If you’re in the market for a carpet cleaner machine, chances are that you’ve seen the name brands Bissell and Hoover. These two titans in the vacuum cleaning industry each put out several models of carpet cleaners that are effective and well-priced. While each brand has some advantages and drawbacks, with the right information, you’ll be able to find a model that suits your carpet cleaning needs and lifestyle. We'll go over the differences between Hoover vs. Bissell carpet cleaners and recommend the top models from each brand.
Shop this article: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus, Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner and Hoover SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner
When you consider the Bissell brand, chances are good that you’ll think about pet hair removal. The company has done a great job positioning itself in the pet hair removal space, and for good reason — its machines are effective at this sometimes tricky task. Another thing to recommend Bissell is the sheer number of options it has for carpet cleaners, with over twenty upright models to choose from, as well as a dozen portable and hand-held options. If you want a lot of selection with a range of suction power, tank size, reach, width and weight, Bissell has you covered.
With so many options to choose from, it’s hard to encompass all the benefits of each model into one compact list of pros. However, Bissell carpet cleaners do share some traits consistently across models. For starters, they do well in removing pet hair. Dog and cat hair can cling to carpets and upholstery, and any pet owner knows that it is not always a simple feat to dislodge them. But Bissell carpet cleaners consistently perform well in this task, making them a good choice for homes with pets. Bissells tend to excel at maneuverability, which is great if you need to carry your machine around and get to hard-to-reach areas.
In addition to this, Bissells tend to be on the quieter side as far as carpet cleaners go, which can be a perk for those annoyed by the decibel levels of some carpet cleaners. Of course, this benefit is reduced as you get into the larger models, which can be as noisy as counterparts from other brands.
Their most popular model, the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution carpet cleaner, doesn’t actually heat water. Instead, it maintains the temperature of the water you put into it. If you’re looking for maximum heating for the toughest stains, this is a miss in an otherwise impressive machine.
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus
This upright Bissell carpet cleaner is a workhorse of a machine. From the Bissell Pet Pro carpet cleaner line, it has an impressive stain-removal capacity, making it an excellent investment.
Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner
The Bissell Big Green carpet cleaner is on par with most professional machines for cleaning carpets you can rent at home improvement stores. Its functionality comes with heft and weight. This is a heavy machine to maneuver.
Bissell JetScrub Pet Upright Carpet Cleaner
This Bissell upright carpet cleaner is economical but powerful. The Bissell pet carpet cleaner tackles challenging messes left by your furry friend with its Clean Shot Pretreater.
Bissell SpotClean ProHeat Pet Portable Carpet Cleaner
You can’t beat the convenience of this light Bissell portable carpet cleaner. At only 9 pounds, this Bissell handheld carpet cleaner is a cinch to carry around to reach whatever needs cleaning.
Bissell Little Green Pro Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
This handheld Bissell carpet cleaner is a miniature version of the mighty Big Green. The Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner is the brand's most powerful spot cleaner. At 13 pounds, it's heavier than the SpotClean ProHeat, but still manageable.
Hoovers offer deep cleaning capabilities and dual tanks which ensures the machine is always offering up clean water on every area of the carpet. Hoovers consistently work well on fur and pet stains. Most Hoover models are light and easily maneuverable. If you’re looking to stay on the more affordable end of carpet cleaners, Hoover provides budget options that consistently outperform the competition. The Hoover-branded cleaning solutions are fresh and leave a good smell behind after a thorough cleaning. Its solutions can neutralize even the strongest odors hiding in your carpet.
The dual tank technology of Hoover’s upright carpet cleaners is preferred by many customers, keeping clean and dirty water separated. The Hoover cleaning nozzle tends to be wider than those on the Bissells. Hoover’s affordable models, particularly the Hoover PowerDash Pet Carpet Cleaner, offer great performance at an excellent price. For the most part, Hoovers are easy to take apart for cleanup and storage.
Hoovers are noisy. Additionally, while they get carpets really clean, that thoroughness comes at a cost: High-pile carpets will stay damp for a long time after a thorough cleaning. These are not the machines you want to use for a quick touch-up right before guests arrive.
Hoover SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner
It may not have all the bells and whistles, but this Hoover SmartWash carpet cleaner is an excellent performer that keeps up with its bigger, more expensive counterparts — particularly in the pet hair removal department.
Hoover PowerDash Pet Carpet Cleaner
This upright Hoover pet carpet cleaner offers surprisingly powerful suction cleaning packed into a light, easy-to-move machine. Its HeatForce feature means carpets stay damp for a shorter time after cleaning.
Hoover CleanSlate Plus Portable Carpet and Upholstery Spot Cleaner
If you’re looking for a compact portable carpet cleaner which packs a lot of power into a small size, this 13-pound model is the one to get.
Hoover ONEPWR CleanSlate Cordless Portable Carpet and Upholstery Spot Cleaner
This Hoover spot cleaner boasts some high-end features including Boost Mode, which delivers 25% more power, along with a built-in spotlight for illuminating hidden spots and messes.
With as wide an array to choose from across both brands, it’s not as simple as deciding to go with a Bissell or a Hoover carpet cleaner. There are several key considerations when choosing a carpet cleaner, and depending on which are important to you, you’ll probably want to go in one direction or the other.
For example, if budget is one of your prime considerations, you’ll want to consider the Hoover PowerDash Pet Carpet Cleaner. If, on the other hand, you want a professional-level carpet cleaning machine at the ready, then take a look at the Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner. Customers most concerned about pet hair removal will probably want to lean in the direction of a Bissell.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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