The best spot cleaners on the market, based on efficiency and ease of use

Best spot cleaner overall

The most affordable among Bissell’s spot cleaners, this model’s TikTok-viral for a reason. It’s compact enough to store in standard cupboards and, at 4.67kg, lightweight enough to carry easily. It’s designed to remove deep-seated stains from carpets, couches and car seats, and comes with a Spot & Clean formula. The 1.4L clean water tank allows for extended use before needing a refill.

“Love my Bissell,” reads one review on Amazon. “So easy to use and makes cleaning upholstery a breeze. You can take it with you wherever you go.” Better Homes and Gardens’ Shopping Editor wrote in her review that dirt, dust and her dog’s hair hiding in her rug didn’t stand a chance; the cleaner sucked it all up with just one or two passes. And, because the suction and scrubbing attachment is see-through, she knew when each spot was done. All she had to do was wait for the filthy water to run clear.

“The suction was powerful, the scrubbing head was sturdy and effective, and the water tank was large enough to get a large area done without needing to be refilled. And while the set-in stains weren’t completely lifted, they were considerably lightened, which is more than I expected.” – Paris Blanchfield, Shopping Editor

Key features:

• Measurements (cm): 21D x 43.8W x 31.8H
• Weight: 4.67kgs
• Warranty: 2 years
• 4.5m cord
• 1.5m hose
• 1.4L clean water tank

Also available at:

• $259, Bissell

Best spot cleaner for a couch

Accidentally spilled coffee on the upholstery? This cordless spot cleaner is built for exactly that. The spray it comes with uses two separate cleaning solutions that only mix at the moment of contact, maximising their chemical effectiveness on stains. The unit’s cordless, meaning you can easily move it around the house, or out to the car, without having to hunt for a power outlet. It also comes with a caddy to store the device and spray together for easier transport.

“Owner of a dog who likes to make a mess regularly,” reads one review of the cleaner on Myer. “This is perfect. So far it has cleaned up mud and food stains perfectly.” In a review, BHG’s Paris shared that drew her to the cleaner was that it was easy to maneuver. That meant tackling tricky spots, like her precarious staircase, wasn’t a balancing act.

“When getting to work on the remaining dirty side of my rug with the Shark spot cleaner, I couldn’t help but notice how lightweight it was; in fact, cleaning up the rug with the Shark felt like using a super-powerful handheld vacuum (that can also suction up spills).” – Paris Blanchfield, Shopping Editor

Key features:

• Measurements (cm): 56cm H x 7.5cm W x 10cm D
• Weight: 1.05kgs
• Warranty: 2 years
• Cordless
• Comes with a Grab & Go caddy
• Attachments: stain tool and a crevice tool

Also available at:

• $235, Amazon
• $249.99, Shark
• $249, Betta
• $249.95, Kitchen Warehouse

Best spot cleaner for a carpet

With a 1.8L water tank, this model has one of the highest capacities in its category, allowing for longer cleaning sessions between refills. It’s equally efficient in performance, featuring a high-suction motor capable of pulling up to 1L of liquid every five seconds. The cleaner also includes a set of interchangeable heads to suit various fabric surfaces and textures. Maintenance is also straightforward – the unit features a self-cleaning through an auto-clean accessory that rinses the hose after use to prevent buildup.

“This machine is lightweight but powerful,” wrote a reviewer on Tefal’s site. “It is so easy to use and works like a charm. I am so happy to have bought it.” Another reviewer commented on the cleaner being surprisingly small and easily fitting into their cupboard. “Now we’re sharing the spot cleaner with our friends and family to help with their tough stains,” they added.

Key features:

• Measurements (cm): 188W × 111D × 88H
• Weight: 4.7kgs
• Warranty: 1 year
• 1.75m hose
• 5m cord 
• 1.8 L clean water tank
• Attachments: 8cm brush and 15cm brush

Also available at:

• $349, Big W
• $249, Tefal

Best spot cleaner for a mattress

This cleaner, available now at Spotlight for a substantial 67% discount, comes with two cleaning heads. A larger one dispenses up to 400ml of solution per minute and is ideal for mattress cleaning, while a smaller head ensures precision cleaning for tricky areas. Another selling point is the built-in HEPA filter that’ll capture even the smallest particles of dust and dirt.

