Cleaning your carpet is essential to maintaining a clean and comfortable living space. Although it can be a challenging task at times, with the best carpet cleaner, you will have very little to worry about.
Whether it’s filled with dried-up stains or ground-in dirt, a quality cleaner can help bring your carpet back to its neat and fresh look while at the same time being easy to operate.
WHY WE CHOSE IT:
- Fully adjustable pressure
- Easy to store and clean up
- Ideal for hard-to-reach places
- Suitable for both beginners and experienced painters
- Stainless steel gun
However, with lots of different options out there how do you get to select an effective cleaner, one that won’t disappoint you? Well, this is where we come in.
- Carpet cleaners reviews
- 1. Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe FH50251 – Best carpet cleaner in 2022 (Our pick)
- 2. Bissell 3624 SpotClean – Best portable carpet cleaner
- 3. Bissell Big Green 86T3 – Best commercial carpet cleaner
- 4. Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Pet Pack – Heavy-duty carpet cleaner
- 5. Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner – Best home carpet cleaner
- 6. Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro 1986 – One of the best carpet cleaners for pets
- 7. Hoover PowerDash FH50700 – Best small carpet cleaner
- 8. Hoover SmartWash – Most simple to use carpet cleaner
- Things to consider when choosing a carpet cleaner
- The bottom line
To help you narrow down your search, we are going to give you our insight on some of the top carpet cleaners available on the market today, ones that are actually worth considering.
Below we’ve prepared full reviews of our top picks to outline what each unit has to offer. There is also a detailed guide with very useful information on the key things to look for when weighing your options.
Once you are through with this article, we’re certain that you will have an easier time choosing the ideal model that will suit your needs.
Carpet cleaners reviews
1. Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe FH50251 – Best carpet cleaner in 2022 (Our pick)
KEY FEATURES:
- 10 amp motor
- Two cleaning modes with HeatForce drying
- SpinScrub system
- 2-in-1 antimicrobial pet tool
- Dual tank system with automatic detergent mixing feature
The Hoover FH50251 is our top choice when it comes to the best carpet cleaners on the market today. With a combination of several powerful cleaning tools, it’s a convenient and effective full-size carpet cleaner designed to deliver outstanding cleaning results on all types of carpets.
SpinScrub brush system
The main cleansing weapon of this Hoover unit is the SpinScrub brush system which is a combination of 5 tough scrub brushes that spin at 360° in a counter-rotating motion.
The brushes work together to thoroughly scrub the carpet from all angles agitating on both backward and forward passes.
This system is so effective at dislodging stubborn stains that are embedded in the carpet and the fact that the brushes spin at 360° ensures optimal coverage. It will remove and clean the toughest dirt.
This brush system is designed as well to inhibit bacterial growth on the bristles. It exhibits self-cleaning abilities and the brushes are protected by antimicrobial material. This is an essential feature that will ensure no lingering odor or germs are left behind after cleaning.
Strong suction power
Dual V nozzle is another significant feature that makes the Hoover FH50251 a highly effective carpet cleaner.
While most similar-sized models use 6-amp motors, this one is equipped with a 10-amp motor that powerfully sucks off the residual water left after scrubbing the carpet.
The nozzle is cleverly shaped to facilitate even distribution of suction power. Every patch you go over it’s covered in an equal amount of suction, so you get a more thorough and even cleaning with every pass.
Plus the nozzle is 12-inch wide which is a fairly large cleaning path and will help you cover more ground quickly and save you a lot of time.
Three carpet cleaning modes
To make the FH50251 model even more efficient and easy to use, the manufacturer has designed this unit with three useful cleaning modes.
There’s a powerful deep clean mode that allows the rotating brushes to penetrate deep into the fibers of the carpet and get rid of virtually any kind of mess from thick layers of fur to tough, embedded stains and dirt.
There’s as well a quick clean mode combined with a HeatForce feature for quick and easy cleaning. It allows the unit to blow hot hair on the carpet while cleaning thereby helping it to dry up quickly with each push and pull.
It’s a convenient feature especially if you are in a hurry or just want to clean up a spot fast. It can reduce the drying time to less than an hour.
The third is the rinse mode which rinses up leftover dirt or soap residues. It’s an essential addition that will help to ensure no slipper effect is left behind after cleaning up the carpet.
2 in 1 antimicrobial pet tool
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If you have pets that shed fur a lot or often leave stains around, then the Hoover FH50251 2-in-1 Antimicrobial pet tool can be quite useful.
