Instructions for using carpet shampoo will vary depending on the brand and method of application, so you should always read the instructions carefully before use. If in doubt, perform a small patch test on an inconspicuous area of carpet to assess results before committing to use on a larger area. It’s got two separate water tanks one for clean water and one for dirty water to ensure a more hygienic clean and it’s lightweight so you can move it around the house easily. The Bissell, our winner, trumpets its pet stain performance but the Rug Doctor, with its battle tank-like appearance, is the one you want for the nastiest stains. Our organic system is safe for babies, safe for pets, safe for allergy suffers and safe for all material including wool and natural carpet fibres. Key specs – Weight: 7.4kg; Cable length: 9m; Cleaning width: 32.5cm; Clean capacity: 3.5l; Hose: Yes; Heater: No; Warranty: 6 years

There is a suction gate where the tank attaches to the machine. If it appears dirty, remove it. You may need to use a screwdriver depending on your model. Rinse out the gate and allow to dry with the tank before reassembling. Carpets especially take a beating. And having them professionally cleaned or replacing them isn’t the most economical option. The Rug Doctor isn’t an especially light machine at around 8kg, but thankfully it comes with wheels and a pull-about handle for relatively easy mobility. Many owners have reported exceedingly good results when dealing with spot stains, and some users have found it a godsend at cleaning up after puppy accidents. The capacity is very large compared to other carpet cleaners. The clean water and solution capacity is 7 litres and waste is 8.5. That gives you a lot of area to clean before you need to empty or refill.

Key considerations

Stay off the rug until it’s dry. Keep your furniture in another room and avoid walking on your rug until it is thoroughly dry. It comes with a lot of handy accessories like a crevice tool, a long and short brush tool, upholstery head and a hardwood floor vacuum tool.

It does do one thing better than the Vax and that is cleaning to the edge of the carpet close to the wall.But for wool carpets, a good carpet shampooer will usually be the most effective. This involves spraying the carpet with hot water or a mixture of hot water and cleaning solutions and then extracting the dirty water or solution by wet vacuuming.” This is the type of cleaner we tested in this review. The brush on the nozzle head is good at fluffing the carpet to allow the steam to penetrate deep into the fibres. Not only to then suction up the debris it dislodged, but also to kill much of the bacteria lurking in your carpet. Stable when being pushed around loaded with liquid and not unduly heavy to lug up the stairs (pro tip: first remove the water tanks to lighten the load), the Bissell makes a compelling case for itself. For a domestic machine, it sets a superb standard for all-round carpet cleaning ability. Can be applied on all water and colour-fast surfaces made of natural and synthetic fibres. Always pretest carpet or surface to be treated in an inconspicuous area before proceeding. Cleaning instructions: