For the longest of times, my image of staircases was gilded banisters and Cinderella. Until I got two kittens. There’s something romance-killing about getting gritty with stair-stain. And trying to tool up brings about a puzzling portfolio of machines.
There are no purpose-built stair carpet cleaners, so choose from the categories of general carpet cleaners. These differ by cleaning method, portability, functionality, size, market segment, and price. By considering the context of application, these categories provide a handy stair carpet cleaner.
We’ll look at the peculiar problem that stair carpets provide, how to prep them for cleaning, and how to navigate the types of machines to find one that fits the context in which you clean.
How To Find The Best Carpet Cleaner
Reading this guide is a good start. After you’ve got the hang of the process and technicalities of carpet cleaning and reviewed the models we introduce, you may:
- Head straight for the checkout.
- Browse similar models to the one that takes your fancy.
- Filter our list of picks for models that are available where you live.
- Dig a little deeper into the user reviews.
Either way, start with a clear understanding of how and to what end you want to use your carpet cleaner. This is the single biggest determinant of which machine to settle with.
Why Bother With Cleaning Stair Carpets?
They looked so lovely on installation. And if you squint the right way, your stairwell carpets still look great. Why not leave well alone?
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Why Clean?
Asking the obvious reveals that:
- Looks matter: Color-fastness of carpets is compromised by dust.
- Health matters: The concentration of carpet bacteria per square quickly surpasses that of a toilet seat.
The considerations point to the importance of picking a cleaner that roots out deeply ingrained dirt and leaves carpets looking good well after the moisture has dried.
Why Buy?
Hiring professional carpet cleaning services or renting equipment is an option in many cases. However, for stairs, professional cleaning equipment is generally unwieldy. Rental equipment tilts towards the professional end.
Most home users will find that consideration of frequency seal the case for buying your own carpet cleaner.
Why Focus On Stairs?
Stairs have the following challenges:
- They have small contiguous surface areas.
- Half of the surface area is vertical facing.
- They have many corners.
- They require equipment to be lifted up and down.
They place constraints on the sort of machine that is fit for purpose.
Carpet Cleaning Methods
Understanding the main carpet cleaning methods will help you understand the specifications of the machines you’re considering. These methods are differentiated by the physics of how they extract embedded dirt.
Method1: Shampooing
The oldest method, this is done by dispersing a shampoo solution over the area to be cleaned. The solution is brushed into the carpet, where its chemicals catalyze the breaking up of dirt.
A second water tank extracts the dirtied shampoo solution from the carpet.
The key problem in this method is the lack of an actual rinse cycle, which leaves unextracted shampoo in the carpet. This accrual of this over time dampens the base and spoils the carpet.
Method2: Hot Water Extraction
This works on the same principle as shampooing. The difference is that instead of friction (though vigorous brushing), heat is used to soften, denature and dislodge the embedded grime. An advantage is that the carpet fibers are less prone to damage through friction.
HWE is sometimes called “steam cleaning,” even though the steam is inoperative and incidental to the heat.
Method3: Dry Carpet Cleaning
This avoids water by targeting the oil in grime. It is this oil that makes the dirt bind, and dissolving it frees the embedded dirt to be vacuumed out of the carpet. After an initial dry vacuum, dry cleaning solution is applied to break down the oil. Thereafter cotton pads are attached to a rotor at the bottom of the carpet cleaner.
The rotational action lifts the oil-free dirt out of the carpet, binding with the detachable pads, which are disposed of after use.
Method4: Encapsulation
This takes dry cleaning a step further. A synthetic agent is applied to the surface area, acting on the oil and grime similar to shampoos and dry cleaning agents. The difference is that it dries to form a crystal powder. The crystals trap (“encapsulate”) the dislodged dirt, leaving a mass that can be vacuumed away.
Encapsulation is an environmentally friendly technology that saves water.
Method5: Bonnet Cleaning
Bonneting is a surface cleaning technique. It uses a padded machine – as in the last step of dry cleaning – but instead of preparing the area, the clean is done in a single step.
This works in areas like hotel lobbies where the frequency of carpet grooming means you can forego a deep clean. At the same time, the convenience of a single step limits cleaning time, making a high-traffic area inaccessible for the smallest possible period.
