(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample: 374 Amazon ratings (25% 1-star, 7% 2-star).
Wirecutter's top pick and HGTV's best overall: it cleaned the toughest stains and dried carpet fastest in tests. But it has the worst Amazon record here (32% 1-2 star), with owners saying it stops turning on after a few uses, and Wirecutter's own long-term tester reports the same glitch plus leaks if the brush cover isn't seated.
Top complaints
- Won't turn on after a few uses
Amazon's review summary says reliability is a concern, with some owners reporting it won't turn on after a few uses. A 1-star Amazon owner who bought it on Wirecutter's recommendation says the on/off switch stopped working after three or four uses, and another 1-star review says the company wouldn't honor the warranty. Wirecutter's long-term tester also found it sometimes won't turn on until the button is pressed several times.
- Leaks if the brush cover isn't secure
Wirecutter says it generally leaked less than rivals, but it can leak violently if the brush roll cover isn't properly secured after cleaning, and a long-term tester found the cover can dislodge mid-use.
Source: Wirecutter - Mixed results, confusing controls, flaky app
Amazon's summary says cleaning results are mixed (some say professional-grade, others mediocre), water extraction gets mixed reviews and the dryness indicator doesn't always work. Wirecutter kept mixing up the power and mode buttons and pedals, and its unit never connected to Wi-Fi after three hours of trying.
What owners love
- Best stain removal in two tests
Wirecutter says it was the only cleaner that almost entirely removed chocolate ice cream with caramel syrup and peanut butter, and it needed fewer passes on ground-in dirt. HGTV found it the most efficient model, clearing red wine in under two minutes and peanut butter in under three.
Source: Wirecutter, HGTV - Driest carpet
In Dry mode it dried Wirecutter's test carpet faster than any other machine and left fibers smoother. HGTV notes a built-in heater for drying.
Source: Wirecutter, HGTV - Easy to push and set up
Wirecutter says it was the fastest to assemble, the easiest to push and pull, needs no spray trigger, was quieter than most, and has tanks with handles and attached caps. Amazon owners find it very easy to use.
- Long-term reliability matters most
- You need to carry it up stairs often (Wirecutter weighed about 22 lb)
- You want working Wi-Fi/app control
- Sticky, oily stains (ice cream, syrup, peanut butter)
- Fast drying with a dedicated Dry mode
- People who want guidance (auto mode, voice prompts, dirt display)
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick (updated 2026-06-04): cleaned most thoroughly, left carpet driest and is easiest to operate. Flaws: can leak badly if the brush cover isn't secured, confusing buttons and pedals, iffy Wi-Fi, still loud, and heavier than the runner-up.
- HGTV: Best overall (updated 2026-07-14): fully automated, the most efficient in its tests, lists 16.5 lb. Only con listed: very expensive. Shown as out of stock at Amazon.