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Stains can be incredibly frustrating. Whether it's muddy footprints or food dropped on the floor, stains can quickly make carpets look dirty, worn and difficult to keep fresh. Carpet stains can especially be annoying, as they soak deep into the fibres, making them much harder to remove than marks on hard floors.

Sometimes a simple cloth or spray just isn't enough, and scrubbing by hand can actually make the problem worse or spread the stain further, especially stains like red wine. I recently got the Shark StainStriker portable pet stain cleaner, mainly for pet stains but also other common stains that appear in the home. A proper carpet cleaner is designed to lift dirt, moisture and odours deep within the fibres, and I was impressed at how good it worked.

Its description on Argos reads: "Introducing StainStriker, the best stubborn stain remover. Instantly removes stains and odours from carpets and rugs, stairs, sofas and upholstery, car interiors and more."

The biggest thing I noticed straight away was how simple and easy it was to set up. The instructions were clear and easy to follow.

When using it, I found it to be very effective on fresh stains. It lifted muddy stains, food spills and even paint splatters. I was really worried the paint stains wouldn't budged, but they disappeared almost instantly.

On older stains, it still worked perfectly, and I was surprised at how well it lifted stubborn stains, too.

This is thanks to the dual-activated cleaning solution, which combines two formulas to double down on stains and odours. The CarpetXpert Deep Clean Pro formula removes layers of ground-in dirt and grime, banishing even smoke and pet urine.

The StainStriker Oxy Multiplier formula lifts and extracts stubborn stains and odours, unleashing the power of OXY to eliminate tough stains.

It's much more convenient than dragging a full-size carpet cleaner, and because it's compact, I actually use it straight away instead of leaving the stains to set into the carpet. This makes it really handy for cleaning the car upholstery and the stairs.

The suction is strong for a portable machine, and the carpet doesn't stay soaking wet afterwards, which is a big plus.

It's a high-pressure spray that penetrates deep into the carpet fibres without oversoaking them, which I noticed was a major difference when cleaning mine.

It also comes with useful attachments that make it handy for stairs, rugs, upholstery, and even car seats.

That said, it's not really designed for cleaning an entire room or carpet; it's definitely more of a spot cleaner than a full carpet shampooer.

Also, some very old or stubborn stains may require more than one treatment, though I haven't had to do so.

One drawback is that it isn't cordless, and while this means you don't have to charge batteries, it makes moving around the house a little harder.

I had to keep changing the plug I was using, which was a little inconvenient, as I'm used to cordless devices.

Reviews of the StainStriker also agreed with me. One review said: "Great machine, it works so well. But I didn't receive a tool that was supposed to come with it, and the cord makes cleaning a little longer."

Another said: "Bought a while ago but only used three times because it's manual hard work and moving the plug around the home is inconvenient."

However, other users had a great experience with the cleaning device. One read: "It's really, really good. Absolutely brilliant."

Another said: "This little machine is wonderful. It has cleaned our grubby sofa to perfection. Can't wait to find something else to tackle, would definitely recommend."

Overall, I'd say the Shark StainStriker is excellent for pet owners and really good at removing everyday carpet stains. I've tried multiple carpet cleaners in the past, and this was definitely the best at lifting stains. It's easy to use, easy to store, and effective, so I won't ever go back to manual carpet-cleaning solutions.

For fresh pet messes and general spot cleaning, it works very well and saves a lot of hassle.

The carpet cleaner is available from many retailers for around £150. At the time of writing, however, it's on sale for just £99 from Argos and John Lewis. It is also available directly from Shark for £99.99, usually £149.99.

Argos also have a number of other carpet cleaners available. This includes the Vax SpotWash Home and Car Spot Cleaner for £200, and it has over 800 four-star reviews.

If you're looking for a larger carpet cleaner instead of a spot cleaner, Vax's Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Cleaner is reduced from £350 to £200, and it has over 1,000 four-star reviews.

Shark also do have a cordless spot cleaner, the StainForce Cordless Stain-Destroying Spot Cleaner, which is currently reduced on Shark's website to £129.99 from £169.99. It has rave reviews, with users saying it's cleaned their mattresses and sofas. The spot cleaner is also available from Currys, reduced to £99 from £169.99.