Bissell SpotClean Pro review: so satisfying you'll want to keep using it
We've put the Bissell SpotClean Pro to the test in our home. Here's how we got on...
If you want instant results like a pro, this carpet and upholstery cleaner is one which we can highly recommend – it's so satisfying you'll keep looking for more places where you can use it
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Instant results
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Easy to use
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Two handy attachments
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Comes with 8oz bottle of formula
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3 year guarantee
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No formula mark on tank
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Noisy
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Instructions could be clearer
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If you want clean carpets, upholstery (and more) then the Bissell SpotClean Pro could well be the best solution for you. It' a portable option which comes with two handy attachments that are ideal for a range of surfaces, including the carpet and upholstery. Plus it's super easy to use, once you've navigated the instructions, so all-in-all it's a good option to have in the bag if you find you're constantly mopping up spills and stains.
With our kitchen and dining room being out of action for the past couple of months due to a bigger-than-eve-imagined renovation, all our wining and dining has happened in the front room. Those TV dinners which were once a treat are now a regular occurrence for us, which means that our once nice rug and sofa get a battering with the gravies, mustards and wines. Good job we had the Bissell SpotClean Pro to review...
Keep scrolling to see how we got on then, head to our best carpet cleaner buyer's guide for more top options.
Bissell SpotClean Pro specifications
- Maximum power: 750W motor
- Cable length: 6.5 metre
- Capacity: 2.9 litre (water) + 3.5 litre (dirt water)
- Dimensions: H35.6 x W36 x D25cm
- Weight: 5.9kg
- Warranty: 3 years
Who would the Bissell SpotClean Pro suit?
Busy households who are prone to spillages on the floor, on the sofa, up the stairs or out in the car.
Setting up
What's in the box?
- BISSELL SpotClean Pro 1558E Cylinder Carpet Cleaner
- 8cm tough stain tool
- 15cm tough stain tool
- Sample sized solution
- Instructions + guarantee information
The Bissell SpotClean Pro arrives in a neat, compact box with a minimal amount of packing materials (including plastic) used. The carboard can be recycled but the few plastic bags used to cover the main unit and attachments will go into landfill, which is not a nice thought if you're conscious (like me) about that type of thing.
There's not too much assembly required to get started but those instructions do make it look a lot more complicated than it actually is. For me, I got to page 5 out of 12 okay but the rest of it took some curious intuition until it was figured out entirely.
The 2.9L water tank is easy enough to fill: just lift the handle to release from the unit and fill with water up to the marker. You'll need to account for 2oz of formula in this tank, too, but there is no marker for this so either add this in before you fill with water or allow for it once you're close to hitting the mark. You could even do a little maths to divide the amount of water by the same amount with the formula, so you get the right amount of solution for the task in hand – whichever is easiest! The tank can then be returned and secured to the main unit so you're then ready to select and attach either the 8cm tough stain tool or the 15cm tough stain tool by simply clicking it in to the end of the unravelled hose.
Using the Bissell SpotClean Pro
Being mains powered, you'll need to plug the Bissell SpotClean Pro into a socket and manoeuvre it into a suitable position for you. There's a handle to help with this and the cable (which is chunky) is 6.5m in length so you won't feel too tethered but, I feel some wheels suitable for rolling across the floor could be useful here. It is a bit of a chunk to be moving around, especially when it's saddled up with all the water on board so I advise that you're either feeling strong before you start using this or you ask for help to move it around.
The big red power button is on the right-hand-side of the unit. When fired up for the first time it gave me quiet a fright because it is NOISY (caps intended). I don't have a noise level in decibels to share with you but I would think it similar to a commercial vacuum cleaner, of some sort. Think loud, anyway.
There's a trigger on the underside of each attachment which jets water out onto the areas you want to target (see above photo). The brushes on the attachment can then be moved backwards and forwards on the surface to clean deep into the material, lifting away the stain. I was instantly impressed at how effective this was, on both stains I was tackling: curry sauce on the rug and sweet & sour sauce on the sofa (pass no judgement, please!)
