This review is from: Bissell 86T3/86T3Q Big Green Deep Cleaning Professional Grade Carpet Cleaner Machine (Kitchen)
I purchased the Bissell Big Green Machine through HSN for 387.00. Price included 15% off first time purchase, free shipping and no tax! I live in Arizona with 4 kids, a 200 lb Mastiff and a English Bulldog. I have owned both Hoover and Bissell carpet cleaners in the past. My last one was Hoover F5914-9RM SteamVac Carpet Shampooer. It did a decent job, but it would spray a lot of water and I would go through the 1 gallon of clean water after a few minutes. It was a pain to have to keep emptying and refilling the reservoirs.
My mastiff of course drool a lot and it would dry in the carpet and leave black crusty marks in the carpet. I would pass over these with the hoover, but would have to scrub them out by hand because the Hoover could not get them out. To clean my living room I would have to refill the reservoirs at least 6-8 times.
With the Bissell. I could pass over the drool marks in the carpet and clean them with 2 passes without doing it by hand. It pulled up a ton of carpet fibers and dirt because of the strong suction it has. It does not over spray like the Hoover or previous Bissell’s that I owned. I had to refill the reservoir only 3 times by doing 3 cleaning passes on each section of carpet. The carpet was cleaned by a pro carpet cleaner before we moved in and the Bissell did a better job then they did.
The carpet was dry within a couple of hours and was damp right after cleaning it. Key is to do a good vacuuming first and take your time with the Big Green and do not make fast passes because you will not clean or extract the water out of the carpet to satisfactory results. I clean my carpet often and I am so glad I bought this!!! It is better than the Rug Doctor and other home cleaners. If you want a strong, durable, home commercial grade carpet cleaner with a 5 year warranty buy this!!
Spending over $400.00 sucks at first, but with a 5 year warranty and professional results, I DO NOT regret buying it and would do it again.
Update, my dog had an accident of diarrhea, on the carpet of course, and I picked up what I could and the big green cleaned up the rest with 0 problem. There was no left over smell like after I cleaned in the past with the Hoover. I found it next morning and it cleaned it up great! Sorry if I grossed anyone out, but if you are a dog owner you know this happens time from time.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Bissell 86T3/86T3Q Big Green Deep Cleaning Professional Grade Carpet Cleaner Machine (Kitchen)
I was skeptical of all the great reviews. It’s hard not to be – they claim this carpet cleaner is the best out there, for several reasons. I have to say the reviews are telling the truth.
I own (soon to be owned, because I’m selling it) a Hoover SteamVac. I bought it because of the great reviews it has on here. Slowly, I became frustrated with the machine because it wasn’t cleaning as well as I anticipated. My house has a light colored carpet, and since it was installed (over 10 years ago), the carpet has been subjected to much abuse by our dogs and unscrupulous care without ever being properly cleaned. I bought the SteamVac to tackle the job, but it was incredibly inadequate.
I had been eying the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine for months, but I relinquished any idea of buying it because of the price. I tried to rent one, but the Lowes here still carry Rug Doctors. So I thought about renting a Rug Doctor. I nearly did, but the reviews on here deterred me. In searching the reviews on here for comparisons between the Rig Doctor and the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine, I found that many of them said people had tried both and the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine came out on top. A couple reviews even said that they had used the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine right after using the Rug Doctor and recovered a significant amount of dirt that the Rug Doctor missed! Other negative aspects of the Rug Doctor that I’ve read about include: it wets the carpet far too much (as a consequence, the clean tank needs to be refilled often), it’s cumbersome to use due to the one direction cleaning capability, and filling/cleaning the machine out is a chore due the clean water receptacle being attached to the unit. So I accomplished the mental feat of convincing myself to purchase the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine by rationalizing the cost in various, sometimes nonsensical ways.
I found the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine at Frys for $399, and, with the soon expiring Bissell $20 rebate, the total cost after tax was about $410. Ultimately, that’s still a lot of money, but it’s quite a bit better than $469, which is the current going price on here. Don’t get me wrong, I love Amazon, and it’s usually the cheapest for many things, just not this time. So I bring the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine home, unbox it, and get it ready for use. It’s pretty much ready to go immediately – all I remember doing is taking some cardboard and a bottle of cleaner out of the dirty water tank. I filled the machine with hot water and cleaner and decided to unleash the machine in the dirtiest room in my house. I was 100% prepared to return the cleaner if it was anything short of amazing. Guess what? I haven’t returned the cleaner. See the above picture again to see the result of my first test.
I proceeded to clean my whole living room (the first picture being of a bedroom). See the below picture for reference of the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine’s ability:
So, I am very pleased. The Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine does an exceptional job of cleaning.
