Okay, now I asked this question on the ICS and didnt get much of a response (at least ones that were helpful)

I do apartment complexes, and the turnover is pretty high. Most of the apartments do good with the mex and OP, using the various Releasit products. Every once in a while the entrance area is LOADED and needs to be flushed. It is a small area though. To hook up my demon seems excessive and defeats the timing im trying to achieve. was wondering if anyone had tried using a small household unit in cases like this. I would not use just the bissel in that area but follow up with OP, etc.

And NO there are no customers around to be-rate my unprofessionalism for using such a device...not that anyone would care too much, considering Ill have plenty of other toys they have never seen...

I have a hotel who I sell supplies to and clean their carpets. The have a Bissel for emergency spills and it works great for them.

Never any stains when we go to clean their busy ball rooms.

Having used one before, I am convinced that flow-rate is a tad too low for "flushing". However, if you already own it give ita shot. If not, and you are looking for something a little faster/easier, I might look at the durr maid Spotter. Use it with a wand...for small areas: Voila'

You can get a rug doctor machine with the CRI approval. You can buy one for about $24.95 a month for a couple of years. Small & portable and should extract good enough.


If you ever need real answers about carpet cleaning, always come to this board. That other place is full of a bunch of Rednecks.

Matt,

Here is a copy and paste from my ICS reply:

I have actually used a Bissell home machine.

 

I actually used to clean my own carpets years ago (long before I got into the industry) with a Bissell Green Machine- the canister type with a wand.  I don't think that they make them anymore.

 

I also used a Bissell spotter, after I got into the industry as I have often been on a shoestring budget and looking for the best VALUE a piece of equipment can provide.

 

I have also done side by side comparison with my Olympus M200H portable and a current Bissell 2X Heat extractor.  My mother-in-law has her own house cleaning business and would clean her clients carpet cheaply this way.

 

Here are my results:

 

1)  Bissell Green Machine- PHENOMENAL at laying down water- not with pressure mind you just volume.  HORRIBLE at recovering water.  It would take 6, 7, 8 dry passes to ATTEMPT to recover what was laid down in one wet pass.

 

2)  Bissell Spotter- Used several times in apartment jobs (no witnesses that way).  Gave it to my dad and bought an Aztec Heated Spotter after 3 or 4 uses- just not enough vacuum recovery.

 

3)  Bissell 2X Heated Extractor (mother-in-laws).  She threw it away and now refers me, even though I am a moderately highly priced cleaner.

 

Save your money and your reputation.  Get a quality spotter to do it.  I'd look at 1) Aztec Products, 2) Durrmaid (basically the same thing- maybe a little nicer revision of the Aztec) or 3) Cross-American.

Make you own luck,

Del Scrivner
Owner/Operator
Cowboy's Carpet Care

Thanks for your replies gents! I will definately look into it. I dont currently own one, i used bissel as just a brand name example.

Del, thanks for the tips, will definately check out what you requested.

OH if you don't already have one then don't buy one.
if you're short on cash flow then lease a good porty for less than $100/month.
even a 5 or 6 gallon with one super 3 stage vac will do the trick.