BISSELL® Big Green® PET PRO Carpet Cleaner, 3288

We (wife & I) have owned this Big Green for a few weeks now, and I have used it three times. We owned Hoovers top of the line carpet cleaner for three years prior to this purchase. Here is a quick comparison of the Hoover to the Big Green: > The Hoover is less expen$ive. (You DO get what you pay for, though!) > The Hoover is lighter, making it easier for my wife to use. Its only good point. > Big Green picks up dirty water LOTS better than the Hoover. in a word, Big Green Sucks (in a GOOD way)! It was tedious to try and pick up all (er, most) of the water laid down for cleaning with the Hoover. This resulted in days of drying time. Not good. > The hoover has an independent cleaning solution tank (for a total of three tanks), which means you can lay down as much cleaner as you would like, and then use the clear, hot water to rinse. Big Green only has two tanks, the clean water tank (which you add cleaner to), and the dirty water tank which is where all the dirty water gets sucked into. > Big Green is much faster. Because the Hoover does not suck nearly as well as Big Green, you must go excruciatingly (painfully... agonizingly... I could go on...) slow with the Hoover to recover most of the dirty water. I can clean carpets in 1/4 the time with Big Green, compared to the Hoover, simply because it has better scrubbing action, and suction! > The reason we ended up buying a Big Green after only three years of Hoover ownership, was the roller brush drive belt was worn and about to break. I tried to buy the drive belt from Hoover, but they are out of stock. A Hoover Customer Service person told me I could not back-order the belt, and I should just try back in a month (unacceptable!). The local Hoover dealer told me the belt is no longer made (out of production), and suggested I file a warranty claim, and in his experience Hoover would simply replace the unit with a (similar) brand new one. So, lets sum up the Hoover problems: 1) Doesnt work too well in the first place (slow, and poor suction); 2) Cant order a simple replacement part; 3) Hoover lied to me about the availability / discontinued status of the drive belt. 4) We didnt feel good about contributing a perfectly functional carpet cleaner to the land-fill because of Hoovers big-corporation attitude towards streamlined profitability at the consumers expense (They dont stock parts). We donated the Hoover to Good Will. What I like about Big Green: It does a better job cleaning carpets. It is much faster at cleaning carpets. It leaves the carpet much drier, resulting in less than a day needed for the carpet to dry (typically dries in 12 hours). My tips for Big Green Users: 1) Carpet cleaning is a patience thing, and cannot be rushed. If your head is in rush mode, drop carpet cleaning and go do something else, until your head is in the game. 2) Go slow and steady. Avoid sloshing the dirty water in the dirty water tank. Bissels dirty water tank is a two-piece design, which does not seal as well as it should. If you jerk the machine around, while trying to go fast, or get around obstacles, it WILL leak out dirty water, leaving dirty water spots! Slow and steady wins the race. 3) I have been using Bissels Pet Pro Oxy Urine Eliminator formula. and it gives great results. With time, I will try other formulas, and report back. We have an older cat and white carpets (need I say more?), which is why we are big fans of any oxy type of cleaning formulas. 4) Bissell recommends two caps of formula added to a tank of hot water. I now use between a 1/2 - 1 cap of cleaner. It works just as well with less cleaner formula. I have found that too much formula leaves the carpet stiff. And... Too much cleaner left in the carpet makes it attract dirt faster. < Straight from the Hoover instruction manual. 5) I use hot tap water in the clean water tank (per Bissells instructions). We keep our hot water at 140°, at the tap. I have not experienced any problems (with Big Greens flow indicator) using 140° water. 5) I overlap my cleaning passes by 1/2 width. 6) Bissells instructions say to hold the spray trigger and go out and back (one wet pass), then release the trigger, and go out and back (one dry pass). I make one wet pass, and then two dry (vacuum only) passes. 7) Bissell instructs you to continue to make passes until the solution being pulled up appears clean. I cant tell the cleanliness of the water as it comes up, but I keep making passes (in the same area) until the carpet looks clean. 8) I now add a rinse pass. after completely cleaning the carpet, I now add clear hot water (NO cleaning solution added) to the clean water tank, and I make a rinse pass over the entire carpet The rinse pass has no (well... minimal) overlap, and I do one wet pass, followed by only one vacuum pass. The rinse goes pretty quick. If you think you did a good job cleaning the carpet with cleaning solution, wait until you see how dirty the water is from the rinse pass! Dirt never rests... Summary: Yes, Big Green is pricey, and heavy, and it has its little quirks (the dirty water tank can leak, IF you are not careful). So far, it cleans carpets better than the several carpet cleaners we have owned and rented. Would I buy it again? Yes. In a New York minute. Time is valuable to me. Even though it has its little idiosyncrasies, it is the fastest, best carpet cleaner I have ever used. Yes, you really do get what you pay for. Recommended!

