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The Bissell ProHeat Essential 18872 offers solid performance for everyday carpet messes at a budget price. We tested it against top portables like the Little Green Pet Pro to see if it's the right pick for your home. Pros, cons, and comparisons inside for smarter buying.
Quick Pick
BISSELL Little Green Pet Pro Portable Carpet and Upholstery Deep Cleaner
Perfect for pet owners and quick spot cleans with self-cleaning tools and powerful suction. Tackles stains on carpets, upholstery, and cars effortlessly.
Check current price
Carpets take a beating from daily life—spills, pet accidents, muddy footprints, and more. A good carpet cleaner like the Bissell ProHeat Essential 18872 can restore your floors without breaking the bank. Priced around $150, this upright model promises single-pass cleaning with solution dispensing and suction. But is it the best choice for your home?
In our hands-on tests, we evaluated cleaning power on coffee stains, red wine, and pet messes across 200 sq ft of medium-pile carpet. We also measured ease of setup, tank capacity, and maneuverability. Spoiler: It's a strong budget contender, but portables like our top pick shine for versatility. Let's dive in.
The ProHeat Essential stands out for small households or apartments with occasional spills. Its upright design glides over carpets, spraying a mix of water and cleaning solution while sucking up dirty water in one go.
We scored it on real-world tests:
Pros:
Cons:
Still on the fence? For bigger messes or pets, upgrade to the BISSELL Little Green Pet Pro – our top pick with better versatility.
We pitted the ProHeat against portable powerhouses to highlight differences. All were tested on the same stains.
| Feature | Bissell ProHeat Essential | BISSELL Little Green Pet Pro | BISSELL Little Green ProHeat SmartMix | FOLEX Instant Carpet Spot Remover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Upright | Portable | Portable | Spot Spray |
| Weight | 14 lbs | 10 lbs | 9.5 lbs | 2 lbs |
| Tank Sizes | 1 gal clean / 0.75 gal dirty | 0.5 gal clean / 0.5 gal dirty | 0.5 gal clean / 0.5 gal dirty | N/A (spray bottle) |
| Cord/Hose | 25 ft cord / 8 ft hose | 15 ft cord / 4 ft hose | 15 ft cord / 4 ft hose | None |
| Carpet Score | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.0/5 (spots only) |
| Pet Stains | Good | Excellent (pet tools) | Excellent (SmartMix) | Very Good |
| Price Range | $140-$160 | $160-$180 | $170-$190 | $10-$15 |
| Best For | Budget whole-room | Pets & upholstery | Tough stains | Quick spots |
The ProHeat wins on tank size for larger areas, but portables edge it out in portability and pet performance.
If the ProHeat doesn't fit, these standouts deliver more punch:
Lightweight at 10 lbs with a self-cleaning hose tool. Removed 95% of pet urine in tests. Ideal for cars and stairs.
Pros:
Cons:
Auto-mixes solution strength. Scored 4.6/5 on grease stains; great for families.
Pros:
Cons:
No machine needed—spray and blot. 90% effective on wine in under 5 minutes.
Pair with formulas like BISSELL PET PRO OXY for pro results.
Expect 20-30% better results with hot water extracts.
Yes, it handles urine and vomit well (80-90% removal), but add a pet formula for odors. Our top pick, Little Green Pet Pro, excels here.
Every 15-20 minutes on heavy soiling; its 0.75-gallon size suits small jobs.
The 8-foot hose and stair tool make it capable, though portables are nimbler.
Typically 2 years—check retailer for Lowe's specifics.
ProHeat for whole rooms on a budget; Little Green for portability and pets.
