When it comes to carpet cleaning, the Bissell Big Green and Rug Doctor are two of the most popular machines. Home carpet cleaners, like these two models, allow you to clean your carpet to your liking and save you money on cleanings. According to Angie’s List, a 2,200 square-foot home can cost $362 to clean.
Renting a cleaner, according to Lowe’s, can cost $29 per day. It’s far cheaper in the long run to buy your own machine and clean your carpets whenever you please.
There are many benefits to investing in a carpet cleaner, but which model is the right choice for you?
The answer depends on your needs and your budget. Let’s take a closer look at each model to help you decide.
The Bissell Big Green
Bissell is known for its powerful vacuums, but they also have an excellent line of carpet cleaners. The Big Green is a professional-quality model. While consumer models are still effective, this model has a bit more cleaning power and a larger water tank for uninterrupted cleaning.
The Big Green is the machine you see for rent in many home improvement stores.
There are a few things that set this cleaner apart from other carpet cleaners on the market today, especially those geared toward consumers.
The first thing you’ll notice is the size of the water tank – it’s much larger than the average tank. That means you’ll make fewer trips to the sink to refill and can spend more time cleaning.
The Big Green also has rotating brushes that reach deep down into carpeting for a thorough cleaning. These power brushes are the secret behind this machine’s deep cleaning power.
This cleaner also cleans on the forward and backward pass, which means you make fewer passes to clean your carpet. Carpeting dries faster, too.
If you’re on the short or tall side, you’ll appreciate the adjustable tank handle. With the push of a button, you can raise or lower the handle to find a height that’s just right for you. This ergonomic design makes cleaning more comfortable.
For a complete cleaning, Bissell includes a 9-foot hose and a 6″ stair tool. These two essential attachments allow you to deep clean upholstery and stairs with ease.
Bissell says that it recommends using only Bissell cleaning products, so keep that in mind when making your decision. You’ll need to buy the more expensive, exclusive cleaning products which may be a major purchasing decision.
When trying to save money or buy different cleaning products not offered by Bissell, you may run into problems with the Big Green. But there are also a lot of benefits you need to consider, too.
If you have a lot of carpeting in your home or you have a large home, the Big Green may be the better option for you because of the large water tank.
The Rug Doctor
Rug Doctor is probably the best-known carpeting cleaning brand, and you’ll find this brand at most professional cleaner rental services.
As a professional-grade machine, the Rug Doctor is powerful and thorough when it cleans. And it’s CRI rated Gold for Best in Class Cleaning Performance. That means it removes more dirt than competing models, and it won’t void your carpet’s warranty.
Like the Big Green from Bissell, this model has rotating brushes that help lift dirt from deep down in the carpet. The main difference is that this model has dual cross action brushes, so they grab dirt from just about every angle.
The Rug Doctor claims to have 75% more suction than competing carpet cleaners, and it’s 12″ suction nozzle allows you to clean larger areas at one time. Equipped with clear tanks, it’s easy to see when it’s time to refill the water tank.
The specially designed handle folds down to save on storage space in between uses, and the Quick Dry feature ensures that your carpeting dries faster than with competing cleaners.
Part of what makes the Rug Doctor cleaner so popular is the brand’s cleaning method. This three-step process cleans, grooms and polishes carpet fibers, so you’re left with a truly clean carpet.
This model also has a Super Boost function designed for high-traffic areas. There’s also an upholstery attachment, so you can clean furniture and stairs with ease.
Which Model is the Right Choice for You?
Should you go with the Bissel Big Green, or the Rug Doctor? Both are professional-grade cleaners, and both are powerful.
Choosing between the two is no easy decision to make.
If you have pets or children in your home (or you entertain often), the Rug Doctor may be the better option for you. This model has 75% more suction, which allows you to pick up more dirt than competing models. It also the Super Boost option, which really increases the cleaning power of this machine.
If you have a larger home or more carpeting to clean, the Big Green is a great choice simply because it has such a large water tank.
The Big Green may also be the better option if you have stairs to clean, as it comes with a special stair tool for easy cleaning. The attachment hose is also significantly longer than the Rug Doctor hose (9ft vs 7ft).
Both models offer quick-drying features and both have professional quality results. The Big Green is significantly taller than the Rug Doctor, so that’s something to consider if you’re short on storage space. And you’ll need to use Bissell cleaning products with the Big Green.
The Bissell Big Green and the Rug Doctor are both excellent carpet cleaners. The right model for you will depend on the size of your home, your budget and your needs. Use the tips above to help you choose the right machine for your home.
