
While trying to figure out how to do the best auto detailing job at home, you want to make sure you have the correct tools. Not only are some better than others, but some are made for specific jobs. The most important thing is that you get the best products to get the job done.
Auto detailing might seem like it’s a hard job and a lot of work, but having the correct tools makes a world of difference. It’s surely going to be a lot easier to do the job if you have actual detailing tools than it would be if you had to hand scrub or wash surfaces.
This is where some confusion sets in. There are so many options on the market and it can be hard to figure out which features are better and what you need.
With that being the case, we’ve put together a list of 15 of the best auto detailing heated carpet extractor products on the market, as well as a buying guide and some answers to customer’s frequently asked questions.
The main goal of this article is to help you find the best product and be able to easily detail your vehicle and make it beautiful again!
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Quick View: Best Auto Detailing Heated Carpet Extractor Reviews
Product | Brand | Type | Weight | Price |
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BISSELL SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot Carpet Cleaner | BISSELL | Cleaner | 2.31 pounds | Check on Amazon |
BISSELL SpotClean Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner, 2458 | BISSELL | Cleaner | 13.2 pounds | Check on Amazon |
ProdBissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner Machine | BISSELL | Cleaner | 48 pounds | Check on Amazon |
ProdMcCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Cleaneruct 4 | McCulloch | Cleaner | 12 pounds | Check on Amazon |
Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner | Hoover | Cleaner | 12.5 pounds | Check on Amazon |
McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe Canister Steam System | McCulloch | Cleaner | 13 pounds | Check on Amazon |
McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam System | McCulloch | Cleaner | 10.78 pounds | Check on Amazon |
Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner Vacuum | Rug Doctor | Cleaner | 19.8 pounds | Check on Amazon |
BISSELL Little Green ProHeat Portable Cleaner | BISSELL | Cleaner | 13.37 pounds | Check on Amazon |
Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner, Large and Portable, Red | Rug Doctor | Cleaner | 24 pounds | Check on Amazon |
Walk Behind Carpet Extractor, 120V, 26 psi | BISSELL | Cleaner | 42 pounds | Check on Amazon |
Bissell SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot Cleaner | BISSELL | Cleaner | 8.5 pounds | Check on Amazon |
Wagner Spraytech Wagner 0282014 915 On-demand | Wagner | Cleaner | 13.8 pounds | Check on Amazon |
BISSELL SpotClean Portable Carpet Cleaner, 5207A | BISSELL | Cleaner | 13 pounds | Check on Amazon |
Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner | Bissell | Cleaner | 13.2 pounds | Check on Amazon |
Best Auto Detailing Heated Carpet Extractor Reviews
1. BISSELL SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot Carpet Cleaner
If you’re looking for something that does the job, then this is a great option. While it’s not great for constant detailing, it does the job if you’re only using it a few times a year. The price isn’t as high as others, but it still does a pretty decent job.
While it does a good job at removing most stains, ones that are older or heavier can be quite difficult to remove. It doesn’t help that the water doesn’t stay hot because it needs heat to break everything up. Thankfully, it’s easy to transport and can be put together easily and without too many issues.
One great feature is that it has a self-cleaning tool, which makes it so you can get everything clean in just a matter of minutes without having to do a lot of rinsing or scrubbing. The tanks are also removable and easily drained or refilled.
The fact that it’s so lightweight and compact also means you can store it in pretty much any area. Depending on what kind of job you’re trying to do, if you use one of the best auto detailing polishers on the market, you can give your car a little extra cleanliness and shine.
Pros
- It’s easy to cleanout
- The tanks are easy to refill
- It’s quite small and portable
- It cleans relatively well
Cons
- The water doesn’t stay hot while using it
- The small handle makes portability less convenient
2. BISSELL SpotClean Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner, 2458
With the larger brush head, this machine does a pretty good job of cleaning most stains, even if they are old or heavy. Keep in mind, the bristles don’t spin, so you’ll have to put a little elbow grease into stains that are more stubborn.
It can even clean up pet stains, which is great if you’re always on the go with 1 or more animals. The tanks are a larger capacity, which means you’ll have to drain and refill everything fewer times than you would if it had smaller ones.
With a 22 foot cord and long hose, you should be able to clean even the hardest to reach spots in your car. It has a decent amount of suction, which means you’ll have less leftover water that can lead to things like mold. While it doesn’t have wheels, it does have a flat bottom that lets you set it on pretty much any straight surface. You can easily store it because it’s lightweight and compact.