It’s a combination of two separate inserts designed to handle all kinds of pet messes. One is a bristle insert for scrubbing tough pet stains and the other is a rubber nub which is ideal for removing lighter stains and fur.
Tank capacity
With this unit, you will be able to clean large areas with less frequent refills. It has a dual tank system with each tank having a capacity of 1.25 gallons. That’s a fairly large capacity that should allow you to cover an entire home before emptying and refilling the tanks again.
The fact that the tanks are separate means you won’t have to worry about water contamination plus there is also a separate filling area for detergent.
The best part is that you won’t struggle to measure soap and water to create the perfect cleaning solution. The unit has an automatic detergent mixing feature that does all the mixing automatically to give you an ideal cleaning solution. So, no more guesswork.
Usability
The Power Scrub Deluxe is affixed with a flexible 8 ft. hose which is average compared to others but the power cord is 20 ft. long. Combined together, they offer a decent cleaning radius, just enough to cover a single room without switching electrical outlets.
The machine is quite straightforward to operate and the body is very sturdy from top to bottom and the brushes are of good quality too. It’s a durable cleaner that can serve you for many years and it’s simple to assemble. There are only two screws to drive in.
There are certainly no serious issues to point out about this unit other than that the wash/rinse dial is positioned in a somewhat inconvenient spot which is really not a deal-breaker.
With that said, the Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe FH50251 is an effective and powerful machine that offers a fast and easy way of cleaning carpets and pet messes. If you are looking for the best carpet cleaner to invest in, then this is a great option to consider.
The Good:
- Strong and even suction power distribution
- SpinScrub brushes offer great agitation power
- Three effective and convenient cleaning modes
- Commendable performance in pet stains and fur
- Large capacity water tanks
- Automatic water and detergent mixing
- Easy to set up, use, and clean
- Comes with a powerful cleaning solution
The Bad:
- Wash/rinse dial is located in an inconvenient spot
2. Bissell 3624 SpotClean – Best portable carpet cleaner
KEY FEATURES:
- 7 amp motor
- Two tank system
- Two cleaning attachments
- 5 flex hose
- 8 oz professional deep cleaning formula
The Bissell 3624 model is by far the best option you have for a carpet spot cleaner, especially if you are looking for portability and power at the same time. It’s a small and compact unit, but powerful enough to allow you easily clean spots and stains, even in the tightest areas.
Cleaning performance
Despite being small and compact in design, the Bissell 3624 will effectively clean most stains and dirt that you would encounter in a carpet or upholstery including those from pets dogs, or cats.
It has no motorized brush but it comes with two reliable cleaning tools that enable you to deal with almost any kind of dirt or spots in the best possible way.
There’s a 3-inch brush head that features stiff bristles that will do well to agitate the carpet and it’s ideal for banishing unsightly spots on your carpet.
It can tackle even tougher stains and dislodge embedded dirt from your carpet. The only thing that can limit you is your own muscle power, otherwise, it really lets you scrub deep.
Besides this, the unit comes with a 6-inch cleaning tool that is suitable for cleaning stairs, large furniture, and other areas that might be hard to reach. You can as well use it to clean inside your car.
Generally, the two tools are designed for anyone who prefers to do spot cleaning on a regular basis and doesn’t need to clean the entire carpet.
Spray function
The wide arc spray nozzle of this Hoover unit is another top reason that makes it so effective as a carpet spot cleaner.
It sprays a lot of water at the stained spot in just a single burst and the water comes out under great pressure. It will jet deep down into the exact spot that requires cleaning and helps loosen any embedded dirt.
In addition, the cleaning solution provided by Bissell is an effective deep cleaning formula. Combined with hot water, this solution will penetrate those stubborn stains and remove them without requiring much effort from your end. Plus it leaves a nice, fresh smell behind.
Suctioning capabilities
While the unit sprays so much water, it does so well to extract it from deep within the carpet along with all the muck and stains. It’s equipped with a 5.7 amp motor which delivers sufficient suction power to lift up and remove embedded dirt from the carpet.
There’s no HeatForce feature but the suction is powerful enough to suck up the dirty water with every pass leaving the carpet only slightly damp which allows it to dry fairly fast.
Tank capacity
The machine features a two-tank set-up with one tank for holding clean water and another for collecting dirty used water. The clean reservoir tank has a 0.75-gallon capacity which is decent for a portable unit and can allow long cleaning times between refills.