“This thing is awesome to use, works great on my mattress, but I am not leaving it on for too long just in case the motor blows because the machine is pretty small,” reads one review on Spotlight. Another shared: “This does a great job and I find it to be very user-friendly. It’s very light compared to other spot cleaners I’ve used and also not as loud.”

Key features:

• Warranty: None
• 1080ml clean water tank
• Solution dispensing: Up to 400ml per minute

Best spot cleaner for a car

If your car’s floors and seats are constantly battling dirt, but you aren’t ready to drop a fortune on professional detailing, consider investing in this specialised cleaner. Designed specifically for vehicle interiors, it penetrates deep-set stains to restore your surfaces to their original, showroom freshness. Plus, it’ll get into every nook and cranny, thanks to its included 3-in-1 upholstery tool, 2-in-1 spraying crevice tool and tough stain tool.

“I’ve had this for about two weeks, and it’s amazing,” wrote one reviewer on Supercheap Auto’s site. “I cleaned the carpet in my car, and it came up looking brand new and was quick to do. Can use it on your lounge and your mattress, also, to spot clean the carpets inside.”

Key features:

• Weight: 5.2kg
• Warranty: 2 years
• 4.5m cord
• 2.2m hose
• 1.1L tank

Best spot cleaner under $100

This stain cleaner’s a great option if you’re looking for something under $100. Lightweight and portable, it comes with a 0.8L clean water tank and two specialised attachments: a heavy-duty brush for stubborn spots and a softer brush for delicate upholstery. It’s also easy-to-use – just press the trigger to spray, then let the powerful brush and vacuum action lift deep-seated stains right out of the fabric.

“Small in size but removes stains very well,” wrote one reviewer on Kogan where the cleaner’s rated 4.75 stars out of 68 ratings. Another shared: “Used on my car seats, they were filthy. Very happy with the cleaner.”

Key features:

• Measurements (cm): 26 x 22 x 27
• Weight: 2.5kgs
• Warranty: 1 year
• 1.2m hose
• 1.2m cord
• 800ml water tank

Also available at:

• $89, Amazon

If you regularly deal with stubborn pet messes or grime in high-traffic areas of your home, you’ll appreciate this spot cleaner. It’s compact, yet delivers a powerful clean – with 1200W of heating power and 100-degrees Celcius of steam to lift deep-set stains and odours from carpets and upholstery. It’s also incredibly easy to move from room to room, and comes with a narrow nozzle, fabric brush, steam ironing brush and window brush, as well as a self-cleaning head.

“The unit is simple to operate,” wrote one reviewer on Amazon. “You fill the clean water tank with water and a small amount of carpet cleaner, switch the unit on and pull the trigger to spray the area. The cleaning head can then be used to gently scrub the spot, and running the head back over the area allows the machine to suction the dirty water back out of the carpet or upholstery.”

Key features:

• Measurements (cm): 17.3D x 32.6W x 30.6H
• 1.5L clean water tank
• 5m cord
• 1.2m hose

Also available at:

• $129.99, Amazon

This spot cleaner takes the hassle out of deep cleaning with a robust 600W motor and a powerful 14Kpa suction that outperforms previous models. It’s designed to pull deep-set dirt and spills from carpets, mattresses and car seats, using its generous 1.8L clean water tank. The cleaner also features a self-cleaning function that flushes the hose automatically at the touch of a button, keeping your machine odour-free for the next use.  

“Pretty happy with item – does what it promises,” wrote one reviewer on site ProductReview. “Seems robust too. This is not a ‘pro’ machine and you wouldn’t try using it for big jobs – just furniture, spills, pets – all you need. This cleaner applies clean water then sucks up liquid don’t use soap in reservoir else you’ll end up covered in suds. Clean stain manually then rinse-up using suction.”

“This machine is lightweight but powerful,” wrote a reviewer on Tefal’s site. “It is so easy to use and works like a charm. I am so happy to have bought it.” Another reviewer commented on the cleaner being surprisingly small and easily fitting into their cupboard. “Now we’re sharing the spot cleaner with our friends and family to help with their tough stains,” they added.

Key features:

• Measurements (cm): 188 W × 111 D × 88 H
• Weight: 4.7kgs
• Warranty: XXX
• 1.75 m hose
• 5 m electric cord 
• 1.8 L clean water tank

Also available at:

• $119, Big W
• $119.99, Kogan
• $129.99, Woolworths
• $179, Brosa