Bissell is one of the more popular manufacturers of carpet cleaners. In fact, you’ll have a difficult time finding a Top X Carpet Cleaner list that doesn’t mention at least one Bissel-made device. But no list is complete without including the Big Green Carpet Cleaner 86T3 – a beast of a machine that handles carpets beautifully without damaging their delicate fibers. With this tool, you can say goodbye to professional carpet cleaners once and for all.
1.75-Gallon Tank Capacity
One of the most noticeable things about the 86T3 is the sheer size of the unit. Weighing in at just under 50 pounds, it’s not surprising that it’s housing plenty of large components, clean and dirty water tanks included.
With a total of 1.75 gallons of water capacity, for most rooms, a single tank should supply enough water and solution mix to clean an entire room. The tanks are removable for quick-and-easy emptying and filling.
Extra-Large PowerBrush
To simplify the cumbersome task of cleaning carpets, the 86T3 comes with an extra-large DirtLifter PowerBrush which cleans a wide path and reduces the number of passes needed to cover an entire carpet.
It can be a bit difficult navigating this tool around furniture legs and in tight corners, which is why anyone would recommend clearing your carpet of any obstructions before commencing deep carpet cleaning.
12-Amp Motor and Powerful Suction
The 12-amp motor housed in the 86T3 doesn’t just add weight to the tool. The beefiness of the motor is what gives the PowerBrush its high-speed cleaning ability, and it also provides plenty of suction to get rid of all leftover stains.
Many users have commented how the tool’s powerful suction leads to reduced drying time – anywhere between 5 minutes and an hour depending on how high the carpet’s fibers are. No need to airdry your carpets if you’re using the 86T3.
2-Direction Cleaning
To add to the convenience of the oversized motor and casing, the 86T3 can clean in both directions. That’s right, you won’t need to rotate 180ۜ° to make a second and third passes over the same spot. Simply pull the unit toward you and let the brush and vacuum inlet do their thing. This often-overlooked quality is definitely one of the 86T3’s shining points.
9-Foot Hose and a Tough Stain Tool
To make spot-cleaning above-ground surfaces easier, the 86T3 comes with a long, durable 9-foot hose and a wide 6-inch tough stain tool. The long hose allows you to work far away from the tool (anti-tip technology keeps it from toppling over) while you navigate the tough stain tool across the surfaces of carpeted stairs, upholstery, and even auto interior.
25-Foot Power Cord
If there were one thing I would fix in the 86T3, it would be to add a couple of feet onto the 25-foot power cord. You can absolutely extend your reach by plugging the unit into an extension cord – assuming, of course, you already have a long extension cord at home.
If not, consider investing in one while cursing Bissel under your breath for providing such a short cord.
Trial Size Bottle of Bissell Professional Formula
Not sure which formula to use to clean your carpet? Bissell’s got you covered; they include a trial-size bottle of Professional Formula which is an all-around cleaning solution for most jobs.
It won’t do much against eliminating pet stains so you may need to purchase a specialized bottle of detergent if you have pets.
Backed by a 5-Year Warranty
With so many moving components inside of the 86T3’s housing, it’s a miracle that Bissell backs every model with a long 5-year limited warranty. Make sure you read the warranty carefully since adding ingredients like tea or unauthorized oils may void it (a couple of customers learned this the hard way).
Don’t worry about the 12-amp motor suddenly dying after the 60-month mark; this unit was released roughly eight years ago, and most customers’ 86T3s are still going strong to this very day.
No Onboard Heating Function
Bissel has their own heating technology known as ProHeat which doesn’t heat water per se but keeps it at a relatively warm temperature – usually 25° above room temp. Heat is needed to dissolve crusty old dropped food, but sadly, the 86T3 has no such feature.
Also, you should avoid placing hot water in the water basins since the motor is not designed to work with heated water. Cool or lukewarm water are your only options.
Verdict
Even without an onboard heater, the Bissell Big Green Carpet Cleaner 86T3 is one of the best full-size carpet cleaners you’d ever find. Everything about it screams excellent performance, from its powerful 12-amp motor to its long suction hose and 6-inch cleaning tool.
The short 25-foot power cord can be annoying at times, but everything else considered, you will not regret owning this carpet cleaner.
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Last update on 2023-06-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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