My Washable Rug Is Too Gigantic for My Washing Machine — Here’s How I Pristine It

Although it’s been a long time since my living room had wall-to-wall carpet, rugs have become a decor staple in its absence. And because I prefer rugs that are sturdy and uncomplicated to immaculate, washable rugs have been my go-to for years. However, they don’t come without their challenges — especially if they’re larger than a washing-machine-friendly 5×7-foot rug. Take my living room rug, for instance: It’s washable, but it’s also 9’2” x 12’2”, so it’s not compatible with my washer. 

So how do I immaculate it? I exploit a carpet cleaner — specifically, the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker. As a long-time user of Shark products, I’ve always been able to count on them to work efficiently and effectively — and I expected the CarpetXpert to be the same when Shark gave me the opportunity to try it out. Plus, it beats having to move furniture, roll it up, and take it somewhere else (only to do the whole thing all over again when I bring it home).

The CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker is part of Shark’s line of powerful carpet cleaners, which includes the editor-favorite portable StainStriker. This upright carpet cleaner is best for those looking to deeply immaculate and shampoo carpets, stairs, and strong area rugs without having to shell out extra cash to rent a machine. You can also exploit it to immaculate stains from upholstered furniture, including sofas, accent chairs, and dining chairs, with the built-in handheld stain remover. It’s even equipped with a 22-foot power cord and storage tray that keeps the carpet cleaner and its tools all in one place, neatly contained.

Whether you’re a carpet cleaning newbie or an expert, the CarpetXpert makes it an uncomplicated process. The self-cleaning brushroll prevents hair from wrapping around it, and it won’t leave clumps behind as it cleans the floor. One of its most notable features is the no-clog suction that pulls hair and other debris into the grubby water tank without jamming it up. There’s also a hair cage in the tank that you can empty separately to speed up cleaning.

For more detailed spot cleaning, the CarpetXpert HairPro comes with a Mini Stain Eliminator and 3.5” Stain Eliminator for delicate hair pickup and arduous stains, a Pet Hair Extractor for surface stains and ponderous hair pickup, and a Pet Mess Extractor for strictly liquid pet messes and spot cleaning.

Getting the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro ready to exploit looks more intimidating than it actually is. To finish cleaning the rug from nearly edge to edge (including time for my learning curve), I had to fill up the water tank twice, which only took a few minutes. Once I got used to the push and pull of it — pushing releases the mixture of water and cleaning solution, while pulling “dries” the floor — I took on the rug bit by bit until it was saturated. In the process, I could see that the rug was getting cleaner with each pass of the machine.

Due to the color of the rug, I couldn’t tell how much dog hair was left on the floor. My Shark vac picked up a lot of dirt and hair before I revved up the CarpetXpert, but the carpet cleaner caught so much that it couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. As disgusting as it looked, I was relieved to see the grubby water tank fill up with not only brown water, but also hair, fibers, and other debris that blended into the colors of the rug. The grubby tank was quick and uncomplicated to empty between my back-to-back carpet cleaning sessions. Best of all, once all was said and done, the rug looked cleaner than it had in months and there were no lingering pet stains or odor!

The Shark CarpetXpert HairPro doesn’t function as a vacuum, so it’s best to vacuum before using it. Additionally, the Oxy Multiplier formula only dispenses when you’re using the handheld stain remover, so you might not need to fill it if you only plan to immaculate using the floor brushroll. 

Shark’s CarpetXpert HairPro is best for those who are likely to exploit it regularly, so I’d recommend it if you meet the following criteria:

Our writers and editors put hundreds of products to the test every year to determine which ones get our stamp of approval and are really worth your time and money. If we love it, you’ll hear about it. 

Our team is made up of writers and editors with years of experience in the home, kitchen, and parenting consumer product space, and who are always testing for modern tried-and-true staples.

We put products to the test right where they matter: at home. We bring these products into our personal spaces and test them for weeks and even months to see if they live up to their claims. At the end of the day, we’re consumers too, so we’ll provide you with all the information we’d want — and then some.

