Our 4 Favorite Carpet Spot Cleaners for Stain Removal

Hip2Save may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you via trusted partners and affiliate links in this post. Prices and availability are accurate as of time posted. Read our full disclosure policy here.

can of foaming carpet cleaning scrubbing blue and cream floral area rug

We’ve got you covered!

Spills and accidents on carpets are inevitable. And while most carpet stains go beyond just the surface, with our favorite carpet spot cleaners for removing stains, you won’t need to fret about the small stuff!

Before you remove carpet stains:

Please note, with any carpet cleaners, it’s always wise to test a small, hidden area of your carpet to be sure that it does not discolor it in any way. Also, we recommend always using white clothes or plain white paper towels when cleaning stains to prevent color transfer to your beautiful carpet.


1. Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover

Folex instant carpet spot remover

Recommended for: Pet accidents, grease, ink, red wine, coffee, blood, rust, food, cosmetics, dirt, grime, and most old stains.

When Hip team member Angela shared her love for Folex, I knew this cleaner had to be at the top of our carpet cleaning list! The best part about this cleaner? There’s no rinsing or vacuuming!

before and after with folex rug stain remover

Take a look at Angela’s amazing paint spill results! This stuff is as close to magic as you can get. All you do is spray your stain a couple of times, rub it in with your fingers or a brush, then take a white rag or paper towel and blot until your stain is gone. It’s really that easy!

You can find Folex on Amazon for a pack of two, or, for just $7.99 more, you can scoop up a 4-pack of the same size bottles. As Angela said, a little goes a long way, so either way, you’ll definitely be getting your money’s worth!


2. Resolve Carpet Spot & Stain Remover

red spray bottle of resolve sitting on a metal shelf with black and cream rugs in background

Recommended for: Tomato sauce, salad dressing, dirty motor oil, vegetable oil, make-up, red wine, food grease, pet stains, coffee, mud, dirt, cola, tea, grass, fruit juice, and more!

Hip sidekick, Jamie, had me at “It smells amazing!” As long as a product works well, it’s always important to me that it smells great, too. And this carpet spot cleaner knocks both categories out of the park! Not only does it truly do a tremendous job cleaning carpet, but it’s rated the #1 carpet stain remover, based on Nielsen data. It’s even safe to use around kids and pets.

For best results, make sure to treat stains immediately, and cover the entire section where soiling occurs to avoid the appearance of rings. Then, simply wait about 30 seconds, blot, and rinse.


3. WD-40 Spot Shot Professional Instant Carpet Stain Remover

hand holding a bottle of spot shot carpet cleaner with red rug in background

Recommended for: Pet stains, greasy foods, motor oil, red wine, blood, grape juice, shoe polish, cola, mud, coffee, permanent marker, and lipstick stains.

There’s no rubbing, scrubbing, or vacuuming needed after spraying this cleaner on your carpet! Just one of the many reasons why my hip sidekick, Mary, loves using Spot Shot on her carpet stains. Not only does it safely clean carpets, but it also deodorizes them – and it even prevents stains from happening again!  

Here’s what Mary had to say about Spot Shot:

“We own a small dog who has anxiety peeing problems and often pees when new people come over, so we have to keep this stuff on hand. If she ever pees on the carpet, I usually blot the spot up first with a regular towel, then spray Spot Shot on it, wait a few minutes, and then blot it up with a clean white towel. I may repeat if there’s a lot. I have also used Spot Shot on lots of other stains, such as tough coffee spills, and it does a great job of getting out deep stains.

Also, maybe this is a little TMI, but I thought readers should know we used to own a beagle, and one time she got into mischief and ate the leftover food that was on my kids’ plates (it included broccoli…UGH!). Needless to say, she made a TERRIBLE mess everywhere in my daughter’s room the next morning. But Spot Shot saved the day again, and it literally worked wonders and removed all the yucky stains!”


4. Woolite Carpet & Upholstery Foam Cleaner

woolite carpet spot cleaner bottle sitting on a blue and cream colored floral rug

Recommended for: Deep down dirt, stains, and odors.

My Hip sidekick, Lina, loves using this cleaner in her home and has found it to be very effective for her dog’s mishaps on the carpet! Basically, anything Lina uses in her home I trust, because she’s our DIY queen!

hand holding a bottle of carpet cleaning foaming and scrubbing blue and cream rug

Worried about your colored carpet and rugs? Not to worry! This foaming cleaner comes with a built-in fabric-safe brush, making application and cleaning so easy. Plus, it works wonders on your upholstery, too.


If it’s time to replace your area rug, shop our favorites for every design style!


About the writer:

Sara is a self-taught blogger & photographer and brings 9+ years of experience to her craft. Her work has been featured in numerous esteemed publications, spanning building, travel, and fashion. Beyond her creative pursuits, Sara’s primary mission is to empower others to embrace a toxic-free & sustainable lifestyle.


Join The Discussion

Comments 0

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

It's not your Grandma's coupon site!

Sign up for a Hip2Save account (it's free) to access all of the awesome features!

Forgot Password?

Don't have an account? Register

Forgot Password

Don't have an account? Register

Become a Hip2Save Insider

Don't Miss Out! Join our large community of insiders - it's totally free! Once you join, you'll be able to save & share your favorite deals, rate posts and recipes and add items to your HipList and Cookbook! What are ya waiting for?!



Already have an account? Login

Thank you for rating!

Would you also like to leave us a comment?