How to Use a Bissell Carpet Cleaner

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A complete guide to making your carpets look brand new again
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Using a carpet cleaner makes removing carpet grime quick and easy, and a Bissell carpet cleaner is one of the best options out there. If you want to learn how to use your carpet cleaner to get rid of dirt, stains, and debris in your carpets, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over the cleaning process step-by-step, so that you can get your carpets looking absolutely pristine. We’ve also consulted carpet cleaning specialist, Andrew Rohr, for some expert tips. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Using a Bissell Carpet Cleaner

First, vacuum the area to lift up excess dirt and dust, and pre-treat stains with carpet shampoo. Fill the water tank of the cleaner with hot water and carpet cleaning formula, then plug it in and turn it on. To clean, press the trigger on the handle while moving the cleaner forward and backward over the carpet.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Pretreating the Carpet

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  1. Move any furniture off the carpet and out of the room, if possible. Give yourself plenty of room to maneuver and reach stains in tight spaces.
    • Work around furniture you can’t move, and make sure to move the carpet cleaner around carefully to avoid leaving marks or scratches on the furniture.
  2. Rohr recommends going over the carpet with your regular vacuum to remove as much dirt, dust, and debris as possible first. “Before any carpet cleaning takes place, the first step is to use a traditional vacuum with a beater bar to remove the dry soil from the carpet,” he says. “I would also use a carpet rake to remove additional pet hair, if present.” [1] This prevents the dirt from being worked further into the carpeting later. [2]
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  3. Target areas that handle a lot of foot traffic, as well as any deep stains you find. A carpet cleaner alone sometimes isn't enough to clean these areas, so pre-treating with carpet shampoo can help you achieve a spotless carpet. Spray the shampoo onto the carpet directly, or blot it on with a wet paper towel, then let it soak in for about 3 minutes before operating the carpet cleaner. [3]
    • You can find bottles of carpet shampoo at any general store.
    • Some carpet shampoos require different application methods, so make sure to read the instructions on the back of the bottle.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Setting up the Cleaner

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  1. Detach the tank on the carpet cleaner’s front end. Run your sink until the water is hot, then place the tank’s spout under the faucet. The tank should have a line, about ¾ of the way up, indicating how far to fill it up. [4]
    • For help locating and removing the cleaner’s tanks, consult your owner’s manual. Usually, all you’ll have to do is lift up some plastic clips to free the tank.
  2. Check the instruction manual to make sure you pick a carpet cleaning formula that is specially designed to work with your machine. The tank should have a second fill line above the first one; pour the formula directly into the hot water until it reaches that line. [5]
    • Some cleaners have separate hot water and formula tanks. For these, fill the hot water tank full with water, then fill the formula tank to the fill lines with hot water and formula.
    • You might be tempted to pour in extra cleaning formula to tackle a particularly dirty carpet, but Rohr cautions against this, as it ends up hindering the cleaning process. Instead, always use the recommended amount. [6]
    • Keep in mind that these carpet cleaning formulas are designed to work with the carpet cleaning machine, so they’re different from the carpet shampoo you may have used to pretreat stains.
  3. Find the dial located on the front side of the cleaner, next to the tank. The dial will have settings for light, normal, and heavy cleanings. Depending on how dirty your carpeting is, select the correct setting and adjust it as you go. [7]
  4. The tools dial is the large one on top of the water tank. Spin the dial until the marked arrow on it points down, towards the floor cleaning option. Your machine is now loaded and ready to go. [8]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Cleaning the Carpet