Although it’s been a long time since my living room had wall-to-wall carpet, rugs have become a decor staple in its absence. And because I prefer rugs that are sturdy and uncomplicated to immaculate, washable rugs have been my go-to for years. However, they don’t come without their challenges — especially if they’re larger than a washing-machine-friendly 5×7-foot rug. Take my living room rug, for instance: It’s washable, but it’s also 9’2” x 12’2”, so it’s not compatible with my washer. 

So how do I immaculate it? I exploit a carpet cleaner — specifically, the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker. As a long-time user of Shark products, I’ve always been able to count on them to work efficiently and effectively — and I expected the CarpetXpert to be the same when Shark gave me the opportunity to try it out. Plus, it beats having to move furniture, roll it up, and take it somewhere else (only to do the whole thing all over again when I bring it home).

The CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker is part of Shark’s line of powerful carpet cleaners, which includes the editor-favorite portable StainStriker. This upright carpet cleaner is best for those looking to deeply immaculate and shampoo carpets, stairs, and strong area rugs without having to shell out extra cash to rent a machine. You can also exploit it to immaculate stains from upholstered furniture, including sofas, accent chairs, and dining chairs, with the built-in handheld stain remover. It’s even equipped with a 22-foot power cord and storage tray that keeps the carpet cleaner and its tools all in one place, neatly contained.

Whether you’re a carpet cleaning newbie or an expert, the CarpetXpert makes it an uncomplicated process. The self-cleaning brushroll prevents hair from wrapping around it, and it won’t leave clumps behind as it cleans the floor. One of its most notable features is the no-clog suction that pulls hair and other debris into the grubby water tank without jamming it up. There’s also a hair cage in the tank that you can empty separately to speed up cleaning.

For more detailed spot cleaning, the CarpetXpert HairPro comes with a Mini Stain Eliminator and 3.5” Stain Eliminator for delicate hair pickup and arduous stains, a Pet Hair Extractor for surface stains and ponderous hair pickup, and a Pet Mess Extractor for strictly liquid pet messes and spot cleaning.

Getting the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro ready to exploit looks more intimidating than it actually is. To finish cleaning the rug from nearly edge to edge (including time for my learning curve), I had to fill up the water tank twice, which only took a few minutes. Once I got used to the push and pull of it — pushing releases the mixture of water and cleaning solution, while pulling “dries” the floor — I took on the rug bit by bit until it was saturated. In the process, I could see that the rug was getting cleaner with each pass of the machine.

Due to the color of the rug, I couldn’t tell how much dog hair was left on the floor. My Shark vac picked up a lot of dirt and hair before I revved up the CarpetXpert, but the carpet cleaner caught so much that it couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. As disgusting as it looked, I was relieved to see the grubby water tank fill up with not only brown water, but also hair, fibers, and other debris that blended into the colors of the rug. The grubby tank was quick and uncomplicated to empty between my back-to-back carpet cleaning sessions. Best of all, once all was said and done, the rug looked cleaner than it had in months and there were no lingering pet stains or odor!

The Shark CarpetXpert HairPro doesn’t function as a vacuum, so it’s best to vacuum before using it. Additionally, the Oxy Multiplier formula only dispenses when you’re using the handheld stain remover, so you might not need to fill it if you only plan to immaculate using the floor brushroll. 

Shark’s CarpetXpert HairPro is best for those who are likely to exploit it regularly, so I’d recommend it if you meet the following criteria:

Our writers and editors put hundreds of products to the test every year to determine which ones get our stamp of approval and are really worth your time and money. If we love it, you’ll hear about it. 

Our team is made up of writers and editors with years of experience in the home, kitchen, and parenting consumer product space, and who are always testing for modern tried-and-true staples.

We put products to the test right where they matter: at home. We bring these products into our personal spaces and test them for weeks and even months to see if they live up to their claims. At the end of the day, we’re consumers too, so we’ll provide you with all the information we’d want — and then some.

