Bissell 1719 Handheld Vacuum
- Cord Type: Cordless
- Design: Handheld
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67
Review of the Bissell Spotlifter Model 1719 - And some things that you should know!
Pros
Does a good job quickly cleaning small spills
Cons
None
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
A good machine for cleaning spills and helping to prevent permanent stains.
As anyone with pets or children will tell you, accidents happen. And when those accidents happen to your $1100 area rug you want to have something quickly available to be able to help deal with them; thus our need for the Bissell Spot Lifter 2X Model #1719.
What is it?
The Bissel Spotlifter is a hand held carpet/upholstery cleaner designed for cleaning up small spills and messes quickly, before they have a chance to set in. The Spotlifter is essentially a small, rechargeable wetvac that is capable of dispensing cleaning solution to the problem area and vacuuming it back up. The spotlifter measures 18" long by 10" high by 7" wide and weighs about six pounds empty or a bit over seven pounds when full of liquid. The nozzle on the front is capable of cleaning a 7" wide path at a single pass. It has a removable canister on the back of the machine for cleaning solution and one on the front for collecting what is vacuumed up. There is a small brush assembly on the bottom of the Spotlifter just behind the collection nozzle which is designed to help in cleaning your soiled carpets and upholstery.
How well has it worked for us?
Overall the Spotlifter has done a respectable job in helping to clean up accidents and minimize issues with staining. We have used it on the rugs, sofas and chairs as well as for touch up jobs on the upholstery in our cars and it has performed as expected. Keep in mind that qualifier though, as my expectations were tempered by the fact that we also own a full sized Hoover steam cleaner and would never even consider using the Spotlifter and it interchangeably.
The Spotlifter is an excellent choice for use on say, a small pet accident or if someone knocks over a glass of tea but it is in no way a substitute for a full sized rug cleaning system and should not be considered as such. As a general rule, if more than 12oz or so of liquid are spilled or the area in question to be cleaned is larger than about one square foot then you are likely going to have to empty and clean the collection tank on the Spotlifter at least twice (possibly more) in order to get the area clean. If you have a truly large spill or stained area then I would recommend considering buying/renting a full sized cleaning machine but for simple jobs the Spotlifter is generally the right choice.
That having been said, we have found that when using the Spotlifter on those smaller spills and cleaning jobs that it has done very well at getting the spills up and helping to prevent set in stains. Clean up of a smaller spill is usually effective and fast, generally taking less than five minutes in total including the time needed to empty and rinse out the collection tank after the job is done.
Cleaning the Spotlifter after use is a fairly simple process of removing the collection tank, emptying it and rinsing it out. If you choose to use the Bissell cleaning solution then you are able to simply leave any leftover fluid in the dispenser tank until next time however If you choose to use some other type of cleaning formula then of course you should follow the instructions from that product regarding the storage or disposal of any leftover liquid.
What you should know before buying it.
• No machine will be able to clean every type of spot or stain. Some things are just too nasty to be removed completely. The Spotlifter does do a good job but don't expect miracles.
• The vacuum generated by the Spotlifter is decent but it will not pick up 100% of the liquid from the area in question (even my full sized machine will not do this). So please understand that the area will remain damp after use and will require time to air dry before people should walk or sit on the area in question.
• While the Spotlifter is small enough to get into most spaces there are some places like tight corners that you can't get it into and since there is no "hose attachment" type of accessory for it you will not be able to use the Spotlifter in that type of area.
• As the collection tank becomes full, you may notice that some of the liquid being collected may become pulled into the motor and start to spray or mist out of the exhaust port. In order to prevent this from happening you need to empty the tank as liquid approaches the fill line and to avoid tilting the machine while it is in use. As such, the Spotlifter is really only for use on relatively flat, level surfaces and does not work well at all when used at any angle beyond 15 degrees.
• The Spot lifter is NOT a steam cleaner. It does not have an internal heating unit and does not heat the cleaning solution in any way. As such, it is best used to clean a spill immediately after it has occurred and will generally have less impressive results on spots and stains which have had time to dry and set into the fabric.
• The battery on the Spotlifter will allow it to be used for about 10-15 minutes before losing power to the point of becoming ineffective.