Emptying and refilling the tanks is simple and fast as they easily pull out of the base. The clean reservoir tank has a flat bottom that makes it easy to rest it on a counter when filling.
Usability
The SpotClean is easy to use and requires little effort to move it around. It’s the lightest unit on our list weighing only 13.2 pounds and has a very compact design, so it’s quite easy to move from one section to another with a single hand.
Cleaning hard-to-reach areas will also pose a little challenge as the power cord is 22 feet in length. That’s long enough to allow you to reach far areas like on top of stairs without necessarily having to carry the vacuum.
The hose is flexible as well and you can stretch it too, so you will have no problem accessing difficult areas like under the chairs. Both the cord and hose coil up neatly and considering the small footprint of the machine, you can store it without a fuss when not in use.
The only downside is that it’s a bit noisy when running. In our own opinion, this isn’t such a huge problem especially since it does get the job done perfectly.
The other sad thing is that it does not offer antimicrobial protection, so that’s something you might want to keep in mind should you consider buying it.
All in all, combining strong suction power, scrubbing action, effective cleaning solution, and high portability, the Bissell 3624 SpotClean is an excellent product and no doubt the best portable carpet cleaner you can find on the market.
The Good:
- Solid build quality throughout
- Great suction power
- Can tackle a wide variety of stains
- Decent-sized water reservoirs
- Lightweight and compact for portability
- Easy to use with a long reach power cord
- Comes with an effective cleaning solution
- Requires very little assembly and easy to clean
The Bad:
- It’s a bit noisy when running
- Has no antimicrobial protection
- Not ideal for cleaning large
3. Bissell Big Green 86T3 – Best commercial carpet cleaner
KEY FEATURES:
- Dirt lifer power brush
- Stain tool
- Dual tank system
- Anti-tip design
- Bissel 2X professional deep leaning solution
For anyone searching for a commercial carpet cleaner, the Bissell Big Green 86T3 might just be the ultimate choice for you. This machine is a heavy-duty unit that’s thoroughly well-rounded and offers superior cleaning performance. It’s a unit that’s certainly worth a look.
Cleaning performance
The Big Green 86T3 is a real workhorse, an all-around unit that can deal with every kind of stain. It comes with two cleaning tools that facilitate its excellent cleaning performance.
Special dirt lifter power brush
One of the main tools that makes the Big Green a highly effective commercial carpet cleaner is none other than its DirtLifter PowerBrush. This rotating brush system offers a powerful scrubbing action that will pull out deeply embedded dirt from even the thickest carpet.
It’s equipped with powerful motors that rotate the brushes allowing their stiff bristles to penetrate deeply into the fibers of the carpet and deliver very strong agitation.
Combined with the deep cleaning formula provided by Bissel, these brushes will work well to scrub, loosen and remove all the tough ground-in stains and dirt from your carpet.
Furthermore, they clean in both forward and backward passes making them even more effective and will significantly reduce the cleaning time. The brush head is also 10.5 inches wide hence it gives you a sufficient cleaning path to cover plenty of surfaces in one swipe.
It’s a tool that can guarantee a deep and thorough cleaning regardless of how tough the stains are, plus the deep cleaning formula from Bissel contains Scotchgard protection which works to protect the carpet from getting stained again after cleaning.
Stain tool
The unit comes as well with a handy 6-inch stain tool that allows you to target specific areas where it’s hard to access the larger DirtLifter PowerBrush. It’s an effective tool that you can use to tackle pet furs and stains on your stairs, upholstery, or other soft surfaces.
Powerful suction
There isn’t Heatwave Technology on this model but you won’t have to wait for so long before you can walk on your carpet after you are done with the cleaning.
Its dual motors and very wide head do a great job of sucking the sprayed solution, along with all the loosened dirt out of the carpet with each pass. It sucks the carpet nearly dry which drastically cuts down the drying time to 1 to 3 hours.
Tank capacity
Designed to be the best commercial carpet cleaner, the Big Green comes with two separate large-sized tanks capable of holding up to 1.75 gallons of water.
That’s much more than what you will find in most standard carpet cleaners and will allow you to clean more and cover a wider area with fewer trips to the sink.
Refilling and cleaning up the tanks is a breeze too as they are removable and come out easily. The best part is that the unit features flow indicators to alert you when it’s time to refill or empty the tanks and when the cleaning solution is running out.
Usability
Operating the Big Green is fairly easy as it features simple dial controls. However, it’s quite a large unit with a weight of around 42 pounds.
