Product Description

BISSELL ProHeat 2X Cleanshot Upright Deep Cleaner-9500. Revolutionary cleaning system with dual brushes and heating system for a clean you can see. This machine offers CleanShot¿a heavy-duty spot cleaning at the push of a button. This machine also includes Dry Aire¿, heated air that dries the carpet while you clean. A built-in heater heats hot tap water up to 25 degrees hotter for MAXIMUM cleaning.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2589 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Bissell
• Model: 9500
• Dimensions: 44.00" h x 13.00" w x 19.00" l, 37.75 pounds

Features

• Deep cleaner with dual brushes and 2-in-1 water tank
• Light clean, normal, heavy traffic, and rinse settings
• Water heating and hot-air system; heavy-duty spot cleaning
• Variety of on-board tools and accessories included
• Measures 19 by 13 by 44 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Using the power of heat, brushes, and cleaning formula, this upright home cleaning system removes deep-down dirt for a maximum clean. The unit's built-in heater heats hot tap water up to 25 degrees hotter for maximum results, plus it offers a no-heat option for cleaning delicate wool or oriental rugs. Choose between light clean, normal, heavy traffic, and rinse settings; the cleaner will adjust the right amount of cleaning solution to mix with the heated water. Its two DirtLifter PowerBrush rolls feature a bristle pattern that safely lifts out dirt while gently grooming carpet fibers. Tackle especially tough stains with the push of a button thanks to the CleanShot feature. It sprays a concentrated stream of cleaning solution, penetrating the stain and allowing for better cleaning focus. Simply spray and suction and the stain disappears. Even more, the unit's Dry Aire system spreads hot air across the carpet to help dry it.

Other details include floating suspension that self-adjusts to all carpet heights, a two-in-one water tank that keeps clean and dirty water separate, floor cleaning or above-floor cleaning with the turn of a knob, and deep-cleaning formulas with Scotchgard protector. Tools include a 3-inch tough-stain tool, a 4-inch upholstery tool, a spraying crevice tool, a 6-inch stair tool, a TurboBrush, and a mesh bag. Also included: a 16-ounce container of Fiber Cleansing Formula. Great for carpet, upholstery, stairs, and car interiors, the deep cleaner measures 19 by 13 by 44 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

My carpet looks so pretty! What an amazing machine...
A review or two of this machine would have helped me a lot, so I'll leave one hoping it might help someone out there who's trying to decide which carpet cleaner to buy.

We moved into our house four months ago. The previous owner had the carpets cleaned for us, but they already looked awful. She was very tidy and clean--no children at home--and we just really aren't. The carpets on the main floor are a very light Berber, so you can probably imagine how they were starting to look with an eight-year-old constantly in and out. And we aren't shoe removers.

My only previous experience with a deep cleaner was a 5-year-old Bissell that served my mom faithfully until it finally stopped working when I tried to use it a few days ago. I am convinced the water shooter thingy only quit because it was left filthy by the last person who used it and is probably clogged up with some nasty glob of disgustion.

Anyway, I needed my carpets cleaned and I needed it done soon because my in-laws are due for a visit in just over a week. I didn't have time to wait for Amazon to ship me a carpet cleaner, and I didn't want to pay someone half what this cleaner would cost to do it for me.

After reading many reviews, I was wavering between the Bissell 9400, the 9500, and the Hoover SteamVac Agility. I probably would have gone with the Agility just for the sake of price and the separate dirty/clean water tanks, but none of the local stores had it, and like I said I needed it now. Finally I wandered into a Linens `n Things and saw the Bissell 9500. It was priced higher than Amazon, but with a 20% off coupon it actually came out a little lower, even after paying sales tax. So I took it home.

I had absolutely no problems with assembly. It took all of maybe 5-10 minutes and a Philips screwdriver.

My first impression was Wow! Bissell has sure made a lot of improvements since my mom's machine rolled off the line.

