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Bissell Pet Vacuum: A Complete User’s Guide

Bissell Pet Vacuum: A Complete User’s Guide

Pets make the best family members. They’re there when you need them, they don’t argue, and they give the best cuddles. But goodness, are they messy! As much as we love our pets, they’re all guilty of leaving their mark, from flying hair to paw prints. If you’ve got a pet at home, you’re not going to want to be without a Bissell Pet Vacuum for quick and easy clean up.

Considering a Bissell Pet Vacuum? This complete user’s guide will cover all of the following and more:

  1. Wet/dry vacs, uprights and cordless
  2. Which Bissell Pet Vacuum for which pet mess?
  3. Overall best:  ICONPet Cordless Vacuum
  4. What can a Bissell Pet Vacuum clean?
  5. How to use Bissell Pet Vacuum
  6. How to clean Bissell Pet Vacuum Filter
  7. How to clean Bissell Pet Vacuum

Have you reached your limit on clean-up duty, and you’re ready for some help? Are you planning on getting a pet and hoping to stay on top of pet stains before they become a problem? If the answer to either of these is a “yes,” keep reading for all things Bissell Pet Vacuum. With cleanup being such a breeze, you’ll be back to snuggling your furry friend in no time.

What is the Bissell Pet Vacuum?

Besides magical, Bissell Pet Vacuums are the ultimate tool in pet clean up. There are a few different models to choose from, and one of them will no doubt be a perfect fit for your home. Hardwood floors, tile, and carpets are all safe and clean with a Bissell Pet Vacuum around.

Whether you’re concerned about pet hair, questionable paw print stains, or potty accidents, there’s a Bissell Pet Vacuum to take care of the problem. It really depends on the pet you need to clean up after, as well as the surface that you want to clean.

Also, any of the Bissell Pet Vacs comes with the added bonus of helping other pets find their “fur-ever” home. Bissell donates a portion of each sale to rescue foundations, so you can feel great about your purchase.

1.  Wet Dry Vacs, Uprights and Cordless

Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac

This is a fantastic cleanup weapon to have if you’re working with hardwood floors and area rugs. It washes and sweeps all at once. The Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac has an easy to empty canister, too. Actually, make that two canisters. The wet/dry technology actually separates what you’re cleaning, so you can easily dump dry pickup in the trash and then dispose of the liquid.

Pet Hair Eraser Upright Vacuum

This is another lightweight model; only the Pet Hair Eraser Upright Vacuum specializes in getting rid of pet hair. If you have a cat or dog that sheds, this guy will help make you erase any fur left behind. All of the Bissell Pet Hair Erasers have fancy technology that doesn’t allow the hair to get caught up in the vacuum, so there’s no disgusting clean up required on your end to remove any yucky fur balls.

Adapt Ion Pet 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum

And adapt, it does! The Adapt Ion Pet 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum transitions from one surface to the next, without pushing all kinds of buttons and making various adjustments. You can just click off and on the brush roll, and you’re ready for cleanup action. This model offers the same power as the previous models, only in the form of a stick vac, without cords.

PowerGlide Lift-Off Pet Plus Upright Vacuum

While this model is a little larger than the others, it allows you to actually lift off part of the vacuum for easy cleaning of upholstered surfaces and carpet. There’s also an extension wand to get at those hard to reach spaces, You know, those spots where only pets can go and leave their messes. Bissell’s PowerGlide Lift-Off Pet Plus Upright Vacuum really can do it all. 

ICONpet Cordless Vacuum

The ICONPet Cordless Vacuum is Bissell’s latest and greatest. Along with the mess-free emptying method and the tangle-free brush roll that comes with other pet vacs, this also seals in allergens, making it safer to breathe at home. There’s also LED lights to guide you while you clean and a wall mount to make charging a cinch. All of this, plus power, comes in the form of a stick vac!

2.  Which Bissell Pet Vac is the Best for Which Pet Mess?

All of the Bissell Pet Vacuums are great options to have when you’re ready to clean. But, when it comes to naming the “top dog,” it depends on what you’re looking for.

Fur Control and Allergens

If your pet is an extra furry friend, then pet hair might be one of your main concerns. The Pet Hair Eraser Upright Vacuum is your best bet. If you’ve ever had to remove hair from a vacuum cleaner brush, you’ll probably do anything you can to avoid doing it ever again. Along these same lines, the canister empties with just the touch of a button, so there’s no need to physically touch the mess you’ve just cleaned up.

Anyone that’s concerned with the allergens that often come with pets will appreciate the technology in this vacuum that seals them into the tank. Even if your pet itself is hypo-allergenic, their fur will still naturally trap and store allergens from the air, which can be released into the home.

This is especially true for adventurous pets that go outside. However, this vacuum can prevent those allergens from getting into your own lungs.

Potty Accidents and Muddy Paw Prints

If you’ve got a major mess on your hands and carpet or upholstery stains are going to be a challenge, or you’re dealing with a situation that spans all the surfaces, go with the PowerGlide Lift-Off Pet Plus Upright Vacuum.

It really is like having two vacuums in one, without having to schlep both sweepers around while you clean. It sounds too good to be true, the thought of cleaning the mucky mess from the area rug, the couch, and then the hardwoods, but it can be done. And, fairly easily at that.

3.  The Overall Best Bissell Pet Vacuum

If you’re looking for the best all-around cleaner-upper, the ICONPet Cordless Vacuum is it. And, clearly, it’s cordless, so it’s easy to handle. But, this sucker packs all of the power that you could ever want in a vacuum, making it the quickest cleaning method.

This also features the same allergy-safe technology, easy-empty canister, and brush roll that virtually doesn’t tangle as the bigger models. It’s a one-stop-shop for any and all of the pet cleanup solutions you can possibly imagine.

