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A spot cleaner is usually a actual sport changer in terms of lounges, carpets and different areas of the home. But costs and high quality can range wildly, so I used to be eager to place three widespread choices to the take a look at: the Bissell SpotClean, Kmart’s “dupe” Anko Spot Cleaner (additionally offered at Target), and the Shark StainStriker.
Let me begin by divulging this very important data: I’ve a pet and a husband. He’s a tradie (the latter, clearly) that means he comes house in dust-ridden garments and settles on our couch in them, often arriving earlier than I’m there to inform him to not. Sometimes, he even rolls round on it with the aforementioned pet, who can also be responsible of bringing the odd goat horn, bully stick or leaf pile up there with him. Yes, all on our stunning, pretty costly, mild greige couch.
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It not too long ago got here to my consideration that after a lot pet/husband exercise, our couch was not so stunning, and even so light-greige anymore. Admittedly, I’m responsible of the occasional Sunday evening meal on the couch in entrance of the TV – a forbidden pleasure by no means permitted to me as a toddler – so maybe the 2 boys in my family aren’t solely accountable. Alas, I’ve been trying forlornly at our couch and all of its dust spots for a lot of months now and questioning what may be accomplished.
Enter the carpet and fabric spot cleanr; a magical device that concurrently soap-washes your materials whereas sucking up all of the gross stuff. Keep scrolling to learn my overview on these viral spot cleaners.
Best spot cleaner roundup
In the Australian market, there are three entrance runners: the Bissell Spot Clean, Shark StainStriker, and the (viral) Anko — Kmart and Target — spot cleaner. In what was some type of divine intervention, I used to be lent all three to place to the take a look at and, apart from getting a really clear couch on the finish, right here’s my overview of the way it all went down (in addition to a bit about every spot cleaner).
The Bissell SpotClean
Bissell has lengthy been making and perfecting their vary of upholstery, carpet, and spot cleaners, with designs focusing on pets, vehicles, and all-round jobs. For this overview, we’re referring to what’s in all probability their hottest mannequin: the Bissell SpotClean carpet cleaner.
It retails for $269 and comes with numerous instruments, brushes, and sample-size formulation. It’s designed to be completely moveable – sufficient to slot in and be manoeuvred round a automobile – and precisely the proper dimensions to sit down on a (carpeted) stair tread.
Weight: 3.86kg
Size: 36.8cm H x 30cm W x 17cm D
Colour: Grapevine Purple
Key options:
- 4.5-metre wire
- 1.1L tank capability
- Hydro-Rinse self-cleaning hose
- Heatwave Technology maintains a constant water temperature
- 2-year producer’s guarantee
Also out there at:
Update: Since scripting this overview, Bissell has launched a more moderen model of the SpotClean, which is promoting for $349 at Amazon
The Anko Kmart spot cleaner
A less expensive various, Anko’s model retails for simply $99, a function that noticed it go viral and shortly promote out when it was first launched in Kmart and Target.
Like the Bissell mannequin I reviewed, the Anko spot cleaner comes with the unit and numerous equipment and attachments, together with a vertical nozzle, vacuum ground heads an hooked up scrub brush, and even canine brushes, so you should utilize it to clean your four-legged good friend. Dimensions-wise it is vitally much like the Bissell and is available in at a lot the identical weight.
Weight: 3.4kg
Sizes: 30.7cm H x 29.2cm W x 15.2cm D
Key options:
- 3-metre energy wire
- 1L tank capability
- Approximately 450ml/min water jet circulate
- Maximum water temperature 40 levels
- 12-month producer’s guarantee
The Shark StainStriker
Cult cleansing model Shark has additionally made an impression with their upholstery spot cleaner: the StainStriker. And with a reputation like that, how may I not attempt it out?
The Shark StainStriker spot cleaner comes with an built-in crevice device (love that), in addition to a stain device, huge stain device, pet device (for cleansing up stains with…um…solids?), a bottle of Carpet Xpert Deep Clean Pro, and considered one of OxyMultiplier. The wire size sits in between Anko and Bissell at 3.6 metres, and boasts a pleasant and compact design that is available in at just a bit above the others.
Weight: 3.943kg
Sizes: 30cm H x 30cm W x 26cm D
Colour: White
Key options:
- 3.6-metre wire
- Dual-activated stain removing
- Pet device with chamber for solids
- Easy to assemble
- 2-year guarantee
Also out there at:
Bissell SpotClean vs Anko Spot Cleaner vs Shark StainStriker: which is healthier?
To be trustworthy, on an operational stage, the variations between the Bissell SpotClean, Anko spot cleaner, and Shark StainStriker are pretty minimal and are available right down to 4 issues: the comb sizes, the wire size, the spray perform, and the price. However, there was one closing issue that might later come into play: the product’s lifespan. But extra on that under.
Brush dimension
While Anko’s mannequin comes with extra instruments, Bissell’s ‘equivalent’ device (i.e. the one with the scrubbing-brush-like head) is barely bigger in dimension. For a settee, this didn’t trouble me a lot, but when a carpet or perhaps a rug had been the husband-and-puppy sufferer, I might in all probability want Bissell’s bigger attachment. I may also say that Anko’s equipment had been troublesome to swap out and I nearly broke a nail a number of occasions. Neither concern was a priority in any respect with the Shark StainStriker, which comes with each a daily and huge brush, which can even show sufficient to inspire me to sort out our bed room carpet in the future… Plus, I really like Shark’s pet device, which has a chamber to seize all of the solid-ish yuck ought to an ‘accident’ happen.