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  1. Plug the power cord into a nearby outlet, then locate the buttons on the cleaner's back. Press both buttons down to turn the machine on and activate its heating system.
  2. Pull the trigger to spray water onto the carpet. While holding the trigger, push the cleaner forward, then pull it back. Focus on cleaning small areas at a time by moving the cleaner forward as far as you can reach without walking. [9]
  3. Go back over the same area, this time without pulling the trigger. Move the cleaner forward again, then pull it back to suction up the dirt and water. Continue doing this until no more water can be pulled up from the carpet. You can see this by watching the tank, since no more water will flow into it. [11]
  4. Move on to other areas, alternating between wet and dry passes to remove dirt. You may need to run the cleaner over heavily soiled areas a second time to get them truly clean and pristine.
  5. As you use the cleaner, it sucks dirt and water into a second tank next to the water tank you filled earlier. This second tank will also have a fill line showing its maximum capacity. Once the soiled water reaches this line, pour it out into the sink. [12] \
    • The dirty water tank is attached to the clean water tank as one unit, so you’ll need to remove the whole thing to empty it. Undo the plastic clips like you did earlier to detach the unit.
  6. Run the hot water again. Using the guidelines, replenish the tank with water and formula. Your cleaner will be ready for action again. Depending on the size of your carpets, you will need to dump out the dirty water and refill the tank several times before you’re finished using the machine.
  7. Some carpet cleaners come with a hose and extra tools, such as a vacuum attachment. Slide the tool into the free end of the hose to tackle areas such as tight corners or stairs. [13]
    • Make sure to set the tools dial before using the tools. This is the same dial you set to the floor cleaning option earlier.
    • Spin the dial to point up towards you. This is the tools option, which switches the power settings from the floor cleaner to the hose. Use these tools to finish up the last of your carpet cleaning. [14]
    • You don’t have to do this part last, but it’s usually easier to target the larger areas first and come back for the difficult spots.
  8. After you’ve gone over your entire carpet with your carpet cleaner, fill the water tank with hot tap water only and no cleaning formula. Go back over the carpet with your carpet cleaning machine one more time to make sure there’s no more carpet cleaning formula leftover. [15]
  9. Drying times will vary from a couple of hours to a full day, depending on the thickness of the carpet. If you’re in a hurry, Rohr recommends using a wet/dry vacuum, or opening up the windows in your house. He also suggests setting up three simple box fans around the area in a triangle, which creates a sort of “vortex” and speeds up the drying process. [16]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I use vinegar in my carpet cleaner?
    Andrew Rohr
    Carpet Cleaning Specialist
    Andrew Rohr is a Carpet Cleaning Specialist and the President of MSS Cleaning out of Denver, Colorado. With over five years of cleaning experience, he specializes in carpet cleaning, stretching, and repairs as well as upholstery cleaning, water damage restoration, and tile and grout cleaning. Andrew holds a BA in Psychology and Business Administration from The University of New Hampshire and an MBA in Corporate Finance from The University of Denver.
    Andrew Rohr
    Carpet Cleaning Specialist
    Expert Answer
    No, don't bother using homemade vinegar and baking soda-type solutions with your equipment. Instead, just use the recommended cleaning product.
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    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 9
  • Question
    How can I get rid of pet urine in my carpet?
    Andrew Rohr
    Carpet Cleaning Specialist
    Andrew Rohr is a Carpet Cleaning Specialist and the President of MSS Cleaning out of Denver, Colorado. With over five years of cleaning experience, he specializes in carpet cleaning, stretching, and repairs as well as upholstery cleaning, water damage restoration, and tile and grout cleaning. Andrew holds a BA in Psychology and Business Administration from The University of New Hampshire and an MBA in Corporate Finance from The University of Denver.
    Andrew Rohr
    Carpet Cleaning Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It's best to call a professional to either deep-clean or replace your carpet padding. Unfortunately, pet urine typically soaks deeper into the pad than a standard carpet cleaner can reach.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 9
  • Question
    Why won't the water suck up into the return tank?
    Community Answer
    It could be clogged. If you're comfortable doing this, try taking everything apart and cleaning it out. Then try again; if clogging is the problem, then it will start sucking up debris into the tank again. If not, take it to a repairer for help.
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      Tips

      • It’s recommended that you clean your carpets at least 2 times a year. Clean areas with deep stains and heavy traffic more often.
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      • Using formula products not made by Bissell can void your cleaner’s warranty.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Carpet cleaner
      • Hot water
      • Carpet shampoo
      • Carpet cleaning formula
      • Electrical outlet

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      References

      1. ↑ Andrew Rohr. Carpet Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 April 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.bissellrental.com/cleaning_tips/How-to-Deep-Clean
      3. ↑ https://www.bissell.com/support/helpful-resources/cleaning-tips/carpet-cleaning/no-clean-like-deep-clean
      4. ↑ https://www.bissell.com/carpet-cleaners/carpet-cleaning-the-best-way-to-deep-clean.html
      5. ↑ https://www.bissellrental.com/cleaning_tips/How-to-Deep-Clean
      6. ↑ Andrew Rohr. Carpet Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 April 2021.
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/7tuNaJjAQUk?t=195
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/JBuzaEUsxsc?t=103
      9. ↑ https://www.bissell.com/support/helpful-resources/cleaning-tips/carpet-cleaning/no-clean-like-deep-clean
      1. ↑ Andrew Rohr. Carpet Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 April 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.bissell.com/support/helpful-resources/cleaning-tips/carpet-cleaning/no-clean-like-deep-clean
      3. ↑ https://www.bissellrental.com/cleaning_tips/How-to-Deep-Clean
      4. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/carpet-cleaners/buying-guide/
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/JBuzaEUsxsc?t=103
      6. ↑ https://www.bissell.com/carpet-cleaners/carpet-cleaning-the-best-way-to-deep-clean.html
      7. ↑ Andrew Rohr. Carpet Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 April 2021.

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To use a Bissell carpet cleaner, start by filling the cleaner’s tank with hot water and cleaning formula. Then, if your machine has a cleaning dial, set it to light, normal, or heavy, depending on the dirtiness of your carpet. Next, turn the dial to the floor cleaning option, and press the power and heater buttons. As you clean, pull the trigger to spray the carpet, then let go of the trigger and pull the cleaner back to suction up the dirt and water. For tips on how to clean tough stains and hard to reach areas, scroll down.

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