* The machine does seem very durable. The five year warranty is nice too. We’ll see if I need it.
* I was afraid that the brush, only spinning one way, would fail to clean the carpet well. I don’t think this is a concern. If it becomes one, you can always clean an area from the opposite direction. I do wonder if another brush on the bottom spinning the other way may improve the cleaning capability of the machine. It already cleans very well, though.
* The tanks are perfectly matched – the dirty tank seems to get full the same exact time that the clean tank empties.
* The extractor really pulls the solution back out of the carpet. Not only does this make the carpet drier, but I actually noticed sediment in the dirty tank! I’d say that with this machine, the carpet dries about twice as fast in comparison to when I have used my SteamVac.
* The handheld attachment works well. I like how easy it is to hook up. I used it to clean the edges of my carpet. I actually scrubbed with a household brush to loosen the dirt, then used the attachment to suck it up.
The downsides of the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine, as small as they are, in my opinion, include:
* The machine is heavy and taxing to use. There’s no getting around this because it comes with the territory of being a heavy duty cleaner. But, for what it’s worth, I’m a fit male and using the cleaner tired me out.
* The handheld attachment seems less durable than the rest of the machine. I might feel this way because the floor model I looked at in the…
This review is from: Bissell 86T3/86T3Q Big Green Deep Cleaning Professional Grade Carpet Cleaner Machine (Kitchen)
Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What’s this?)
Customer Video Review Length:: 1:32 Mins
Considering this Big Green is supposed to be a professional grade carpet cleaner, I expected it to be better than my trusty old Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge, F5914-900. The question really is whether or not the Big Green cleans so much better that it’s worth the price.
I tested it on an old carpet remnant we’ve had sitting out in the garage for more than ten years. It has never been vacuumed nor steam cleaned until today. On the left of the screen is my new Big Green. The center is preserved for the “before” comparison. The right is my SteamVac. As you can see, there is an obvious difference in cleaning capabilities. I actually gave my SteamVac an extra whirl because it looked so dirty, but it still looks dirty compared to the Big Green side.
It’s hard to tell from the video, but the dark color you see from the SteamVac side is not wetness. The darkness is actually a more muddied appearance, as if the SteamVac had added water to dirt.
I’ve owned quite a few carpet cleaners and I can say, this Big Green really is the best. Not just because it cleans carpets better. There are many other advantages:
1) The power cord is extra long. I can reach all up and down my long hallway in one stretch. My SteamVac requires me to plug and unplug.
2) The solution tank is extra large. It requires two capfuls of solution, but that will last a long time before needing to be refilled.
3) The collection tank is likewise huge.
4) The hose is long, with a wide head and good suction. It reaches almost up to the first landing of the stairway in my house.
5) Quick drying time.
Of course, there are a few drawbacks:
1) Even with the large solution and collection tanks empty, this thing is *heavy*. It requires me to push and pull with both hands — a real workout. If you have a bad back, this may not be for you. Also, I’m not keen on carrying this upstairs.
2) There is no convenient storage for the hose.
SUMMARY AND OTHER THOUGHTS
I like my SteamVac. Until now, it was my favorite carpet cleaner, but it’s no match for the Big Green.
I love Big Green. It’s the best carpet cleaner I’ve ever had. My husband even noticed the cleaner carpets, and he’s not one who’d normally care. If you really want clean carpets, buy this one.
P.S. If you’re like me and just take the things out without checking all, there is a bottle of solution and some cardboard inside the collection tank. I cleaned my entire hallway and didn’t know until I went to empty the tank. D’oh! No harm done, though.
______________________
UPDATE 12/19/13: It has been three years. Over the past few months, the width of the spray path had been getting more and more narrow until it was only a couple inches wide. That resulted in a clean stripe in my carpet with very dirty trails on either side. I called Bissell, and they told me to bring it to a repair shop to fix under warranty. Instead, I turned the machine over and saw the red spray nozzle crusted with scum. It took a few swipes with a screwdriver to clear that away and now it runs like new. No repair shop needed.
My carpet is fourteen years-old and I get compliments all the time. It’s held up well through cats and dogs and children. I owe it to regular cleaning with Bissell. I clean at the speed you see in the video. There have been lots of comments that I move too quickly, but I still get amazing results.
UPDATE 3/24/15: I still have my Big Green. It still works. I still love it. It works like the day I got it and my carpet looks terrific.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
September 12, 2016 07:27
98 of 101 people found the following review helpful
Best home carpet cleaner I have owned!!!!, April 12, 2013
By Tony F (Queen Creek, AZ) –
This review is from: Bissell 86T3/86T3Q Big Green Deep Cleaning Professional Grade Carpet Cleaner Machine (Kitchen)
I purchased the Bissell Big Green Machine through HSN for 387.00. Price included 15% off first time purchase, free shipping and no tax! I live in Arizona with 4 kids, a 200 lb Mastiff and a English Bulldog. I have owned both Hoover and Bissell carpet cleaners in the past. My last one was Hoover F5914-9RM SteamVac Carpet Shampooer. It did a decent job, but it would spray a lot of water and I would go through the 1 gallon of clean water after a few minutes. It was a pain to have to keep emptying and refilling the reservoirs.
