It's one thing to clean up wine or cat pee on your carpet right after it happens, but it's an entirely different challenge once those stains have had time to set. Fortunately, the best carpet cleaner sprays for set-in stains can help remove stains that are days, months, or even years old.
When shopping for carpet cleaners, the first thing to consider is the source of the stain, if you know it. Some stain removers are designed to target certain substances, so it helps if you know what you're working with. If, for instance, you're dealing with dog or cat urine, you'll want a spray that's formulated to not only eliminate the stain but also your pet's temptation to "mark" that spot again.
Once you've considered the stain's origins, look at the spray's ingredients to make sure there's nothing that could be toxic to anyone in your home. Some carpet cleaners contain chlorine, ammonia, formaldehyde, isopropyl alcohol, or perchloroethylene — chemicals that can be harmful to pets and small children — so keep that in mind while shopping.
Below, I've put together a list of the best stain remover sprays to help you with your search. In addition to considering the above factors, I also scoured through reviews to figure out which sprays really work the best. Take a look to find the perfect solution for your carpet.