Hoover PowerDash Pet vs PowerDash Pet+

Analysis

A thorough examination of the differences between the PowerDash Pet and the PowerDash Pet+ in six different categories.

Both models have identical measured suction at the base (at a port near the vacuum motor).

The PowerDash Pet, though, has more measured suction at the nozzle (the part of the carpet cleaner through which it extracts moisture from carpet).

Winner: PowerDash Pet

The original PowerDash Pet performed better than the newer PowerDash Pet+ in our upright stain test.

The table above lists the number of passes it took each cleaner to clean each stain, except when the number is greater than 10.

A score greater than 10 indicates that the cleaner did not completely clean a stain within 10 passes (we ended testing after 10 passes). The higher the number, the darker the stain the cleaner left behind.

For example, both models left behind some tomato sauce staining after 10 passes (both models have a score >10), but the PowerDash Pet+ left behind a darker stain (12) than the PowerDash Pet (11).

The Pet+ also left behind some peanut butter staining after 10 passes. The original Pet model completely cleaned this stain in only 5 passes.

The Pet model outperformed the Pet+ cleaning 6 of 7 stains (the two models tied cleaning urine), and by a wide margin.

Winner: PowerDash Pet

After our stain test we measured the moisture level of the carpet that was cleaned using a moisture meter.

The reading for both models was the same (27%).

We then ran each model over the same piece of carpet for three additional dry passes.

The reading this time was lower for the PowerDash Pet (24%).

Winner: PowerDash Pet

The PowerDash Pet+ has larger water tanks and it uses less water to clean (per sq. ft. of coverage), so it can cover a larger area than original Pet model before you need to refill its clean tank or empty its dirty water tank.

Winner: PowerDash Pet+

Both models have a very similar design but the newer PowerDash Pet+ makes two improvements that make it much easier to clean than the original PowerDash Pet.

First, the Pet+’s dirty water tank can come apart for cleaning. The original Pet model’s tank cannot. You can only rinse it through a small outlet on the side of the tank.

Second, the Pet+ lets you clean its brushroll from the top of the cleaner head. You can pop open the clear plastic part that covers the brushroll to clean this part and the brushroll more easily. The original Pet model doesn’t have this functionality. You can only clean the brushroll and the compartment that surrounds it from the bottom of the cleaner head, and there isn’t much clearance around the brushroll to clean around it.

Winner: PowerDash Pet+

Neither model has a port on the front (like full-size cleaners) for you to be able to connect a hose and spot cleaning tool.

Winner: Tie

Other Notes and Features

Both models look nearly identical.

They’re both light and compact.

They both also work much the same way. You hold a trigger on both models to dispense soap and water when you push the cleaner forward, and you release this trigger to maximize extraction on the pull backward.

Verdict

Our bottom line recommendations.

The PowerDash Pet+ is easier to clean and maintain and can cover a larger area than the PowerDash Pet before you need to refill and empty its water tanks.

But, the original Pet model has more measured suction at the nozzle and performed significantly better in our upright stain test.

For these reasons, we generally recommend the original PowerDash Pet over the newer PowerDash Pet+.