In short, it’s a heavy machine especially for the average user, and combined with the robust design, it might be a bit cumbersome to maneuver or to move from one room to another.
The good thing though is that it comes with a 25 ft. long power cord which should give you the convenience of covering a wide radius without having to unplug it. The radius is even enhanced further with the 9-inch hose, so you will have ample reach.
There’s no assembly required and the whole unit is made of durable, great quality materials. It’s a sturdy, robust machine from top to bottom with an anti-tip design.
Generally, despite its heavy weight and large size, you can rest assured of a superb cleaning performance with this Bissell Big Green 86T3 model. It’s simply a very efficient machine that you can use in either commercial or household residential settings.
The Good:
- Powerful brushes that provide great agitation
- Delivers very strong suction power
- Two large tanks that can cover a large room in a single go
- Alerts you when it’s time to refill or empty the tanks
- Simple to use and clean
- Comes pre-assembled
The Bad:
- A bit heavy and clunky
4. Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Pet Pack – Heavy-duty carpet cleaner
KEY FEATURES:
- 74 hp motor
- Triple-action vibrating brush
- Handheld upholstery tool
- Pet formula carpet cleaner
- Urine eliminator spray
Next up is yet another very powerful cleaner designed for the tough stains. The Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 is a robust unit packed with several wonderful features that make it stand out amongst its competitors. It’s a nice alternative to the Bissell Big Green 86T3 especially for anyone looking to clean large areas.
Cleaning performance
Like the Bissell Big Green 86T3, the Mighty Pro X3 utilizes a three-step cleaning process that includes spraying, scrubbing, and extracting to ensure a cleaner carpet. The three main features that propel it to our list of top-rated carpet cleaners are:
Effective vibrating brushes
While most carpet cleaners use brushes that either rotate or spin, the Mighty Pro X3 features unique brushes that actually vibrate to dislodge and lift away dirt and grime.
This brush design is what makes it a lot more efficient, especially at tackling those tough, deep stains. The brushes have more stiff bristles which together with the vibrating action will do a really good job in agitating and loosening up dirt and stains on carpet stains.
They effectively permeate the carpet, scrubbing all the sides of the fibers and allowing the cleaning solution and water to penetrate deep down into the fibers.
You will get a more thorough cleaning in a single pass and the brushes also fluff the carpet in the process leaving it clean and smooth.
One downside is that they only work in a forward motion to clean which means it will take a bit of time. Nonetheless, measuring 10 inches wide, the brushes give you a fairly large cleaning path to cover more surface with every pass.
Strong suction power
The 1.74 hp motor is another impressive feature in this Rug Doctor machine. After scrubbing, this motor delivers a powerful suction force through the 10-inch wide nozzle which continuously sucks out most of the dirty water and stains from the carpet.
It extracts a large percentage of the cleaning/water solution reducing the time you will have to wait for the carpet to dry. It will take around 2 hours to dry after the suction process.
Convenient handheld upholstery tool
Considering its size, accessing tight spaces with this unit is going to be difficult and Rug Doctor has taken care of this problem by including a handheld upholstery tool.
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It’s a beneficial tool that will allow you to access all those spots that the vibrating brushes can’t reach. You can use it for cleaning stairs and getting stains and pet fur off furniture.
In addition to these tools, you get two powerful cleaning solutions, one for tackling those pesky everyday stains and another for eliminating pet stains and odors. Both solutions contain a pro-enzymatic formula that will deter pets from re-marking.
Tank capacity
Now what put this Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 model ahead of all the other units we’ve reviewed is its massive tank capacity. The clean water tank can accommodate up to 3 gallons of cleaning solution while the recovery tank can hold a whopping 3.9 gallons.
You will certainly appreciate these high capacities as you won’t need to empty or refill these tanks in between a cleaning session. It will last you throughout the process which makes it an ideal choice for cleaning a large house or area.
Furthermore, the unit is equipped with a dome filter that features a standard foam filter which helps clean out the air expelled by the system.
Usability
The Mighty Pro X3 is relatively simple to operate. It has very few controls to worry about. The power cord is 20 inches long which is not quite long but it’s enough to give you a decent operating radius.
It also comes in assembled, so it’s a matter of adding the cleaning solution, water, plugging it in and you’re ready to go. The construction is solid and will withstand frequent use for many years.
However, its sheer size and weight of 50 pounds make it difficult to maneuver and move around. Another issue would be getting the dirty water tank out. It requires some effort which only makes emptying it somewhat challenging.
