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BISSELL Spotlifter Powerbrush Handheld 1716B
I've owned my 1716 Spotlifter for about 6 years and decided to purchase one as a gift for a friend. We both do rescue and have anywhere from 6 to 8 cats in the house at any given time.
I have been very pleased with my Spotlifter, so was quite surprised at some of the reviews I read. My Spotlifter is the purrfect tool for quick cleanups before the stain sets in. I own a Little Green and the Pro Heat as well, and I am always surprised at how well this little gadget really does work.
Yes, you do have to tilt the unit forward and apply a little pressure during the suction pass, but after all, it is a hand-held unit for "spot" cleaning. I don't see any problem with the trigger spray, I do not find it to be excessively heavy, the brushes don't damage my berber carpet, it's a snap to clean, and it does "lift" the spot out. I suppose you could always blot with a dry towel afterwards, but I haven't found that to be necessary.
In my opinion this is a great little "in between" machine that does the job quickly and easily until you do the heavy duty cleaning with your full-size machine.
Category Article pressure washer
this little machine is worth every penny.. i have pets and just spraying and blotting up accidents was really grossing me out..i tried the dirt devil steam cleaner and please "do not buy that machine!" it cooks the stain and stinks.. yuk.. the bissell is amazing ..it scrubs and lifts out everything.. i've waited for something like this for a long time.. it even does steps..
rose mary
wyoming pa
I agonized for weeks over which brand and model to buy. Every product out there has its fans and detractors. In desperation one day, after both my cats had stomach problems, I went to buy the expensive SpotBot. Luckily, it was out of stock, and I saved myself a bundle on the Spotlifter. It's been great for the past 3 months, and I've had lots of occasion to use it. I like being able to see the liquid being sucked up in the front window...helps me adjust the angle of the machine and know how long to work on an area. Removing the lower water reservoir took a bit a creativity with small hands, but now is easy, as is removing and cleaning the brush area. Cleaning the carpet and cleaning the machine take a fraction of the time I used to spend, with infinitely more satisfactory results.
In the past year and a half, we have gotten two new puppies and a new house. I could not have survived without the Spotlifter. The only thing that I could think of when I read the bad reviews was that the machine was not being held at the right angle to suction properly. The machine has to be held in one position to spray and use the brush properly and in a different position to remove the cleaning solution from the carpet. If done properly, you could not ask for a better product. I have removed dozens of stains, spills and accidents with the Bissell Spotlifter and haven't been disappointed once. I store the solution in the machine and it is always ready for a quick clean-up. I do rinse the container where the soiled solution is stored after every clean-up but I think that it would probably not be necessary. As I said in the title of this review, this item is a must for pet owners. It is truly one of my very favorite household appliances.
I've owned my 1716 Spotlifter for about 6 years and decided to purchase one as a gift for a friend. We both do rescue and have anywhere from 6 to 8 cats in the house at any given time.
I have been very pleased with my Spotlifter, so was quite surprised at some of the reviews I read. My Spotlifter is the purrfect tool for quick cleanups before the stain sets in. I own a Little Green and the Pro Heat as well, and I am always surprised at how well this little gadget really does work.
Yes, you do have to tilt the unit forward and apply a little pressure during the suction pass, but after all, it is a hand-held unit for "spot" cleaning. I don't see any problem with the trigger spray, I do not find it to be excessively heavy, the brushes don't damage my berber carpet, it's a snap to clean, and it does "lift" the spot out. I suppose you could always blot with a dry towel afterwards, but I haven't found that to be necessary.
In my opinion this is a great little "in between" machine that does the job quickly and easily until you do the heavy duty cleaning with your full-size machine.
I received the Little Green Clean Machine five years ago, a bigger, and I thought better, machine than this one. After five years of frustration, I pitched it and got this. What a difference! I don't know what the manufacturers have been doing during the past five years, but it worked! I got out stains that my other machine never even touched. Even my husband noticed! And, this thing is SOOOO much lighter and easier to clean out when you are done. I would buy this as a housewarming or new baby present in a heartbeat!
