A half-gallon tank on a twenty-pound machine turns one room into four trips to the sink. That ratio decides more about living with an extractor than any brush claim.
Everyone in this category says they tested twenty vacuums. We have not tested any, and we say so. What we do instead is read the manuals, compile the published specifications, and work out what each machine costs to run for three years — the method is written out in full.
We earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend or the order we recommend it in. Full disclosure.
The short answer: the Bissell TurboClean PET 3948. A full gallon of clean tank, a 4-row DeepReach brush, a 7-foot hose and a self-cleanout tool at 19.2 lb — the best balance on this page of capacity, agitation and reach. If you have stairs and want the lightest full-size machine, the Hoover PowerDash Pet is 12.5 lb, and it holds half as much.
Capacity against weight is the ratio that matters
An extractor's job is to put water into carpet and pull it back out. Every gallon of that has to be carried to a sink twice — once to fill, once to empty. So the number that decides how it feels to use is not suction or brush count. It is how much water you get per trip, per pound of machine you are pushing.
The spread here is stark. The Bissell TurboClean 3952 gives you a full gallon at 16.3 lb. The Hoover SmartWash Pet gives you half a gallon at 20.5 lb — a bigger machine carrying less water. That is not a small difference over a whole floor; it is roughly double the sink trips for more effort per pass.
What we looked at
Clean tank capacity, weighted heaviest, because refills are the work.
Weight, because these are heavy machines and stairs are unforgiving.
Brush system — one row, four rows, five counter-rotating, or two counter-rotating brushrolls.
Hose and tools, which decide whether the machine can do stairs, sofas and car seats at all.
Published drying claims, where they exist. Only Bissell's ProHeat Express mode publishes a figure.
Warranty, which ranges from Hoover's 1 year on the PowerDash to 5 years on the SmartWash.
#
Product
Best for
Score
Price
01
Bissell TurboClean PET Upright Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (3948)The 3952 plus a 7-foot hose and a self-cleanout tool — and the tool is what makes it usable on stairs and a sofa.
Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe Carpet CleanerFive counter-rotating brushes, dual tanks, an 8-foot hose and a two-year warranty — the most complete kit at this price.
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus (3588F)Dual brushrolls, a heater and an Express mode Bissell rates at about 30 minutes to dry — the only machine here that addresses drying time at all.
Bissell TurboClean Upright Carpet Cleaner (3952)A 1-gallon tank and a 4-row brush at 16.3 lb — the cheapest full-size extractor that is not a compromise on the part that matters.
Shark CarpetXpert with Built-in Stain Cleaner (EX151)The only extractor here whose deep-clean claim names its test standard — ASTM F2828 — which is exactly the kind of specificity we reward.
Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet CleanerPush to clean, pull to dry, no trigger to hold — and a five-year warranty, which is the longest published on this site by three years.
Bissell TurboClean Pet XL Upright Carpet Cleaner (3746)A 10-inch path and a 1-gallon tank: fewer passes, fewer refills, and 23.3 lb of machine to push around while you do it.
Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner12.5 lb with HeatForce drying — the only full-size machine here light enough to carry upstairs without thinking about it.
Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet Cleaner (4075)7 lb, 16 ounces, and a self-cleaning hose tool — the machine most people should buy before a full-size extractor.
Scores are ours, from the published rubric on the How We Pick page. They are editorial judgments about published specifications — not test results. We have not handled these machines.
01 · Best for pet messes
Bissell TurboClean PET Upright Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (3948)
The 3952 plus a 7-foot hose and a self-cleanout tool — and the tool is what makes it usable on stairs and a sofa.
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+The self-cleanout tool rinses itself in one press, which is the single most annoying job on any extractor
+7-foot hose reaches a full flight of stairs from the landing
+Same 1-gallon tank and 4-row brush as the cheaper 3952
Where it stops
−19.2 lb, nearly three pounds more than the 3952
−Still no heater
−Pet formula costs more per bottle than the standard version
Who it is for
Pet households where the messes are on stairs, sofas and pet beds as much as the floor.
Skip it if
You only ever clean flat open carpet. The hose and tools are the entire price difference and you would never unclip them.
Our score: 7.4 out of 10
Tank capacity8.5
Brush system7.5
Tools and reach8.5
Weight and handling6.0
Running cost6.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
02 · Most brushes for the money
Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner
Five counter-rotating brushes, dual tanks, an 8-foot hose and a two-year warranty — the most complete kit at this price.