Overall, this is a great machine with powerful cleaning performance and sufficient capacity for cleaning large spaces. If you want a large carpet cleaner that can handle a heavy workload, then we would recommend considering the Mighty Pro X3.
The Good:
- Vibrating brushes that offer optimum agitation
- Strong suction power with lessen drying time
- Convenient handheld upholstery cleaning tool
- Massive tank capacity
- Capable of filtering the air while running
- Comes already assembled
The Bad:
- Heavy and a bit difficult to manoeuvre around tight spaces
- Emptying the dirty water tank can be challenging
5. Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner – Best home carpet cleaner
KEY FEATURES:
- Dual cross-action brushes
- Super boost setting
- Powerful suction technology
- Fold-down handle
- Removable caddy tool
When it comes to the best home carpet cleaners, a small number of brands can compete with the deep cleaning capabilities of this Rug Doctor cleaner. It’s very tough, reliable, and easy to use. In other words, it’s designed to offer the best cleaning experience.
Dual cross brushes
Rug Doctor’s brushes are nothing like Hoover carpet cleaner which has 5 small spinning brushes. This unit has one large brush with really strong bristles.
The dual cross-action brushes with their ten rows of stiff bristles work great at agitating individual carpet fibers from every angle. With only one pass, it not only clean but also grooms your carpet.
At 26 cm wide, the oscillating brush roller isn’t the widest in the market, but including the fixed external brush cleaning width increases to 31cm wide.
Its brushes actually perform three effective cleanings which include agitation, groom, and polish leaving your carpet fibers smooth and clean, unlike an upright carpet cleaner.
Super boost spray
This is an amazing feature that helps in tackling heavily soiled areas on your carpet. The Super Boost Spray sits perfectly at the back of the machine. During the cleaning process, it sprays jet down behind the rear wheels for a more direct aim to the stubborn stains.
To activate this feature, there’s a chunky dial on the back end of the carpet cleaner. However, it’s important to presoak those tough stains with a cleaning solution before you run it over to loosen up the dirt.
Thanks to this advanced technology, this unit can remove even the toughest stains and odors, which requires ultra-attention without damaging your carpet.
Powerful suction technology
While a few other carpet cleaners do really poorly on water removal Rug Doctor Deep Clean packed with a 1300W motor has a fast-drying effect. The unit has well-advanced suction technology that is 75% more powerful than its upright carpet cleaners’ competitors.
That powerful motor sucks as much residue moisture as possible thereby reducing drying time to only 4 hours and you’re ready to step on it. This suction power absorbs water and also removes deep stains and dirt soiled in the carpet.
Tank capacity
Rug Doctor Deep Clean has two separate tanks, the wastewater tank with a capacity of 4.2 liters while the clean water tank only holds 3.8 liters. This is a good size that allows you to cover a large area of the carpet without a frequent refill.
For a better experience, both water tanks are transparent. While cleaning you’re able to see how much is left of the cleaning solution and when to empty the dirty tank. In addition, being separate prevents cross-contamination.
Removing the tanks, filling and rinsing are simple with the help of a single-arm lock mechanism. Plus, the lid also acts as a cleaning detergent measuring cup to avoid excess use.
Usability
This unit has a 28-foot cord combined with 7.7-foot long upholstery which is fairly flexible that allows you to reach awkward places. The caddy tool cleans the sofa and stairs with ease.
Easy to steer with the large rubber wheels. The machine has a fold-down handle that makes it easy to use and store.
In conclusion, if you want a carpet cleaner that’s convenient to use at home and can give you commercial-level cleaning performance, then the Rug Doctor Deep Cleaner is the option to go for.
The Good:
- Fast drying effect
- Folds for storage
- Removes tough stains
- Robust built quality
- Easy to steer, fill and empty
The Bad:
- Keeping it clean is not easy
6. Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro 1986 – One of the best carpet cleaners for pets
KEY FEATURES:
- Two different cleaning settings
- 2-in-1 pet upholstery tool
- The dual dirt lifter brushes
- Heatwave technology
- Clean shot pre-treater
If you are a pet lover and looking for a carpet cleaner to tackle those tough pet stains and fur accumulation, then the Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Carpet Cleaner might be the unit you just need. It also works great as a general cleaning tool.
Cleaning performance
Bissel ProHeat has 2 cleaning settings, deep and express. Express clean mode is one of the best features that you can apply to clean small areas with lighter staining which dries in about an hour.