I was total blown away about how well this shampooer cleans. We are in our early 80s and I was a little worried if I bit off more then I could chew. But then if so Id just call one of the grand kids for help but it was easy to run and did a great job I would recommend this shampooer to anyone

When it came time to do the Spring Cleaning this year, I decided to purchase a new carpet cleaner. The Hoover Platinum had served me well, but keeping the machine clean was a pain, it left the carpets pretty wet and the resulting shampoo residue led to the carpet getting dirty much quicker. When I started researching new cleaners, the Bissell quickly rose to the top of the list. The primary reasons were the simple, easy to clean design, powerful motors and all of the excellent reviews from fellow shoppers at Amazon and across many sites on the Internet. I was not disappointed. The cleaner arrives in a large box, fully assembled. This model also includes an upholstery tool with a pretty long hose. Other than removing a few pieces of cardboard from the base and inside the dirty water tank, it comes ready to go. I love the overall design of the unit. It is manufactured of rubbermaid-like plastic that looks like it will hold up fine. Unlike other consumer cleaners, such as the Hoover Platinum, there are not a bunch of fancy lights and other bells and whistles on this one. It is simply the base cleaner, a clean water tank, dirty water tank and top that directs dirty water into the tank. The power cord is 25-feet long, enough for a large room without going back and forth to the wall to disconnect and reconnect it to other outlets. The machine is ugly when compared to the fancier consumer models, but I cared much less about that than how it worked and the simple design that makes it ugly also lets it work well and be easy to maintain. Using the unit could not be much simpler. Fill the water (bottom) tank with hot water from the faucet and the right amount of cleaner (water tank cap is also a measuring cup), re-attach the dirty water tank on top and you are ready to go. This unit dispenses water and cleaner while moving both forward and backward if the button on the right handle is depressed. The instructions advise you to make a forward and backward pass while dispensing water and a without pressing the button to suck up excess water and heat dry the floor. I followed the instructions, but made a second dry pass just to get the carpet as dry as possible...Im not at all convinced that second pass made a difference and it is absolutely not required. In my experience, the water tank is adequate to clean about 80-90 square feet of carpet, depending on the number of passes you make and how much you overlap. With a single pass and a 2 inch overlap, I got about 90 square feet between fills. Having used 5 or so different carpet cleaners from Bissell and Hoover, at all ranges of pricing, I am very impressed with the Big Green. It did a great job cleaning the carpet. Its strong suction led to the carpets being dryer after cleaning than any until I have ever used or seen used, rental and professional cleaners included. In fact, during the cleaning, the Bissell was regularly deposing small balls of hair and fur that 4 passed with my Dyson did not get out of the floor and the Dyson has excellent suction. The carpets took about 2 hours to dry in a 68 degree Fahrenheit room with the ceiling fan circulating air and the windows open. The Bissell also cleaned up several stains in the carpet that were left by my Hoover. That said, I am also using a new cleaner, the Bissell Pro brand so it is hard to say if that is due to the shampoo or the machine. There is a handy flow meter than is directly driven by water flowing past that lets you see when the tanks are empty or if there is still water in the carpet that needs extracting. This unit is heavy and bulky. It is not much heavier than my Hoover Platinum, but the extra bulk of the design makes it harder to carry up stairs. Doable but folks with less upper body strength might need help. Emptying the Bissell is easy. Pull the black handle on the cover forward, remove the cover (I tilted it off from the back to keep from dripping on the floor) and then carry the tank to the toilet for a dump. One thing to note here is that a significant portion of the top of the dirty water tank is exposed. While the water level in there is 1 1/2 or so from the top after using a full water tank, those who are balance challenged may want to push the machine close to where they plan to dump to avoid spilling on the way. After dumping the dirty water, it is a good time to fill the clean since it is on the base of the machine below the other tank. This process is simple as well. Lift the handle and pull the tank up from the machine, open the lid and use it to measure the amount of shampoo to add then fill the tank to the line, which is basically a completely full tank. One thing I appreciated is that water does not drip when the tank is removed, even though water is drawn from a valve at the bottom of the tank. The only downside to the design of this tank is that the bottom is not at all flat, so you cant just sit it in the sink and get a full tank. Not a big deal, but some may find it the weight of a full tank a little hard to hold below the faucet. The Upholstery nozzle and host is nothing special as far as design goes, but the suction from the Bissell motor lets it work like a champ. I used it to clean carpets and it worked very well. Would be nice if there was a way to mount it to the machine but the design does not allow that and it is something I am willing to deal with. Cleaning the unit when done is a snap. Rinse out the tanks and the top cover and then use a towel to wipe it all dry. The handle folds down to minimize the space this takes, but it is a bigger unit so plan on dedicating a spot for it. Overall, this gets a strong recommendation from me. Its roots as a commercial rental machine help this shine in the home. The design is simple and easy to learn to use. There are not a lot of bells and whistles to break down...the only indicator is a simple flow meter not some fancy electronic gadget. And it works and works very well. Exactly what you would expect if you shelled out $50+ dollars to rent one.