My mastiff of course drool a lot and it would dry in the carpet and leave black crusty marks in the carpet. I would pass over these with the hoover, but would have to scrub them out by hand because the Hoover could not get them out. To clean my living room I would have to refill the reservoirs at least 6-8 times.
With the Bissell. I could pass over the drool marks in the carpet and clean them with 2 passes without doing it by hand. It pulled up a ton of carpet fibers and dirt because of the strong suction it has. It does not over spray like the Hoover or previous Bissell’s that I owned. I had to refill the reservoir only 3 times by doing 3 cleaning passes on each section of carpet. The carpet was cleaned by a pro carpet cleaner before we moved in and the Bissell did a better job then they did.
The carpet was dry within a couple of hours and was damp right after cleaning it. Key is to do a good vacuuming first and take your time with the Big Green and do not make fast passes because you will not clean or extract the water out of the carpet to satisfactory results. I clean my carpet often and I am so glad I bought this!!! It is better than the Rug Doctor and other home cleaners. If you want a strong, durable, home commercial grade carpet cleaner with a 5 year warranty buy this!!
Spending over $400.00 sucks at first, but with a 5 year warranty and professional results, I DO NOT regret buying it and would do it again.
Update, my dog had an accident of diarrhea, on the carpet of course, and I picked up what I could and the big green cleaned up the rest with 0 problem. There was no left over smell like after I cleaned in the past with the Hoover. I found it next morning and it cleaned it up great! Sorry if I grossed anyone out, but if you are a dog owner you know this happens time from time.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
September 12, 2016 08:11
306 of 315 people found the following review helpful
The reviews are telling the truth, May 11, 2012
By Robert Losleben –
This review is from: Bissell 86T3/86T3Q Big Green Deep Cleaning Professional Grade Carpet Cleaner Machine (Kitchen)
I was skeptical of all the great reviews. It’s hard not to be – they claim this carpet cleaner is the best out there, for several reasons. I have to say the reviews are telling the truth.
I own (soon to be owned, because I’m selling it) a Hoover SteamVac. I bought it because of the great reviews it has on here. Slowly, I became frustrated with the machine because it wasn’t cleaning as well as I anticipated. My house has a light colored carpet, and since it was installed (over 10 years ago), the carpet has been subjected to much abuse by our dogs and unscrupulous care without ever being properly cleaned. I bought the SteamVac to tackle the job, but it was incredibly inadequate.
See the below picture:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/permalink/moIZZ3Y26MK2V4/B00450U6CS/ref=cm_ciu_images_pl_link
I had been eying the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine for months, but I relinquished any idea of buying it because of the price. I tried to rent one, but the Lowes here still carry Rug Doctors. So I thought about renting a Rug Doctor. I nearly did, but the reviews on here deterred me. In searching the reviews on here for comparisons between the Rig Doctor and the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine, I found that many of them said people had tried both and the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine came out on top. A couple reviews even said that they had used the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine right after using the Rug Doctor and recovered a significant amount of dirt that the Rug Doctor missed! Other negative aspects of the Rug Doctor that I’ve read about include: it wets the carpet far too much (as a consequence, the clean tank needs to be refilled often), it’s cumbersome to use due to the one direction cleaning capability, and filling/cleaning the machine out is a chore due the clean water receptacle being attached to the unit. So I accomplished the mental feat of convincing myself to purchase the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine by rationalizing the cost in various, sometimes nonsensical ways.
I found the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine at Frys for $399, and, with the soon expiring Bissell $20 rebate, the total cost after tax was about $410. Ultimately, that’s still a lot of money, but it’s quite a bit better than $469, which is the current going price on here. Don’t get me wrong, I love Amazon, and it’s usually the cheapest for many things, just not this time. So I bring the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine home, unbox it, and get it ready for use. It’s pretty much ready to go immediately – all I remember doing is taking some cardboard and a bottle of cleaner out of the dirty water tank. I filled the machine with hot water and cleaner and decided to unleash the machine in the dirtiest room in my house. I was 100% prepared to return the cleaner if it was anything short of amazing. Guess what? I haven’t returned the cleaner. See the above picture again to see the result of my first test.