To begin, you might want to keep in mind that this is the only carpet cleaning product -- mechanical or chemical -- that has actually worked for me, without leaving the carpet spot bleached lighter or leaving a phantom stain or breaking within a few uses, or all of the above. So, this is a rave review, relative to the fact that I've never had a spot cleaner or carpet cleaner before that actually worked.
This thing rocks. It gets rid of old spots and spots on which a cleaning attempt has been made, cat barf, wine stains, cat pee, gravy, mud, dog poo, and that's pretty much what I've tried it on. The only two things it hasn't removed for me were a stain from the feet of a cheap, red table, water soaked and left to dye the carpet, and two black stains on the carpet from which I know not the source. In all other cases it worked, and it left the carpet completely clean, no marks left over, no bleach spot, no lightening of the entire cleaned area.
I haven't had the problem of leaking or a soaked carpet after cleaning. In fact, we've owned ours for two years now, and we use it regularly on cat barf. It's never leaked, and every time, the carpet is left only mildly damp after cleaning. Also, the suction seems to be fine, from what I can see. There is a little window on the front of the cleaner that allows you to see the dirty water being sucked up into the machine. I bought this Bissel spot lifter for my mom today, and I just did a spot on her carpet. It only took about 25 -35 minutes to dry.
Tips for use: Use the Green Machine formula that comes with the cleaner. Spray the carpet and wait two or three minutes before running the cleaner. Run the scrub brushes flat over the spot for several minutes before starting to suck up the soapy, dirty water. Take your time; I think patience is the most important factor in getting a spot up. Make sure you tip the cleaner forward to suck the water up. Otherwise, it's not actually suctioning anything. You have to tip it forward.
My only complaints: The little window area at the front of the cleaner is a pain in the arse to clean. They should make it removable, so you can clean out under it. Fortunately, as it is, you can fit a q-tip under there to drag crud out. My second complaint is that I noticed today that the trigger spray mechanism feels cheap, and -- on the one I bought today -- doesn't release cleanly. Like a squirt gun whose suction has gone sour due to cheap glue. Mind, though, it hasn't. I hope it won't.
All over, the complaints are minor, and the benefits are that it isn't expensive and it friggin' works. Hootie hoo. You won't be cleaning your whole carpet with this thing, but it cleans the spots fantastically.
Add-on: After reading more reviews, it looks like this product may actually have a common problem with the sprayer. I havne't had a considerable problem with this yet. But be wary.
When I purchased this item a year ago, I could not believe itworked. Seriously.
I have cats and with hairballs and precious little "accidents," I have a very hard time keeping the carpets clean. I bought this little ditty at a Target store and used it to clean some tough spots on carpet in my former apartment. I worked like a charm!
It's really easy to handle, to change brushes and refill cleaning solution. It works great on stairs, where it's tougher for me to vacuum. It pulls out dirt and other yucky messes - including color spills - and leaves the carpet fresh. You can also use your own solutions to clean, including bleach or peroxide and water and it doesn't hurt the machine.
I purposely waited a year to review this item so see how it was with wear and tear. It use it A LOT. And it's still going. For a purchase in today's cheaply-manufactured economy, that's a real plus.
I have mostly hardwood in my home, but I do have a little bit of carpet, so I bought one of these for the small spots and spills. I have 3 kids and 2 dogs, so it seems that accidents are a daily occurence. I used this Spotlifter on some old pop stains that have been on the carpet for months, and it got them out no problem. I couldn't believe how well it worked and how dirty the water was that came out of my carpet. It worked so well that I decied to try it on my couch and chair, and it did a great job on them as well. Next stop was my car's interior, which was no small feat. It made my 6 year old minivan look and smell almost new. Buying this Spotlifter was definitely money well spent.