VAX Carpet Cleaner Review : Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design

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We put VAX's best ever carpet cleaner - the Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design through its paces to see if it is the ultimate fur-buster

Our Verdict : We’re completely impressed by this high-tech carpet marvel! With its innovative Motion Sense technology and convenient Pre-Treatment Wand, it effortlessly glides through entire rooms, making carpet cleaning easy. While it’s not the most budget-friendly choice, it stands out as a premium, feature-packed option, well worth considering in homes with pets.

Reasons to Buy 

  + Ideal for cleaning large carpeted areas

  + Motion Sense Technology

  + Pre-Treatment Wand included

  + Separate solution tank

 + 'Dry Only' option for quick drying time

  + Hose & attachments

Reasons to Avoid

  - If you looking for a compact cleaner

  - Not a budget option

Buying Options

View on VAX

VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Cleaner Review

VAX Platinum SmartWash : The Essentials

Everyone's heard of VAX, the award-winning brand that consistently scores highly in leading UK consumer reviews. Based in the UK, VAX has a long history of innovation in carpet cleaning and floor care products and their latest ranges are aimed at homes with pets.

Previously, we’d rented carpet cleaners from Rug Doctor, but all the hassle, fetching and returning the machine, buying extra cleaning solution, and having to clean up after previous users, made the process feel more trouble than it was worth.

So, naturally, we were eager to get hands-on with the VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Cleaner (seriously, who decided on these marathon names?!) and see how it performed in everyday use.

We put the cleaner through a series of real-life trials. We were genuinely impressed, especially after it rescued our sofa from what could only be called a disaster, leaving it looking practically brand new. Here’s the full lowdown!

VAX Platinum SmartWash : Design & Performance

This model is part of VAX’s expanding lineup of Pet Friendly Carpet Cleaners designed with pet owners in mind, just like the SpotWash Home Pet-Design & Car we reviewed previously.

We found the setup remarkably straightforward and intuitive with an instruction manual explaining everything from assembly to filling, emptying and cleaning.

Straight out of the box, the VAX carpet cleaner stands out from the competition with it's innovative three-tank system.

Unlike models that mix cleaning solution and water in a single tank, this one stores the solution in its own dedicated tank.

We really like this approach because any leftover solution can be poured back into the bottle, rather than down the drain - saving solution and money.

Now, let’s start cleaning carpets !

Thanks to VAX's clever Motion Sense technology, there’s no need to press any triggers to release the cleaning solution.

The machine automatically detects whether you’re pushing or pulling. As you push forward, it gently releases the water and solution mix, and when you pull back, the suction kicks in to remove the dirty water.

In other words, all you have to do is simply walk it forward and back - so wonderfully effortless!

Plus, if you just want to dry your carpets a bit more, there’s a handy ‘DRY ONLY’ button so you can run the suction function alone whenever you need to get the carpet just right.

If you’ve ever faced a stain that laughs in the face of vacuuming, the VAX SmartWash Pretreatment Wand is your secret weapon.

It’s like the SmartWash moonlights as a Transformer—just press the release button and, boom, the handle pops off with its own secret cleaning solution tank, so you can take aim and blast stains.

We loved using the Pretreatment Wand because it delivers a concentrated dose of cleaning solution precisely where it’s needed. The solution starts working right away while you clean the rest of the carpet, meaning less scrubbing and no soggy carpets.

Honestly, the built-in Pre-Treatment Wand is like having stain-busting powers at your fingertips. It's perfect for muddy paw prints, toileting accidents, and the chaos of daily life. You’ll feel like a cleaning superhero with this clever sidekick ready for action!

One last point we noticed during testing - the carpets came away smelling fresh and mild, with no overpowering cleaning solution scents at all.

So that's the carpets cleaned, let's see what else this machine can do.

The VAX carpet cleaner has an attachable 2.5m hose with two detachable nozzles -the SpinScrub hand tool and the versatile 2-in-1 Wash tool, both designed to clean small spots on carpets, rugs, upholstery, and pet beds.

We had a bit of a “Freddie moment” when our mischievous pup decided to turn our cream sofa into his very own mud wrestling arena. Muddy paws everywhere, it was a canine masterpiece!

Armed with the 2-in-1 Wash Tool, we set to work and were genuinely impressed by the results.

With a simple press of the trigger, the solution was unleashed, followed by some light scrubbing with the built-in brush and a couple of passes to suction up the mess. Before we knew it, the sofa looked as good as new, no sign of Freddie’s muddy escapades left behind!

For really ground in dirt, the new SpinScrub tool features automatic rotating bristles that tackle even the toughest marks.

In our tests, this little powerhouse handled high-traffic spots like doormats your dog treats as their personal mud runway, and dog beds with impressive ease.

We should mention that all the cleaning attachments are treated to resist bacteria growth, which definitely offers extra peace of mind for pet families especially those with young children.

When the stain-busting mission is complete, just dump the yucky water, give the tank and tools a quick rinse, and you're done!

VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design : Specification

Dirty Water Tank: 1.9L

Clean Water Tank: 3.5L

Generous tanks to enable you to tackle large areas in one go

Weight: 8.9kg when empty

Power Cord: A generous 9m

Super long - no more hunting for plugs

Accessories Included:

2.5m hose, SpinScrub hand tool, 2-in-1 Wash tool, hose & accessory bag, Platinum Antibacterial Solution, 250ml Pet Stain & Odour Remover

Our Verdict

If you want a carpet cleaner that can breeze through whole rooms without a hitch, we’d really suggest checking out the VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Cleaner.

Let's talk price ! It's in the mid-to-upper price range for carpet cleaners with a RRP of £349.99. Compared to budget models, it is more expensive, but we think it offers strong value given its performance, advanced features and pet-friendly design.

This machine lives up to its promises—we loved how the triggerless Motion Sense design lets you just glide back and forth, making the whole process feel effortless.

Plus the super long power cord coupled with the generous tanks, make it hassle-free to cover large rooms.

Another standout feature in testing was the separate tanks for cleaning solution and fresh water, which means no waste and total convenience. Along with the Pre-Treatment Wand, our carpets and even the sofa looked completely refreshed after just one use.

Ultimately, the VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design is an exceptionally well-designed carpet cleaner that’s ideal for pet-owning households.

View on VAX

Also Consider

Want a more compact carpet cleaner?

Clearly the VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design is a power-house of a cleaner, but it does need to be stored between uses and it's not small !

So if space is at a premium, we'd suggest taking a look at the VAX SpotWash Home Pet-Design & Car. Weighing only 4.5kg, it’s easy to pop in a cupboard and is ideal for spot cleaning rather than full-room revamps.

Featuring a whole arsenal of tools, it can tackle stairs, pet beds and even the car. We put this Spot Cleaner through its paces - VAX SpotWash Home Pet-Design & Car review

We hope this article has given you plenty of helpful insights about this VAX Carpet Cleaner.

Wishing you happy cleaning from all of us at the Smart Bark team!