It's like a lot of things. When it's working it is a good unit, but when it suffers the break-down common to these models, it's just no good. Shortly after the one year warranty expired it stopped dispensing detergent from the separate detergent tank. A man who repairs these machines told me it's a problem common to this model. A pump burns out and it costs about $160.00 to repair it. You are forewarned.

JimD1115

TN

The Hoover Max Extract Dual V Carpet Cleaner is a decent machine. I only have carpet in one room, but the carpet in that room is white. Before purchasing the Max Extract I had read several reviews and watched videos of people using it. I watched people take paint spills out of carpet! How they managed to do that, I don't know. I clean my carpets about every other month. While the carpet cleaner does do a good job and getting the dirt out of the carpet that I can't see (can tell by the nasty water), it does not do a very good job of getting out set in stains. My dog vomited on our carpet and it took at least 5-6 attempts to get that little spot out of my carpet even though it was a fresh stain. The hand tools work pretty well. They work much better at getting out the stains than pushing the big machine around, but they are a pain to use. The hand tool tube needs to be connected every time you use them and then unconnected every time you go back to using the floor suction. Every other carpet cleaner I have used in the past had a hose for the hand tools that stayed attached to the machine. Not this one. The caddy for the hand tools does not stay on the carpet cleaner. It is constantly falling off. The biggest complaint that I have is that if the water tank is not seated in the precise position that it is suppose to be in the machine will not put out any water or cleaner. Maneuverability It is a bit heavy, but I kind of expected that. Ease of Maintenance All parts are very easy to remove and clean. Suction Performance A bit of a let down. I had high expectations for this carpet cleaner and I don't believe it is any better than the cheaper models. Versatility I wouldn't use this on my wood floors. It would leave to much water and damage them. It gets the carpet dry enough. Design Hoover blew it on the design. If I had taken the time to see that the hand tool hose has to be connected manually every time you want to use it, I would have passed on this carpet cleaner. Durability So far, it has held up fine.

CouponHunter

USA

I have had several rug shampoo units before but this one is far away the best I have ever used!!! I am 63 years old so I don't want something that is so heavy and hard to move that it is too hard for me to use it. This is a great machine in that it has the strength and power that I want but doesn't wear me out to use it. I used the Hoover Rug Shampoo and I also bought the Pet Stain Pre-treatment spray. I used the pre treatment on the heavily soiled areas and then went right over everything with the shampooer. After shampooing I then switched to the rinse option to make sure all of the dirt and shampoo was out of the rug My rug looks SO good, I just want to stand and look at it, and SMILE!!! Maneuverability Moves easily across the rug, and isn't even to heavy to use up and down the stairs!! Ease of Maintenance Easy to wash it out and get it ready to use again when you have filled up the dirty water container and putting the shampoo into a seperate section means you don't waste any of the shampoo!!! If you don't use it today, just let it sit until next time!! Suction Performance It really gets the dirt out and the moisture is removed so thoroughly that it takes very little time for the rug to clean and be ready to be walked on again! Versatility I can turn off the brush rotation and use it on my lineoleum floor!! Voila!! Durability We use this machine to clean our church rugs to so it gets a LOT of use!!! I am very pleased with how it is continuing to perform

Kansas-Mom

USA

This is the best carpet cleaner I've ever owned. It really sucks up the water it puts out into the carpet and scrubs it better too. I've had several Bissell's, but I'm hooked on this Hoover now! Maneuverability It's heavy and you have to put some muscle into it, but I don't mind since it's scrubbing the carpet for me! Ease of Maintenance The containers are so easy to remove and clean. No complaints. Suction Performance Best suction I've seen. Versatility I use it to scrub my carpet and my tile. It does all the floors in my house! Design Easy to understand without a manual as long as you've used carpet cleaners before. Durability It's holding up quite nicely. We use it about once a month.

HotPinkNChoc

Lubbock, TX

The first time I used this product, my carpet looked cleaner and smelled fresh. Unfortunately, I really can't recommend the Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner because a crucial piece is made of flimsy plastic and the design of the water chamber makes it too susceptible to leaks. Maneuverability The Hoover SteamVac is slightly larger and wider than our Hoover vaccuum cleaner. It boasts heated water, a "dual V Widepath" and "Spin-Scrub brushes" that provide more thorough cleaning with less effort. Those were all of the good points mentioned in the owner's manual that I read thoroughly before using the SteamVac. Here are the bad points that the manual didn't mention... Ease of Maintenance Clean up for the SteamVac turned into a chore of its own. The chambers have to be rinsed out well and left to air dry. The bottom of the SteamVac was quite wet and left a big puddle on my kitchen floor. I threw down some old towels to mop up the drips and left the SteamVac to dry thoroughly overnight. I spent almost as much time rinsing/drying/wiping spills on the carpet cleaner as I did steam cleaning the carpet. Suction Performance I somehow lost a considerable amount of cleaning solution due to leaking, so I had excess solution on the carpet. I used the dry stroke to remove the excess. It took several back and forth strokes, but it did do the trick. I was able to finish steam cleaning the rest of the carpet without incident. The carpeting was only slightly damp when I was finished and did look a bit cleaner. Versatility Assorted attachments are included to tackle upholstery, drapes, hard-to-reach corners, and stairs. I just can't imagine using this on the stairs, although I admit I haven't tried. It's just too undependable to be a very versatile product. I'm afraid I'll end up with an even bigger mess on my hands. Design The SteamVac contains two chambers--one for the clean water and a second to collect the dirty water. I instinctively began listening for a "click" sound to indicate that I had placed the water container in the unit properly. Nothing. I kept fiddling with it but it didn't seem to be seated securely. Finally, I figured it must be okay and began my first swipe across the carpet. Durability Almost immediately, the SteamVac began leaking water like crazy. I fiddled some more with it, but the leaking got worse. I ended up unplugging it and looking more closely at the unit and found that there was a flimsy plastic piece that was cracked where the water was escaping. I used a bit of duct tape to hold the piece together, refilled the water chamber, and finally got the container to snap in place correctly. This is a terribly constructed steam cleaner.