Consequently, you can choose the deep clean mode, which uses a lot of water and can take a longer time for the carpets to dry. However, the end results outshine commercial carpets cleaner.
For more stubborn stains, a special clean shot pre-treater removes stains and spots leaving your carpet cleaner than just deep cleaning.
It also removes deep-rooted dirt and grime using its dual dirt lifter brushes combined with heatwave technology. It also includes antibacterial cleaning detergent that ensures carpets are clean and free of bad odor and bacteria.
Ease of use
It’s so easy to put together all the parts. When loaded with water it weighs roughly 22 pounds relatively easy to move around using a carrying handle.
Bissel ProHeat revolution comes with a 25-foot power code so you won’t get tired plugging and unplugging as you work. In addition, the generous 8-foot hose is designed to reach those awkward spaces where there’s a lot of concentrated dirt.
For great efficiency, the unit has an 11-inch cleaning path that covers a large surface area with just a few passes. The noise level is average like a normal fan. It also has a solid built with a modern design for easy assemble and disassemble.
Accessories and maintenance
The detachable hose can be attached to the 2-in-1 pet upholstery tool to remove stains, hair, and odors on your couch, chair, and other places. If you set on the dry mode it vacuums hair and dry dirt, switching it to wet mode you get deeper cleaning that removes stains and spots.
Cleaning the unit is incredibly easy. Just disassemble the water tank and wash, then let them dry before you assemble back for storage. The brush is attached with a removable roll cover that allows you to reach the brush rolls for easy cleaning using a hair removal tool.
In general, the Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Carpet Cleaner has the power to remove almost any amount of pet fur and stain. If you need a cleaner made specifically with pets in mind, then this is it. It’s certainly the best carpet cleaner for pets on the market.
The Good:
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Versatile
- Showroom clean and dry faster
- Multiple attachments for awkward surface
- Best pet stain remover
The Bad:
- Doesn’t heat up water
7. Hoover PowerDash FH50700 – Best small carpet cleaner
KEY FEATURES:
- PowerSpin pet brush roll
- 2X more cleaning power
- HeatForce technology
- Dual tank system
- Removable nozzle
Ideal for small apartments and high traffic areas, Hoover PowerDash carpet cleaner is very budget-friendly that can get your carpets cleaned without a lot of fuss. It’s a small, compact unit that’s is designed to get the job done without requiring too much effort from your end.
Design
Hoover PowerDash is designed to offer easy maneuverability having pre-assembled two strong wheels. Everything is built-in in small proportions including the 10 feet long cord shorter than any other carpets cleaner.
Only 43.5 inches tall, this unit has a relatively compact design a nice option if you need to carry it up and downstairs. Plus, storage isn’t a problem.
Cleaning performance
Hoover PowerDash cleans two times better than the known leading lightweight carpet cleaner. Featured with a great PowerSpin Pet Brush Roll, this machine gets into small spaces with ease.
As well as cleaning it also removes germs with its antimicrobial protection presence on the brush roll. Perfects for pets’ owners, they can use it to remove messes and allergies with ease. Compared to a vacuum cleaner, this brush picks up a lot of furs from the carpets.
Deep cleaning uses water making your carpet damp; however, this unit has HeatForce power that makes sure your carpets dry faster.
Usability
Setting it up is quite quick, you’re only required to attach the handles without any tools. The low-profile foot can effortlessly reach onto the corners, under the furniture, tight places, and remove stains and dirt.
Using it over a large surface, you’ll need to constantly plug and unplug which can be terribly tiring. Its dual water tank separates clean and dirty water and the tanks can only hold 0.5 gallons each therefore, it will definitely need more than one refill during cleaning.
The cleaning path is only 10-inches that calls for several passes to cover a room, therefore making it effective for small areas. None of the cleaner carpets on our list are as quiet as Hoover PowerDash.
Other accessories
Hoover PowerDash doesn’t come with a hose or any other attachments so it’s not as versatile as Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Carpet Cleaner.
Includes dual water tanks and a removable nozzle that can be removed and cleaned easily. After several uses remove the nozzle to clean and remove dirt grime that’s accumulating. It’s very simple to clean and maintain.
Overall, this Hoover PowerDash FH50700 carpet cleaner is well designed, versatile, and capable of getting carpets clean and dry faster. We definitely recommend it for small cleaning tasks and anyone on a budget.