8 feet, with upholstery, pet and crevice tools and a storage bag
Mixing
Auto Mix — meters the water-to-solution ratio automatically
Warranty
2-year limited
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+Five brushes attack pile from multiple angles rather than one
+Auto Mix removes the guesswork that wastes formula and leaves residue
+8-foot hose with three tools and a bag to keep them in
+2-year warranty
Where it stops
−18.5 lb and a wide 21.9-inch body — awkward on stairs and in a closet
−Five brushes means five things to clear hair out of
−Hoover formula is a permanent consumable, same as Bissell's
Who it is for
Whole-house carpet plus stairs and upholstery, where one machine has to do everything.
Skip it if
You want the lightest thing that works. This is the most machine on the page and the weight is the price of that.
Our score: 7.8 out of 10
Tank capacity8.5
Brush system9.5
Tools and reach9.0
Weight and handling5.0
Running cost7.0
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
03 · Best heated cleaner
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus (3588F)
Dual brushrolls, a heater and an Express mode Bissell rates at about 30 minutes to dry — the only machine here that addresses drying time at all.
MAX Clean, and Express Clean rated to leave carpets dry in about 30 minutes
Hose
8 feet
Tools
2-in-1 pet upholstery tool and 3" tough stain tool
Pre-treatment
CleanShot pre-treater with OXY, built in
Formulas
Pro Max Clean + Protect and Pet Pro Oxy Urine Eliminator, both included
Machine weight
Not published in a comparable form on the listing
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+Dual counter-rotating brushrolls double the agitation of the single-brush machines
+A published drying-time claim, which almost nobody in this category makes
+Built-in pre-treater means you are not carrying a spray bottle around as well
+8-foot hose, the longest here
Where it stops
−Two formulas included means two formulas to keep buying
−The most expensive machine on this page
−Bissell does not publish a comparable machine weight for this model
Who it is for
Households with recurring pet accidents, where the same spots get cleaned repeatedly.
Skip it if
You clean carpets twice a year. This is a machine that repays frequent use; for occasional deep cleans, renting is the better arithmetic.
Our score: 7.6 out of 10
Tank capacity8.5
Brush system9.5
Tools and reach9.0
Weight and handling5.5
Running cost5.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
04 · Best under $150
Bissell TurboClean Upright Carpet Cleaner (3952)
A 1-gallon tank and a 4-row brush at 16.3 lb — the cheapest full-size extractor that is not a compromise on the part that matters.
Designed around Bissell Pro Max Clean + Protect with StainProtect — an ongoing consumable
Above-floor tools
Not included on this model
Cleaning path width
Not published
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+1-gallon tank at the bottom of the price band, which is what saves the sink trips
+4-row brush is the same agitation as the dearer TurboClean models
+16.3 lb is manageable up a flight of stairs, unlike the 23 lb XL
+Bissell formula is stocked in ordinary supermarkets, not just online
Where it stops
−No hose and no above-floor tools — carpet and rugs only
−No heater, so it relies on the temperature of the water you pour in
−The formula is a permanent running cost
Who it is for
Flat carpet and area rugs in a small-to-mid home, on the lowest sensible budget.
Skip it if
You need to clean stairs or upholstery. There is no hose on this model; the 3948 PET adds one and that is the whole reason it exists.
Our score: 6.9 out of 10
Tank capacity8.5
Brush system7.5
Tools and reach3.0
Weight and handling7.0
Running cost7.0
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
05 · Most checkable claim
Shark CarpetXpert with Built-in Stain Cleaner (EX151)
The only extractor here whose deep-clean claim names its test standard — ASTM F2828 — which is exactly the kind of specificity we reward.
Built-in handheld spot and stain unit that extends from the machine
Formula
12 oz Deep Clean Essential formula included; ongoing purchase required
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+Names ASTM F2828 as its test method — the only carpet cleaner here that does
+Built-in handheld spot cleaner means one machine instead of an upright plus a Little Green
+Three tools and a dual-tank system
+PowerSpray is designed not to oversoak, which is the usual cause of slow drying
Where it stops
−30.4 fl oz is well under a gallon, so a big room means refills
−Shark's formula is the least widely stocked of the three brands here
−17 lb plus a tall body
Who it is for
One-machine households that want both the deep clean and the spot tool without buying two.
Skip it if
You already own a portable spot cleaner. The built-in stain unit is the headline feature and you would be paying for it twice.
Our score: 7.2 out of 10
Tank capacity5.5
Brush system9.0
Tools and reach9.5
Weight and handling5.5
Running cost6.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
06 · Longest warranty
Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner
Push to clean, pull to dry, no trigger to hold — and a five-year warranty, which is the longest published on this site by three years.
