The 9 Best Carpet Stain Removers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Oxy Stain Remover

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Scent
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

The Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Oxy Stain Remover is not only an extremely effective carpet stain remover, it also had us raving about its wonderful scent, easy application, and formula. Whether you're looking for a spray that's easy to apply or an effective stain remover to revive your favorite rug, this one fits the bill, and that's why it's our top pick.

Sometimes it's hard to believe that a formula can be gentle enough for almost any home environment yet also powerful enough to remove tough stains—but we can attest that the oxygenated formula is just that. In our lab testing, it removed dirt, urine, and pre-treated wine stains in one application. We found that application process to be straightforward, and it only took 12 minutes. It took two applications to get out our tougher, gooey barbecue and mud stains—and there was still a faint color left behind. For that reason, we slightly docked our effectiveness score of this stain remover.

For ease of use, value, and scent, this Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. cleaner scored a perfect rating, and we'd be hard-pressed to name a cleaner that smells as good. If scented products make you uneasy, you'll be pleased to know that the scent isn't overwhelming. It's just a pleasant and welcome surprise, especially compared to some of the more standard, chemical scents commonly associated with stain removers.

This carpet stain remover is on the pricier side, but when you consider that you're getting a 32-ounce spray formula that's oxygen-infused (critical for eliminating and lifting stains and odors), we think the price is justified. Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. is a part of the Amazon Small Business program. Whether you purchase the product from Amazon or not, you can feel good knowing that you're supporting a small, family-run business when you click "Add to cart."

Price at time of publishing: $20

_{Type: Spray | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 2 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Scent: Not listed}

Best Budget

Kids 'N' Pets All-Purpose Stain + Odor Remover

4.6

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You don't have to have children or furry friends to appreciate a good carpet stain remover that's also budget-friendly, but if you do, you'll really appreciate this one. This affordable cleaner is a powerful stain remover that also remains true to its values. It's made in the United States, never tested on animals, and biodegradable. That company guarantees that the product will eliminate pet urine odor, and we can confirm that statement is true. In our lab testing, it effectively removed the odor from our pet urine stain, and the application process was a breeze.

Using this carpet stain remover is very straightforward. Shake the bottle, spray the cleaner on the stains, let it sit for 10 minutes, and blot away. To remove old stains or odors, completely saturate the messy area with the formula to penetrate the fibers, then allow the carpet to air-dry. This process took about two hours in the Lab, so if you're hoping to wipe up a set-in stain quickly, just know that it will take some time.

We noted that even though it took two applications to eliminate most of the fresh stains, this product is one we'd recommend to friends or family members. It worked well and left a pleasant, gentle scent behind.

Price at time of publishing: $14

_{Type: Spray | Amount: 27.05 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 11.25 x 3.25 x 3.25 inches | Weight: 2.05 pounds | Scent: Fresh scent}

Best Eco-Friendly

Biokleen Bac-Out Stain + Odor Remover Foaming Action Spray

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Scent
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Looking for a powerful stain remover that's eco-friendly? Biokleen Bac-Out Stain and Odor Remover is the way to go. This plant-based formula is unscented and biodegradable, and it earned an impressive overall rating in our testing. After only 10 minutes, it was able to lift up fresh and set-in wine stains, as well as pet urine. It took a few passes to remove the tough barbecue sauce and mud stains, but we were still impressed with its effectiveness.

We also found the spray nozzle on this product to be noteworthy. It's sturdy and makes it so easy to target the stain, unlike some of the more flimsy, leaky options we've tested. However, different nozzles sometimes ship when placing second or third orders. While you wait to receive your next delivery, hold onto your first bottle and its sprayer if it feels durable or particularly sturdy—just in case.

It's also worth noting that this enzymatic formula has never been tested on animals and is made in the U.S. We concluded that its lower price point makes it a good value, especially given its effectiveness.

Price at time of publishing: $11

_{Type: Spray | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: 2 pounds | Scent: Unscented}

Best for Pet Owners

The Spruce Stain & Odor Remover

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Scent
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

The Spruce Stain and Odor Remover, our brand's very own stain remover, delivered. In fact, it performed just as well as the rest of our top picks. The enzymatic formula was so effective at breaking up stains and odors we left in its path, and it left behind a gentle scent while doing so. If you're a pet owner, you might have heard of the wonders of enzymatic formulas, because they are usually best at thoroughly cleaning up pet accidents. That's because they break down the stain and odor at the source, so your pet won't have a repeat accident in the same spot.

We found that the product worked best when excess liquid was blotted up from the stain before application. After that, it quickly removed the pet urine stain and didn't leave any unpleasant odors behind. It took a couple applications to get up the red wine stain, and it struggled to remove gooey barbecue sauce and mud stains. However, a pet parent will appreciate that its standout performance was elimination of the pet urine stain and related odor in only eight minutes, which will make sprucing up your rugs a lot easier. The ingredients are plant-derived, so it's a particularly eco-friendly cleaning product as well.

