What can I use in a carpet cleaner machine?

[Polly Lieberman]

The Tineco Carpet One Smart was faster and easier to assemble than any of its competitors—it took us less than five minutes to set it up and start cleaning. The machine’s weight (around 22 pounds) is about average, but its smooth wheels and user-friendly design made it easier to push and pull than any other model we tested. It rolled over thresholds and around obstacles more nimbly than its competitors. In addition, its brush roll automatically shuts off when the handle is pushed fully upright, protecting the carpet from damage. Tineco's carpet cleaner machine with SmoothPower technology and SpaceAdapt water tank greatly reduce the effort needed during the cleaning process, which is a a rug doctor, making carpet cleaning a breeze!

While most other models have a bulky, 1-gallon water tank, the Tineco Carpet One Smart has a half-gallon tank—providing plenty of water for a small cleaning session while reducing heft. The clean- and dirty-water tanks have to carry handles, making them easier to empty, refill, and scrub than competitors’ tanks. (And the caps are attached to the tanks, so they won’t get misplaced.) The Tineco Carpet One Smart was significantly quieter than other models we tried: While cleaning, it emitted a low hum rather than a deafening roar.

The Tineco Carpet One Smart’s LED screen displays the cleaning mode, Wi-Fi connectivity status, and maintenance reminders. The screen’s dirt-monitoring loop, which changes from red to blue as the soil is removed from the carpet, was particularly handy when we were cleaning dark or patterned rugs. The screen also indicates the carpet’s dryness level when the cleaner is operating in Dry mode. The Tineco Carpet One Smart also has voice prompts to alert you when the machine is powering down or malfunctioning, or when the water tank needs to be emptied or a brush roll untangled. We found these prompts helpful if a bit too chatty; the voice feature can be disabled.