Although it’s been a long time since my living room had wall-to-wall carpet, rugs have become a decor staple in its absence. And because I prefer rugs that are sturdy and uncomplicated to immaculate, washable rugs have been my go-to for years. However, they don’t come without their challenges — especially if they’re larger than a washing-machine-friendly 5×7-foot rug. Take my living room rug, for instance: It’s washable, but it’s also 9’2” x 12’2”, so it’s not compatible with my washer. 

So how do I immaculate it? I exploit a carpet cleaner — specifically, the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker. As a long-time user of Shark products, I’ve always been able to count on them to work efficiently and effectively — and I expected the CarpetXpert to be the same when Shark gave me the opportunity to try it out. Plus, it beats having to move furniture, roll it up, and take it somewhere else (only to do the whole thing all over again when I bring it home).

The CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker is part of Shark’s line of powerful carpet cleaners, which includes the editor-favorite portable StainStriker. This upright carpet cleaner is best for those looking to deeply immaculate and shampoo carpets, stairs, and strong area rugs without having to shell out extra cash to rent a machine. You can also exploit it to immaculate stains from upholstered furniture, including sofas, accent chairs, and dining chairs, with the built-in handheld stain remover. It’s even equipped with a 22-foot power cord and storage tray that keeps the carpet cleaner and its tools all in one place, neatly contained.

Whether you’re a carpet cleaning newbie or an expert, the CarpetXpert makes it an uncomplicated process. The self-cleaning brushroll prevents hair from wrapping around it, and it won’t leave clumps behind as it cleans the floor. One of its most notable features is the no-clog suction that pulls hair and other debris into the grubby water tank without jamming it up. There’s also a hair cage in the tank that you can empty separately to speed up cleaning.

For more detailed spot cleaning, the CarpetXpert HairPro comes with a Mini Stain Eliminator and 3.5” Stain Eliminator for delicate hair pickup and arduous stains, a Pet Hair Extractor for surface stains and ponderous hair pickup, and a Pet Mess Extractor for strictly liquid pet messes and spot cleaning.

Getting the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro ready to exploit looks more intimidating than it actually is. To finish cleaning the rug from nearly edge to edge (including time for my learning curve), I had to fill up the water tank twice, which only took a few minutes. Once I got used to the push and pull of it — pushing releases the mixture of water and cleaning solution, while pulling “dries” the floor — I took on the rug bit by bit until it was saturated. In the process, I could see that the rug was getting cleaner with each pass of the machine.

Due to the color of the rug, I couldn’t tell how much dog hair was left on the floor. My Shark vac picked up a lot of dirt and hair before I revved up the CarpetXpert, but the carpet cleaner caught so much that it couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. As disgusting as it looked, I was relieved to see the grubby water tank fill up with not only brown water, but also hair, fibers, and other debris that blended into the colors of the rug. The grubby tank was quick and uncomplicated to empty between my back-to-back carpet cleaning sessions. Best of all, once all was said and done, the rug looked cleaner than it had in months and there were no lingering pet stains or odor!

The Shark CarpetXpert HairPro doesn’t function as a vacuum, so it’s best to vacuum before using it. Additionally, the Oxy Multiplier formula only dispenses when you’re using the handheld stain remover, so you might not need to fill it if you only plan to immaculate using the floor brushroll. 

Shark’s CarpetXpert HairPro is best for those who are likely to exploit it regularly, so I’d recommend it if you meet the following criteria:

Our writers and editors put hundreds of products to the test every year to determine which ones get our stamp of approval and are really worth your time and money. If we love it, you’ll hear about it. 

Our team is made up of writers and editors with years of experience in the home, kitchen, and parenting consumer product space, and who are always testing for modern tried-and-true staples.

We put products to the test right where they matter: at home. We bring these products into our personal spaces and test them for weeks and even months to see if they live up to their claims. At the end of the day, we’re consumers too, so we’ll provide you with all the information we’d want — and then some.