The water tank is much easier to clean and use. The piece of plastic on the top where the suction takes place on the old Bissell was difficult to clean because it was attached to the main assembly, but the new one has the suction part on top of the water tank, so you can easily run water through it to get the gunk out. I'm a believer that you have to clean these things after using them if you want them to last. I also like that the water tank is made with Microban so I don't have to worry about bacteria building up in a damp machine.

I also like that this has a separate tank for the cleaning solution. I believe that with the Hoover Agility you have to mix the solution with the water, which would make it difficult to switch between cleaning and rinsing with water only. Rinsing helps get the extra soap out so you don't feel like you're walking on chemicals. I appreciated being able to choose between `heavy traffic', `normal clean', `light clean', and `water rinse' with the turn of a dial.

The `Clean Shot' feature, which I didn't think would be a big deal, actually turned out to be quite useful. Often I would go over a spot, expecting it to disappear, only to find it was still there. So, I would just hit it with a wallop of pure cleaning solution, clean another section for a few seconds, then go back over the spot. It really seemed to help get the peskier ones out.

On the old Bissell, the nozzles and hose were constantly falling out when you weren't using them because there was no way to secure them properly. I can't imagine that happening with the 9500; everything is secured with very tough plastic and nothing fell off while I was cleaning.

The attachments worked very well, by the way. One of the reasons I wanted this machine was that I wanted to be able to clean stairs myself. The TurboBrush was great. There's a switch that you can adjust between `brush'--an actual revolving brush--and `suction.' All the tools I used seemed to suction very well, another improvement over the old Bissell. The wide stair tool is nice for larger fields and the narrow tool is good for places like stair edges, where a wider tool might lose suction. There are a few tools I didn't use (crevice tool, squeegee, medium brush tool) because I didn't need them, but I might need them for instance when I clean the carpets in my truck, or when I clean my hard floors.

The only feature I am undecided on is the `Dry Aire' in which hot air blows out the bottom, supposedly to speed drying time. I didn't notice quicker drying and it makes a warm job warmer. But who knows, maybe it really does help.

My carpet looks wonderful. I'm convinced that if I spent more time on it, especially pre-treating, it would look even more wonderful, but who has unlimited time these days, especially with an 8-month-old? It definitely looks as good as when we moved in, maybe a little better. Like I said, the previous owner was very clean, so there wasn't a ton of dirt built up other than what we've brought in during these last four months. Nevertheless, there were plenty of times during my cleaning of high-traffic areas that I would see a distinct line between clean and dirty after the very first pass.

Overall the Bissell 9500 was easy to use, a pleasure really. It's not too heavy for me and I'm quite small. All the plastic on it seems very thick and durable, and it's even kind of pretty--an amazing machine.

I'll update this review if I have any problems with it in the future.

Works well, not perfect
I just bought this to replace my Hoover Agility which had stopped suctioning as well as it used to. I had tried a Bissell in the distant past, before my Hoover, and it had some flaws that made the Hoover seem like a clear winner at the time. Having had the Hoover for two and a half years (yup, that's all it lasted!), I learned that the Hoover, too, has its flaws - which means that, when picking a carpet cleaner, rather than think about which desirable features you would like, you have to decide which undesirable features you want to live with.

The number one thing I dislike about the Bissell is the water tank. Whereas the Hoover has two hard plastic tanks side by side (one for clean, one for dirty), the Bissell has one hard plastic tank with a vinyl bladder inside. You fill the bladder with clean water and it cycles back into the tank body, outside the bladder, when it is dirty. I think this give you slightly less capacity for clean water, meaning you need to fill the tank more often - I could do my whole living room with one tank with the Hoover; I needed to refill once with the Bissell. Plus it is hard to just glance at the tanks and know you need more water; instead you need to glance at this little spinny whirly thing that tells you water is flowing OR realize the carpets aren't getting wet while you clean. So that's my number one gripe. I don't like the tank!

Here are how the machines compare in some other ways:

The Bissell is heavier, which is not a huge deal as you are pushing it, not carrying it around. Maybe a small issue if you need to go upstairs (we don't) but on the whole, not a problem. Maybe even a perk as it makes the machine FEEL sturdier and weigh down more on the dirt.

