is this heavy but hard-working device worth a place in your home?

What is the Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner?

A spot cleaner is an easy way to deal with life’s small stains and pet accidents, without the need to drag out a carpet cleaner to clean the entire room. Think of it as a steam cleaner on steroids, with many able to not only tackle carpets and upholstery, but also rival the best hard floor cleaners on multiple flooring surfaces.

Sitting in the mid-range pricewise, the Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner is one of two offered by the brand. The other is a pet-focused option. Both are simple to use. I particularly appreciated the motorised head, which is what makes the machine so powerful and effective at cleaning stains.

Although you might associate the brand with larger cleaning machines that you can hire, this is the best spot cleaner you can currently buy. You can hire one, but with a brand new cleaner currently priced at just over £100 (or less if you’re happy with a used machine,) I’d recommend jumping in and purchasing your own.

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I tried out each cleaner at home, testing the devices on a rug, cushion and hard floor. I pre-prepared a variety of dried-in stains, opting for mud, red wine and yellow mustard as they are three of the hardest to shift. I also tested the cleaners on fresh red wine, mustard and ketchup stains.

I also rated the spot cleaners on five key testing metrics:

• · Design and build
• · Performance and results
• · Ease of set up
• · Ease of use
• · Accessories and additional features

I also looked at how easy it was to clean and store these machines, bearing in mind that they can differ hugely in size and construction. Each spot cleaner has now been rehomed, including to organisations in need.

I’ve been testing home products and appliances for over half a decade, from vacuum cleaners to mattresses. My husband and I also foster the old, the sick and the lame for a cat rescue charity, so have plenty of unexpected stains and spills to deal with.

Score: 9/10