Bissell Pro heat
- Better: premium carpet cleaner recommendation The reviewer favored Bissell Pro Heat as the premium carpet-cleaner recommendation over Smartwash.
Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner Machine Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Hoover SmartWash if you value easy automatic washing, fast dry-only passes, removable brushes and pet/spot tools. Skip it if you need top-tier deep stain removal, manual spray control, or a cheaper cleaner with stronger lab-test results.
Best for
Best for pet owners and busy households that want automatic mixing, simple controls, fast dry-only passes, removable brushes, and strong spot/above-floor tools.
Not for
Not for buyers who want maximum deep-stain performance, full manual spray control, verified whole-house tank capacity, or the lowest-cost cleaner in comparative tests.
Verdict
The Hoover SmartWash earns its strongest marks for convenience: reviewers repeatedly liked the automatic wash/dry behavior, separate solution handling, removable brushes, easy tanks, useful hose tools, and fast dry-only passes. Pet-oriented reviews were especially positive about the Spot Chaser, pet tool, and real-world rug cleanup. The tradeoff is consistency. Controlled stain tests were less flattering, with one review finding weak upright stain removal and another pointing to the automatic solution system as speed-sensitive. Reliability evidence is also mixed because a used unit in two related reviews failed to sense forward/backward movement. Overall, the evidence supports a machine that is easy and versatile, but not the safest pick for maximum stain-removal performance.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
bissell spot clean pro
- Worse: pre-treatment spray usability The reviewer preferred the SmartWash Pet's Spot Chaser spraying method to the Bissell Spot Clean Pro approach.
hydro steam
- Compared: cleaning performance versus versatility The reviewer says Hydro Steam cleaned better, while Smartwash was more versatile.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
38 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 53% 20 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 32% 12 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 8% 3 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 5% 2 features
- Very negative below 1.5 3% 1 feature
Pros
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Pet-focused reviewers liked the pet tools, Spot Chaser, and real-world cleaning on pet-heavy carpets and rugs.
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Hose length was praised by two reviewers as really long and useful for furniture or car cleaning.
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Area-rug handling was praised in a pet-home review where rug color and cleanliness bounced back strongly.
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Setup was praised as very easy, with the handle snapping into place during assembly.
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Kid-friendliness was supported by one owner who said even kids could use it because the controls were not confusing.
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Tool changes were praised in the pet comparison because the Spot Chaser handle releases easily.
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Above-floor and spot cleaning were consistently praised, especially the hose, handheld/pet tools, and spot-cleaning performance.
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Accessories were a clear strength, with repeated praise for the hose, pet tool, Spot Chaser, and attachment usefulness.
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Innovation evidence was positive, with reviewers framing it as newer, easier carpet-cleaner technology compared with older/rental-style machines.
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Maintenance was a major strength: reviewers repeatedly praised removable brushes, removable covers, easy tank cleaning, and easy cleanup.
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Ease of use was one of the broadest positives, with repeated praise for simple tanks, automatic operation, easy cleaning, and light handling.
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Versatility was a recurring strength, especially for spot cleaning, manual tool use, attachments, and doing more than basic carpet passes.
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Emptying and mess control were mostly positive, with reviewers finding the dirty tank easy to remove, empty, and clean.
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Fresh liquid-like stains were handled well in testing, with urine, grape juice, and worked-in liquid stains clearing quickly.
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Automation was praised when it worked because it reduced guesswork in mixing, spraying, washing, and drying.
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A medium-pile carpet test was positive, with the reviewer calling the stain performance far better than average.
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Cord length received one positive owner mention, calling the more-than-20-foot cable great.
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The two-brush floorhead design was praised as one of the best carpet-cleaner brush systems overall.
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Carpet hair pickup was praised in a pet-home review that still pulled substantial Golden Retriever hair after thorough vacuuming.
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Hair-wrap and tangle resistance scored well in the pet version because the handheld scrubber was described as making a real difference.
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Drying was one of the strongest themes, with many reviewers praising dry-only mode, HeatForce, or fast usable carpets, despite one regular-cleaning caveat.
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Weight feedback was positive overall, with several reviewers calling it relatively lightweight, easy to push, or lighter than rentals.
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Handling was usually praised, with reviewers describing the machine as lightweight, easy to push, or lighter than rented cleaners.
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Tank feedback was generally positive for capacity, coverage, and clean/dirty separation, though one review warned the one-gallon tank is small for whole-house jobs.
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Value was mixed-to-positive: owners often called it worth the money, while test reviewers noted cheaper alternatives or a premium price caveat.
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Heavy-duty suitability was context-dependent: it impressed in a pet-and-kids home, but one reviewer said the tank is small for big whole-house jobs.
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Airflow blowback evidence was positive in a comparative drying explanation, where upward airflow toward the brushes helped drying performance.
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Overall opinion was polarized: many owners highly recommended or loved it, but two testing/defective-unit reviews did not recommend it.
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Reviewers split on suction: one comparative test found poor sealed-box suction, while another measured above-average suction and an owner described strong power.
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Comparative performance was mixed: some tests ranked SmartWash well for drying and features, while others preferred Power Scrub or the pet variant.
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Stain-removal evidence was sharply mixed: some reviewers saw strong results, while controlled tests found weak upright stain performance on tougher stains.
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Ownership cost evidence was limited to one pet-version comparison noting that extra Spot Chaser solution has to be purchased.
Cons
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The liquid system divided reviewers: automatic mixing and dispensing were praised for simplicity, but sensor and speed-threshold issues hurt performance in some tests.
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Heating-related evidence was mixed: some reviewers praised faster drying, while others warned there is no true heater and described HeatForce as hot exhaust air.
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Controls were mixed: reviewers liked the simple automatic concept, but two reviews reported the wash/dry sensing failing or misreading direction.
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Residue/streaking evidence was negative in controlled testing, where multiple stains and residue remained after repeated passes.
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Durability evidence was negative in one used-unit review where the automatic wash/dry sensing failed badly enough to return it.
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Reliability concerns centered on two reviews from the same reviewer where the automatic sensor failed and the unit had to be sent back.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Carpet Cleaning Machines, this product is above average in Maintenance requirements, Accessories and Tools, Weight, below average in Support and Reliability, Overall durability/longevity, Controls and UI.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 50% 4 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 50% 4 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support and Reliability | 1.0 | 3.8 | -2.8 |
| Overall durability/longevity | 1.5 | 3.3 | -1.8 |
| Controls and UI | 2.7 | 4.4 | -1.7 |
| Streaking / Residue | 2.0 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
| Maintenance requirements | 4.7 | 3.7 | +1.0 |
| Accessories and Tools | 4.8 | 3.8 | +1.0 |
| Weight | 4.4 | 3.4 | +1.0 |
| Upholstery / Above-Floor Pickup | 4.9 | 4.1 | +0.8 |
FAQ
Does the Hoover SmartWash dry carpet quickly?
Most reviewers praised drying, especially dry-only mode and HeatForce-style airflow. One controlled review still found carpet wetter than average after regular cleaning unless dry mode was used afterward.
Is it good for pet messes?
Pet-focused reviews were very positive. Reviewers liked the Spot Chaser, pet tool, hair pickup on carpet, and the visible improvement on rugs used by pets.
How well does it remove stains?
The evidence is mixed. Some hands-on reviewers saw excellent improvement, but controlled tests reported weak results on tough upright stains and leftover residue on some sauces and syrups.
Is the automatic wash/dry system reliable?
When it worked, reviewers liked the reduced guesswork. However, two related reviews reported a faulty sensor, and one controlled test found the machine could switch to dry mode if pushed too slowly.
Is it easy to clean after use?
Yes, maintenance was one of the clearest strengths. Multiple reviewers praised the removable brushes, removable cover/nozzle, easy dirty-water tank handling, and simple cleanup.
Are the hose and attachments useful?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly praised the long hose, pet/spot tools, and above-floor cleaning usefulness for furniture, cars, couches, and spot stains.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.7/5
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.8/5
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.7/5
Article Reviews
Consider This Instead
If you want better Support and Reliability
Choose Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Upright Carpet Cleaner. It scores 5.0 vs 1.0 for Support and Reliability, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Streaking / Residue
Choose BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam Carpet Cleaner. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for Streaking / Residue, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Controls and UI
Choose Hoover PowerScrub Carpet Cleaner Machine. It scores 5.0 vs 2.7 for Controls and UI, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better Comparative performance
Choose Kenmore SpotLite Spot Cleaner. It scores 5.0 vs 3.8 for Comparative performance, with a 4.1 overall score.
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#3
Current product
Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner Machine
Choose the Hoover SmartWash if you value easy automatic washing, fast dry-only passes, removable brushes and pet/spot tools. Skip it if you need top-tier deep stain removal, manual spray control,...
Pros: Pet-Ready Features, Tool-change simplicity
Cons: Support and Reliability, Overall durability/longevity
Choose the Kenmore SpotLite for strong spot-cleaning suction, compact storage, and pet or car messes. Skip it if post-cleaning maintenance, loud cordless operation, or the reported reliability/service issue would outweigh...
Pros: Cordless convenience, Comparative performance
Cons: Overall durability/longevity, Support and Reliability