What Is the Difference Between Bissell Carpet Cleaners?

On this page (7 sections)

1. What is the difference between Bissell carpet cleaners at a glance?
2. Which Bissell is a full-size upright for whole carpets?
3. Which Bissell is a portable spot cleaner for stains and stairs?
4. How does the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus handle pet messes?
5. How does the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Turbo compare?
6. When should you pick an upright over a portable?
7. Which Bissell carpet cleaner fits your home?

The difference between Bissell carpet cleaners is mainly size and steam. The ProHeat 2X uprights are full-room machines with dual brush rolls, while the Little Green HydroSteam is a compact spot cleaner built for stains, stairs and upholstery.

Bissell uses the same brand name across very different tools, which is why the ranges get confusing. The choice starts with the job: whole carpets or small messes.

What is the difference between Bissell carpet cleaners at a glance?

Bissell's line splits into full-size uprights and portable spot cleaners. The uprights carry large tanks and wide brush rolls for whole rooms.

The portables use a hose and a small tool for targeted cleaning.

The ProHeat 2X family is the upright side. The Revolution Pet Pro Plus and the Revolution Pet Turbo share a 15 inch depth and a 43.5 inch height.

Both weigh 17.5 pounds and run on corded electric power. The Pet Pro Plus has a 3.79 liter tank and the Pet Turbo has a 3.8 liter tank.

The Little Green HydroSteam 3618 sits on the portable side. It weighs 13 pounds and measures 15.5 x 12.5 x 14.5 inches, so it stores on a shelf.

Its hose and tools clean carpet, upholstery, stairs, auto interiors and tile.

That size gap drives everything else. An upright cleans a room in fewer passes, while a portable reaches places an upright cannot fit.

For a closer look at how cleaning machines differ from shampooers, see carpet cleaner vs carpet shampooer.

Which Bissell is a full-size upright for whole carpets?

The ProHeat 2X Revolution uprights are the full-size choice for whole carpets. They stand upright like a vacuum and clean wide strips as you push them across the floor.

The design centers on dual DirtLifter Powerbrushes. Two brush rolls scrub in opposite directions to loosen dirt packed into carpet fibers.

The Pet Pro Plus adds a one-piece removable brush roll cover so you can clear hair from the brushes.

Both uprights give you two cleaning modes. MAX Clean Mode is the deep option for embedded dirt, stains and allergens.

Express Clean Mode is the quick refresh that Bissell says leaves carpets dry in about 30 minutes.

Tank capacity matters on big jobs. At roughly 3.8 liters, the uprights let you cover more carpet between refills than a portable.

The trade-off is weight and storage space, since both stand over 43 inches tall.

Which Bissell is a portable spot cleaner for stains and stairs?

The Little Green HydroSteam 3618 is the portable spot cleaner. It uses a hose and a 5 inch tough stain tool to target stains rather than clean a whole room.

Its dual-tank system separates clean and dirty water. The clean tank holds 64 oz, and the dirty tank is large and easy to remove.

You fill it, attach a tool and work the stain directly.

HydroSteam technology combines hot water and steam. Bissell says this setup cleans up to 50% better on set-in stains and oily messes.

Three modes let you switch between SteamWash for oily grime, Steam for upholstery and tile, and Wash for enzyme-based stains like pet accidents.

The 13 pound body and hose make it easy to carry upstairs or out to a car. A full-size upright cannot follow you onto a staircase the same way.

See carpet cleaner vs vacuum for how cleaning tools divide the work in a home.

How does the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus handle pet messes?

The ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus is the strongest pet pick in this group. It pairs dual brush rolls with a CleanShot pretreater and FreshStart odor protection for stains and smells.

The CleanShot Pretreater with OXY attacks spots before the main clean. Bissell says it permanently removes pet stains and eliminates tough odors like cat urine and skunk.

StainProtect Technology is built in to help prevent future stains.

FreshStart odor protection works on the machine itself. Antimicrobial brush rolls and a FreshStart Dirt Tank help prevent odors and keep the cleaner fresh between jobs.

That matters when a cleaner sits in a closet for weeks.

The tool kit covers messes away from the floor. An 8 ft hose reaches stairs and furniture, and the 2-in-1 pet upholstery tool removes wet and dry pet hair.

A 3 inch tough stain tool handles set-in spots on pet beds and cushions.

Two trial-size formulas come in the box: PRO MAX Clean + Protect and Pet Pro Oxy Urine Eliminator. Bissell also supports BISSELL Pet Foundation, which matters to some buyers.