I proceeded to clean my whole living room (the first picture being of a bedroom). See the below picture for reference of the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine’s ability:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/permalink/mo2S8AT3BREGLNE/B00450U6CS/ref=cm_ciu_images_pl_link
So, I am very pleased. The Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine does an exceptional job of cleaning.
* The machine does seem very durable. The five year warranty is nice too. We’ll see if I need it.
* I was afraid that the brush, only spinning one way, would fail to clean the carpet well. I don’t think this is a concern. If it becomes one, you can always clean an area from the opposite direction. I do wonder if another brush on the bottom spinning the other way may improve the cleaning capability of the machine. It already cleans very well, though.
* The tanks are perfectly matched – the dirty tank seems to get full the same exact time that the clean tank empties.
* The extractor really pulls the solution back out of the carpet. Not only does this make the carpet drier, but I actually noticed sediment in the dirty tank! I’d say that with this machine, the carpet dries about twice as fast in comparison to when I have used my SteamVac.
* The handheld attachment works well. I like how easy it is to hook up. I used it to clean the edges of my carpet. I actually scrubbed with a household brush to loosen the dirt, then used the attachment to suck it up.
The downsides of the Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine, as small as they are, in my opinion, include:
* The machine is heavy and taxing to use. There’s no getting around this because it comes with the territory of being a heavy duty cleaner. But, for what it’s worth, I’m a fit male and using the cleaner tired me out.
* The handheld attachment seems less durable than the rest of the machine. I might feel this way because the floor model I looked at in the…
Read more
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
September 12, 2016 08:23
1,349 of 1,420 people found the following review helpful
VIDEO REVIEW **Big Green vs. SteamVac**, December 17, 2010
By Noname –
This review is from: Bissell 86T3/86T3Q Big Green Deep Cleaning Professional Grade Carpet Cleaner Machine (Kitchen)
Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What’s this?)
Considering this Big Green is supposed to be a professional grade carpet cleaner, I expected it to be better than my trusty old Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge, F5914-900. The question really is whether or not the Big Green cleans so much better that it’s worth the price.
I tested it on an old carpet remnant we’ve had sitting out in the garage for more than ten years. It has never been vacuumed nor steam cleaned until today. On the left of the screen is my new Big Green. The center is preserved for the “before” comparison. The right is my SteamVac. As you can see, there is an obvious difference in cleaning capabilities. I actually gave my SteamVac an extra whirl because it looked so dirty, but it still looks dirty compared to the Big Green side.
It’s hard to tell from the video, but the dark color you see from the SteamVac side is not wetness. The darkness is actually a more muddied appearance, as if the SteamVac had added water to dirt.
I’ve owned quite a few carpet cleaners and I can say, this Big Green really is the best. Not just because it cleans carpets better. There are many other advantages:
1) The power cord is extra long. I can reach all up and down my long hallway in one stretch. My SteamVac requires me to plug and unplug.
2) The solution tank is extra large. It requires two capfuls of solution, but that will last a long time before needing to be refilled.
3) The collection tank is likewise huge.
4) The hose is long, with a wide head and good suction. It reaches almost up to the first landing of the stairway in my house.
5) Quick drying time.
Of course, there are a few drawbacks:
1) Even with the large solution and collection tanks empty, this thing is *heavy*. It requires me to push and pull with both hands — a real workout. If you have a bad back, this may not be for you. Also, I’m not keen on carrying this upstairs.
2) There is no convenient storage for the hose.
SUMMARY AND OTHER THOUGHTS
I like my SteamVac. Until now, it was my favorite carpet cleaner, but it’s no match for the Big Green.
I love Big Green. It’s the best carpet cleaner I’ve ever had. My husband even noticed the cleaner carpets, and he’s not one who’d normally care. If you really want clean carpets, buy this one.
P.S. If you’re like me and just take the things out without checking all, there is a bottle of solution and some cardboard inside the collection tank. I cleaned my entire hallway and didn’t know until I went to empty the tank. D’oh! No harm done, though.
______________________
UPDATE 12/19/13: It has been three years. Over the past few months, the width of the spray path had been getting more and more narrow until it was only a couple inches wide. That resulted in a clean stripe in my carpet with very dirty trails on either side. I called Bissell, and they told me to bring it to a repair shop to fix under warranty. Instead, I turned the machine over and saw the red spray nozzle crusted with scum. It took a few swipes with a screwdriver to clear that away and now it runs like new. No repair shop needed.
My carpet is fourteen years-old and I get compliments all the time. It’s held up well through cats and dogs and children. I owe it to regular cleaning with Bissell. I clean at the speed you see in the video. There have been lots of comments that I move too quickly, but I still get amazing results.
UPDATE 3/24/15: I still have my Big Green. It still works. I still love it. It works like the day I got it and my carpet looks terrific.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|