Best Carpet Cleaners for Home Use: Shark CarpetXpert vs. Bissell ProHeat vs. Big Green vs. Hoover

A home carpet cleaner, more accurately called a carpet extractor, sprays a water-and-detergent mix into the pile, scrubs it with a motorized brush and sucks the dirty water back out. Done well, it pulls out the gray traffic lanes and pet stains a regular vacuum cannot reach. Done badly, it leaves carpet soaked, sticky and smelling of mildew for days.

Most of the difference comes down to suction, weight, the hose and how dry the machine leaves the carpet. This guide compares the main options from Shark, Bissell and Hoover and explains how to choose the right size of machine for a home.

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Quick verdict: the best carpet cleaner for each home

• Best for pet homes: Shark CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker (EX301). An upright with an onboard spot-and-stain hose, a system built to pick up embedded hair without clogging, and a two-formula OXY stain treatment.
• Best value full-size upright: Shark CarpetXpert EX151. The same core cleaning system with a built-in handheld stain tool at 17 pounds, without the pet-hair extras.
• Best for faster drying: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus (3588F). An Express Clean mode that Bissell rates at about 30 minutes to dry, a CleanShot pretreater and an 8-foot hose.
• Best for large homes and heavy soil: Bissell Big Green Professional (86T3). A rental-style machine with a 1.75-gallon tank and a 12-amp motor, at 42 pounds.
• Best budget upright: Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe. SpinScrub brushes, HeatForce drying and stair and upholstery tools, under 19 pounds.
• Best for spots, stairs and upholstery only: a portable spot cleaner such as the Bissell Little Green.

Spec comparison

Model	Shop	Type	Weight	Onboard hose	Drying aid	Standout feature
Shark CarpetXpert HairPro EX301	Buy on Amazon	Mid-size upright	20.7 lb	Yes, built in	Strong suction	StainStriker OXY, hair pickup, self-cleaning hose
Shark CarpetXpert EX151	Buy on Amazon	Mid-size upright	17 lb	Yes, built in	PowerSpray designed not to oversoak	Lowest-cost Shark with a hose
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus	Buy on Amazon	Mid-size upright	17.5 lb	8 ft hose	Express Clean mode, HeatWave	CleanShot pretreater
Bissell Big Green 86T3	Buy on Amazon	Rental-style	42 lb	Yes, with stain tool	12-amp motor	Fewest refills, cleans on both strokes
Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe	Buy on Amazon	Budget upright	Under 19 lb	Yes, with tools	HeatForce	360° SpinScrub brushes

Weights and features come from each manufacturer's listing. Carpet cleaners are often sold in bundles with different formulas under slightly different model numbers, so check the exact model and included solution.

What separates a good carpet cleaner

Suction and dry time

Spraying water is easy; pulling it back out is the hard part. A machine with strong suction leaves the carpet damp rather than wet, which shortens drying time and leaves less detergent behind to attract new dirt. Slow-drying carpet is also a moisture problem. The EPA's guide to mold and moisture says water-damaged areas and items should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.

Two habits help any machine: make extra dry passes (with the spray trigger released) until little water shows in the nozzle, and run fans or the HVAC system afterward.

Weight and maneuverability

Most mid-size uprights in this group weigh 17 to 21 pounds before the tank is filled. Rental-style machines like the Big Green weigh about twice as much, which makes stairs and second floors a workout. A machine that cleans on both the forward and backward stroke covers ground faster.

The hose

A hose and handheld tool turn a carpet cleaner into a stair, upholstery, pet-bed and car-seat cleaner. Shark's CarpetXpert models build the hose and spot tool into the machine; Bissell and Hoover use attachable hoses and tools. For a home with carpeted stairs, a hose is close to essential.

Shark CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker (EX301)

Shark's newer CarpetXpert line pairs a high-speed brushroll with high-pressure PowerSpray and strong suction. The HairPro version is aimed at pet homes: its system is designed to pick up embedded hair without clogging or tangling on the brushroll, and the StainStriker feature mixes two separate formulas on contact to produce an OXY stain treatment instead of relying on a premixed bottle. The handheld spot-and-stain tool extends from the machine for stairs and upholstery, and an onboard self-clean mode flushes the hose and tools after use.

It ships with four tools (including a hair extractor and an XL stain tool), a 12 oz pet formula and a 16 oz OXY multiplier. At 20.7 pounds it is on the heavy side of the mid-size class, and it sits in the premium tier on price. Note that some EX301 listings are renewed units; the link above is the new-unit listing.

