Bissell ProHeat Questions

[danemodsandy]

I hope this is the right forum for this! I just bought a Bissell ProHeat 2X (refurbished at Big Lots, very good price of $129), and I recall someone here talking about using Tide in place of the Bissell cleaning solution. After using the ProHeat for a trial run tonight, I'm suddenly very interested in that option, because I used half a $10 bottle of Bissell solution on a fairly small area of the carpet. It was heavily soiled due to an accident, and I used the Heavy Traffic setting on the Custom Clean dial. I knew that would make it use more solution than regular cleaning, but sheesh!

Can anyone tell me more about using Tide in these machines? I'd also be interested in any ProHeat tips people have, especially tips on making the machine last; I understand that cleaning it properly after use is very important. I'm pretty impressed with the machine so far; it does a far better job than the old Kenmore Power Spray machine it's replacing. The Kenmore was 25 years old, parts are NLA, and it was just time for a new machine. Oddly enough, $129 was what I paid for the Kenmore all those years ago, and it was the base machine, no options at all. I had to pay extra for an upholstery tool.

 

[turboace]

Be Gentle!

I have repaired three of these just recently. All suffered the same problem. The clear part of the nozzle on the front right and left corners seems to be a stress point and breaks very easily. Watch running into furniture and walls. My best advise is DONT LIFT IT FROM THE FLOOR! The ohter problme all three had was that the base is held on by screws around the perimeter that go down into the base. You can see these screws if you lift out the recovery tank and look by the wheels; the screws go down into the base fromt the top. The plastic on the base seems to get brittle and no longer holds the screws in, so it starts to pull apart. Dont put any extra stress on this machine, keep it on the floor.

As for using Tide, I would say NO WAY. Watching the new Tide 2x foam in my front load washer would be enough to convince me that it would never get rinsed out of your carpent and would only attract more dirt. They do sell steam cleaner shampoo at walmart, sams and costco, all that is desined with the proper pH for carpet and with rinsability in mind. Those generics should be much cheaper than the bissell.

Good luck with your new machine.

Andy

 

[electroluxxxx]

I too have repaired these but I think my experience was a bit different. usually overtime the heater will build up some residue and block the flow of the fluid. it is like mixing water with baby powder. other advise I usually put the solution in the water tank instead of the little container that mixes the water and the solution. usually that option will waste the solution in my own opinion. and I also must say that I really do agree with andy. he is right about the stress points on the front of the machine. the corners do tend to break

Mike

 

[danemodsandy]

Sturdiness:

Thanks for the cautions about being gentle with this unit. I did manage to get 25 years out of the Power Spray, which has a number of fairly serious weak points and design flaws (particularly the flimsy latches for the motor assembly), so I think I'll be okay on that score. I am very impressed with the availability of parts on the Bissell website for the ProHeat, and with their reasonable prices.

I will check WalMart for shampoo, though I seldom shop there.

 

[danemodsandy]

P.S.:

I read in an online forum that it's a good idea with the ProHeat to clean out the bladder/return tank assembly and the detergent tank, and put water in both of these units, then run clear water through the machine, to rinse out the heating unit, preventing the buildup of detergent residue that can clog the heater. Any thoughts on that? Sounds like it couldn't hurt.

 

[vacfanatic]

Flush it out

After I use my ProHeat 2x, I flush it out with clean water, both the solution tank, and again through the clean water tank. To make sure it's totally cleaned out, I spray both from the carpet cleaning mode as well as the upholstry tool. I also make sure to rotate the mix knob back and forth through all of the settings, to make sure that all solution is flushed out. Hopefully this will keep the pump and heater from clogging as I have read others have experienced on other websites before.

 

[kirbyluxhoover]

Bissel Tips

I have had good luck with not using loads of formula. I have even taken spot stains out with my spot bot using only hot water.

I use the Normal or sometimes Heavy setting on dirty spots for the first pass or two. Even removed dog pee smell from a room the dog kept wanting to mark his spot in. Then I move to the rinse setting and watch what is being sucked out of the rug. I move on when there is little or no foam because that means you have gotten the shampoo out of the rug. I have been told by many that the shampoo residue can attract dirty so you want to rinse it well. I have also been warned about over wetting the rug. When I shampoo with my Bissell the living room and hall way it takes me about three hours. I hit it once with shampoo then water only and do seveal vacuum passes not spraying anything into the rug. I move on when there is very little water being sucked out. I then leave ceiling fans and portable vans on over night to keep the air moving.

I started this pattern when living at home in college and now do the same that I am married. Last October my parents last remodel step was new carpet in the living room and hallway. They have geniue hardwood floors under their carpeting. I was there when the new carpet was installed because I was one of the furniture movers to clear out the room and reload it when done. I was there all day and saw the hardwood floors with the old carpet and pad pulled up and there was no water damage or stains so I think I have found a good method for cleaning carpets.

I hope that you all find this helpful.

 

[xraytech]

When I shampoo I first go over as normal with the shampoo solution and suck as much out as possible,then I fill the tank with hot water and about 1 1/2 cups white vinegar and rinse and then go over until almost no water is left.

It does help rinsing because it keeps dirt from attracting to the rug as fast as when there is no rinse and the shampoo is left in the rug.

Sam

 

[danemodsandy]

Thanks to Everyone:

I cleaned the dining room carpet yesterday, using some of the tips given here, and I must say that you guys know what you're talking about. The carpet came up very clean and dried quickly. I went over it once to clean, never laying down more than one pass of cleaning solution, just letting the brushes and suction do their thing. Then I rinsed twice, being careful not to lay down more than one pass of water. Then I went over everything one last time with suction only. Worked very well.

BTW, when I did those two rinses, I put water in both the water tank and the solution tank, and used the "Normal" setting instead of the rinse setting. That way, when I was rinsing the carpet, I was also rinsing out the heater.

Again, thanks!