Hoover PowerScrub vs Shark CarpetXpert (EX201)

Analysis

A thorough examination of the differences between the PowerScrub and the EX201 in six different categories.

The Shark EX201 has more measured suction than the PowerScrub at the base (at a port near the vacuum motor), the hose (where the cleaner extracts moisture in spot cleaning mode), and at the nozzle (where the cleaner extracts moisture in upright mode).

Winner: Shark EX201

The table above lists the number of passes it took to clean each stain.

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

For example, both models left behind some tomato sauce staining after 10 passes. If they left behind an extremely light stain they would score 11 for tomato sauce, but they left behind a slightly darker stain than that, so they score 12 for this stain.

The Shark left a similarly dark peanut butter stain behind after 10 passes. The PowerScrub completely cleaned this stain in 7 passes.

The PowerScrub also outperformed the Shark cleaning the juice stain, while the Shark performed better than the PowerScrub cleaning the ice cream and caramel syrup stains.

Adding up the total number of passes it took to clean each stain and accounting for the lightness (or darkness, if you will) of any remaining stains after 10 passes, the total “stain score” for the PowerScrub was 46 and the total score for the Shark was 49.

The lower, the score the better (the less passes it took to clean all stains) so…

Winner: PowerScrub

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

The reading for the PowerScrub (25%) was lower (dryer) than the reading for the Shark (27%).

After three additional "dry" passes the reading was still lower for the PowerScrub (23%) than it was for the Shark (24%).

Winner: PowerScrub

The PowerScrub has much larger water tanks with much more capacity than the Shark’s tanks, so it can cover a much larger area before you need to refill its clean water tank (with soap and water) or empty its dirty water tank (of dirty water).

Winner: PowerScrub

The PowerScrub’s dirty water tank has more nooks and crannies to clean, but the Shark’s tank has more parts to clean (it has multiple filters you have to clean vs only one filter for the PowerScrub).

You can very easily pull out the PowerScrub’s brush assembly to clean it. And you can very easily pull out the Shark’s brushroll to clean it.

Winner: Shark EX201 – overall, we do think it’s easier to clean and maintain the Shark.

The Shark lets you store its included hose on itself. It also has an integrated spot cleaning tool (the tool is semi-permanently attached to the hose and you install other spot cleaning tools over this integrated tool).

The PowerScrub features a more traditional design. You store its included hose and spot cleaning tools separately in a bag, and you only pull them out when you want to spot clean. They don’t store on the cleaner itself.

The Shark’s design makes transitioning between spot cleaning and upright cleaning much easier to do.

The Shark also cleaned up stains better in our spot cleaning stain test.

Winner: Shark EX201

Other Notes and Features

Another unique feature you get with the Shark is that it automatically dispenses soap and water when you push it forward, and it automatically maximizes extraction when you pull it backward.

The PowerScrub has a more traditional design. You hold down a trigger to dispense soap and water and you release the same trigger to maximize extraction.

The PowerScrub’s one unique defining feature is its brush assembly. On that assembly are five small circular brushes. This design allows the PowerScrub to clean up stains without spreading them nearly as much as other cleaners while it cleans.

The Shark, in this case, is the cleaner with the more traditional design. It only has one large brushroll, and so it spreads stains a lot more as it cleans.

Verdict

Our bottom line recommendations.

The Shark is a better option if you plan on spot cleaning just as much as, or even more than you plan on cleaning in upright mode. It has that hose that stores on itself, it features an integrated spot cleaning tool, and it performed better in our spot cleaning test.

The PowerScrub is a better option if you plan on mostly cleaning in upright mode and only occasionally want to use it as a spot cleaner. It cleaned up stains faster in our upright stain test, it doesn’t spread stains as much while it cleans (with its circular brushes), it leaves carpet drier after cleaning, and it can cover a much larger area than the Shark before you need to refill or empty its water tanks.