Pros
- It’s very easy to use
- It’s easy to transport
- The tanks are easy to clean
- It works relatively well for all kinds of stains
Cons
- The clean water tank tends to leak a little bit
- The water doesn’t stay hot all the time
3. Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner Machine, 86T3
If you’re looking for something that can let you clean to a professional degree, then this machine is for you. Not only can it clean the interiors of vehicles, but it can be used for cleaning larger areas as well. One thing to keep in mind is that it’s really not compact and weighs quite a bit. This means it might be a little on the hard side to actually store and transport.
Even with that though, it’s great for those who need to use it multiple times a day or in situations where they need to remove very stubborn and heavy stains.
Not only can you clean the area when you push the machine forward, but it also cleans while you’re pulling it back. This means it requires fewer passes to get everything clean. The tanks are also quite large, so you’ll have to replace the contents less.
Besides, it has a hose with a decent brush that can easily get up most stains and you won’t have to worry about excess water because it has a ton of suction power.
Pros
- It’s great for professional detailing.
- It has a relatively long cord.
- It’s very durable and high quality.
- You’ll have to refill it less than others.
Cons
- The recovery tank isn’t clear so it’s hard to see.
- It’s a little on the heavy side.
4. McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Cleaner
If you’re looking for one of the best auto detailing steamers, then this is a great option. It’s great for professional jobs that require a lot of heavy-duty cleaning. If you decide you want to read some of the reviews, you’ll quickly see that people absolutely love this machine.
It has so many tools and while it can be hard to find the right one for the job, you’ll soon see that you can easily clean pretty much anything, especially stains and debris that are heavy or old.
In terms of cleaning the machine, you can easily do so by using water and soap instead of some harsh chemicals. Since it uses hot steam and pressure, you can get some of the most stubborn stains up, such as oil and grease. The water tank holds around 48 ounces and only takes about 8 minutes to heat up.
Once the water gets heated, you’ll have about 45 minutes before it cools down again. It’s an added bonus that it’s super lightweight and compact, so you can carry and store it pretty much anywhere.
Pros
- It cleans extremely well.
- It can easily clean hard to reach issues.
- They have fantastic customer service.
- It only weighs about 3 pounds
Cons
- It doesn’t meet power standards in areas other than the U.S.
- Since it has so many accessories, it can be hard to choose the best one for the job.
5. Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner
In addition to being quite affordable, this machine has a powerful brush on the bottom to get up most stains and dirt on your carpets and upholstery. It also has a feature that heats the carpets as your sucking up the water, which leads to less drying time. This is also a result of the powerful suction getting the majority of the water out.
Not only is it very easy to use, but the machines are relatively lightweight and made in a way that you can easily store it in many different places.
While it can get most stains and dirt up, you want to make sure you vacuum the area before using it so you don’t clog up the machine. After use, make sure you use soap and water to clean out any leftover dirt or debris that’s left inside. If possible, let it dry completely before putting it back together and storing it.
Pros
- It picks up a lot of debris and dirt.
- It’s relatively light-weight.
- The included soap is very powerful.
- It’s easy to use.
Cons
- The brush is very hard and harsh.
- It tends to have some leaking.
6. McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe Canister Steam System
While this isn’t that lightweight, it’s a great machine for detailing your car. Not only does the steam loosen up all kinds of dirt and grime, but you can easily wipe it away with a microfiber cloth.
In addition, you don’t have to use any harsh chemicals to make it work. The tank holds 64 ounces and heats up in about 12 minutes. Once it’s heated, you’ll have about 120 minutes of use before the water cools down and needs to be reheated.
With 23 different accessories, you’ll be able to get pretty much any area of your vehicle, including those areas that are super hard to get to. The cord itself is 18 feet long and has a built-in area for wrapping and storing the cord. This is great because you can make it reach anywhere and store everything in their respective places.
Pros
- It cleans quickly and easily.
- The steam function does an amazing job.
- It can get into most nooks and crannies.
- It holds about 64 ounces of water.
Cons
- The company can’t get replacement parts for this machine.
- It can only be replaced within the year you bought it.
7. McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam System
The brush on this machine has 58psi of pressure, which should easily loosen up and blast away most kinds of dirt and grime. You also don’t have to worry about using any type of harsh chemicals because this steamer can use straight water that’s heated to high temperatures.
In fact, it only takes about 12 minutes for the water to heat up and you’ll be able to use it for around 90 minutes before having to reheat the water. With a 48 ounce water tank, you’ll be able to go longer periods between refills.
It comes with 20 different tools, which means you should be able to clean most nooks and crannies without too much trouble. Add that to the fact that it has an 18 foot power cord, and you’ll see how easy it is to navigate to all areas of your vehicle.