Spot cleaning the rug
At first it looked like the curry sauce had well and truly sunk into our deep pile rug. I'd feared that our panic rubbing away (in) with a tea towel and made it a lot worse and, therefore, unsalvageable. Not with the Bissell SpotClean Pro (hurrah!). After spraying the jet at it and moving the attachment back and forth, it didn't take long for the stain to vanish in front of my very eyes. I could see the water being sucked up and fed into the 3.5 litre waste tank, which was great.
Spot cleaning the sofa
A victim from the latest Chinese takeaway, the seat cushion on our sofa had seen better days and, to be honest, I was at the point of just washing the cover separately (once I'd get round to it). I'm glad I didn't because it would have been a bit of a faff and taken ages to dry: the Bissell SpotClean Pro (with 8cm tough stain tool attachment) had it all clean and dry within a matter of minutes!
I was so impressed with the performance I couldn't help but seek out other stains and marks on the fabrics in our living room (it was sooo satisfying). I found a couple more on the rug, one more on the sofa and one on a scatter cushion – these have all now been dealt with.
Cleaning and maintaince
Much in the same way as you removed and filled the water tank, the dirty water tank (at the front of the unit) can also be removed by rotating over the tank to unlock the lid. To remove the lid for emptying it takes a bit of fiddling (thanks instructions) to figure out that you need to push that handle all the way over the top off the tank to release it. The dirty water can then just be emptied down the sink, or another suitable drain.
The water tank and the dirty water tank would benefit from a rinse out with clean water after each use, as would the attachments which can be placed underneath a tap of running water. Looking at the illustrations on the instructions (page 11) the attachments are to be placed in the sun to dry but being December I just dried these in our garden room near a radiator.
Storing the Bissell SpotClean Pro
It's a pretty chunky design but the hose and cable wrap up so it's as self contained as possible. Bissell say that it is a good design for storage in small spaces, and I agree, although there isn't anywhere obvious where I can store the attachments (apart from under the sink).
With the handle being at the top of the unit it would be best if the Bissell SpotClean Pro was stored on the floor and out of the way somewhere. I just put it in our downstairs WC which is currently being used as a storage room...
How does it rate online?
Bissell’s website lists this machine as 5 stars, although the most recent review was listed two years ago.
Elsewhere, though, on Argos it has received 4.8 out of 5 stars with 98 per cent of customers recommending the product. There's rave comments on how well it cleans the sofa (I concur) and how easy it is to use. Reviewers also comment on the reasonable price tag, and how good it is for homes with pets because it gets rid of the odours. Just two negatives stood out for me here: one was the instructions and the other was that one reviewer mentioned that it would be handy to have an 'onboard' storage solution for the attachments (good shout, I say).
On Amazon customers awarded the Bissell SpotClean Pro 4.7 out of 5 stars citing how tough on stains it is, and how easy and quick it is to use. The negatives here is that it is noisy and the hose could do with being slightly longer.
Our verdict
Immediately impressed by the results, I would really highly rate this carpet cleaner if you need to quickly (and easily) tackle any spillages. It didn't quite remove the red pen mark on the rug so bare this in mind because it will only seems to work on food and drinks spills, or little pet accidents which I couldn't test because having the guinea pigs lose on the sofa is a no-no.
I've given it 4.5 out of 5 stars because of the big noise it makes and the unclarity of the formula levels but if this doesn't bother you then you have my confidence that the Bissell SpotClean Pro will do a fine job of sprucing up your furnishings.
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About this review and our reviewer
Jennifer Oksien is our Appliances Editor across the homes titles at Future. This means that she spends her days working with appliance (and mattress) brands to ensure that you get the best products for your home. She lives in a Victorian terrace which is undergoing an unintentional renovation so whilst stripping back walls, ceiling and floors (etc!) she visualises how the space can be best used with a suite of gadgets, gizmos and home comforts to make home life that little bit more streamlined.
As with all our reviews the Bissell SpotClean Pro has been tested first-hand in our home, using it just as you would so you know exactly what you are buying. The products are given to us free of charge and we test them for as long as possible before sending them back to the brand, unless we are able to keep it which means that we could continue to use the product for more insight.