• To preserve battery life, you should always discharge the battery in the Spotlifter as fully as possible (by allowing it to run until the battery is drained) before hooking it back up to be recharged. This will help to extend the battery life of the machine to its fullest. However, once the battery is charged, you can just leave the Spotlifter connected to the charger all the time in order to insure that it is ready as needed.
Some tips for getting the most out of the Spotlifter.
• Always go slowly over the area you are attempting to clean. This helps the vacuum to have the time needed to pull up the liquids.
• Avoid the urge to press down too firmly when using the machine as this will restrict air flow and actually reduce the effectiveness of the vacuum's ability to draw in fluids.
• Despite what I have said earlier, the Spotlifter can be an effective tool in helping you to remove set in stains. However to do this usually requires you to apply the solution to the area in question and leave it to soak in and break up the stain for several minutes before attempting to vacuum up the solution. Depending on the source of the stain, you may have to repeat this process several times and even then you may not be able to eliminate the stain entirely.
• We have found that when using the machine as directed, there is little chance to use the agitator brush since due to its placement next to the intake nozzle you generally end up vacuuming the cleaning solution as you are attempting to scrub at the area in question. So what I do in this circumstance is simply turn the machine on to spray the solution on the area to be cleaned and then turn off the Spotlifter. I then scrub at the stain manually until I am satisfied and then turn it back on to vacuum up the liquids.
• Oxiclean is the Spotlifter's friend. I have found that on many stains (especially ones made by organic materials) that pre-treating the area in question with a solution of hot water and Oxiclean has managed to help considerably in removing/reducing spots and stains. However, always remember to spot test the Oxiclean solution on an out of the way area of the rug/furniture in question to insure that the solution will in and of itself not stain or fade the item before attempting this method.
• Never, ever leave dirty liquid in the collection tank after using the machine because if you allow the liquid to dry inside it is very difficult to clean out dried dirt from the inside of the tank.
• To avoid making a mess, always tilt the front of the machine down towards the ground when removing the collection tank to be emptied/cleaned.
Warranty
The Bissell Spot Lifter comes with a one year manufacturer's warranty against defects in workmanship or materials. It appears that if you do need to have your machine serviced that you will be responsible for the costs to ship the unit to the service center.
Summary
Overall we have been very pleased with the performance of the Spotlifter and if you are looking for a similar appliance so long as your expectations are reasonable I would think that you will be as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may also be interested in reading
my review of Oxiclean : It Cleans... but has a secret!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is it?
The Bissel Spotlifter is a hand held carpet/upholstery cleaner designed for cleaning up small spills and messes quickly, before they have a chance to set in. The Spotlifter is essentially a small, rechargeable wetvac that is capable of dispensing cleaning solution to the problem area and vacuuming it back up. The spotlifter measures 18" long by 10" high by 7" wide and weighs about six pounds empty or a bit over seven pounds when full of liquid. The nozzle on the front is capable of cleaning a 7" wide path at a single pass. It has a removable canister on the back of the machine for cleaning solution and one on the front for collecting what is vacuumed up. There is a small brush assembly on the bottom of the Spotlifter just behind the collection nozzle which is designed to help in cleaning your soiled carpets and upholstery.
How well has it worked for us?
Overall the Spotlifter has done a respectable job in helping to clean up accidents and minimize issues with staining. We have used it on the rugs, sofas and chairs as well as for touch up jobs on the upholstery in our cars and it has performed as expected. Keep in mind that qualifier though, as my expectations were tempered by the fact that we also own a full sized Hoover steam cleaner and would never even consider using the Spotlifter and it interchangeably.
The Spotlifter is an excellent choice for use on say, a small pet accident or if someone knocks over a glass of tea but it is in no way a substitute for a full sized rug cleaning system and should not be considered as such. As a general rule, if more than 12oz or so of liquid are spilled or the area in question to be cleaned is larger than about one square foot then you are likely going to have to empty and clean the collection tank on the Spotlifter at least twice (possibly more) in order to get the area clean. If you have a truly large spill or stained area then I would recommend considering buying/renting a full sized cleaning machine but for simple jobs the Spotlifter is generally the right choice.
That having been said, we have found that when using the Spotlifter on those smaller spills and cleaning jobs that it has done very well at getting the spills up and helping to prevent set in stains. Clean up of a smaller spill is usually effective and fast, generally taking less than five minutes in total including the time needed to empty and rinse out the collection tank after the job is done.
