the chemical-y smell it can sometimes contain. When we asked our experts how this smell can be avoided, they said that they’ve found products that have artificial fragrances can increase a product’s aromatic intensity. A great way to avoid a carpet stain remover with a strong scent is by getting products that contain more natural ingredients, such as enzymes.

More Carpet Stain Removers to Consider

Scotchgard Oxy Spot & Stain Remover: This all-purpose fabric cleaner did quite well in getting our stains out, performing the best with the red wine. However, we didn’t like that the urine smell still lingered after spraying, especially since this is designed to tackle pet odor.

Shout Pet Stain & Odor Remover: This product got the urine smell out of all of the surfaces we used this carpet stain remover on. We would recommend this as a less expensive alternative to some of the really expensive pet stain removers available on the market—but we did find the spray bottle difficult to use.

Questions You Might Ask

What’s the best method for removing stains from carpeting?

It depends on the type of stain. “For a fresh stain, remove as much of the mess as possible: blot liquid messes or scrape away more solid ones,” Berry says. She tells us one of the biggest mistakes she sees people making when cleaning up fresh liquid stains is scrubbing instead of blotting. Scrubbing a fresh liquid stain actually leads to the spreading of the mess, which will just make the stain harder to get out.

After you’ve properly blotted, Berry recommends using baking soda to further absorb liquid messes. “Baking soda is a good choice since it won't react harmfully with other cleaning products,” she says. After the baking soda has soaked up the mess, she says scrape away and then use your carpet stain remover and follow its instructions exactly.

For set-in stains, all you have to do is apply your carpet stain remover and let it sit for the recommended amount of time, according to Rapinchuk. After that, she says to rinse with cold water and continue blotting up the liquid, then repeat until the stain is lifted and gone. Rapinchuk tells us that the one of the biggest mistakes she sees people make with carpet stain removers is not rinsing the stain fully. “Any residue left on the carpet [from not rinsing fully] can attract dirt once the spot is dry,” she says.

Berry also recommends rinsing for fresh stains as well, and tells us that for set-in stains you should be prepared to do repeated applications. “Most set-in stains will need multiple treatments,” she says. If you can, Berry says a carpet stain remover that targets a specific type of set-in stain will be more effective, as compared to an all-purpose product.

Can you use a carpet stain remover on a rug?

Not always. This is because a carpet is not the same as a rug and as such, they can require different care. Carpet stain removers are designed for synthetic materials, not natural ones. If you know for sure your rug is made entirely of all synthetic materials, then it’s a safer bet to try a carpet stain remover on your rug.

Still, to be on the safe side, read instructions on the back of your bottle or an included manual. We discovered that with some of the carpet stain removers we tested, rugs were not listed as a compatible surface to use the product on.

What is a colorfast test?

You will likely see this as a step you need to complete with your product’s given instructions. It’s an important step to follow, as it will determine if the carpet stain remover will potentially permanently ruin the color of your rug. “Some products contain ingredients that will bleach or lighten a carpet, so you should always spot test a new product,” says Berry.

Rapinchuk broke down to us exactly what a colorfast test is. “A colorfast test is just dampening a clean, white cloth and gently rubbing it over the [carpet’s] fibers. If you see any color on your white cloth, the rug is not colorfast/colorset and cannot be cleaned traditionally. You'll want to bring it to a professional,” she says.

For the test, Berry recommends using a small amount of the stain remover in an inconspicuous area, such as behind a door or in a closet. After you’ve applied the product, wait several hours, and if the color hasn’t changed, you can use the stain remover safely on your carpet.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Rachel Center, a product reviews home writer for Real Simple. We researched the best carpet stain removers and tested 39 of the most popular options in our Lab, evaluating them on scent, effectiveness, value, and ease of use. We also sought the advice of two experts: Katie Berry, the owner of Housewife How-Tos, and Becky Rapinchuk, owner of Clean Mama.

What Is Real Simple Selects?

Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn't an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company.

Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.