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Head-to-head · Best Carpet Cleaners

Hoover PowerDash Pet+ Compact FH50704 vs Shark CarpetXpert EX201

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Shark CarpetXpert EX201 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (3.8 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about Users needing strong suction and spot cleaning — read the strengths below before deciding.

Hoover PowerDash Pet+ Compact FH50704
Ranked #6 in Best Carpet Cleaners
Hoover PowerDash Pet+ Compact FH50704
3 sources2 derived$79.88as of Aug 1

The Hoover PowerDash Pet+ Compact FH50704 is a small, cheap carpet cleaner that does one job well and several jobs not at all. Suction at the nozzle is good for the money and the tanks are larger than the price suggests, so it covers more ground per fill than most machines near it. Against that: a 7.5-inch cleaning path, weak results in upright stain testing, and no hose or attachments for stairs and furniture. Buyers who want a light, low-maintenance machine for routine carpet upkeep are the fit; anyone who needs to lift set-in stains, or to clean anything that is not a floor, is not.

Strengths
  • — Very good suction at the nozzle for the price
  • — Able to cover a larger area than similarly priced models before you need to refill its clean tank or empty its dirty water tank
  • — Easier to clean and maintain than most similarly priced models
Watch-outs
  • — Has a very narrow cleaning path
  • — Didn't perform well in upright stain test
$79.88 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Shark CarpetXpert EX201
Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Carpet Cleaners
Shark CarpetXpert EX201
1 sourceall derived$249as of Aug 1

The Shark CarpetXpert EX201 has strong suction and covers a lot of ground, doing especially well on moisture extraction and spot cleaning with its StainStriker handheld unit. Reviewers noted below-average stain removal on most stains during upright cleaning tests, peanut butter in particular. Its compact design and easy maintenance suit pet owners and households that need both full-area and targeted cleaning, though the small water tank limits coverage between refills. That makes it a solid choice for targeted cleaning and a weaker one for large areas without frequent refills.

Strengths
  • — Excellent suction power at the nozzle, well above average for moisture extraction
  • — Easy maintenance with accessible brushroll and detachable dirty water tank
  • — Versatile design allowing easy transition from upright to spot cleaning
Watch-outs
  • — Below average performance on most stains in upright cleaning test, particularly peanut butter
  • — Small water tanks with below average capacity requiring frequent refills
$249 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Hoover PowerDash Pet+ Compact FH50704

The Hoover PowerDash Pet+ Compact FH50704 stands out for its lightweight design and ease of maintenance compared to the Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet Pro Plus 3588F and Bissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288, but it performs poorly in stain tests, especially upright stains, unlike the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam 4120 which uses steam for better results.

Shark CarpetXpert EX201

The Shark CarpetXpert EX201 surpasses the Bissell TurboClean Pet XL 3746 in suction power and offers better versatility with its StainStriker handheld unit, but it underperforms in upright stain tests compared to the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam 4120, which uses steam for better results. It also has smaller tanks than the Bissell Big Green Pet Pro 3288.

Specs side-by-side

SpecHoover PowerDash Pet+ Compact FH50704Shark CarpetXpert EX201
Tank Capacity78 oz clean water, 52 oz dirty water0.53 gal
Cleaning Path Width7.5 in10 in
Suction1.93 kPa at nozzlemost powerful suction among carpet cleaners we’ve seen
Coverage130 sq ft per clean tank122 Sq. Ft. Per Clean Tank
Dimensions15.25"D x 10.12"W x 43.5"H1"L x 1"W x 1"H
Weight—18 lbs
Cord Length—20 ft
Hose Length—5.1 ft
Material—Foam
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