It doesn’t help when a leading manufacturer brings out two models that seem almost identical, only a little detective work can bring to light the subtle differences between the two. In this carpet steam cleaner review we will look at just such an example. Bissell, one of the most respected steam cleaner brands, has its excellent ProHeat 2x range of upright carpet steam cleaners, but what a range it is with 5 different models sporting the ProHeat 2x logo. In this article we will take a quick over view of two of them to give you some idea of the differences between the models available.

ProHeat 2X Select

The first thing that should be said about the Bissell ProHeat 2x Select is that this is the updated and improved version of their successful ProHeat model. The ProHeat 2X Select is bigger, better and certainly more expensive, although at around $270 still reasonably priced. It’s bigger because it now has a one gallon water tank capacity, compared with the previous three quarter gallon model. Better because the cleaning path, that is to say the width of the bristled roller that cleans the floor, has now doubled to 12 inches compared to the previous 6 inches. As well as the added width to the cleaning path Bissell has also added extra brushes at the sides of the machine which have improved the cleaning up close to walls and along steps. It also comes with a longer extension power cord and more cleaning tools.

This new model of carpet steam cleaner has three strong new features that are worth a mention. Firstly the ProHeat 2X will not only give a deep clean to your carpets but can now be used for cleaning bare floors. This is a big plus and means you can now have an all in one cleaner that will do for the whole of your home no matter what the surfaces found there. Kitchen and bathroom floor tiles, wooden or concrete surfaces are all catered for. I should mention that thick rug surfaces, for instance a shag rug, would probably still be better off with a good shampooing.

Secondly the ProHeat range has an onboard water heating system, much like a commercial cleaning machine, which is very useful compare to machines that require filling with pre heated sources of water. The improvement in the 2X Select is that the heating system is not confined to the water tank alone; the heating system now permeates through into the hose attachment. The end result is water constantly heated during every part of the cleaning process which in turns results in better deep cleaning in your carpets.

Last but not least the ProHeat 2X Select now comes with Bissell’s own Microban antimicrobial product protection. Mold and mildew can spread fast in damp areas and lead to allergy irritations and odors and your steam cleaning product is at risk if not carefully looked after. This new protection system is already integrated into key components within the machine to protect it continuously from such infestation.

Bissell ProHeat 2X Select Pet

The ProHeat 2X Select has been manufactured with the pet owner in mind. This is a welcome and worthwhile development. For those of us who have a cat or a dog know only too well there’s a whole new world of pain involved in cleaning your carpets and upholstery when you have a furry friend living with you.

This model has some useful design features that will help with the specific removal of pet stains and dirt but it is worth mentioning that for one of the main problems of pets, that is to say molted hair and fur, you will still need to hoover thoroughly before using this cleaner. The rotating brushes will do a good job of pulling up a certain level of cat and dog hair and the see through nozzles and panels will alert you to when you need to clean the machine so that you can avoid blockages, but unless you want to spend a lot of time unplugging hair from your machine you really need to remove most of it first.

In fact the main pet feature of this machine is an extra six inch attachment which is proclaimed as a pet stain erasing tool. Use this along with the pet stain and odor removal solution that Bissell produce and you have a head start on pet specific stains and smells like urine, saliva and the rest.

While undoubtedly a useful tool it is debatable whether this model offers much more. In fact there is an argument that it offers a lot less. Yes you still have the internal water heating system and 12 inch rotating brushes but the ProHeat 2X Select Pet is not intended for use on bare floors and further more the standard model, 9400-6, does not come with the Microban® antimicrobial product protection; for that you need to make sure you’re buying the upgraded 9400-4 version.

Conclusion – In this carpet steam cleaner review there can be no argument that Bissell is a quality brand making quality cleaners, but the large range of products can be a little confusing. Remember as well as the two models above there is also the ProHeat 2X, the Proheat 2X Clean Shot and the new ProHeat 2X Healthy Home and we will look to provide home carpet steam cleaner reviews of these models at a later date. In the meantime if you want a Bissell cleaner for your home we recommend that you take the time to read carefully through the different specifications of each model so that you find the right one for you and your home. Unless pet stains are the main source of cleaning frustration in your life the conclusion of this carpet steam cleaners review is that you would be better off with the ProHeat 2X Select.

Within a couple of months the cream carpet wasn’t really cream anymore and I wasn’t feeling very house proud. I called up a professional carpet cleaning service who used commercial carpet steam cleaners and to be honest I wasn’t that confident that the end result would be worth the money. Long story short it was almost like getting a brand new carpet! When they had finished there wasn’t a mark to be seen and the place smelt considerably better; carpets can really hold in odors. So that was the good news and if you need an emergency clean I would recommend you get some professional cleaners round.

On the downside four months later and the carpets were starting to look a little shabby again. Lets be clear here – light colored carpets are going to get dirty there’s no avoiding it, and I couldn’t afford a steam cleaning service every four months. By this point though I was convinced that steam cleaning was the way to go and decided on a carpet steam cleaner rental. That really was the turning point, the results were just as impressive with the only downside being that I had to do the work, but for the money I was saving that extra effort a few times a year was well worth it.

From there it didn’t take much for me to realise that I should buy my own steam cleaner. This took me on a journey of research looking for the best carpet steam cleaner at the best price and ultimately to me creating this website. I’m a bit cautious when it comes to an important purchase and tend to procrastinate, I can’t bear the idea of making the wrong choice, so my search was long and intensive. Needless to say my wife almost despaired of me finding one in time for the next cleaning!

During my research I realised that there was a real wealth of information out there that went beyond a simple site about carpet steam cleaners. That’s certainly my focus but I hope that this site will grow into the ultimate resource for floor cleaning generally and that you will find helpful guidance no matter how big or small your house cleaning jobs are and no matter what kind of flooring you have.

By the time I’m finished I intend to have a wealth of carpet steam cleaner reviews, from commercial models all the way down to the smaller portable carpet steam cleaner. I guess the site will continue to grow and get updated as new models come on to the market, and of course there’s plenty more to say about accessories and carpet shampoos.

My aim, at the end of the day, is to help guide you through the many different options available that will suit your budget and your needs. I will be delighted if you want to leave a comment of your own experiences and please contact me if you find some helpful tip that I might have missed. Together we can keep our floors and carpets looking new and smelling fresh. Now that’s not a bad aspiration!