I started out using this machine because I was in a pinch when our carpet vendor had to cancel. My first experience was with a rental from a local hardware company, per the recommendation of our rep. The rental had clearly been used a lot, and not well cared for. I was skeptical. However, our $5000.00 commercial machine was heavy, hard to fill, rigorous to use, exhausting to use solo, and an inconvenience for those occupying apartments. With this machine, I was able to complete the job in a fraction of the time, had no interference with other occupants, had no fatigue, and the end result was a much cleaner and sanitary carpet. I was so pleased I bought 4. I have since bought nothing but this. The upholstery attachments work well for furniture and tight spaces. The stair tool sees no loss of suction. The machine is simple to use, can be used by a single person with ease. The suction is less than more expensive machines, but the scrubbing bristles penetrate deep into the carpet and in my opinion yield a better clean. The capacity is small, but that can be seen as a benefit. This is not a machine for water extraction, but for cleaning. The machine is easy to clean, and upon first use it will be evident how much this machine really pulls out of the carpet. There is a clear channel on the top of the collection bin and you will be able to see the hair, dirt, and grime as it is extracted. There is a multi color pinwheel on the top of the machine for flow, that will let you when when water is flowing or the tank is empty. For areas with pets, it does extremely well with hair and dander. Rather than flood and suck, this machine will excel with proper chemical treatment. Pre-treat stains properly ahead of time, and mix the proper fragrance and general carpet cleaning solution for your needs with the clean water tank for optimal performance. It’s a prefect option for single households. For commercial, I recently chose to use this product over a much more expensive machine. A larger complex with indoor, carpet hallways. Roughly 2 linear miles (4 buildings, 4 floors per building) and 6 foot wide. To make it work I prefilled a 30 gallon tote with water and treatment, and one empty tote. I was then able to fill the tank when needed, as well as empty the collection tank with ease. Pretreated the stains with a backpack sprayer, and the end result was great. My legs and back are still thankful. One caveat is that it is still pretty loud.

I bought this because I have 2 small dogs and they like to pee on the carpet. I always clean up the pee when it happens, and I pre-treated with spray carpet cleaner and let sit for about 5 minutes before using the “Big Green”. The first time I used it, I filled the cleaning tank to the fill line and added two capfuls of cleaning liquid. I only cleaned one small bedroom fully and a hallway, and then spot cleaned in a few other places. I quickly realized I did not need that much cleaning solution. The 2nd time I used it, I used 16 cups (1 gallon) of warm/hot tap water and only one cup of cleaning solution since I planned to only spot clean some pee and vomit. I still had atleast half of the cleaning detergent left over. I say this because you don’t need to waste the detergent and only plan on enough for the job you are doing. Overall it did a really nice job cleaning and I was very pleased with the product. The photos show where my dog ate “toadkill” and then puked it up later that day. There is some shadowing in the photos, but there is no stain left after cleaning. Pros and cons listed below: Pros- cleans carpet very well, easy to use, easy to maintain, great suction, carpet dries quickly, the hose works great on stairs and upholstery Cons- super heavy to carry up/down stairs. I take all the clean/dirty reservoirs off and then carry just the machine. This reduces weight a little bit. - this thing is HUGE and I haven’t figured out where to store it yet- the machine costs a lot, but I think I will save money and have cleaner carpets in the long run, so look at it as an investment. - again this machine is heavy and I can only use it for about 15 minutes before my back starts to get uncomfortable. - you do need to spend about 5 to 10 minutes cleaning the machine after each use to keep it in good working order. - it is hard to aim the sprayer on the hose directly on the surface, but if you hold it about 3 inches away from the surface, it is easier to spray the hose correctly and you can see exactly where it sprayed the cleaning solution - both times I used it I vacuumed first, but there was wet lint that collected on the surface of my carpet. I just bent over and picked it up, or continued to go over the spot until it was suctioned up, so not a big deal. Overall, I love this machine and will most likely use it for spot cleaning every week, and full carpet cleaning quarterly. Definitely recommend for pet owners.

