Hoover Smartwash vs Bissell Proheat 2x – Review and Comparison

Nowadays, it’s getting harder and harder to choose the right tools for your household, as almost any manufacturer, claims to provide the newest and most advanced cleaning technology. It’s hard to estimate the truth behind those statements without any experience, that’s why we created this article.

Through the years of testing, we’ve gathered quite a broad knowledge about cleaning appliances, that can help you pick the perfect product for your situation. This is why we decided to compare two very popular carpet cleaners, which are a common choice among the consumers – Hoover Smartwash vs Bissell Proheat 2x.

Based on the reviews online, as well as our own experience with those cleaners, we will try to give you the most thorough and sincere opinion on the winner of this comparison. We will run quite a few tests in standard household conditions, to see which cleaner does a better job in the day-to-day cleaning process.

At the beginning of the proper review, you can read the main differences between those two products, and at the end, you can see the winner of the comparison.

Without further ado, let’s compare those two products!

Hoover Smartwash vs Bissell Proheat 2x

NAME:	Hoover Smartwash	Bissell Proheat 2x
SIZE:	18.9 x 13 x 43.5 in.	18.9 x 13 x 43.5 in.
WEIGHT:	18.49 lb.	17.5 lb.
UNIQUE FEATURES:	Push & pull technology, problematic power button	Better cleaning efficiency, more sturdy construction, comes with more attachments
CORD LENGTH:	24 ft.	25 ft.
CHECK THE PRICE ON AMAZON:	See on Amazon	See on Amazon

Main differences

To start off, we would like to address, that both carpet cleaners can be competing with other top-shelf products, despite the pretty average retail price. This makes those units quite appealing and therefore, they are a common choice among many householders.

Owning either one of the cleaners should be more than satisfying, although, there are some things to know about before you make the final decision.

The first and most important difference between those two units is the cleaning system. The Hoover Smartwash uses a special technology, that detects the direction in which you are moving the vacuum, to either spray the water, or dry vacuum the carpet.

While the idea behind this feature is pretty convenient, it doesn’t work that well. The cleaner has a problem detecting whether you are pushing or pulling the unit when you do it slowly (which is the most effective way of using the carpet cleaner). Additionally, you can’t spray the extra amount of the formula if needed.

The Bissell Proheat technology works much better, as it has a special trigger, that allows you to switch between dry and wet vacuuming. What’s more, there is a “Cleanshot pre-treat” button, that sprays an extra amount of formula on the particular spot.

After few tests, we can clearly see, that the Bissell Proheat 2x does a much better job at cleaning dry, stubborn stains, compared to the Hoover Smartwash. The Bissells’ product didn’t need as many passes, as the Hoover Smartwash in order to get rid of the deep-down embedded debris.

Another important difference is the design – Bissell Proheat has a little more sturdy construction, compared to the Hoover Smartwash, although it shouldn’t make a big difference when cleaning. What’s really important is the problematic power button on the Hoover Smartwash.

The power button on this device is known to be quite problematic – It may take you a couple of tries to properly press the button for it to stay engaged. It can be a little frustrating, especially when you are just starting with this carpet cleaner.

The final major difference is the attachment set, that is included in the package. The Bissell Proheat has many more tools included and, what’s more important, it comes with a 2-in-1 PET upholstery tool. This attachment can be very useful when it comes to removing pet hair, odor, or problematic stains.

There are also some less important differences, like power cord length – The Bissell has a 25 ft. long power cord while the Hoover Smartwash has a 24 ft. long power cord. We won’t be getting into any more details here – However, if you would like to learn more, please continue reading the article.

Based on those differences, we can sincerely say, that the Bissell Proheat 2x does a much better job at cleaning the carpets, and it’s something we would happily use in our own household.

If you already made up your mind, you can go ahead and pick this carpet cleaner, although, we recommend to continue reading this article. This way, you will learn more details about the cleaners.

Cleaning performance

One of the most important, if not the most important, aspects when it comes to choosing the new carpet cleaner is its cleaning performance. By this, we mean the way, the cleaner removes the most stubborn stains or odors from your carpets. 

The Hoover Smartwash utilizes two “Flexforce powerbrushes”, that do a pretty good job in your standard day-to-day cleaning. It doesn’t take too much effort to remove the rough, dry stains from foods or drinks. This carpet cleaner should be sufficient for most of the users and occasional, stubborn stains shouldn’t be a problem if you spend a little more time on them.

The Hoover Smartwash uses a Push to wash, pull to dry technology, which doesn’t work that effectively. At first sight, it may be quite appealing, however, it has a problem recognizing the motion if you clean the carpet slowly (and at the same time most effectively).

The lack of control is a big downside, however, there is one useful feature – it’s the dry only mode, which helps you dry the carpets quicker.

On the other hand, the Bissell Proheat is much better at removing the deeply embedded dirt. Compared to the Hoover’s product, it regularly does a better job when removing dry, stubborn stains in our tests. However, we are sure, that both cleaners could easily find their place in our household.

The Bissell Proheat utilizes “Dual dirtlifter powerbrushes” with a 6.8 Amps motor, which seems to work better. What’s more, a big advantage of this cleaner is the “Cleanshot pre-treat”, which allows you to spray the water with solution on the little more challenging stains.