The Bissell has a higher profile due to the water tank being in the part of the machine that rides on the floor rather than in the handle. The Hoover allows you to go a little ways under certain bits of furniture - for example, you can get maybe an inch or two under the front of your couch. For the most part I don't notice a problem but it is a consideration.

The Bissell is quieter than the Hoover. Not that you need ear protection with the Hoover, but my husband and I both noticed a difference in the noise level between the two machines.

The attachments for the Bissell are securely attached to the back of the machine on a rack - very nice. The rack on the Hoover is removable and was ALWAYS falling off so that I just kept it in the closet.

The hose on the Bissell is permanently attached which is nice - it has to be removed when using the Hoover for floors. With my Hoover I had a lot of dripping issues in the back of the machine and the hose was a real leaker whenever I used it. I don't know if my machine was defective or if this is common but I did not like that set-up. It was a small point, though, because I found the Hoover tools cumbersome so I rarely used them. I have not used the Bissell tools yet (sorry!) but they seem a lot more user-friendly.

No leakies with the Bissell! (Even when not using the hose, my Hoover left puddles behind it)

The brush system on the two machines is very different. On the Hoover there are 5 circular brushes in a line that spin against your carpet like a car buffer or an electric toothbrush. The Bissell has two horizontal brushy cylinders that work more like a standard sweeper. In theory it seems to me like this would do a better job to lift dirt out of your carpet. Truthfully, based on the filth in the water after using both machines, I'd say they do about an equally good job. The Bissell does have a tendency to toss these little clumps of dirty fibers here and there, though, which makes me wonder if it is getting more stuff out. It might also mean the Bissell is rougher on carpet and the Hoover is better for delicate carpet or low, nubby types of carpet (where grooming up doesn't make sense).

With the Bissell, the area between the front of the machine and the wall where dirt is "safe" seems to be smaller than with the Hoover. The Bissell also has these little brushes on the side which are supposed to eliminate the side "safe" zones but they don't seem to move or get wet at all so I don't know if they do much besides groom the carpet and eliminate the look of missed spots. However, the Bissell comes with a super narrow crevice tool so if you were so inclined to get every inch of carpet all the way to the baseboards obsessively clean, you could.

I think both machines (when working properly!) suck about the same amount of water back out of the carpet. I have to agree with the other reviewers that the air dryer doesn't seem to do much, though it does add a funny sort of raced-out look to the machine (like an extra-wide muffler).

The Bissell has you load clean water and solution seperately, as opposed to the Hoover which has you mix them. This is a nice feature because it allows you to do a rinse immediately after you clean a section rather than have to go and refill the tank with plain water. Supposedly you do not need to do a rinse because the solutions you can buy today are made not to leave residue but based on personal experience, I do not believe this. When I first started using my Hoover, I mixed solution and water as directed and did not rinse. In days, my carpets would be as dirty as ever. In time I switched to using HALF the amount of solution they told me and I had better results. Then later I switched to JUST boiling water and who knew, the machine still got my carpets amazingly clean and they'd stay that way the longest. I would use a weak solution mixture some of the time,for nasty jobs, just water most other times. So a rinse IS important, IMO.

With the Bissell, if I am using solution, I will fill the solution tank with half solution and half water, and I will do a rinse afterwards. You can't use boiling water in the Bissell because the directions say that could destroy the bladder - the hottest tap water I can get + trusting the heating device seems to work well.

All in all, both machines are good. I think I went with the Bissell because I wanted a change and hoped to get a longer life out of the machine. The other thing that sold me, though, is like another poster, I needed a machine NOW. We had just thrown the Hoover out and my son peed on the living room carpet! I was able to get this at Linens and Things with those wonderful coupons houseware stores like to send out ;-) and, as another reviewer mentioned, you can find rebate info from the manufacturer if you look. A sweet deal. A good machine, very happy with it.