Shark CarpetXpert HairPro EX301Check today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

Shark CarpetXpert EX151: the value pick

The EX151 uses the same CarpetXpert cleaning approach (brushroll, PowerSpray and suction) and the same idea of a built-in handheld spot-and-stain tool, but drops the HairPro pet system and the StainStriker dual formula. It uses a dual-tank system to keep clean and dirty water separate, ships with a 3.5-inch reversible bristle tool, an integrated crevice tool and a 7-inch wide-path tool, and weighs 17 pounds. Shark says PowerSpray penetrates the fibers without oversoaking them, which helps drying.

For homes without heavy pet hair, it delivers most of what the EX301 does at a lower price.

Shark CarpetXpert EX151Check today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus: drying speed

Bissell's mid-size upright has a 1-gallon clean tank, an 8-foot hose, a 25-foot cord and a weight of 17.5 pounds. Its main selling point is choice of modes: Max Clean for heavy soil and Express Clean, which Bissell says leaves carpet dry in about 30 minutes after two wet and two dry passes. A CleanShot pretreater sprays concentrated formula onto stains before the main pass.

One detail worth knowing: the HeatWave feature does not heat water. According to Bissell's product page, it uses motor heat to help hold the temperature of warm tap water steady, and Bissell recommends filling with warm tap water, not boiling water.

Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro PlusCheck today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

Bissell Big Green Professional: rental power at home

The Big Green is built like the machines rented at hardware stores. It holds 1.75 gallons of clean water, so it needs fewer trips to the sink, uses rotating DirtLifter brushes driven by a 12-amp motor, and cleans on both the forward and backward pass. A stain tool covers stairs and upholstery.

The trade-off is size: at 42 pounds it is hard to carry upstairs and takes real storage space. For large, fully carpeted homes, frequent deep cleaning or a household that would otherwise rent a machine a few times a year, it can pay for itself. For a few rooms and a staircase, a mid-size upright is easier to live with.

Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe: the budget choice

Hoover's PowerScrub Deluxe uses 360° SpinScrub brushes, a Dual V nozzle designed to spread suction evenly and a HeatForce feature for faster drying. It weighs under 19 pounds and comes with stair, upholstery and crevice tools plus a bottle of Hoover's Oxy solution in this bundle. It lacks the stain-treatment extras of the Shark and Bissell models, but for occasional whole-room cleaning on a budget, it covers the basics.

How to get a better result from any carpet cleaner

1. Vacuum thoroughly first. Extractors are not designed to pick up loose dry soil and hair, which turns to mud when wet. A strong vacuum pass, like those covered in the cordless stick vacuum guide, makes the wash more effective.
2. Pretreat stains and traffic lanes. Give the pretreatment a few minutes to work before the main pass.
3. Use the right formula and the right amount. Too much detergent leaves sticky residue that resoils quickly. Many manufacturers specify their own formulas and may limit warranty coverage for others.
4. Test an inconspicuous spot. Wool, natural fibers and some area rugs need special care; check the carpet maker's cleaning instructions before using hot water or OXY products.
5. Do more dry passes than seems necessary. Then increase airflow with fans and keep foot traffic off until the carpet is dry.
6. Empty and rinse the dirty tank right away. Let the tank, brushroll and hose dry before storing to prevent odors.

Own, rent or hire a professional?

Owning a machine makes sense for pet households and families that spot clean often. Renting suits a once-a-year cleaning. Carpet warranties also matter: some major carpet makers require proof of periodic hot-water extraction cleaning to keep stain and soil coverage valid, and some accept a do-it-yourself machine only if it is certified for that use. Homeowners should read the carpet warranty before relying only on a home machine. The Carpet and Rug Institute runs a Seal of Approval program that certifies cleaning products and equipment that remove soil without harming carpet.

Clean carpet also matters when a house goes on the market, since buyers notice stains and odors quickly. This list of places sellers forget to clean before listing covers other spots that get overlooked, and an air purifier sized to the room helps with lingering pet odors after cleaning.

Who should buy which

• Homes with shedding pets and frequent accidents: Shark CarpetXpert HairPro EX301.
• Most homes that want a hose and good results without the premium price: Shark CarpetXpert EX151.
• Households that need carpet usable again quickly: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus.
• Large, fully carpeted homes: Bissell Big Green Professional.
• Occasional cleaning on a tight budget: Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe.
• Stairs, upholstery and car seats only: a portable spot cleaner.