Pros
- It can easily loosen up most types of dirt and grime.
- It’s lightweight.
- It has wheels that make it easy to pull it around.
- It’s very easy to use.
Cons
- It doesn’t have the best storage bag for different tools.
- It has to keep building pressure back up, which makes things go a little slow.
8. Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner Vacuum
This particular Rug Doctor is one of the best from the brand. It’s small enough to easily transport but has enough power to get out most stains from your carpet or upholstery. Throw in the fact that it costs quite a bit less than other options, and you have a pretty decent extractor.
One thing to keep in mind is that it isn’t really that great for bigger jobs or constant use. In fact, you should only use it about 6 or 7 times per year. The wheels on the machine are retractable, which means you can put them away if you want to keep it in one spot. It’s also very easy to store and doesn’t take up much space at all.
The cord itself is 15 feet and the brush is 4.5 inches, which means you’ll be able to clean most hard to reach spots and a good portion of the carpet or upholstery at one time. While the bottom of the tanks aren’t flat, they can be removed and easily dumped or refilled. You’ll have to make sure they don’t spill, but the draining and refilling can be done in a matter of minutes.
Pros
- It’s quite affordable.
- The tanks are easily removed.
- It’s extremely easy to transport and store.
- It cleans relatively well.
Cons
- The top of the tank has an open hole.
- It’s not great for bigger jobs.
9. BISSELL Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
In addition to being very lightweight and portable, you can also easily store this machine in almost any spot. It also has a spray function that covers a large area at once, as well as powerful suction to help suck up any excess water. It also has a built-in heating element that will help keep your water hotter for longer periods.
The fact that it has separate tanks for cleaning solution and dirty water means you won’t have to worry about losing any solution when you go to empty the dirty water. With a 48 ounce capacity, you shouldn’t have to refill the tank for longer periods of time.
This machine also has a flexible hose, sturdy brush for stains, and a tool to get into crevices. This means you’ll be able to get up the toughest stains, as well as getting into hard to reach spots.
Pros
- It’s very lightweight and portable.
- It has a lot of suction power.
- It has decent sized tanks.
- It sprays a decent amount of space at one time.
Cons
- The tank has an awkward shape, which makes it hard to fill.
- The recovery tank tends to leak dirty water.
10. Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner, Large and Portable, Red
In addition to being one of the best machines for auto detailing on the market, this Rug Doctor is very portable and easy to transport. Since it’s bigger than other options, it does a fantastic job of cleaning up heavy and stubborn stains.
While it doesn’t spray out the hot water, it does have a rotating brush and a powerful amount of suction. When looking at this compared to other cleaners, it’s important to know that you’ll probably have to go over areas more than once in order to get them completely clean.
Another awesome feature is that the hose is long enough to reach most spots in your vehicle without having to actually put the machine in your car. In fact, you should be able to get most spots without even having to move it too much.
Since it comes with wheels, it’s easy to push it wherever you need it, including when you’re done with it. Finally, the tank has a wide mouth, which means you can easily pour out the dirty water and refill it with clean in no time.
Pros
- It’s great for heavy cleaning,
- It’s CRI gold certified.
- It’s easy to transport and store.
- It doesn’t take as long for carpets to dry.
Cons
- It doesn’t spray out hot water.
- The front doesn’t come off, so it’s very hard to clean.
11. Walk Behind Carpet Extractor, 120V, 26 psi
This machine is fantastic for those that need a powerful product that can knockout big jobs quickly. In addition to easily cleaning your car interior and upholstery, you can also use it for bigger jobs. While it’s not the best auto detailing pressure washer out there, you can also use it on the outside of your vehicle to blast off any dirt or debris.
One thing to keep in mind is that it isn’t compact or lightweight, so you might have some issues transporting or storing it.
You can actually save a lot of time with this product because it cleans when you push it both forward and backward. This results in needing to do fewer passes to get the stains up. The capacity tanks are quite big, which results in less draining and refilling.
Not only is the suction strong enough to get most of the excess water, but it’s also powerful enough to remove most stains, especially ones that are heavy or stubborn.
Pros
- It’s great for heavy duty cleaning.
- It has a long power cord.
- It’s very high quality and durable.
- You don’t have to fill the tanks as often as others
Cons
- It doesn’t have a clear recovery tank.
- It’s not easily transported.
12. Bissell SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot Cleaner
One of the great things about this product is that it has a built-in technology that helps keep the water at the same temperature the whole time you’re using it. This is great because hot water tends to break down and loosen dirt better than colder water.