Motion-sensing: push forward to clean, pull back to dry. No trigger
Brushes
FlexForce Pet PowerBrushes, odor-resistant
Tools
Detachable Spot Chaser pre-treat wand, pet tool, 8-foot hose
Mixing
Auto Mix and auto-dry
Warranty
5 years
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+A 5-year warranty is an unusual thing to publish on a machine full of pumps and seals, and it is worth real money
+No trigger to hold is a genuine relief over a whole room
+Spot Chaser pre-treat wand is detachable and useful on its own
Where it stops
−0.5-gallon tank on a 20.5 lb machine is the worst capacity-to-weight ratio here
−The tall 43.5-inch body needs proper storage height
−Automatic operation means less control over a stubborn patch
Who it is for
Buyers who value the warranty and hate holding a trigger.
Skip it if
You have a lot of open carpet. A half-gallon tank on a big floor means constant refills, and the Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe holds twice as much.
Our score: 6.9 out of 10
Tank capacity4.5
Brush system8.0
Tools and reach8.5
Weight and handling5.0
Running cost7.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
07 · Best for big carpeted homes
Bissell TurboClean Pet XL Upright Carpet Cleaner (3746)
A 10-inch path and a 1-gallon tank: fewer passes, fewer refills, and 23.3 lb of machine to push around while you do it.
Pro Max Clean and Protect plus a bonus pet stain and odor formula included
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+10-inch path is the widest published here — measurably fewer passes across a big room
+Two formulas in the box
+Above-floor tools included
Where it stops
−23.3 lb is the heaviest machine on this site and stairs are genuinely hard work
−Big footprint to store
−The wide path is wasted in small rooms full of furniture
Who it is for
Single-story homes with a lot of open carpet.
Skip it if
You live over more than one floor. Twenty-three pounds up a staircase is a two-person job, and the lighter 3948 does the same clean more slowly.
Our score: 6.8 out of 10
Tank capacity8.5
Brush system7.5
Tools and reach7.5
Weight and handling4.0
Running cost6.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
08 · Lightest full-size extractor
Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner
12.5 lb with HeatForce drying — the only full-size machine here light enough to carry upstairs without thinking about it.
HeatForce technology for faster drying, manufacturer-stated
Warranty
1 year
Formula
Hoover carpet solution — an ongoing consumable; sample included
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+12.5 lb, nearly four pounds lighter than the cheapest Bissell upright
+Antimicrobial brushroll, which is Hoover addressing the smell problem at the source
+Small enough to store in an apartment closet
Where it stops
−0.5-gallon tank is half the Bissell uprights' — twice the sink trips
−1-year warranty against Bissell's 2-year on the ProHeat line
−No above-floor hose on this model
Who it is for
Apartments, condos and RVs — Hoover's own stated use case, and an accurate one.
Skip it if
You have a lot of carpet. The half-gallon tank turns a big room into a refill exercise, and the Bissell 3952 costs about the same.
Our score: 6.4 out of 10
Tank capacity4.5
Brush system7.0
Tools and reach4.0
Weight and handling8.5
Running cost7.0
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
09 · Best spot cleaner
Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet Cleaner (4075)
7 lb, 16 ounces, and a self-cleaning hose tool — the machine most people should buy before a full-size extractor.
4" tough stain tool with a removable lens, plus the HydroRinse self-cleaning hose tool
Formula
8 oz Bissell Little Green formula included
Power
Corded electric
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+7 lb and stores in a cupboard, so it comes out for a single spill instead of waiting for a deep-clean day
+HydroRinse flushes the hose, which is the thing that makes portable extractors smell
+Handles car interiors, pet beds and upholstery as well as carpet
Where it stops
−16 ounces is a few spots, not a room
−No powered brush — you provide the scrubbing
−It is not a substitute for a full-size machine and does not claim to be
Who it is for
Almost everyone. Most carpet problems are spots, and most people buy a 20-pound machine to deal with them.
Skip it if
You want to deep clean a whole carpeted house. This is a spot machine; use it alongside a rental, not instead of one.
Our score: 6.6 out of 10
Tank capacity3.0
Brush system4.0
Tools and reach8.5
Weight and handling9.5
Running cost8.0
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
The one to skip
Skip the Bissell TurboClean Pet XL 3746 unless your home is single-story. Its 10-inch cleaning path is the widest published here and genuinely saves passes on a big open floor. But at 23.3 lb it is the heaviest machine on this site, and getting it up a flight of stairs is a two-handed job you will do once and then quietly stop doing. The 3948 does the same clean more slowly and weighs four pounds less.
A second caution rather than a skip: the Hoover SmartWash Pet's 5-year warranty is genuinely excellent and its 0.5-gallon tank on a 20.5 lb body is the worst capacity-to-weight ratio here. Buy it for the warranty and the trigger-free operation with your eyes open about the refills.