Cord size
Again, a reasonably minimal element, however contemplating I reside in a circa Nineteen Seventies-ish house the place energy retailers are few and much between, it is a consideration I might be pressured to make. Bissell’s wire was the longest at 4.5 metres, adopted by Shark’s 3.6 metres, then Anko’s 3 metres. At first, I didn’t suppose this might be an excessive amount of of an issue, regardless of having to create a hazard throughout our kitchen doorway with the wire, however I actually seen the distinction. For me, Bissell wins out right here: the extra wire, the merrier. It additionally meant I had the additional wiggle (or spray) room wanted with out having to twist the machine at awkward angles or maintain it whereas I labored (none of them are mild).
The spray perform
All three machines work by spraying soapy water onto your couch/carpet/rug/automobile seat and sucking it again up as you scrub. This implies that regardless of which you utilize, you’ll find yourself with a barely damp floor for a couple of hours. However, Anko’s spray perform is noticeably sturdy and soaks via extra, which may very well be a con for individuals who have poor air flow (and due to this fact drying potential), or children/pets who’re unlikely to have the ability to preserve off whereas the freshly washed merchandise dries.
The price
This is by far the most important draw card for Anko — with an nearly equivalent outcome it could be arduous to say no to $150+ in financial savings.
The product’s lifespan
Last however most significantly, which of those merchandise lasts the gap? It’s all properly and good to wash up a cheeky pasta sauce spill right here or a grimy canine pawprint there, however I would like this factor to place within the hours with out breaking a sweat…or simply breaking. Which, sadly, the Anko mannequin would ultimately do. Twice.
Yes, it’s true. I can’t advocate an Anko Spot Cleaner. Many reviewers have had wonderful experiences with theirs, however sadly my first one had a set off malfunction, and its alternative suffered the identical destiny, at no fault of my very own would possibly I add.
If you’ve purchased into the white boucle pattern, you’re going to need to learn on. (Photo: Kmart)
The verdict: is it price getting a spot cleaner?
For me, it’s a resounding sure. As annoying as they’re, pet and husband aren’t going anyplace and have confirmed they will solely be tamed a lot. So for my family, a spot cleaner is a literal miracle in small equipment type.
I can confidently say that each the Bissell SpotClean and the Shark StainStriker can be equally nice decisions. As talked about, I used to be let down by Anko’s spot cleaner however I totally loved it up till then, and plenty of don’t have anything however shining opinions for it – plus, the price is difficult to say no to!
What about different manufacturers?
This overview focuses on the three spot cleaners I received to check out from Bissell, Shark and Anko (Kmart or Target). But if you wish to store round extra, listed below are another spot cleaners in the marketplace in Australia which have stood out to us.
This spot cleaner combines highly effective suction and deep cleansing to take away spills and stains on carpet, upholstery, automobile interiors and even hardwood flooring. It has a mean ranking of 4.5 stars from over 320 opinions on The Good Guys web site, the place it’s additionally listed as a “Top Seller”.
“Honestly it exceeded my expectations. I purchased in preparation for a baby on the way [in a] carpeted house however, I have already used it on car seats, carpet spots, an armchair and more,” one buyer shared in an in depth 5-star overview, including, “I suggest using only a drop of the soap provided because otherwise it’s a soapy mess and more work to try and remove. Sometimes I use it without soap too for fresh spills. Would recommend.”
Weight: 3.9kg
Sizes: 42.5cm H x 26.5cm W x 39.5cm D
Colour: Red
Key options:
- 4.5-metre wire
- 1.5-metre hose with self-cleaning perform
- Multi-surface and hard-floor attachments
- 2-year guarantee
Also out there at:
Karcher is one other model that has garnered curiosity for its spot cleaners. It solely had a handful of opinions on The Good Guys, however they had been all 4- or 5-stars once we checked and it has a 4.7-star common from over 60 buyer opinions on the Karcher web site, the place one buyer even mentioned it was “better than my old Bissell”.
As an extra comparability to the Bissell spot cleaner we examined, it is a cordless mannequin with a protracted 1.9m hose, and has a bigger water tank capability (1.7L recent and a couple of.9L soiled). So you may weigh that up in opposition to the value.
Weight: 3.64kg
Sizes: 31.7cm H x 24cm W x 35cm D
Colour: Yellow
Key options:
- Cordless operation with 18V battery and a quick charger included
- 1.9-metre hose
- Includes upholstery spray extraction nozzle, and crevice nozzle
- 2-year guarantee
Also out there at:
Kogan’s model of spot cleaner has a 4.7-star ranking from over 200 buyer opinions, with worth for cash generally talked about as a constructive function and common suction energy famous in a number of the current lower-rated opinions.
“Small compact and very efficient,” one buyer shared in a 5-star overview.
Weight: 4.5kg
Sizes: 31.7cm H x 24cm W x 35cm D
Colour: Purple
Key options:
- 3-metre energy wire
- 1.2-metre hose
- Includes two brush heads (giant, small)
- 12-month guarantee
Note: This article was up to date on November 18, 2025 to incorporate some extra related particulars, akin to up to date pricing and buyer opinions for different spot cleaners.