Moreover, it comes with a tool that’s great for getting out stubborn stains, as well as reaching those hard to reach areas. While the cord is only around 4.5 feet long, it’s relatively easy to reach the majority of the areas in your vehicle.
The recovery tank for the dirty water has a capacity of 37 ounces, so you should be able to clean a good area before you have to dump and refill it. Both tanks have a flat surface, which makes it so much easier to refill. You can set it on a level surface and not have to worry about needing to hold it or keeping it from spilling.
Pros
- It’s very easy to use.
- It’s great for taking out most stains.
- It’s easy to transport and store.
- It has a decent amount of suction.
Cons
- It tends to leak after a short time.
- It can be hard to get any dirt or debris that’s stuck inside.
13. Wagner Spraytech Wagner 0282014 915 On-demand
With this machine, you don’t have to use any kind of harsh chemicals. In fact, all you have to do is add distilled water to the tank and you’re ready to go. It also has plenty of attachments, so you’ll be able to get pretty much any area of your car without too much hassle.
One thing to keep in mind is that the power cord isn’t very long, but it shouldn’t have too much impact on car detailing.
Another thing to remember is that the water gets up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which means you want to make sure you are being careful and not getting burnt.
It holds around 48 ounces of water and you should be able to run the machine for around 45 minutes before needing to refill. Keep in mind, if you have to use a lot of water on one area, that time will go down.
Pros
- The large wheels make transport relatively easy.
- It keeps your water nice and hot.
- It has a decent amount of suction.
- It does great at getting rid of tough and stubborn stains.
Cons
- The cord is shorter than other options.
- It takes a while to actually warm-up.
14. BISSELL SpotClean Portable Carpet Cleaner, 5207A
With HeatWave Technology, the BISSELL SpotClean Portable Carpet Cleaner makes it so your water stays hot the entire time you’re running the machine. It also has a 3-inch cleaning tool that makes it very easy to break up stains and dirt spots.
This tool is also great for reaching hard to reach areas that most tools can’t quite get. Another attachment it has is the deep reach tool, which helps break up stubborn stains starting with the bottom layer.
Both water tanks can be easily removed and they have a flat bottom for easy refilling. As long as you set them on a flat surface, you won’t have to worry about them spilling. The machine itself is built to be small, lightweight and portable. Not only does this make it easy to transport, but you’ll be able to easily store it in many different spots.
Pros
- It doesn’t over-saturate the fabric.
- It does a great job of sucking up excess water.
- It does a fantastic job in smaller areas.
- It really breaks up dirt and grime.
Cons
- The hose can easily break after a few uses.
- It tends to form leaks after a while.
15. Bissell 3624 SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner – Corded
The last best auto detailing vacuum on this list is the Bissell 3624 SpotClean. While it only has a 5.7 amp motor, it does a great job of getting rid of pretty much any stain that gets stuck in your car.
In addition to cleaning the carpet, it also does a great job of getting your upholstery nice and clean. The cleaning solution that sprays out is warm enough to easily and quickly break down any dirt or stains and it has enough suction power to get rid of the majority of the water.
The recovery tank has an easy to remove the lid that lets you pour the dirty right out, while the solution tank has a flat bottom that lets you put it on any flat surface. The brush is manual but does a better job than a rotating one because you have more control over what you’re scrubbing.
Add that to the fact that the hose is 22 inches long, and you’ll see that it’s one of the best auto detailing kits out there.
Pros
- It sucks up a decent amount of water.
- It can clean many types of stains.
- It’s easy and quick to refill.
- It can be easily transported for use.
Cons
- Wrapping up the cord for storage could cause breakage.
- Dirt and debris can get easily stuck in small places inside the hose and tank
Best Auto Detailing Heated Carpet Extractor Buying Guide

With so many options, it’s important to know what to look for when you’re considering different products to purchase. There are quite a few important features, so knowing how to find the best ones are essential. We’ve put together a little buying guide to help you know what you should look for.
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Cleaning Performance
One of the most important things about these products is how well they clean. You don’t want to spend a bunch of money on the vacuum and cleaning supplies only to find out that it does a horrible job. The whole point of doing detailing at home is to save some money while making your car look like it did when it was new. To ensure you don’t run into any problems, the best thing to do is make sure the extractor can pick up every kind of dirt and debris.
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Size/Weight
Depending on where you’ll be storing the vacuum after use, you want to make sure it’s small enough to fit in the space. This is especially true if you don’t have a lot of extra room. In terms of weight, you want to make sure you can pick it up in order to clean and refill the tanks. While wheels can help alleviate the weight, you still need to make sure it can be easily picked up and transported.