There are also two modes – “express clean” for quick cleanups (this mode allows the carpets to dry in about an hour), and a “deep clean” mode, that helps you remove the most stubborn stains and odors. We always value a big versatility when cleaning, so it’s clearly a big advantage of this cleaner.

The Heatwave technology is another useful feature, that allows for quick drying the carpets after cleaning.

Taking into account all the features and tests, we can clearly say, that the Bissell Proheat 2x is noticeably better, in terms of cleaning performance.

Capacity

In order to achieve a lightweight design, both units had to sacrifice some canister capacity. This aspect may be quite important for people, who own big households. Unfortunately, in this scenario, you will need to refill the canister several times during the whole house cleaning.

Although, the canister is removable in both carpet cleaners, so it won’t be too hard to refill. Additionally, the smaller capacity allows for more portability – Carrying both units up the stairs, shouldn’t be a problem.

Both carpet cleaners have a tank capacity of one gallon, which is a pretty average score for the carpet cleaners in this price range. In all honesty, though, it should be sufficient for most of the consumers.

Since we are talking about the tanks, those are also easy to clean and properly maintain. Rinsing is done by opening special caps and washing them with the proper solution.

Design

Design is quite an important aspect, as a convenient, comfortable design will make the cleaning process much more enjoyable. You don’t want to find yourself struggling with moving the cleaner around or hurting your hand after a longer cleaning session.

Thankfully, both carpet cleaners provide a decent design, that has an ergonomic touch to it. You shouldn’t feel any pains related to using those specific types of cleaners. One thing to say is, that the Bissell Proheat has a little more sturdy construction. Although, we don’t think it will make any difference when cleaning, even after years.

The size of Hoover Smartwash measures exactly 18.9 x 13 x 43.5 in. and the weight of this device is around 18.49 lb. Those numbers allow for comfortable carpet cleaning, as well as, easy carrying when needed.

The Bissell Proheat 2x measures 15 x 12.5 x 43.5 in. and weighs only 17.5 lb. Those are slightly better results compared to the Hoover Smartwash, and once again, we think that the Bissel Proheat is a more appealing choice.

The winning product also boasts great maneuverability, that lets you clean the carpet from a variety of angles. Getting under furniture and cleaning those hard-to-reach places, shouldn’t be a problem anymore.

Cord length

Cord length is another factor, that may be important for people with big houses. However, the cleaners provide a power cord length suitable for most of the people. The difference between the two power cords is very small and rather insignificant.

The Hoover Smartwash has a 24 ft. long power cord while the Bissell Proheat has a power cord of 25 ft. Once again the Bissells’ product has an advantage over its opponent.

Price

The price of a product is another crucial aspect when choosing your new carpet cleaner. The price of both units is very appealing, compared to the number of features and performance they provide. Most of the time, you would need to pay double the price of either unit, to get a product with similar results.

This is why those cleaners are a very common choice for many householders. The retail price of the Hoover Smartwash is around $220 on Amazon while Bissell Proheat can be found at the price of $250.

Although both products are in a similar price range, the Bissel Proheat is a little more expensive model. Taking into account all the features, and overall performance we think, that it’s a fair price for this carpet cleaner. However, it’s up to you to decide, whether all the extras are worth the additional cost.

Package content

The cleaners also differ when it comes to the included attachments. The Bissell Proheat not only has more tools included but it comes with a very convenient 2-in-1 PET upholstery tool. This works great for removing all the pet hair, odors, and stains.

In order to make it more clear, here is a list of items, that come with the Bissell Proheat:

• 2 in 1 PET upholstery tool – As we already said, this tool is great for removing all the pet hair, odors and stains.
• 3-inch tough stain tool – It’s great for removing all the dirt and debris from usually unreachable places.
• PET PRO OXY Urine Eliminator formula

The Hoover Smartwash also provides a nice number of additional tools and bonuses, those are:

• 2-in-1 Antimicrobial Pet Tool
• Sample Bottle of Cleaning Solution
• Accessory Storage Bag

Those are pretty much all the items, that come along in those packages. Of course, the necessary parts, such as hose, power cord, etc. are also included.

Necessary maintenance

The maintenance is crucial in order to keep the units operating at the desired level, as well as prevent any permanent damage. We won’t get into details here, as it would simply take too much time but we will try to give you an idea of a basic maintenance process, that works for every carpet cleaner.

In order to keep the device running at the desired level, remember to:

• Regularly rinse both clean and dirty water tanks
• Regularly check the brush roll for any stuck dirt and/or debris
• At least once a week clean the cover of the brush, nozzle, and rinse the tank
• Replace any used or damaged elements as fast as possible

To be sure you are doing everything right and you are not missing any important steps, remember to read the user’s guide.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both carpet cleaners are a solid choice when it comes to day-to-day cleaning. Owning either one of them should be satisfying for most of the users and we would gladly use one of those in our own household. There are however some crucial differences, that you need to know about before you make the final decision.

In order to get the best carpet cleaner for your situation, focus on the main differences such as the cleaning performance, design, or attachment set. By analyzing those aspects, you should easily decide which device is the most suitable for your household.

Although, once again we would like to address, that both products are a great choice and should satisfy most of the consumers.

We hope, that after reading this article, you will be satisfied with the final decision.