The Good:
- A lightweight and compact design
- Fast drying
- Powerful brush for pets’ messes
- Easy setup and clean
- Easier storage
The Bad:
- Not ideal for larger areas
- Has a short cord
8. Hoover SmartWash – Most simple to use carpet cleaner
KEY FEATURES:
- Automatic cleaning and drying technology
- Automatic mixes detergent
- HeatForce power
- Dual brush roll
- Three separate tanks
If you want a simple to use and operate carpet cleaner, then Hoover SmartWash automatic carpet cleaner is your best choice in the market today. From an automatic detergent mixing feature to an automatic sensor that decides when to release shampoo and when to dry, this unit is certainly built to make the carpet cleaning process a breeze.
Design
Hoover SmartWash has a model design featured with automated technology. The handle is ergonomic to help you carry it around. As well as the rubber wheels that protect your carpets and meant for easy transport.
Cleaning performance
This unit comes with a 10 Amp suction motor that’s powerful enough to pick dust, dirt, and dirty water when cleaning.
Using the dual brush rolls, they rotate in a similar direction to remove stuck dirt and stains. However, hair probably might get stuck in the roller brushes which can be removed by hand.
It cleans automatically, taking turns between cleaning and drying the carpet. With a forwarding push, the detergent is released and dirt gathered. To dry the surface, Hoover SmartWash uses motor suction and HeatForce technology.
However, for dry cleaning, you can set it to dry mode that doesn’t dispense the cleaning solution. It dries your carpet within an hour of cleaning plus the 12-inch wide cleaning path, it will allow you to cover a large surface faster and easier.
Tank capacity
This unit is designed with three different tanks to hold the cleaning solution, clean water for cleaning, and dirty water collated. Dirty water tanks can hold one gallon same as the clean water tank, yet the cleaning solution tank only carries 20 ounces of liquid
Usability
With just a few parts, assembling is a breeze no tools required. A very easy unit to use with most of its functionality is automated. A foot pedal is an on/off switch, you don’t need to press any buttons whatsoever.
Forward push wets the carpet while the backward push dries it off. The transparent cleaning nozzle allows you to see how the cleaning solution is released and how dirt gets sucked up.
Weighing roughly 19 pounds and with a low profile head, you can reach difficult places other cleaners couldn’t reach.
Accessories and maintenance
Hoover SmartWash comes with a few accessories. An 8-foot hose for attachment to clean upholstery and other places. The tanks, on the other hand, can be removed and washed, the same as the brush roll.
Having a simple and easy-to-use design, the Hoover SmartWash has caught the attention of many homeowners. Scooping high ratings at every level, it’s a great carpet cleaner to consider.
The Good:
- Automatically mix, clean and dry
- A long hose that can reach difficult places
- Easy to use
- Ergonomic handle
- Wide cleaning path
The Bad:
- A short cord limits reach distance
- Stubborn stains can be hard to remove with controlled detergent
Things to consider when choosing a carpet cleaner
While carpet cleaners vary widely in terms of design and performance, there are certain key factors that you need to keep an eye on so that you are able to pick the best machine that will give you great value for your money. These factors include:
Type of carpet cleaner
As we have mentioned earlier, there are many different types of carpet cleaners on the market and it’s important to ensure you pick the right unit that would fit your needs.
Your choice here will be mainly based on the type of use and how much area you are planning to clean.
Larger areas
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If you have a busy home or need to clean a large area often, then a whole cleaner is an ideal choice for you. They are more powerful and can handle heavy home or commercial usage. They are also quite effective at removing large, deep stains.
The only twist is that they tend to weigh a lot and are quite bulky, so they can be hard to maneuver. A good example from our carpet cleaner reviews is the Bissell Big Green 86T3. It’s one of the best commercial carpet cleaners you can find out there alongside the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 model.
Smaller areas
For less-trafficked homes or smaller areas, you might want to go with a small carpet cleaner. They are lightweight and quite easy to operate and move around.
They are a perfect choice if you don’t have a large surface to cover. The Hoover PowerDash FH50700 is a perfect example. It’s not just a small-sized cleaner but also one of the best upholstery cleaners available out there.
Spot cleaning
When it comes to sucking up smaller spills or handling localized staining, a carpet spot cleaner is a way to go. They are highly portable and purposely designed to provide deep cleaning on smaller sections of the carpet as opposed to cleaning the whole carpet.
Our best portable carpet cleaner, the Bissel 3624 SpotClean model is one good example to look at.
Pet cleaning
Pet owners, particularly those with cats or dogs that shed excessively should consider getting the best carpet cleaner for pets that will enable them to deal with any amount of fur or pet stains.
The Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet Pro, as well as the Hoover PowerDash FH50700, are two excellent choices from our list above.
Cleaning performance
The best carpet cleaner machine should be able to completely remove all kinds of stains or dirt from your carpet no matter the type of fabric. It should provide sufficient agitation necessary to dislodge and lift deep-down stains and dirt.
In other words, it needs to have the right cleaning tool so as to be effective. Choose a model with a cleaning tool that has either rotating or moving brushes with stiff bristles.
Such a unit will be able to permeate the carpet fibers and provide great agitation without requiring much work from your end.
Consider also the size of the cleaning path offered by the tool. The amount of area it can cover in a single pass can help inform you how quickly you will get to clean your carpets while using it.
The larger the better especially when going for a commercial carpet cleaner. If you can find a unit with a rinse the only option as a feature, it’s even much better.
It will make the process of rinsing your carpet or removing the detergent and the dirt-engulfed water out of the fibers much easier and quicker. The best part is that it will leave your carpet looking fresh and clean.
Suction power
Aside from having a great scrubbing performance, the best carpet cleaner should be able to generate great suction power to suck up as much dirt and cleaning solution as possible with every pass to allow your carpet to dry quickly.
So make sure the unit you choose can deliver sufficient suction power and the best way to do this to check the power rating of the motors. However, note that high-powered motors do not necessarily translate to better vacuum suction.
Most top performers would have power ratings of 4 to 10 amps yet you can find some worst performers that have high-powered motors that have ratings of 10 amps or above.
There are even other units like the Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe FH50251 and the Hoover PowerDash FH50700 models which feature a built-drying system.
Having a cleaner with this feature alongside a powerful suction is a big plus. It will drastically cut down the amount of time it takes for your carpet to dry. It can cut it down from a few hours to only several minutes.
Tank design and size
Make sure the unit you pick has a dual tank system with separate tanks, one for holding the cleaning water plus solution and another for dirty water.
This is an important consideration as using a unit with a single water tank would ultimately lead to contamination and it’s likely to add the collected dirt back into your carpet. Therefore make sure there are separate tanks in the unit you are eyeing.
You would also want to look at the size as it will tell you how often you will have to refill the tank during a cleaning session.
A model with larger tanks can reduce the number of refills in between the cleaning session. This is the option to go for if you have a large area to clean or a heavy workload.
Look for something in the range of one to 3 gallons for regular home use but for commercial purposes, you will need tanks that can hold 3 gallons or more. Be aware though that the larger the tank the heavier the unit would be, so you might want to factor in that too.
Smaller tanks mean lighter weight, but you will need to refill and empty the tank several times during a cleaning session. However, if you are not planning to do some heavy cleaning, then a unit with a smaller tank capacity might just do fine.
If you are looking for portable or spot carpet cleaners, then we would recommend going for one with smaller but efficient tanks, so that you may have an easier time using and operating them.
Length of the power cord and hose
Your cleaning reach or radius will be limited by the length of the cord and hose of the unit you pick. It’s always good to go for a model that has a long cord and hose especially if you have a wide area to clean.
The extra length will give you the flexibility you need to access hard-to-reach areas like stairs and curtain pelmets without requiring you to switch from one outlet to another constantly. A good length here would be around 20 to 30 ft.
Available attachments
It’s always advisable to go for a unit that offers a bit of versatility when it comes to cleaning options. The best way to confirms this is to check whether the manufacturer offers several useful attachments along with side the main cleaning tool or brush.
One of the key accessories to look out for is an upholstery cleaning tool or other attachments with smaller brush heads. A crevice is also a handy tool you might need especially when it comes to dealing with tight spaces.
The bottom line
The variety of carpet cleaners continues to grow every year, which only complicates the selection process. You must have an exact idea of the kind of cleaner you really want and check out for different features that will suit your particular needs.
Our buying guide above can come in quite handy especially when you have several options that you are considering and you are not sure what to look out for.
The 8 units we’ve listed above also give you a good place to start if you don’t want to go through the multitude of units available online so as to find a great machine.
They are the best options to consider whether for household use, commercial purposes, or spot cleaning. Therefore, if you want to avoid too much hustle and bustle, then you can consider one of the units above.
I would recommend Bissell. Their vacuum cleaners are the best for carpets. We have a lot of high-pile carpets in our house. I do not remember the model of our Bissell, but we have been using it for more than 7 years and are very pleased with their carpet cleaning.