Cleaning Upholstery with a Bissell Carpet Cleaner: A Guide
Bissell offers various vacuum types, some of which can handle upholstery with the right attachments. Before using any cleaning solution, check the upholstery's care label to ensure it's safe for wet cleaning.
By Alex Ross
You might be curious if your Bissell carpet cleaner is suitable for upholstery. The good news is that it can be, especially if you have the right attachments available.
Understanding Bissell Carpet Cleaners
Bissell produces five main types of vacuums: upright, stick/cordless, robotic, canister, and handheld. Robotic models are intended for floors, but the others can be used on both floors and upholstery. Depending on the model, you might need an attachment. Bissell's upholstery cleaning solution and pretreatment products work with some of these machines to tackle stains.
In 2021, Good Housekeeping included three Bissell vacuums in its list of the five best carpet cleaners: the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner, the Bissell CrossWave Floor and Carpet Cleaner, and the Bissell Pet Stain Eraser 2003T handheld. The ProHeat 2X includes a 3-inch tough stain tool and a 2-in-1 pet upholstery tool designed to remove pet hair, odors, and stains from upholstery.
Attachments for Bissell Carpet Cleaners
These attachments can also be used on ceiling fans, crown molding, blinds, drapes, air vents, and other hard-to-reach areas. The CrossWave is a cordless, multisurface wet/dry vacuum that uses a two-tank system for cleaning rugs, floors, and carpets. There are no Bissell CrossWave upholstery attachments because this vacuum operates differently.
Some experts favor the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner, which comes with 2-in-1 pet upholstery tools to handle pet messes on upholstery. It offers three cleaning modes and a CleanShot treater that applies cleaning solution for tough stains. It is recommended for carpets, area rugs, stairs, pet beds, and upholstery. If you have pets, Bissell suggests cleaning your upholstery at least once a month.
How to Use a Bissell Carpet Cleaner
For a deep carpet clean, start by clearing the room of furniture. Pretreat spots with spot treatments according to the manufacturer's instructions on the label. Next, fill the clean water tank with hot tap water. Fill the second tank with Bissell upholstery cleaner solution and water, using the marked lines on the tank. As you vacuum, dirty water collects in a separate pouch.
Adjust the vacuum's dials based on your floor type and cleaning needs. Plug in the vacuum and make a slow forward and backward pass. Then switch the setting and make a dry pass over the same area. Continue until no more liquid is drawn into the vacuum. The cleaning formula penetrates carpet fibers, and the agitating brushes loosen and remove dirt. When the tank fills with dirty water, remove it from the base, empty it, and refill with clean water to continue.
Bissell cleaning attachments can also be used on upholstery, but always check the labels first. If the label says "W" or "WS," it's safe to use. Do not use the cleaning solution or attachment if the label reads "dry clean only," "S," or "X." Also, avoid using it on silk or velvet upholstery. If it's safe to proceed, switch the vacuum's dial from "floor cleaning" to "tools" and clean as you would your carpet.