The running cost nobody puts on the box
Every machine on this page is designed around a proprietary cleaning formula. Bissell's Pro Max Clean + Protect and Pet Pro Oxy. Hoover's carpet solutions. Shark's Deep Clean Essential. The machine is the cheap part; the formula is the part you buy forever.
We are not going to print a three-year total, because formula prices move, consumption depends entirely on how much carpet you clean, and this site only shows prices that come from the live price layer. What we will do is state the shape of it plainly, because the sticker price systematically hides it — and because it is the strongest argument for reading rent versus buy before you commit.
The published comparison
Manufacturer-published figures, ordered as this page ranks them.
Machine
Clean tank
Weight
Brushes
Hose
Warranty
Bissell TurboClean PET 3948
1 gal
19.2 lb
4-row DeepReach
7 ft
Not published
Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe
3.8 L
18.5 lb
5 counter-rotating SpinScrub
8 ft
2 years
Bissell ProHeat 2X 3588F
3.79 L
Not published
Dual DirtLifter
8 ft
Not published
Bissell TurboClean 3952
1 gal
16.3 lb
4-row DeepReach
None
Not published
Shark CarpetXpert EX151
30.4 fl oz
17 lb
High-speed brushroll
Built-in handheld
Not published
Hoover SmartWash Pet
0.5 gal
20.5 lb
FlexForce Pet
8 ft
5 years
Bissell TurboClean Pet XL 3746
1 gal
23.3 lb
4-row DeepReach
Yes
Not published
Hoover PowerDash Pet
0.5 gal
12.5 lb
PowerSpin Pet
None
1 year
Bissell Little Green Mini 4075
16 oz
7 lb
None — you scrub
Yes, it is the machine
Not published
Most people should buy the smallest machine on this list
This is the honest recommendation and it sits awkwardly with a ranked roundup, so we will say it plainly: most carpet problems are spots, not floors. A Bissell Little Green Mini weighs 7 lb, stores in a cupboard, and therefore comes out for a single spill. A 20 lb upright gets wheeled out twice a year.
If your honest answer to "what am I actually cleaning?" is "the place the dog was sick" rather than "the whole living room", buy the portable and rent a big machine on the two occasions a year you genuinely need one. That combination costs less and gets used more.
What we cannot tell you
How well any of these extract. There is one published test standard in the group — Shark cites ASTM F2828 for the CarpetXpert — and no common basis for comparing the rest, because Bissell and Hoover both make claims against unnamed competitors. We have not run any of these machines. What we can compare is capacity, weight, brush design, tools and warranty, all of which are published and all of which decide whether the machine gets used. Our method page sets out the rest.
Common questions
What is the best budget carpet cleaner?+−
The Bissell TurboClean PET 3948 on published specifications: a full gallon of clean tank, a 4-row DeepReach brush, a 7-foot hose and a self-cleanout tool at 19.2 lb. That is the best balance here of capacity, agitation and reach.
Do I need to vacuum before using a carpet cleaner?+−
Yes, and every manufacturer's manual says so. An extractor sprays liquid into the pile; if dry soil is still there you are making mud, which is harder to extract than either component was on its own.
How much does carpet cleaner solution cost?+−
It is the largest ongoing cost of owning one of these machines and it depends entirely on how much carpet you clean. Every machine here is designed around its manufacturer's own formula — Bissell's, Hoover's or Shark's. The sticker price hides it, which is why the rent-versus-buy comparison matters.
How long does carpet take to dry after cleaning?+−
Only one machine here publishes a figure: Bissell rates the ProHeat 2X 3588F's Express Clean mode at leaving carpets dry in about 30 minutes. Hoover publishes HeatForce as a faster-drying technology without a time. Everyone else publishes nothing, and we are not going to estimate it.
Is a portable spot cleaner enough?+−
For most households most of the year, yes. Most carpet problems are spots, and a 7 lb machine that lives in a cupboard actually gets used — which is more than can be said for a 20 lb upright wheeled out twice a year.
What is the lightest carpet cleaner?+−
Of the full-size uprights, the Hoover PowerDash Pet at a published 12.5 lb. Of everything here, the Bissell Little Green Mini at 7 lb — though that is a portable spot cleaner rather than a floor machine.
Sources
Manufacturer-published specifications — Every runtime, wattage, capacity, weight, filtration and warranty figure quoted on this page is the manufacturer's own published number for that model, retrieved September 1, 2026. Where a manufacturer publishes no figure, the page says 'Not published' rather than estimating one.
Sweep & Suction — How We Pick — Our published method, including the scoring rubric, the three-year running-cost formula and an explicit statement of what published specifications cannot tell you.