Before You Clean Stair Carpets
Application of the carpet cleaner is not your first step. Be sure to carry out the following preparatory procedures first.
Vacuum Cleaning
A preparatory sweep and vacuum remove dirt and particles that are not so deeply engrained and embedded that they need the technology of a special cleaning machine. Failure to do this risks driving surface dirt deeper during the clean and creating a bigger workload for the carpet cleaning machine.
Carpet Stain Removal
Discreet high-visibility stains like wine and animal waste should be treated in isolation before applying a general do-over. Precleaning these high-intensity smears increases the likelihood of an even finish.
Stain-removal agents (natural or synthetic) should be chosen to match the composition of the stain at hand.
Deep Cleaning Carpets
Be sure to deep clean your carpets on a regular basis. This will be punctuated with more frequent surface cleans. Failure to do the deep clean will leave an accumulating residue of embedded grime. Over time this will foil the efforts of your maintenance cleans.
Types of Carpet Cleaner
We consider the various types of carpet cleaner. Machines are marketed on this basis, and understanding what each category attempts to do is helpful in getting to grips with the design of specific carpet cleaners.
Stairwell Carpet Cleaners
These don’t exist. What remains is to consider a cleaner from one of the remaining types. Ask yourself these questions:
- What proportion of my carpet is on the stairs?
- In the light of 1. should I get a dedicated stair cleaner or one cleaner for all the carpet?
- How small are the spaces to be cleaned? Are there carpeted areas in the nooks around the stairwell?
- Do the stairs attract or exclude certain traffic (e.g., kids and pets)?
- How tall are the stairs? This has implications for the maneuverability of the machine sought.
- How frequently does the stairwell need cleaning? This has implications for the type of machine chosen.
These contextual questions are key to making the correct decision.
Domestic Carpet Cleaners
Carpet cleaners built for the home are small and compact. This ensures that they can access small places and be stored in home-sized storage spaces. They are maneuverable and can be operated with minimal exertion of energy and no requirement of professional skill.
These machines are lightweight and inexpensive. The tradeoff for all these plusses is that the machines are less powerful than their commercial equivalent, and the area to be cleaned may require preparation.
Commercial Carpet Cleaners
Commercial carpet cleaners target areas with more foot traffic. This would include schools, offices, waiting rooms, and reception areas. These machines are more robust than their domestic peers as they provide deeper cleaning. This deeper cleaning is needed for the volume of dirt that builds with the heavy use.
They are more durable and capable of professionally finished cleans. Their deep cleaning power targets deeply embedded grime, requiring less preparation than their domestic equivalents.
Industrial Carpet Cleaners
This is the most specialized class of carpet cleaners. They are designed for use by professional carpet cleaners, whose requirements include:
- Long duration: As they serve several clients, the machines need to be in use every day for hours at a time.
- Efficiency: The machines must remove large amounts of deeply compacted grime in a short space with little to no.
- Professional capacity: Their owners have ample storage space and dedicated employees. There is no requirement to build compactness or ease-of-use in the design.
These machines are more expensive than the other two classes but indispensable for professional cleaners.
We Rank The Best Carpet Cleaners For Stairs
It’s time to list our pick of the best carpet cleaners for stairs. This selection has been based on functional considerations and user reviews. Per category, the winners are:
Best Stairwell Carpet Cleaners
This is the category that most closely resembles what a carpet cleaner would look like if it were specifically designed for cleaning stairs.
Winner
Rug Doctor Spot Portable Cylinder Carpet Cleaner
Available from Amazon here, it is designed as a spot cleaner, this portable machine glides around the tight areas on stairs. It features a motorized hand tool backed by a powerful 1100 air watts. This delivers suction pressure twice that found in comparable models.
The 1.9l water tank covers a standard domestic stairwell, and the 15lb mass makes it easy to lift all the way to the top.
Runner-Up
Bissell has designed a compact machine with specialized nozzles for reaching into crevices. The 6in stain tool is designed to work around the contours of steps. The 3in stain tool reaches especially tight areas. A 22ft cord allows access to the stairway extreme away from plug points.
You can find it on Amazon here.
Best All-Round Carpet Cleaner
We’ll start with those whole-home carpet cleaners that are equipped to hand stairs without sacrificing any aspect of overall awesomeness.
