The Bissell SpotBot ProHeat is one of Bissell’s extensive line of carpet cleaning devices. I had used an old Bissell Green Machine for many years, but when I bought a new house recently with lots of light-colored carpeting, I knew it was time for an upgrade. With six cats in the house, accidents and stains would surely be inevitable. Indeed, by the second night in the house I already had a dark red stain in the hallway rug from cat vomit that I could not get out with spray-on carpet cleaners and thorough scrubbing. Also, even after having the carpets professionally steam-cleaned before I moved in, the family room carpet was not in great shape. It showed considerable ground-in dirt and traffic stains from the previous owners’ use.
On recommendation, I bought a Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. This portable deep cleaner has a clever design and can be used both manually and automatically. In the automatic “hands-free” mode, just place the round cleaning window over the spot to be cleaned, press a few buttons to set the cleaning mode, and walk away. The SpotBot’s cleaning brush, spray nozzle, and suction nozzles do all the work for you. In manual mode, you control the spray and vacuum nozzle/suction hose yourself, for cleaning over a wider area. The ProHeat version of the SpotBot heats tap water up to 25 degrees hotter, aiding in its cleaning efficiency.
There are several ways to adjust the cleaning power of the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. In hands-free mode, you can select Surface Stain Cycle, which runs for three minutes, or Set-In Stain Cycle, which runs for six minutes. You can also adjust the mixture of cleaning product that you use when filling the solution tank. For regular dirt, grime and pet stains, use a mixture of Bissell 2X Little Green formula and water. For dye-heavy stains such as coffee, wine and fruit juice, use a mixture of Oxy GEN2 and Bissell 2X Little Green formula plus water. The water heating feature is also optionally selected, but does not affect the 3 or 6-minute automatic cycle time.
I first tried the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat on the cat vomit stain which, by this point, had set in for several days and would not come up otherwise. Since the spot was stained red from dyes in the cat food, I chose the Set-In Stain Cycle with a combination of Oxy GEN2 and Bissell 2X Little Green formula. It took two six-minute cycles, but it did get up the stain successfully. I have since used it on several more cat throw-up stains which were caught more quickly, and always succeeded in getting up the stains after a single run of the 6-minute Set-In Stain Cycle while using Oxy GEN2 formula.
After the success of using the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat on these cat stains, I decided to see if I could get up any of the dirt and traffic stains in my family room carpet. I used the manual spray nozzle, and again a combination of Oxy GEN2 and Bissell 2X Little Green formula to really work on the stains. Although it required some time, and a full tank of combined solution, I was able to lift up all of the dirt stains successfully and the carpet looks nearly brand new. Considering the SpotBot cost $149.99, I was incredibly pleased by this as I was already contemplating whether I would have to get entirely new carpets for the family room – which would have been considerably more expensive.
Overall I have very few complaints about the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. It does run through cleaning solution quickly: a full tank lasts for only three Set-In Stain Cycles. A 32 oz. bottle of Oxy GEN2 retails for $6.99 and will only fill the cleaning tank twice. 32 oz. of the Bissell 2X Little Green formula retails for $9.99 and will last longer, as you only use a small amount for each tank refill. When using the hands-free cycle, the clear round window and scrub brushes do leave marks in the carpet that need to be hand-brushed out, otherwise it looks like you have “crop circles” all over your carpet.
These issues aside, I thoroughly recommend the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. Whether you have pets, small children, or just want to be prepared for any kind of carpet-stain “accident” that can happen, the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat can successfully get up both set-in and surface stains quickly and easily. Cleaning the SpotBot itself is simple, and it is lightweight and compact enough to move around the house and store in just about any closet space. For the price, it’s a solid investment for maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of your carpets.
Sources:
* Personal experience
* Bissell SpotBot ProHeat – Bissell Official Website.
