One of the most significant issues with a full-sized carpet cleaner such as the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro or Bissell Big Green would be the sheer weight. While both of these machines have excellent deep cleaning performance, these weigh a ton!
Imagine carrying 50 pounds worth of carpet cleaner up and down a flight of stairs.
You could opt for the lighter Bissell PowerLifter, but it still weighs 16 pounds.
The Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush is one of the lightest carpet cleaners available at just 12 pounds.
But there will be compromises to be made if you opt for this lightweight carpet cleaner.
This machine will have less power than any of the three variants above and does not have any hose or nozzle. So you’ll need a separate portable cleaner to do upholstery and stairs.
If you don’t mind those limitations, this is an excellent option in smaller homes with lots of carpets.
A quick look at the features
- Bissell’s lightest full-sized carpet cleaner to date at just 12 pounds
- Agitation from the 4-row rotating DirtLifter Powerbrush will help remove pet stains on the carpet
- Two tanks system separates dirty and clean water
- Collapsible handle reduces vertical footprint and makes storing this easier
- The removable nozzle makes maintenance easy
- EdgeSweep bristles help this machine reach baseboards and around furniture
- 5″ cleaning path
- 1/2 gallon tank capacity
- 4 amp motor
- 20-foot power cord
- One year warranty
Pros
- Lightweight carpet cleaner at just 12 pounds
- Separate water clean and dirty tanks prevent cross-contamination
- Decent size water tank despite being a lightweight carpet cleaner
- DirtLifter Powerbrush provides suitable agitation
- The collapsible handle makes it easier to store
Cons
- No attachments to clean upholstery or stairs
- The weak motor may not perform as well as larger carpet cleaners
- Some issues with quality control
What to expect from the Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush?
Bissell created this product specifically for pet owners who live in small homes. The compact design, collapsible handle, and roller brush will do a decent job at cleaning pet stains.
Dual tank system
Despite being a lightweight cleaner, it still has two separate water tanks, which I think is a must-have in any carpet cleaner.
I wouldn’t say I like one tank carpet cleaning system because of the cross-contamination issue and the smaller capacity, making it necessary to empty it more often.
Here’s a close look at the dirty water tank.
The TurboClean PowerBrush doesn’t require as many trips to the sink, thanks to the half-gallon capacity.
DirtLifter PowerBrush
It comes with the 4-row rotating DirtLifter PowerBrush to help clean pet stains. Don’t take the wording literally as this machine only has one roller brush. It is just Bissell’s fancy terminology for it.
The good news is that the bristles on this beater bar are stiff, which helps a lot in agitation. However, it does not stretch to the edge.
If you look underneath the main nozzle, there is a gap where the belt is and the brush to clean the edges despite the edge bristles.
You will need a separate portable carpet cleaner to clean baseboards and tight areas around furniture.
Lightweight
The most significant selling point of this product would be the weight. This machine only weighs 12 pounds and will work best for folks who don’t want to lug around a 50-pound machine.
It weighs as much as a dumbbell that you can carry up and down a flight of stairs.
Collapsible handle
Storing this machine also won’t be a problem, thanks to the collapsible handle that reduces its vertical footprint. If you live in a small apartment or condominium, this is a must-have feature.
Bissell DeepClean Oxy formula
Bissell recommends that you use their “Deep Clean + Oxy” formula to get the best results to rid your carpets of pet stains. The standard package comes with an 8-ounce sampler bottle for you to try out.
If you have lots of pets, I suggest getting the “TurboClean + Eliminator” package to help you keep your carpets fresh and free from pet stains.
Warranty
Bissell backs this product up with a one year warranty.
Cleaning performance
If you look at reviews, most consumers were reasonably satisfied with how this carpet cleaner washes the carpet. A lot of them had pets, which isn’t a surprise after all. Bissell markets this machine as a pet stain cleaner.
Being lightweight makes it a great option.
What endears this machine to consumers would be the weight or lack thereof. At just 12 pounds, this variant is much lighter than the 50-pound monsters like the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro.
However, please note that it won’t clean and bigger cleaners because it does not have as much agitation or power.
For spot cleaning tasks
Some consumers say it is an excellent option for maintenance cleanups to keep stains from piling up in the first place. This machine’s lightweight nature means it’s a great option to remove stains in high traffic areas.
Some even keep the tank filled with cleaning solution for spot cleaning duties.
One tip shared by one of the consumers on fresh pet urine would be to use the suction first before using any cleaning solution.
Tips from Bissel
Watch this video on how to get the most out of this lightweight cleaning machine.
The critical takeaway is to use slow and steady passes and allow the brushes to do the work. If you go too fast, you’ll leave too much of the cleaning solution behind.
Only use hot tap water.
One downside that this machine has is the lack of a water heater. But remember that most modern carpet cleaners don’t have this feature because of the plastic components manufacturers use.
Bissell recommends using only hot tap water not exceeding 120 degrees. Using boiling water can damage and deform the water tank and void the warranty, so please avoid doing so.
Always vacuum before using a carpet cleaner.
Before using a carpet cleaner, make sure to remove all dirt from carpets using an excellent upright vacuum.
This will help maximize the performance of a vacuum and help it deep clean better.
Some potential issues
The lightweight machine does have some issues. Most have to do with power. While it does well at cleaning pet stains, it may not work on tougher stains line wine stains.
It lacks the power and agitation of more robust carpet cleaners that weigh a lot more, so there’s a tradeoff in selecting this over more massive options.
Lastly, there are complaints about quality control issues about breaking plastic parts and components not working after a few uses.
Product specifications
| Model | Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush |
| Power | 3.4 amps |
| Cleaning path | 9.5" |
| Cord length | 20 feet |
| Hose length | N/A |
| Water tank | 1/2 gal |
| Weight | 12 lbs. |
| Specialty tools | None |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Where can I buy this?
You can buy the Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush from Amazon with our without Stain Eliminator solution.
This will be eligible for their 2-day free shipping if you join Prime. And Amazon also sells extended warranties of up to 3 years if you want that extra peace of mind.
To wrap up
If lugging around a heavy 40+ pound carpet cleaner isn’t your thing, then the Bissell TurboClean PowerBrush is a good option. It weighs only 12 pounds so that it won’t wreck your back.
However, it does not have any special tools like a hose and nozzle, so that it will be strictly a floor cleaner.
The performance also won’t be as good as its bigger sibling, the Bissell ProHeat 2X, because it’s got a smaller motor and less agitation.