The suction is so good that it pulls old dirt through the pad even. I installed my own inground pool and never thought I would get the carpets clean from the kids going into the dirt piles from the pool dirt. Well this gets everything out, even the stuff that managed to get through the carpet pad. Amazing wish I bought this years ago.

Yes, it is expensive, but forget buying the smaller, lesser machines. Unless, that is, you are someone who doesnt have a space for a machine this large. I have now had this thing for over four months and it has saved my carpet. I have 7 cats. Running over a great swath of cat vomit with this machine is like taking an eraser to a chalk board. Sweep sweep sweep and it is gone. I no longer cringe when my senior cat, Toby, has a problem. Because I know the solution is just sitting there in my closet. I had a room upstairs filled with over 50 birds (I was breeding canaries), and a tortoise in a house. I got out of breeding birds and found a better place for the tortoise, and then I found myself staring in horror at the carpet under the two aviaries and the tortoise house. I had several inches of accumulated bird dander and seed dirt under the aviaries. The tortoise had dumped her water repeatedly and the red substrate I had as her bedding got wet and soaked into the carpet under her house to the point it was literally black. I tried my smaller Bissell and it really did very little. I saw this machine and hated the price. But I bought it anyway. It is literally on my top five purchases EVER in my life. It took 10 repeated shampoos to get that carpet in that room looking like new. Which it does, by the way. I cant even believe it--even the black carpet under the tortoise house looks new. You cant buy into those pictures that show a filthy floor and a path of perfect cleanness behind the machine like its done this with one swipe. It takes repeated shampoos. I used over an entire bottle of cleaner to get that room to the point that the water in the tank was finally clean. Anyway--if you are chewing your nails at the price, dont. Better to get a machine that does the job at the start, then get lesser machines that kinda sorta do the job, until you one day throw up your hands and go for the big one. You save money in the end to not buy the smaller machines. Unless, as I said, you dont have the space. Or maybe you live alone and you arent very strong. This thing is rather heavy. But I find when I want to take it upstairs, its easier to remove the two tanks first. Also, Bissells anti-urine odor product that goes with this machine is very effective. My Toby liked to pee on my carpet in one spot until I found premium cat litter to get him back to using his box. My entire condo smelled like pee after the first shampoo as this machine drew up all the nasty stuff from the carpet pad under the carpet in that area. After the second shampoo I wasnt smelling urine anymore. At all. And now when I walk into my condo I no longer smell that disgusting smell. So do I recommend this machine and the products that go with it. Hell, yes! Best investment I have made since I bought my home.

We had set in pet stains from our puppies that were awful! I was embarrassed to have anyone come to the house. We had the carpet professionally cleaned, but that didnt help much at all. As a last resort before buying all new carpet, I decided to order the Bissell Big Green Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner. The reviews were good, so I thought it was worth a try. It was amazing! It met all of my expectations & then some! Two people who had seen my carpet before & after, couldnt believe the results! They both said That is quite the machine! I would buy this carpet cleaner again with no hesitation! It is excellent & easy to use!!

Disclaimer: I live in a rented condominium and therefore cant change my carpet. That being said, I used to own another, less expensive Bissell Lift-Off Pet Pro (or something that sounds similar). My older carpet cleaner seemed to use quite a lot of cleaner solution and even after multiple passes, the carpet I have (thick, almost shag carpet) remained quite damp/wet. The Big Green supposedly has a motor thats double (or more) of the amps of their consumer models. I found that it didnt use as much carpet cleaning solution as my old one, and that I still needed to do multiple passes for it to suck up the solution. If youve got thinner carpet, this one might be amazing, but for my situation, I think I wasted money since it still cant seem to vacuum up the liquids as much as I assumed it would, especially given its reputation and price.

Of everything Ive ever purchased on Amazon, which trust me has been a lot, I have never purchased anything Ive enjoyed using more than this carpet shampooer. The Bissell Big Green is so worth the money! Its literally a workhorse! I cleaned my big overstuffed sectional and it looks brand spanking new! After using the big green on my carpet, it looks brand new. This thing cleans like crazy!!! And I love it. Its easy to prepare for use. The shampoo that goes with it (by Bissell) is what you want to use. It cleans so well. I could not be happier!!!! If youre considering a carpet shampooer you might want to consider this. It will pay for itself eventually. I have had many carpet shampooers over the years but Ive never had one that does what this one does. Its absolutely awesome!!!