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Power of Vacuum
Some people automatically assume that a vacuum with more power does a better job. When looking at other jobs, this is true, but with car detailing, even the lowest setting can get things clean. There isn’t enough of a difference to really matter, so getting something with the lowest power should still get the job done.
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Pressure of Pump
In order to ensure that all of the water and cleaner is sucked up, you want to look at the pressure of the pump. A higher pressure means that more water and solution will get sucked up, while a lower pressure could result in excess water being stuck in your car carpets. This can lead to all kinds of things, like mold, so making sure you can get as much of the extra water out is essential.
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Tank Capacity
Most detailing extractors have 2 tanks: the recovery tank and the solution tank. The solution tank holds the cleaning solution and the recovery tank is where the dirty water goes. You want to make sure both tanks are big enough to hold a decent amount of water so you don’t have to be constantly dumping and refilling. Even if it has a good capacity, a deep clean will require multiple refills on the cleaning solution and multiple dumps on the recovery water.
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Power Type
These products usually have 2 options: corded or cordless. If you plan on only using it for spot cleaning while you’re out and about, you could get away with a cordless version. On the other hand, doing a full clean at home will get better results if you can plug the product in. Keep in mind, cordless options need to be charged after every use in order to ensure they are fully charged each time you use it.
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Heating Options
Some deep stains require various types and temperatures of heat to get them out. This is why it’s always good to have that option on your detailing extractor. Even if you don’t always use it, it’s nice to have it on hand if there happens to be a stubborn stain. Not only will it help you get it up easier, but you also won’t have to tire yourself out by doing a lot of excessive scrubbing.
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Length/Feel of Hose
Not only do you want to get a hose that’s long enough to reach most spots, but you also want to make sure it’s flexible instead of rigid. These things together will make cleaning a lot easier and lessen the chances of you having to fight to get those hard to reach spots.
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Wheel Options
You’ll also want to consider wheel options. Some of the products don’t have any wheels, while others have stationary or moving ones. If you don’t mind carrying and moving the vacuum everywhere, then you can do without wheels. On the other hand, having them means you can pull the product around your car without having to stop doing the cleaning.
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Ease of Cleaning
No matter how often you clean your vehicle, there’s going to be some dirt and debris that gets picked up. When this happens, it all gets sucked back into the vacuum. Since that’s the case, you want to make sure the product you choose is easy to clean, because the last thing you want is a bunch of dirt and debris drying up in the tank.
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Tips to Buy Auto Detailing Carpet Extractor with Using Technique
FAQ About Auto Detailing Heated Carpet Extractor
As always, there’s going to be some questions that are asked by customers. While there are some that are less common, we’re going to focus on some that the majority of people are wondering. If these don’t answer all of your questions, make sure you do more research and try and find the answer before jumping into a buy.
Answer: It’s really going to depend on your location, chosen shop, vehicle size and the exact services you want. With that said though, you could end up paying anywhere between $50 to a few hundred dollars. With this being the case, make sure you shop around and see what different packages and prices are available in order to get the most for your money.
Answer: The easiest way to find this product is by either going into a store and asking or doing a quick online search. Both options should give you a wide range of results. Keep in mind, if you aren’t really sure what exactly you’re looking for, it might be a good idea to go into an actual store so they can explain the different products to you and help you find the best one for your needs.
Answer: Auto detailing soap can easily be found in most auto parts stores or online. If you buy at an auto parts store, you should be able to choose from multiple different options and they should be able to thoroughly explain everything to you. By purchasing online, you’ll be able to read real reviews and find out exactly what’s good and bad about the products.
Answer: While you can find these in a mass merchandiser, you’ll probably have better luck finding them at an actual car parts store. In addition to having many options, they’ll have specialized knowledge of the brushes and how they work. Mass merchandisers, on the other hand, aren’t really trained in specifics, so they won’t know as many details.
Answer: The main way you’ll know is by reading the reviews and talking to people who have actually used it. Make sure you’re only considering reviews where people haven’t been paid to postpositively. Real reviews will give you the nitty-gritty details and really let you know how the product works.
Conclusion:
Now that we’ve checked out some of the best auto detailing products, you should have a better understanding of what your exact needs are and what features will benefit you the most. Remember, just because a product isn’t as expensive or as fancy as others, it doesn’t mean it won’t do a great job or make things easier.
Just continue to do your research and make sure you’re paying attention to all of the little details. If need be, read some customer reviews to see how well they actually work. It might take a little while to figure everything out, but you should be able to find the best auto detailing heated carpet extractor product for your needs and wants.
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