Multi-Purpose Cleaner
I recently purchased this to replace an existing carpet cleaner and a hard-floor cleaner since space is a premium in my house.

The machine is easy to assemble and one only needs a phillips screwdriver for that task. Assembly takes about 5 min or so.

The newer style "tank-in-tank" is an improvement over my older Bissell Proheat inasmuch as it is easier to fill and empty. They have also improved the plastic bladder as it is now heavier plastic, almost like the material used in flexible cutting boards; before it was just heavy mil plastic sheeting. However, it still requires at least one refill/empty for an average-sized room. Another improvement is now you can clean the nozzle without unscrewing the assembly as was necessary in the older models.

On to cleaning--I must preface this with saying that I clean my carpets every month since I have 4 dogs and also spot clean in between, so my carpets are not extremely dirty. This does a decent job on cleaning so far as I can see, but really not significantly better than my older model machine. What I do like about Bissell's in general is that you have the option for a pure-water rinse without having to refill the clean tank as you do on some Hoover models. Another thing that is good is the Clean Shot feature. With pet stains, it eliminates the need to pre-treat, which is not a big deal unless you have back problems--and I do--so it cuts out having to bend over to spray with pre-treater. There is one downside to the Clean Shot feature--it's placement on the handle. Many times you will press this button if you go to bend down while holding the machine. I feel it could have been placed where it could not so easily be pressed; however, this is really a minor problem.

Comparing this to my older model, this doesn't suction as well as the older model. By no means does this leave your carpet soaking wet, but it's damper than my older machine left it. Perhaps this is because there is a dual sprayer in this machine, which the older machine has a single-spray mechanism. I find I do have to make additional "dry" passes to pull up more water. Again, minor. On that note, I don't notice that the Dry-Aire makes much of a difference just as other reviewers have said.

One potential problem I see is where the nozzle fits onto the part above the brushes, where there's a gasket. In time, I see that losing it's effectiveness and needing replacement. I also believe that this would account for the difference in suction between my older model that was one solid piece and this where there has got to be *some* air loss.

The machine also pulls up quite a bit of carpet fuzz and hair that your vacuum misses. I do make sure I thoroughly vacuum, but this catches what your vacuum misses. As to the fuzz, that's going to happen regardless, even though they tell you it happens on a "first cleaning." My carpet's been cleaned numerous times and I still get the fuzz. Folks, fuzz is a fact of life, I am afraid. You will have to stop and clean the underside at least once during the job because of this, and you'll know when you have to since the machine will start to drip droplets of water onto the carpet.

As for cleaning, that's a cinch. Just empty the dirty water, and any remaining water in the clean section, rinse it and let it dry. Even though they claim this Microban stops bacteria, I STILL air-dry the tanks. Another thing I always do is run clean water ONLY over 1/2 of my carpet at the end of cleaning. If you do rinse your entire carpet, I suggest doing this *after* you've shampooed since the clean water will flush the water hoses of any remaining detergent, which will crystalize over time. If you've used the hose and attachments, make sure after cleaning is through to suck up some plain water with the hose to rinse this part out as well. I have never had any trouble with machines I have owned in the past and I believe it was due to cleaning all the lines after each use and thoroughly cleaning the brushes, tanks, etc., and my other machines have lasted for years and work as well as when they were new. I still have them as "spares" and "loaners." Don't forget to change the "custom clean" setting to "water only" when you store it. This prevents detergent getting back into the line if you choose to leave the detergent in the reservoir tank. I don't...I pour any remaining soap back in the bottle and rinse and air dry that tank as well to be on the safe side.

Also, after you finish cleaning, I recommend placing this machine on a linoleum, vinyl or tile floor as it will leak out any remaining moisture. DO NOT leave on your carpet or hardwood/laminate floor. It can also be placed on something like a doormat, that has a waterproof backing if you prefer.

I am glad I gave this machine a 2nd chance. The one I originally purchased must've been defective. I had every intention of just returning it to the store for a refund, but something told me that I should exchange it and try again. A smart move!