Price at time of publishing: $12

_{Type: Spray | Amount: 17 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 11.38 x 4.29 x 2.68 inches | Weight: 1.06 pounds | Scent: Apple, neroli, and orchid}

Best for Upholstery

Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Odor Elimination
  5/5
• Scent
  3/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5

Rocco & Roxie Supply Co.'s Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator worked very well on area rugs during testing, but it really blew us away with its upholstery-cleaning power. The wine stain completely disappeared before our eyes, and this spray eliminated the other stains with only a tiny wipe-down. The waiting period for this disappearing act was longer than those of others on this list, at 36 minutes, but that's really the only downside to this product. It's a bit pricey, but it's worth splurging on, since it's very effective.

After it cleaned the stains off of our upholstery fabric, we checked to see whether it also eliminated the urine odor. We were happy to report that the odor was gone and only a light, clean scent was left behind—nothing too overpowering. It's not surprising that this product performed so well, since it's similar to our best overall pick. This one has a slightly longer waiting period, and it doesn't feature an oxygenated process that essentially lifts stains off your fabrics. Still, we'd trust it as a reliable upholstery cleaner in our homes.

Price at time of publishing: $20

_{Type: Spray | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 2 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Scent: Not listed}

Best for High-Traffic Areas

OxiClean Carpet & Area Rug Stain Remover

5

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Scent
  5/5
• Odor Elimination
  5/5

The power of OxiClean is real: This carpet stain remover uses oxygenation to get to the source of the stain and lift it away. We could actually see stains lift off of the carpeting after a few minutes. While it has a longer waiting period than others we've tested, at 21 minutes total, this product thoroughly lifted stains away and outperformed most of the other products in the lab, so it is definitely worth the wait.

OxiClean Carpet Stain Remover scored a perfect rating in all of our testing categories. It was highly effective at lifting stains, as well as eliminating odors from a pet urine stain. On top of that, it left a light, fresh, laundry-like scent behind, and is reasonably priced. With such a powerful stain remover on standby, you can use this with confidence in all of the high-traffic areas of your home—family rooms, hallways, bedrooms, and more.

Just keep in mind: This spray lifted the dried wine stain more quickly than the fresh wine stain in our testing. If someone spills a wine glass at your next book club get-together, brush it off and tend to the stain after your guests leave. You'll be a cool, calm, and collected host with a freshly revived carpet soon enough.

Price at time of publishing: $21 for two bottles

_{Type: Spray | Amount: 24 fluid ounces per bottle | Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 4 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Scent: Not listed}

Best for Odors

Nature's Miracle Advanced Cat Stain & Odor Eliminator Foam

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Scent
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

Nature's Miracle Advanced Stain and Odor Remover is marketed as a great cleaner for cat messes. If you've spent any time around a friendly feline, then you know that a cat urine smell is one of the most pungent smells around, and it's also extremely difficult to remove. So, if this odor remover can eliminate cat odors, it can pretty much eliminate any other kind. In our lab testing, the product proved to be up to the task.

Unlike some of the other cleaners we've tested, this one comes in an aerosol can and sprays out a stream of foam. We didn't love this application method and thought it was hard to target a specific area. However, once the foam was applied, we waited 15 minutes as instructed and wiped away stains fairly easily. The Nature's Miracle remover completely cleaned up fresh and set-in wine stains. And while it didn't totally lift all of the barbecue sauce and mud stains, it proved to be an effective odor eliminator.

Price at time of publishing: $12

_{Type: Foaming aerosol spray | Amount: 17.5 ounces | Dimensions: 9.45 x 2.6 x 2.48 inches | Weight: 1.34 pounds | Scent: Not listed}

Best for Fresh Stains

Carbona Oxy Powered 2-in-1 Carpet Cleaner

4.7

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Carbona Oxy Powered Carpet Cleaner has several key features that make it an excellent stain remover. First of all, it comes with a built-in scrubbing brush to help gently agitate the stain so the product can work quickly. Second, it's so easy to use because the brush activates the foam technology, so you don't have to deal with any messy foam application. But perhaps most importantly, this cleaner completely removed our fresh stains from the testing carpet in less than six minutes.

We were amazed at the quick results on both carpeting and upholstery stains, and we appreciated the built-in brush, but we did need to clean it often when removing the stickier stains (to prevent the mess from spreading around more). That takes away a little bit of the hands-free cleaning fun, but it's still an extremely helpful tool. While this formula worked well on fresh stains, it struggled a bit on the tougher, set-in stains, so this is a better option for quick cleanups around the house.

Price at time of publishing: $12

_{Type: Spray | Amount: 27.5 fluid ounces per bottle | Dimensions: 10.51 x 4.48 x 2.68 inches | Weight: 2.14 pounds per bottle | Scent: Not listed}