Hoover SmartWash+ Carpet Cleaner vs Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3

The Hoover SmartWash+ is the easier machine to live with: push forward to wash, pull back to dry, with auto-mix and HeatForce drying. The Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 is the heavier-duty cleaner, with a 1200 W motor, 1300 air watts of suction, a vibrating dual cross-action brush and much larger tanks. Owners praise the Hoover's simplicity and suction but report a broken cover and spray leaking from the base. The Rug Doctor is a bulky 47 lb machine with a 1-year warranty, built for deep one-pass cleaning rather than quick touch-ups.

• Choose the Hoover SmartWash+ if you want trigger-free push-pull cleaning, faster drying and a machine light enough to move between rooms.
• Choose the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 if you have large carpeted areas or heavy embedded dirt and want pro-grade suction and big tanks.