Updated 1 Nov 2026
Is the Shark CarpetXpert with StainStriker worth it?
Yes — the best for pet stains and quick spot jobs.
It cleans carpets and rugs well and lifts old stains, and its two-tank system mixes an oxy stain remover in only as it sprays. The hose and tools live on board, so you can stop and clean a stair or a sofa without fetching anything, and it dispenses water automatically with no trigger. It's lighter to push than most full-size cleaners. The clean and dirty tanks are small, so you refill and empty often, and Shark says it isn't suitable for wool or wool-mix carpets.
91%of 1,269 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Oxy formula mixed on contact
- Hose and tools always on board
- Strong suction, quick drying
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What owners say
Owners love how it shifts stains, old ones included, and how easy it is to use. The unhappy ones found it left carpets wet or didn't lift stains, or had one break within months.
Good to know
- The clean and dirty water tanks are small, so you empty and refill often.
- Shark says it isn't suitable for wool or wool-mix carpets.
- If the solution foams too much, dirty water can come out of the side vents.
- Shark's own formulas are needed for the stain-striking part.
From 1,269 buyer ratings at Currys, Home Depot (US), Costco (US), Costco (Canada) and Harvey Norman (NZ, Australia), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Cleans well, old stains includedMentioned a lot
- Easy to useAlso mentioned
- Carpets dry quicklyMentioned by some
- Handy hose and tools for spotsMentioned by some
What they complain about
- Weak cleaning or water pickup, leaving carpets wetVery rare
- Broke or stopped working within monthsVery rare
Get it if…
- You have pets and the stains that come with them.
- You want to spot-clean stairs and sofas without fitting a hose.
- You want something lighter to push than a pro machine.
Skip it if…
- Your carpets are wool or a wool mix.
- You clean big open-plan rooms in one go: the small tanks mean lots of trips to the sink.
More on the Shark CarpetXpert
How we reached this verdict
Vacuum Wars bought the US version (EX201) and found the strongest suction it had measured on a carpet cleaner at the time, very good results on wet and dried-in stains, a better attachment set than rivals and a dirty tank that's easy to rinse; it now ranks it below some newer Shark and Bissell models. There's no full UK lab review of the EX200UK yet, so the rest of the verdict rests on owners: we read over 500 verified buyers at Currys, AO, Shark's own store and Home Depot, and most praise how it shifts old stains and how easy it is.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: Vacuum Wars, Vacuum Wars: best carpet cleaners, Shark UK, Shark US, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 1 Nov 2026How we decide