Winner
Karcher SE4001 Spray extraction cleaner
This machine blends a bit of the best of all worlds. It’s not a budget-blower, is luggable, and looks good in a home. The spray cleaner is optimized for deep penetration into textile fibers.
Its cutting-edge nozzle technology halves the drying time. At 4l, the tank is prepped for a heavy workload. The 3-in-1 handle makes it handleable around tight areas.
Check it out on Amazon here.
Runner-Up
Vax Platinum Power Max
This has a bunch of features, notably a cleaning head that boasts five times the effectiveness of professional machines and a 93% bacteria extraction rate. The stretch hose is designed to leave the machine on the ground level while the cleaner travels all the way up a domestic staircase.
Best Portable Carpet Cleaner
Portability is a good proxy for stair cleaning prowess. Portable machines are easier to lift all the way to the top, and their small size gives them reach.
Winner
This one has a 0.5gal clean water tank and a 0.4gal dirty tank. This gives it the capacity for extended work. The wide nozzle cleans faster, and the roll brush loosens entrenched particles.
The 700W motor is powerful for a small machine. The side brushes and vibrating brush technology lever the power to dislodge niggly dirt. All these features are elegantly compacted for a carriable tool.
Runner-Up
Proprietary Heatwave technology regulates the temperature in this machine optimized for stain removal. The ProHeat is handheld and packs deep cleaning into a portable, handheld machine.
The Stair Tool and SelfCleaning Tool provide convenience, backed by the special grime-formulation of Bissel’s OXY cleaner.
You can find it on Amazon here.
Best Pet-Slough Carpet Cleaner
The best pet-owner devices target the smudges and hair-shed that come with having an otherwise lovable companion. If Fido takes his trail all the way to the stair top, look out for:
Winner
Bissell Little Green® Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner
This is Bissel’s most powerful pet stain remover. Using cleaning solutions specially formulated to tackle animal grime, this machine is designed to effect vigorous scrubbing and high-pressure suction.
The Pet Pro is compactly designed, specifically to facilitate access to hard-to-reach areas that pets access without breaking a sweat. At 13lb, it is easy to lift all the way up.
It’s available on Amazon here.
Runner-Up
Compactness and stain-busting power have been married to provide an efficient tool for quick deployment. It would not be a go-to for general stair maintenance, but when it comes to removing deep stains at any angle, the PowerDash is excellently designed.
Check it out on Amazon here.
Best Premier Carpet Cleaner
When you need the best possible treatment for your carpet stairs, top-end machines become an option. These machines give the best performance that can be hauled up and downstairs.
Winner
The CrossWave packs a bunch of premium features. Improved edge cleaning is designed to target pet hair that accumulates in corners and the folds of stairs. Bagless technology Saves time and component replacement costs. The self-cleaning cycle minimizes the need for after-use cleaning.
The half-hour cordless usage allows lifting high up the staircase, away from wall plugs. Sleek design makes what would have been a monster relatively portable.
You can find it on Amazon here.
Runner-Up
This automatic machine simplifies the cleaning process. Forward strokes for cleaning, backward strokes for drying. Even mixing of the cleaning medium is precisely automated.
Manual operation is kept to a bare minimum allowing focus on navigating the many edges of the stair. The teal/transparent finish makes for a good looker.
Check it out on Amazon here.
Best Budget Carpet Cleaner
Cost is a critical component, especially if your carpeted area is small; in that case, there’s no need to spend on high performance.
Winner
Russell Hobbs RHCC5001
This cleaner has a 9.5in jet spray, which leaves no edges and crannies unsprayed. It is a competent destainer with an easily detachable, reasonably sized water unit.
This cost-effective cleaner is lightweight with an eight yd power chord, making it easy to lug up long stairways. It rates highly for ease of use and design.
Runner-Up
Marketed as a pet cleaner, we find this is good as an overall stair cleaner. Its sleek light design equips it for the stairwell. The DeepReach power brush gives deep cleaning action associated with more expensive models, and its simple design makes disassembly and storage easy.
Check it out on Amazon here.
Conclusion
The bewildering array of choices is manageable when you take cognizance of your stair-cleaning context. This narrows the set of options, and what’s left is a matter of taste. Which makes for fun shopping – and less schleppy stair cleaning.