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Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner Review

Updated on July 23, 2020 by Joseph D. Nielson

Table of Contents

Wine stains on rugs, food spills on carpets, accidents on mattresses and pet hair on car seats – they can all be deep cleaned on the spot, and you may not want to pull out your full size carpet cleaner for a small cleaning job.

This is why it’s important to have a compact cleaning tool that can tackle sudden spills on the spot anytime, anywhere: a portable household cleaner like the Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner.

Our Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner Review outlines the many features and benefits we think you’ll appreciate in this spot cleaner, as well as some cautions and drawbacks to be aware of. With the right tools and tips, you can enjoy a clean fresh home and extend the life of your carpets and upholstery.

Amazon Rating: 3.9/5

Features:

  • Lightweight and easy to store
  • Dual tank technology
  • 5-foot hose for extended reach
  • Antibacterial self-cleaning hose
  • 2-year limited warranty

Best Suited For:

  • Spot cleaning
  • Stain removal
  • Carpets, rugs, stairs, cars
  • Homes with children and pets

Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner (Full) Review

A portable carpet and upholstery cleaner is the right choice when it comes to dealing with messy spills, pet accidents and mud and dirt in high traffic areas. But the ease with which you tackle these household messes has much to do with the function and design of the spot cleaner itself. How well does the spot cleaner remove stains? How easy is it to refill the water tank? How long does cleaning and drying the machine take? These are all valid questions, the answers to which are included in this full review of the Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet and Upholstery Spot Cleaner.

Powerful Spot CleaningWhen spills happen, you want to clean them up effectively in one go, and avoid having stains set in. The powerful suction, hygienic deep cleaning tools and Hoover detergent that come with this portable spot cleaner allow you to do just that.Using warm water, the cleaning solution provided, the spray trigger and a manual back and forth motion, you’ll scrub dirt and debris from carpet and upholstery fibers. Then by pressing down and pulling toward you, you’ll lift and remove dirt and moisture which gets sucked into the dirty water tank.If a stain has set in, or if a spill is particularly hard to clean, you can pretreat it with the (sample size) gel solution included.

Compact, Lightweight DesignThe compact, lightweight design of this portable spot cleaner by Hoover, is a dream. It weighs just 9lbs so you can easily carry it from room-to-room as needed or even out to the car. Because it’s meant for spot cleaning you won’t be handling it for a long time, but being small and lightweight also makes it easy to move up and down stairs, and to clean hard to reach areas. The 5ft hose helps with that too.Storing this portable cleaner is also a breeze as it is only 15” tall. Fit it easily into your cleaning cupboard, utility closet or garage and pull it out quickly whenever needed.

Dual Tank TechnologyClean and dirty water are kept in separate tanks so you can easily fill and empty each one. The clean water tank holds 51 ounces of water and the dirty water tank will hold 36 ounces of dirty water before needing to be emptied. Because the portable cleaner is used mainly for short spot cleaning jobs, frequent refilling should not be required unless you are doing multiple sessions. You’ll know when it’s time by the sound of the suction fading.Hoover has considered useability in the design of its tanks yet some users still report that the water tanks leak or spill during emptying and refilling. Follow assembly instructions carefully and refer to the troubleshooting guide included or 2-year limited warranty should an issue arise [1].

Self Cleaning TechnologyOf all the Hoover Spotless’ features, the self cleaning technology is a definite favorite. The self-cleaning technology flushes the hose after each use which helps get rid of dirt and bacteria. You just plug the hose into the cleaning port on the back and turn your Spotless. The flushing out of debris also prevents odors in the hose over time.Health-conscious households will also appreciate that the antimicrobial multipurpose tool protects against bacteria, mildew and mold forming on it. Hoover seems to have put care into the hygiene of the Spotless machine.

What We Like

In addition to the features above, we like how quick the assembly, pre-treating and self-cleaning processes are. Assembly includes a total of just five steps to set up the hose clips and flex hose, attach the cleaning tool and power cord wrap, and lock the tanks into position.The pretreat recommended to help loosen stubborn stains requires only 5-10 minutes before cleaning, and the self-cleaning process is only 5-10 seconds! The Spotless really does allow you to attend to mishaps quickly and get back to enjoying your food, family and pets.

Limitations

That said, if you clean a spot on your rug or stairs and feel additional cleaning is needed, you’ll have to wait for the spot to dry before cleaning again. This of course, could extend your overall cleaning time.Whenever cleaning carpets, you’ll want to protect the furniture nearby. The same goes when using the Hoover spotless. Wood and metal should be covered to avoid water stains as a result of getting sprayed. Floors should also be protected when cleaning area rugs by placing a layer of plastic between the rug and floor. A spot test can also be done to make sure the cleaning solution doesn’t bleach or damage your textiles.The Hoover Spotless is a carpet and upholstery spot cleaner and not intended to be used as a vacuum. Owners are warned not to use dry.

Helpful Information

How To Clean Your Hoover Spotless

Cleaning the portable cleaner after each use is important if you want to keep enjoying its hygiene and benefits. And the self-cleaning technology doesn’t mean you’re completely off the hook.With each use you’ll need to empty the dirty water tank, set up the self-cleaning hose, empty and rinse the water tank, disassemble and rinse the tool, as well as empty the solution tank and allow it to air dry.

The Importance of Cleaning Your Mattress

Mishaps happen all over the house and for a number of reasons. Unfortunately the bedroom is not off limits when it comes to accidents and mattresses often need immediate attention and deep cleaning. Bodily fluids, pet urine and other unpleasant messes can effectively be removed with a portable deep cleaner. But don’t wait for an accident to happen to clean your mattress. Vacuuming your mattress a couple or few times a year will keep it in good condition, help avoid pest infestations, and keep your bedroom fresh and clean. [2]

Learn More About Hoover

Hoover is an American brand and household icon that’s been synonymous with vacuums for decades. Hoover engineers are behind many of the innovations and features we’ve seen over the years and still see today including the disposable paper vacuum bag and side-mounted hose. Learn more about Hoover on the company website. [3]

References

[1] Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner User Manual (PDF)[2] How To Clean A Mattress And Why (ConsumerReports.org)[3] About Hoover (Hoover.com)

Joseph and Family
About Joseph D. Nielson

Former journalist and editor for various press groups, I now dedicate my time to reviewing products for the home and family life. When I get time to myself, I enjoy rock climbing, taking my dirt bike for a rip, and most importantly providing my family with the best home possible!