LoveisJoy

Chicagoland, IL

I actually really like the Hoover Steamvac. It definitely does the job it claims it will. My husband and I bought this for less than we would pay to have our carpets cleaned professionally once. Since we bought it, I have become OBSESSED with cleaning the carpets and do it about 4 times per year. I absolutely LOVE how clean it gets my carpets, and with kids and dogs, our carpets NEED to be cleaned pretty regularly. The attachments are really helpful when you do odd areas like stairs and corners. It is easy to use and you can clearly see that it is getting your carpet clean. I use it in conjuction with scotch guard for carpets to try to extend the time in between use. The only 2 things I don't like is that the tank is really leaky when you are filling/emptying, so it makes a mess while you clean, and sometimes it is hard to get a good seal (and it doesn't work without a good deal) on the tank.

BBinAZ

Mesa, AZ

We have a house full of animals and are constantly having to clean muddy footprints, accidents, etc...off the carpets and floors. This machine saved us a ton of money and does a professional job in just minutes. It has been so easy to use! The tank is not that big but I think that is what makes it easier to use. It is very easy to empty out and carry back and forth. I was so surprised at how much it was sucking up out of the carpet. We used it in a room that has barely been walk on and it even cleaned old spots that a professional couldn't get up! The attachments are wonderful for spot cleaning and upholstery cleaning. It is very easy to push and manuver around the floor. It doesn't get hung up on carpet at all. Crazy to say but I actually enjoyed using it!!! No one likes cleaning but this made me feel like the job really had got done and saved us a ton of money from hiring someone else to do a one time job! We had a problem with one of our cats using the bathroom outside of the lite box and I thought we were going to have to replace the carpet b/c no matter how hard we scrubbed she kept going back. With the right cleaner and this machine....I am happy to say she has made no visits back and we have had no issues. It really did clean more than just the surface of our carpet. Iw ent back witht he blacklight later after it dried just to check and was so relieved that it was gone!

sammie4paws

Charlotte, NC

I got the Hoover Steam Vac V5 after having the previous model Hoover Steam Vac for several years. The older one had not broken but was just getting old. The newer model comes standard with the scrubbing brush upolstery attachment and the bigger water tank. I also liked the fact the you can easily clean the bottom portion that picks up the water without using tools. The first thing I noticed when using the Hoover was the ease to fill it up with hot water and the seperate tank for the cleaning solution. This allows for a rinse cleaning without soap. This newer model cleans better and picks up more water than the older Hoover. Also the recovery tank is easier to empty and clean. The spinning brushes, both on the attachment and the ones on the bottom of the cleaner really scrub deep. I have used the cleaner to get some stubborn stains out of my carpet. I like the newer version better, and find it easier to use. I would not give up this cleaner, it keeps me from having to have a carpet cleaner out. This cleaner easy enough to use once a month to keep your carpets really clean.

CmdrMeinhardt

Marion, AR

Thats the onlyreason I gave this cleaner 4 stars,  it is LOUD.  But I guess you can't have it all.  Cleaned my stairs great but requires some backbone and time.  Love the ease of filling the tanks and emptying them too.  Would not buy anyother brand.

kscaegib

East Bernstadt, KY

I absolutely love this product.  I have had it for two years, it's gone through many major cleaning jobs, and it's still going strong!  It's amazing to see what this thing picks up.  It is easy to use, and the carpet dries dries quickly.  It is so much fun for me to use this (and I really hate chores, believe me) I have cleaned many of family and friends' carpets because it is just so satisfying to see how much dirt this product picks up.  The attachment hose works just as well as the main vaccum, though i can't figure out how to put it back on the holder to save myself a bit of space.  I gave this product 4 stars because it is not perfect.  To be completely honest, after two years of major wear and tear and probably 20+ big cleaning jobs, it has started to fall apart a little bit.  For instance, I think the cleaning solution compartment is leaking too much solution; it seems to be using more that it did at first.  And the clean water bucket has become hard to snap into place. You absolutely must take it apart and thoroughly clean and dry it after each use to prolong its life.  Despite these concerns, I will absolutely buy this exact product again when mine eventually stops working.  Use it twice, and it's already paid for itself compared to a professional cleaning service. 

jcroch4

Carencro, LA