If heat is your main question, our guide to a carpet cleaner with heat explains what it adds.

How does the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Turbo compare?

The Revolution Pet Turbo is the quieter sibling of the Pet Pro Plus. It trades the FreshStart tank and extra pet tool for a motor tuned to cut noise, and it keeps the core deep-clean features.

TurboStrength Motor Technology is the headline. Bissell says it delivers 40% more suction power and 50% noise reduction for a quiet clean.

For a household that cleans while kids sleep, that lower noise is a real difference.

HeatWave Technology helps maintain water temperature through the clean. That keeps the cleaning solution working longer instead of cooling in the tank.

Dual DirtLifter Powerbrushes with 12 rows of bristles handle embedded dirt.

The included kit is slightly smaller. You get a 7 ft hose, a pet stain tool and a 3 inch stain tool, plus two 8 oz trial bottles of formula.

The tank, weight and footprint match the Pet Pro Plus.

Bissell says the Deep Clean + Antibacterial formula eliminates more than 90% of odor-causing bacteria when used with this machine. That formula is sold separately from the trial bottles in the box.

Compare tank sizes and brush setups in our guide to what to look for in a carpet cleaner.

When should you pick an upright over a portable?

Pick an upright when carpet is the main job and you clean whole rooms. A portable makes more sense when stains are occasional or the mess is above floor level.

An upright wins on coverage. Wide brush rolls and a large tank clean a living room or hallway in one session without constant refills.

Dual brush rolls also dig deeper into traffic lanes where dirt packs down.

A portable wins on reach. The Little Green cleans a sofa, a car seat, a mattress or a stair tread that an upright cannot touch.

It also takes less storage space and is lighter to carry.

Many homes end up with both for different reasons. The upright handles the annual deep clean, and the portable deals with spills between sessions.

If you mostly fight small accidents, the portable is the better first buy.

Which Bissell carpet cleaner is best for whole rooms?

The ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus is the best whole-room pick. Its dual brush rolls, CleanShot pretreater and FreshStart odor protection cover large carpeted areas and pet messes in one machine.

Which Bissell carpet cleaner is best for small stains?

The Little Green HydroSteam 3618 is the best spot pick. Its hose, steam modes and tough stain tool target carpet, upholstery, stairs, cars and tile without dragging out a full upright.

Which Bissell carpet cleaner is best for quiet cleaning?

The ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Turbo is the quietest of the three. Its TurboStrength motor is tuned for 50% less noise than a standard setup, so it suits apartments and evening cleaning.

Which Bissell carpet cleaner fits your home?

The difference between Bissell carpet cleaners comes down to the job you face most. Pick the ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus if you have pets and wall-to-wall carpet, because its dual brush rolls and odor protection handle whole rooms and tough stains.

Pick the Little Green HydroSteam 3618 if your messes are spots on furniture, stairs or a car. It reaches places an upright cannot and takes up little space.

Pick the ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Turbo if you want the same whole-room clean with less noise.

Check the cleaning width and hose length against your floor plan before you buy. Our comparison of carpet cleaner vs carpet shampooer helps if you are still unsure which type of machine you need.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bissell Little Green a carpet cleaner?

Yes, but it is a spot cleaner rather than a whole-room machine. The Little Green HydroSteam 3618 cleans carpet, upholstery, stairs, auto interiors and hard surfaces through a hose and tool, so it works best on stains and small areas.

Do Bissell upright carpet cleaners use heat?

The ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Turbo uses Bissell HeatWave Technology to help keep water warm during the clean. The Little Green HydroSteam 3618 uses HydroSteam technology that combines hot water and steam, with separate steam modes for upholstery and tile.

Which Bissell carpet cleaner is best for pets?

The ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus is the strongest pet choice because it pairs dual brush rolls with a CleanShot pretreater and FreshStart odor protection. For small pet accidents on stairs or a sofa, the Little Green HydroSteam is the easier tool to grab.

Can the Bissell ProHeat 2X clean stairs and upholstery?

Yes. The ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus includes an 8 ft hose, a 2-in-1 pet upholstery tool and a 3 inch tough stain tool.

The Pet Turbo model comes with a 7 ft hose, a pet stain tool and a 3 inch stain tool, so both reach stairs and furniture.

How long do Bissell carpets take to dry?

Both ProHeat 2X uprights have an Express Clean Mode that Bissell says leaves carpets dry in about 30 minutes. The Little Green HydroSteam dries upholstery in about 30 minutes, so spot jobs on furniture are quick to finish.