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Carpet Cleaners: Ratings of Sources
Total of 9 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. Amazon.com
As of June 2008
Steam Cleaners
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our Assessment

This is the best source we found for carpet cleaner advice, as many models are reviewed, with some netting over 200 write-ups. The runaway winner is the Hoover SteamVac with Clean Surge F5914-900. Over 490 users have collectively given it a near-perfect 4.5-star rating. But users will want to check model numbers on Hoovers. That's because other models, like the Hoover F7222-900 SteamVac Dual V, fare only average among reviews here. Also highly rated is the Bissell 9400 ProHeat 2X Select Upright, with more than 175 reviews and a four-star rating. Other favorites include the Bissell 2080 QuickSteamer PowerBrush and the Bissell SpotBot 1200-B.

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2. Target.com
As of June 2008
Steamers
by Contributors to Target.com
Our Assessment

Target.com has fewer reviews than Amazon.com but sells enough models to make comparisons. We focused on models with more than a handful of comments apiece. The two top-rated carpet cleaners are the Bissell ProHeat 2X CleanShot and the Hoover SteamVac F5914-900. While the Bissell's score is slightly higher, the Hoover has a few more reviews. The Bissell Little Green Portable Deep Cleaner has more than 75 reviews and scores an above-average four stars. The popular Bissell SpotBot also has more than 75 reviews with an above-average score.

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3. Epinions.com
As of June 2008
Steam Cleaners
by Contributors to Epinions
Our Assessment

There aren't nearly as many owner-written ratings here for carpet cleaners as at Amazon.com and Target.com, making Epinions a less valuable resource. Still, we found some helpful information. The Hoover F7452-900 SteamVac Upright receives low ratings here, while positive write-ups for the Hoover SteamVac F5914-900 reflect like ratings elsewhere. Hoover's F5914-900 SteamVac narrowly beats out Bissell's 1699 ProHeat, but has fewer reviews. The Bissell 2080 QuickSteamer earns a good average rating.

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4. ConsumerGuide.com
As of June 2008
Steam Cleaners, Heavyweight
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Our Assessment

No testing methods are shared, but this site has been recently updated with some new models and offers more detailed reviews than any other non-retail site we found. It selects five as Best Buys out of the eleven carpet cleaners reviewed. On the whole, the choices line up with what we found on other sites, although the exact model of one of its Best Buy choices, the Hoover SteamVac Dual V Widepath F7425900, is no longer available.

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5. About.com
Not Dated
Hoover SteamVac Plus
by Barbara Whiting
Our Assessment Reviewer Whiting tests the SteamVac Plus and proclaims it a good, easy-to-use cleaner. This model is no longer available, but her comments may apply to similar Hoover SteamVac cleaners. Whiting notes that the SteamVac Plus can leave streaks on the carpet (a complaint we didn't find elsewhere) and is heavy, but she likes its dual reservoirs and long hose, good for upholstery and car cleaning.
6. Sears.com
As of June 2008
Floor Cleaners
by Contributors to Sears.com
Our Assessment Just a few carpet cleaners receive reviews on Sears' website, but we found helpful information on three carpet cleaners. The Bissell 2080 QuickSteamer PowerBrush gets rave reviews, and the Kenmore Professional Carpet Shampooer/Hard Floor Cleaner also fares well. The Bissell Spot Lifter PowerBrush Handheld gets below-average reviews, with complaints similar to those found on other sites.
7. Lowes.com
As of June 2008
Shampoo and Steam Cleaners
by Contributors to Lowes.com
Our Assessment Just two models have reviews on the Lowe's website, the Bissell SpotBot and the Bissell QuickSteamer PowerBrush, and both receive high marks (between four and five stars). Without narrative comments or individual reviews posted, it's impossible to know how many opinions these are based on and why.
8. HomeDepot.com
As of June 2008
Carpet Cleaners
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
Our Assessment There are too few carpet cleaner reviews on HomeDepot.com to make strong comparisons between models. The website also sells fewer models than Target and Amazon.com and doesn't instantly display which models have reviews and how many there are.
9. ConsumerReports.org
As of June 2008
Appliance trends for 2008 … and beyond
by Contributors to Consumer Reports
Our Assessment While there are no reviews of carpet cleaners here, this blog posting details interesting pleas from subscribers begging Consumer Reports to test them. An editor's note states that Consumer Reports plans to publish a report on carpet cleaners/shampooers in 2009.

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