All the best things in life can ruin your carpets: kids, pets, and chocolate desserts. If you want to live life to the fullest without being surrounded by stains, it is time to invest in a portable steam upholstery cleaner. To keep your couches, cars, and rugs fresh without breaking the bank, we have rounded up a list of highly rated, easy-to-use portable steam cleaners, all under $150. These machines are more manageable than professional-grade cleaners, making them easy to store and use at home. Yet, they still deliver serious results, keeping your space spotless even after spills and messes. We hope you find the right cleaner for your home and enjoy the look and feel of freshly cleansed fabrics with the ease and affordability of a portable steamer.
1. Bissell Little Green
When we spoke to 'Queer Eye's' Bobby Berk about home cleaning must-haves, he recommended the Bissell Little Green. One of the most adored Bissell products on the market, this portable and multi-purpose carpet and upholstery cleaner has nearly 47,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. It effectively removes tough stains through a combination of suction and spraying power. Plus, the scrubbing stain tool features a self-cleaning function to save you time and effort. One reviewer noted: "My huge dog had diarrhea on our brand new designer rug leaving a runny, smelly stain but lucky for me, I noticed it within the hour and used my little green carpet cleaner on it. I scrubbed it with the brush and solution for 5 min x3 and the stain and smell are completely gone! I have also used it on dirt and grime on a light color porch rug and it comes clean every time. I love how easy it is to store and I loved watching the YouTube video on where to put the water and solution." Available for $100 at Amazon and Walmart.
2. Bissell Little Green Pro
For a little more power, the Little Green Pro is the most powerful spot and stain cleaner that Bissell offers. It features high-powered suction to remove all kinds of messes from carpet, car interior, and couch, including spills, vomit, and urine. Its deep scrubbing capacity ensures stains and discolorations are gone for good. This vacuum is a game-changer for pet owners, grandparents, or those who spend a lot of time in their cars. It is compact and portable, making it easy to revive car upholstery, staircases, or outdoor furniture. The package includes a deep stain tool, a tough stain tool, a 20-foot cord, and two 8-ounce bottles of Bissell cleaning formulas. One reviewer said: "This wet vacuum works very well for pet mess. Very strong suction allows for fast drying. Small and light weight for portability. No leaking or foul odor. Affordable at its price point. You can even use it to clean your car upholstery and carpet. It's a must have if you have a new puppy or an elder dog who has accidents. I do wish the hose could be a bit longer, but overall it's not a deal breaker." Priced at $150 at Amazon and Target.
3. Eureka Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
Eureka, a well-known vacuum brand, offers a great portable carpet and upholstery cleaner. It features a dual transparent tank system that holds up to 50.7 ounces of clean water and 27 ounces of dirty water, keeping good and gross separated as you clean. The 5.5-foot hose and 16-foot cord allow you to reach hard-to-get places in your car or on stairs. The multi-function head lets you spray, scrub, and suction everything from pet accidents to spilled milk. There is currently a $35 coupon available at checkout. One reviewer exclaimed: "I am SO PLEASED with this carpet cleaner! It is very portable, simple to use, effective, and easy to clean! It does the job without any difficulty. My carpet comes out spotless and odorless. Thank you!" Available for $82.75 at Amazon and Walmart.
4. Hoover CleanSlate Portable Cleaner
The Hoover CleanSlate comes with an interchangeable 7-inch wide tool and a tiny brush tool, allowing you to clean both large and small messes with ease. It includes a bottle of Oxy Concentrate to help remove stains from mud, wine, and pets. The hose rinse tool lets you internally clean the machine, removing leftover dirt and scum. With a 40-ounce clean solution capacity and dual tank system, dirty and clean water remain separate. One Amazon customer shared: "So convenient for the fur babies markings on my shag rug. Also, used on my entire L-shaped couch and made it look brand new again! Worth it 100%!" Priced at $100+ at Amazon and $111 at Walmart.
5. Shark StainStriker Carpet Cleaner
If you like a variety of cleaning heads, the Shark StainStriker is for you. It includes an integrated crevice tool, a 3.5-inch reversible bristle tool, a pet tool, and a hose clean tool. This machine nips odors and removes deeply embedded stains. The super strong suction head pulls out both solid and liquid messes, helping you freshen carpets, area rugs, stairs, furniture, couches, and upholstery. It weighs under nine pounds for easy mobility and features a dual formula system that creates a hefty cleaning solution. One reviewer noted: "This thing is amazing! It is light weight, has a good long hose, good suction, easy to use and clean. We have a large dog that likes to get up on our couches. They were in dire need of cleaning due to the dog smell. This machine took away the smell and made our couches look like new again! I am very impressed!" Available for $139 at Amazon and Chewy.
6. Kenmore SpotLite Portable Carpet Cleaner
Refresh your carpets, upholstery, and auto interiors with the Kenmore SpotLite cleaner. It comes with a 3.5-inch stain tool for everyday messes and a 6.5-inch wide path tool for stubborn stains. The 6-foot extended hose allows you to clean without moving the machine too much. It includes a trial cleaning solution to help with your first few messes. Be sure to snag the $8 coupon at checkout. One reviewer said: "I like that it is portable and easy to store. I bought it to clean upholstered furniture and area rugs. Worked very well. Recently my dog vomited on my white couch. Used this machine and it cleaned like magic!" Priced at $93 at Amazon.
