Recent tests involving eight carpet cleaner models have shown that while machines can put up a good fight against various stains, no cleaner offers an instant solution. The tests, which included challenging substances like curry, coffee, red wine, soot, and urine, revealed that even with the best equipment, time, effort, and persistence are necessary to restore carpets to their original state.
A key takeaway from the testing was the particular difficulty in removing curry stains from light-coloured carpets, with advice to clean such spills as quickly as possible. The tests also indicated that no machine could completely remove a dollop of tikka masala paste in a single pass.
Among the models reviewed, the Numatic Henry Wash was highlighted as a budget-friendly option that performed well on both carpet and hard floors. However, its carpet cleaning attachments lack built-in brushes, meaning manual scrubbing is required between liquid application and suction for effective stain removal, making it less ideal for cleaning entire rooms.
The Rug Doctor portable spot cleaner was identified as the best overall spot washer, being larger and more powerful than other spot cleaners tested. It features a motorised brush on its hand tool and performed well on recently dropped messes, particularly urine, wine, and coffee.