Cleaning the Spotlifter after use is a fairly simple process of removing the collection tank, emptying it and rinsing it out. If you choose to use the Bissell cleaning solution then you are able to simply leave any leftover fluid in the dispenser tank until next time however If you choose to use some other type of cleaning formula then of course you should follow the instructions from that product regarding the storage or disposal of any leftover liquid.
What you should know before buying it.
• No machine will be able to clean every type of spot or stain. Some things are just too nasty to be removed completely. The Spotlifter does do a good job but don't expect miracles.
• The vacuum generated by the Spotlifter is decent but it will not pick up 100% of the liquid from the area in question (even my full sized machine will not do this). So please understand that the area will remain damp after use and will require time to air dry before people should walk or sit on the area in question.
• While the Spotlifter is small enough to get into most spaces there are some places like tight corners that you can't get it into and since there is no "hose attachment" type of accessory for it you will not be able to use the Spotlifter in that type of area.
• As the collection tank becomes full, you may notice that some of the liquid being collected may become pulled into the motor and start to spray or mist out of the exhaust port. In order to prevent this from happening you need to empty the tank as liquid approaches the fill line and to avoid tilting the machine while it is in use. As such, the Spotlifter is really only for use on relatively flat, level surfaces and does not work well at all when used at any angle beyond 15 degrees.
• The Spot lifter is NOT a steam cleaner. It does not have an internal heating unit and does not heat the cleaning solution in any way. As such, it is best used to clean a spill immediately after it has occurred and will generally have less impressive results on spots and stains which have had time to dry and set into the fabric.
• The battery on the Spotlifter will allow it to be used for about 10-15 minutes before losing power to the point of becoming ineffective.
• To preserve battery life, you should always discharge the battery in the Spotlifter as fully as possible (by allowing it to run until the battery is drained) before hooking it back up to be recharged. This will help to extend the battery life of the machine to its fullest. However, once the battery is charged, you can just leave the Spotlifter connected to the charger all the time in order to insure that it is ready as needed.
Some tips for getting the most out of the Spotlifter.
• Always go slowly over the area you are attempting to clean. This helps the vacuum to have the time needed to pull up the liquids.
• Avoid the urge to press down too firmly when using the machine as this will restrict air flow and actually reduce the effectiveness of the vacuum's ability to draw in fluids.
• Despite what I have said earlier, the Spotlifter can be an effective tool in helping you to remove set in stains. However to do this usually requires you to apply the solution to the area in question and leave it to soak in and break up the stain for several minutes before attempting to vacuum up the solution. Depending on the source of the stain, you may have to repeat this process several times and even then you may not be able to eliminate the stain entirely.
• We have found that when using the machine as directed, there is little chance to use the agitator brush since due to its placement next to the intake nozzle you generally end up vacuuming the cleaning solution as you are attempting to scrub at the area in question. So what I do in this circumstance is simply turn the machine on to spray the solution on the area to be cleaned and then turn off the Spotlifter. I then scrub at the stain manually until I am satisfied and then turn it back on to vacuum up the liquids.
• Oxiclean is the Spotlifter's friend. I have found that on many stains (especially ones made by organic materials) that pre-treating the area in question with a solution of hot water and Oxiclean has managed to help considerably in removing/reducing spots and stains. However, always remember to spot test the Oxiclean solution on an out of the way area of the rug/furniture in question to insure that the solution will in and of itself not stain or fade the item before attempting this method.
• Never, ever leave dirty liquid in the collection tank after using the machine because if you allow the liquid to dry inside it is very difficult to clean out dried dirt from the inside of the tank.
• To avoid making a mess, always tilt the front of the machine down towards the ground when removing the collection tank to be emptied/cleaned.
Warranty
The Bissell Spot Lifter comes with a one year manufacturer's warranty against defects in workmanship or materials. It appears that if you do need to have your machine serviced that you will be responsible for the costs to ship the unit to the service center.
Summary
Overall we have been very pleased with the performance of the Spotlifter and if you are looking for a similar appliance so long as your expectations are reasonable I would think that you will be as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may also be interested in reading
my review of Oxiclean : It Cleans... but has a secret!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
