What to know first
- Automatic mixing means no measuring detergent into the tank.
- No trigger to hold. Push forward to dispense solution, pull back to extract and start drying.
- Has an 8-foot hose for stairs and upholstery, plus a pre-treater wand.
- Dry-only mode applies heat on the forward pass to help speed drying.
- At 20.5 lb, it is a full-size machine but not in the heaviest class.
What the Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner is
Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner is a full-size upright carpet cleaner meant for washing and extracting dirty water from carpeted floors. Think of it as a machine you pull out a few times a year (or more often in pet homes) to reset traffic lanes, muddy paw prints, and that overall dingy look that vacuuming cannot fix.
Unlike a lot of uprights that rely on a trigger and manual dosing, this one is designed around automatic operation. The basic workflow is simple: push the machine forward to lay down cleaning solution, then pull it back to pull the dirty water back out of the carpet and start the drying process.
It also supports above-floor cleaning with an included hose and tools, so you can do stairs and upholstery without buying a separate machine. That said, its core job is still whole-room carpet cleaning, not being a compact stair specialist.
Why it stands out
The standout feature is the automatic solution mixing. Instead of measuring detergent and hoping you got it right, the SmartWash Pet mixes cleaning solution with water in the tank for you. In real life, that means fewer sticky measuring cups, fewer spills, and less chance you accidentally over-soap the carpet and leave residue behind.
The other big win is the push forward, pull back routine. You do not have to squeeze a trigger to keep solution flowing. Forward is the wash pass, backward is the extraction pass. That makes the machine feel more intuitive, especially if you are the person in the house who ends up doing the cleaning but does not want to memorize a bunch of steps.
For drying, it includes a dry-only mode that applies heat on the forward pass to help speed things up. Heated cleaning claims can be confusing in this category, but the practical takeaway here is that the machine is built with a mode specifically aimed at getting you to a drier carpet sooner after you have already cleaned.
Finally, it comes with an 8-foot hose and tools, including a pre-treater wand. That gives you a way to hit a spot before you run the full machine over the room, and it gives you some reach for stairs and upholstery without needing a second cleaner right away.
What it is like to own
Day to day, the SmartWash Pet is appealing because it removes the two most annoying parts of using an upright carpet cleaner: holding a trigger for long passes and measuring solution. If you have ever stopped mid-room to wonder whether you are dispensing enough cleaner or too much, this machine is built to take that decision off your plate.
The cleaning rhythm is straightforward. You push forward to wash, then pull back to extract. That backward pass matters because water recovery is what keeps carpets from staying wet for ages. Better extraction generally means less moisture left behind, which helps with drying time and reduces the chance of leaving detergent in the fibers.
For stairs and upholstery, the included 8-foot hose gives you workable reach, and the pre-treater wand is there for targeted messes. Still, an upright is an upright. If you are doing a lot of steps, you will probably prefer pairing this with a dedicated portable spot cleaner so you are not hauling a full-size machine around for tight spaces.
Storage and handling are typical for a full-size carpet cleaner. It weighs 20.5 pounds before you add water, so it is not featherlight, but it is also not in the heaviest tier of uprights.
What to know before you buy
The cord is 22 feet, which is decent but shorter than some other full-size carpet cleaners. In a larger room, that can mean you plan your passes around outlet placement or grab an extension cord that is rated for the job.
This model includes a dry-only mode that applies heat, but do not assume that means it heats cold water like a kettle. In carpet cleaners, “heated” often means maintaining warmth or blowing warm air to support drying. You still get the best results by using warm tap water and doing extra extraction passes.
If pet urine is your main problem, remember that odor can soak into padding or even the subfloor. A carpet cleaner can help with surface cleaning, but it cannot always solve deep odor issues on its own. In those cases, you may need a dedicated enzyme treatment and, sometimes, more than one cleaning cycle.
The specs that matter
You do not have to measure detergent. That makes setup faster and reduces the chance of using too much solution and leaving residue behind.
It feels more like vacuuming than operating a sprayer. The backward pass focuses on water recovery, which is what helps carpets dry.
Useful when you want to focus on pulling moisture out after cleaning, or when you want extra help getting carpets drier sooner.
This is a full-size machine you will push around a room. It is not ultralight, but it is also not in the heaviest class, which helps with maneuvering and carrying.
Reach affects how often you have to switch outlets. In bigger rooms, a shorter cord can slow you down.
An 8-foot hose gives you practical reach for stairs and upholstery without dragging the whole machine right up to the spot.
Tools are what make an upright usable beyond floors. A pre-treater wand helps you hit a stain directly before you do full passes over the area.
Who this product fits
You want to deep-clean wall-to-wall carpet without a learning curve
Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner is built for a simple routine. You push forward to wash and pull back to extract, so you can focus on covering the room instead of managing a trigger or fiddling with settings.
You have pets and need regular refreshes, not just emergency spot cleaning
This is a full-size upright meant for whole-room cleaning, and it can pull up the kind of embedded grime that makes carpets look dull over time. The included pre-treater wand also gives you a way to target a mess before you run the machine over the area.
You occasionally need to do stairs or upholstery, but floors are the priority
The included 8-foot hose and tools let you clean steps and furniture without buying a second machine immediately. For frequent stair work, you will still likely want a portable spot cleaner, but this can cover the basics.
What else to compare
If the SmartWash Pet is not the right fit, these options make more sense for specific priorities.
Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner FAQ
Does the Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner heat the water?
It has a dry-only mode that applies heat on the forward pass to help with drying. In this category, “heated” usually supports drying or maintains warmth rather than heating cold water from scratch.
Do you have to hold a trigger while cleaning with the Hoover SmartWash Pet?
No. The machine is designed so you push forward to dispense solution and pull back to extract dirty water and start drying. That automatic operation is the main point of this model.
Is the Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner good for stairs and upholstery?
It can handle them, thanks to the included 8-foot hose and tools. But it is still a full-size upright, so if stairs and upholstery are your main job, a dedicated portable spot cleaner is usually easier to use.
How heavy is the Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner?
It weighs 20.5 pounds. Keep in mind carpet cleaners also get heavier in use once you add water, so weight matters most if you will carry it up and down stairs.
What cord length does the Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner have?
It has a 22-foot power cord. That is workable for most rooms, but it is shorter than some other full-size models, so outlet planning matters in larger spaces.
Should you buy the Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner?
Buy the Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner if you want a full-size upright that makes carpet cleaning feel straightforward. Automatic mixing and the push forward, pull back routine remove a lot of the usual friction, which is exactly what helps people actually use the machine when the carpets need it.
Skip it if your main goal is stairs and upholstery, or if you want a longer cord or a true steam-producing model. For most homes that want an easy, value-priced upright for routine whole-room carpet cleaning, the Hoover SmartWash Pet Automatic Carpet Cleaner is a smart buy.