Carpet cleanings

How we test carpet spot stain removers

Spilling red wine and gravy on rugs and upholstery in the name of science.
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Last updated: 15 Dec 2025

These compact cleaners are a good alternative to carpet shampooers, especially for smaller homes. Instead of scrubbing a whole room, they’re designed to suck small to medium-sized stains out of carpet and upholstery.

Our experts scrub coffee, soy sauce, red wine and more out of fabric for weeks at a time, to find out whether spot stain removers live up to their cleaning claims.

How we choose which spot stain removers to test

Spot stain removers are a relatively new product, so we aim to test popular models from well-known brands with a strong market presence. Our market researchers find out what the most popular brands are on the market. They’ll survey manufacturers about their latest products, and ask them whether they’ll stick around beyond publication time.

How we test spot stain removers

Performance is assessed by removing wet and dry stains from strips of upholstery. Wet stains are removed immediately while dry stains are left to absorb and dry before cleaning. Tests are conducted on the front and back of each strip.

For each stain the percentage cleaned is calculated by comparing the reflectivity of the cleaned stain with the reflectivity of the unstained fabric and the reflectivity of the stained fabric. The closer the cleaned fabric is to the original uncleaned fabric the greater the percentage cleaned.

Fluids used for testing are:

  • Coffee
  • Gravy
  • Red wine
  • Soy sauce

Ease of use

We look at setup, cleaning and storage. This includes assembling the stain removers, attaching and swapping the heads and filling the tanks.

Our experts consider how easy it is to use the cleaning wand while removing stains during the performance test. We look for models that feel light weight and easy to move around, with a precise, consistent water spray. Hose and power cable length factor in as well.

The storage test includes emptying dirty water from the tanks and stowing the hose and power cable. We check for extra storage features such as stowage for additional brush heads.

Read more:
How to get stains out of carpets

Noise test

Measured at the operator’s ear level. Some models in our test are loud enough to cause hearing damage when used for extended periods, so hearing protection is recommended.

Safety tests

This is a general electrical safety and insulation assessment to ensure each product meets the requirements to be sold in Australia.

Test criteria explained

The CHOICE Expert Rating for spot stain removers is made up of:

  • Performance: 70%
  • Ease of use: 30%

Performance scores are an average of all four wet and dry stain removal tests for each product.

Our test lab

Our labs are up-to-date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools to ensure you get the right results. The reflection of each stain is measured before and after cleaning using a spectrophotometer.

Peter Zaluzny web
Peter Zaluzny

Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses. Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they’re considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions. Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong.

Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses. Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they’re considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions. Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong.