We tested the Hoover SmartWash+ and loved its user-friendly design

Carpets might not look stained, but they collect dirt extremely quickly, even if there are no pets or children in the house. The Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner offers a hassle-free solution to effortlessly maintaining your carpets that’s as simple as vacuuming. 

Instead of spending time and money to rent a professional shampooing machine, this Hoover model removes embedded dirt in carpets and comes with accessories to help make furniture look like new again. Plus, Hoover also touts a fast drying time. To determine if the Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner is as effective and easy to use as it claims, the BestReviews Testing Lab tried it out.

What is the Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner?

The testing team found the Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner to be incredibly easy to use.

Product Specifications
Cord Length: 22’ | Dimensions: 18.9" D x 13" W x 43.5" H | Water Reservoir Capacity: 1 gal | Weight: 18.5 lb | Cleaning Path: 12” 

The Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner is a completely automatic home carpet cleaning machine. There is no measuring of solution, no spraying down of carpets and no figuring out buttons or settings. The machine washes when you push forward and dries when you pull back, making its use as simple as vacuuming. It also includes a hose and several attachments to clean upholstery and stairs and get closer to the baseboards. When compared to other household carpet cleaners we’ve tested, it’s hands down the most user-friendly while still cleaning thoroughly.

See how it compares to other products in its space. Check out our reviews for the best carpet cleaners.

Pros

• It automatically pushes forward when the machine’s on, so you don’t have to use much force. 
• It’s extremely user-friendly. 
• Automatic mixing and dispensing of cleaning solution makes it even simpler to operate.
• Several accessories for upholstery and getting close to baseboards are included. 
• Simple and easy to maintain. 
• It features a large water tank for longer cleaning sessions. 
• It has a Dry Only setting to help shorten the drying time. 

Cons

• It’s heavy to lift. 
• It uses a lot of cleaning solution, and you can’t control the amount. 

Testing the Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner

The testing team appreciated the Hoover SmartWash+’s sturdy wheels that made this heavy machine easy to push over carpeting.

Based on previous experience with home carpet cleaners and common household messes, we conducted a variety of tests to fully assess the machine and provide accurate feedback. We also test our products in real-world environments and situations.   

Weight and maneuverability

One common issue with home carpet cleaners is weight. Most machines are bigger and heavier than the average vacuum, which also makes them more difficult to maneuver. At just under 20 pounds, the Hoover SmartWash+ is a heavy machine. It’s not easy to pick up and move by itself. However, it does have two durable and smoothly rolling wheels on the back that make it effortless to roll. Whether you’re putting it away in a closet or taking it to a room to use, it should be manageable for most adults to move on its wheels. The weight also isn’t an issue when cleaning because this model moves automatically as you clean. In fact, it moves so effortlessly that we had to slow it down a little over spots we really wanted to focus on.

Carpet fiber condition

To ensure that the Hoover SmartWash+ was removing stains without damaging the carpet, we assessed the condition of the carpet fibers before and after. We used this cleaner on low-pile, dense, flat carpet that’s known for being durable and able to stand up to foot traffic. We did not notice any difference or damage in the carpet fibers before and after using this automatic carpet cleaner.

Maintenance

Carpet cleaners require more maintenance and care than the average vacuum cleaner or mop, especially if you want to keep it functioning properly for a long time. For the Hoover SmartWash+, the manual outlines the steps to take to clean out the dirty water and grime. While there are several steps, we found each to be simple, and all the parts or tanks can be added or removed without much effort. The steps are as follows:

First, remove the tanks (fresh water, dirty water and cleaning solution) and rinse them out. Next, remove and rinse the nozzle. (This takes a bit of time to learn, but it’s all outlined in the manual.) While the nozzle is out, take out the brushes, clean them under running water and replace them. Last, if you used the hose and attachments, it’s important to rinse each of these. While it’s slightly time-consuming, we thought each component was fairly easy to remove and that everything cleaned well and looked like new.

Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner price and where to buy

The Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner retails at Amazon for $279.99.

Hoover Smartwash+ setup

It required no tools to set up the Hoover SmartWash+.

Getting the Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner ready for use was simple and quick. It requires no tools, and the only assembly involves sliding the handle into the machine until it clicks into place. Before using the carpet cleaner, you also need to fill the clean water tank and put it back on the machine. A small solution container with a screw-off cap located on the back of the machine also needs to be filled. It slides in and out. You don’t have to worry about the dirty water tank until you’re done cleaning.

Cleaning performance

Use distilled or filtered water to prevent any mineral buildup that can keep the carpet cleaner from functioning properly

While the Hoover SmartWash+ is a fully automatic carpet cleaner, it’s also intuitive and powerful enough to tackle tough stains. We tested it on a carpet with an old stain, and it was able to remove almost the entire stain and leave the carpet looking newer than it has in years.

Automatic Cleaning Technology

To operate the machine, step on the handle-release pedal to recline the handle and step on the power button. You don’t need to select any settings or push any other buttons. Instead, this model automatically releases the solution and washes when you push it forward and dries as you pull it back. Plus, you can be sure of the mode it’s in because a Wash or Dry light is on. The only button it has is a Dry Only button that allows you to dry whether you’re pushing forward or pulling backward, and it also illuminates the Dry light.

FlexForce PowerBrushes performance

Hoover touts its impressive cleaning ability thanks to the FlexForce PowerBrushes that are designed to gently remove deeply embedded dirt and pet messes. They’re supposed to be tough on grime but gentle on floors. Based on our testing, the brushes were able to remove tough stains from the carpet without damaging the fibers.

HeatForce drying efficiency

You can speed up the drying time by turning on a fan or dehumidifier in the room.

One reason why homeowners don’t regularly clean their carpets is the lengthy drying time. Most people aren’t able to stay off their carpets for 12 to 24 hours. To solve this problem, the Hoover SmartWash+ features powerful HeatForce technology that extracts more water and dirt. After washing our carpets and using the normal drying cycle by pulling the machine back, our carpets were still pretty wet, and thanks to the clear design, we could see that water was still being pulled up. 

We put the machine into the Dry Only cycle and went over each area until it was no longer picking up water, about two more passes. The carpet was noticeably drier after this and even comfortable enough to walk on if necessary. We also wiped the carpet with a paper towel and picked up no water. We timed the drying process, which took between six and eight hours to get completely dry. You can wash your carpets before bed, and they will be dry when you wake up.

Features and accessories

The Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner comes with several attachments, including a two-in-one antimicrobial brush, stair tool, eight-foot hose, accessory storage bag, sample bottle of cleaning solution and mat. Attaching the tools didn’t feel completely intuitive and required us to pay close attention to the manual, unusual for this carpet cleaner. But once you get it, it’s simple to use and do again. One end of the hose attaches to the clearly marked connection port, while the other end attaches to the tool of your choice. When using the tools, you have complete control over the amount of solution you want to release using the trigger on the hose.

2-in-1 antimicrobial bristle brush

A brush accessory with a rubber insert is more hygienic for pet messes because the nubs are easier to clean and sanitize than bristles.

Hoover calls its pet tool an antimicrobial brush that helps prevent bacterial growth and odors. It comes with two types of interchangeable inserts: a rubber nub for hygienic stain removal and unpleasant stains and a bristle insert for scrubbing. We used this tool to clean an upholstered chair that has seen better days. We pretreated the entire area and scrubbed it with the bristle insert before sucking up the water to really get the built-in stains. While we couldn’t sit on the chair right away because it was slightly damp, it was completely fine to sit on by morning.

Stair tool

This tool is perfectly designed to clean every groove on stairs and get close to baseboards and walls. Instead of pretreating the stairs, we pulled the trigger while we pressed the tool into the carpet to clean and suck up water simultaneously. It worked extremely well, and we realized just how dirty the carpet was even though it didn’t appear stained. 

Other features and accessories

In addition to the tools, the Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner also comes with an accessory storage bag, sample bottle of cleaning solution and mat. The sample bottle of solution was helpful and lasted long enough to clean a corner of the carpet. However, we needed to purchase a full-size bottle to do a whole room. The storage bag is convenient for storing all the tools so they won’t be misplaced. The mat provides an excellent way to keep water off the floor or carpet in storage or between uses.

How does it compare to other carpet cleaners we’ve tested?

In addition to the Hoover SmartWash+, we also tested the Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner. That model isn’t automatic, has a shorter cord and requires you to dispense the solution and dispense plain water to rinse. You also have to go over each area several times. Overall, we think the Hoover SmartWash+ removed more stains and was much more user-friendly than the comparable model.

Should you get the Hoover SmartWash+?

The testing team found the Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner to be an excellent addition to any home with carpet.

Overall, we found the Hoover SmartWash+ Automatic Carpet Cleaner to be as powerful and easy to use as the brand claims. It requires little to no assembly, needs only simple maintenance and has no settings to change. It also automatically dispenses the solution and features HeatForce drying technology so you can walk on your carpet much sooner. Based on our tests, we recommend the Hoover SmartWash+ to anyone with carpet in their home or apartment as long as you have a place to store the machine. People with pets, children and/or lots of foot traffic would definitely benefit from owning this automatic and simple to use carpet cleaner.