4.  What Can a Bissell Pet Vacuum Clean?

Perhaps it would be better to ask, what exactly can’t a Bissell pet vac clean. Whatever mess your pet leaves, Bissell has the answer. As we’ve discussed, there are different versions that work better for specific pet disasters, but overall, they can literally clean anything.

And, while we’re being honest, they also work great for cleaning up after children. We all know that those little humans can be rather untidy at times, and are equally likely as pets to bring the outdoors in.

Surface Cleanup

Pets (and children) don’t pay much attention to where they leave their messes. Both are as likely to chew on markers on the carpet as they are the couch. But Bissell has you covered, no matter what needs to be cleaned. Here are some of the surfaces you can easily clean with your Bissell Pet Vacuum:

Type of Mess

It’s next to impossible to predict what your pet’s going to get into. The options really are endless. But, we all know that it’s going to happen at some point.

Some pets prefer to roll in the mud more than once a day. Or, find their favorite ball of dirt to hide under the sofa for all-day snacking. It’s just too hard to predict. But, Bissell is here for you, with cleanup coverage for all things pet:

  • Shedding
  • Dirt and mud
  • Allergens
  • Potty accidents
  • Debris from messy eaters
  • Anything you can possibly imagine.

5.  How to Use Bissell Pet Vacuum

Naturally, the use is specific to each model. But they all operate on a similar system with just a few variations between each vacuum. And Bissell has made each model very easy to use, so you can get right down to cleaning right away. Each of the links below can show you just how easy it is to operate one of the Bissell pet vacs.

6.  How to Clean Bissell Pet Vacuum Filter

Each of these vacuums is equipped with one or more filters. They’re easy to access and replace. This makes them very easy to clean.

  • Most of the filters are located between the canister lid and the canister itself. When you press the release button to remove and empty the debris, then you’ll be able to get to the filter. Some filters are also found next to the motor, but don’t let that intimidate you. They’re equally easy to take off and put on.
  • Once you’ve removed the tank and dumped out any debris, you can see the soft, spongy filter. It’s round and sits inside the lid. You can take it out and tap it off, or if it’s really dirty, you can run it under warm water to clean.
  • Occasionally, it might be necessary to use just a drop of soap to fully clean the filter, although it isn’t recommended to do this each time. Emptying the dirty water tank and filter care is a quick watch if you’d like to see this done before trying it yourself.

However, Bissell has made is very easy to take the filters off and snap them back into place, without having to worry about making sure things are going to fit the same after you take them off.

Also, if you really want to go the extra mile, some pet vac users have mentioned that they’ll add a few drops of lavender oil or another favorite essential oil to the filter after washing. Once it’s completely dry and put back in place, the scent is released when the sweeper is used, and it does smell pretty darn good.

Replacement filters are also available. If your pet vac filter is looking a little rough or you just like to have some as a backup in case a major cleanup is needed, they’re very easy to find.

7.  How to Clean Bissell Pet Pro Vacuum

With a vacuum like this that can literally do everything, you’d expect cleaning the machine itself to be a little bit more complicated. But have no fear, Bissell thought of this too, and cleaning the cleaner has never been easier. It’s so simple to take out and clean every single part that could possibly need it.

Cleaning the Brushroll

The brush roll is the first part of the vacuum to come in contact with all of the nastiness left behind on the floor, so it will need to be cleaned. Ideally, it should be done after each use. No worries, though, because it’s very simple and doesn’t take much time at all.

What You’ll Need

Bissell gives you much of the tools you’ll need for cleaning, but some serious pet vac users suggest going the extra mile to maximize the use of your Pet Pro Vacuum. To get started, you’ll need:

  • Cleaning/storage tray (comes with vacuum)
  • Small cup or pouring device
  • Water
  • Paper towels or rags
  • Drying mat (optional)
  • Disinfectant spray (optional)

How to do it:

  1. Lay a towel or drying mat on the floor, placing the storage/cleaning tray on top of it. The mat isn’t necessary, but it will protect your freshly cleaned floor.
  2. Rest the base of the Pet Pro in the storage/cleaning tray, gently clicking it into place.
  3. Pour water into the rinse funnel until it reaches the max fill line. The rinse funnel is located at the back of the tray.
  4. Plug the vacuum in and turn it on. Switch the setting to hard floors on the handle of the stick.
  5. Carefully lean the vacuum into a reclining position while the sweeper sucks up all of the water in the tray. This will take about 15 seconds.
  6. Replace the vacuum to the upright position and unplug the cord. Carefully remove the vacuum from the tray.
  7. If there’s any water left in the tray, use a rag or paper towel to wipe it out. Some users recommend using a gentle disinfectant spray on the tray to make sure there’s nothing extra lurking in there.
  8. While the vacuum is upright, remove the window that’s covering the brush roll from the base of the Pet Pro and set aside.
  9. Locate the pinkish-purple tab on the end of the brush roll and pull up, which will remove the brush roll.
  10. Set the brush roll into the drying rack, upright, on the storage tray. It’s right next to the rinse funnel. You can wait for it to dry or use a replacement roll while.
  11. When the brush roll is completely dry, snap it back into place and push down the tab to lock it in.
  12. Another optional step that users suggest is to disinfect the window before replacing it.
  13. Gently press the brush roll cover window back into its spot.

Dirty Water Tank

After the brush roll absorbs all of the yuckies, it goes into the dirty water tank. It won’t be all that fun to clean, and it might be stinky, but it’s worth it. If you don’t take care of this right away, it will only develop more of an odor and will actually be hard to clean. Not taking care of this right away can also allow bacteria to grow inside the tank. Gross.

What You’ll Need:

  • Cleaning/storage tray (comes with vacuum)
  • Sink
  • Paper towels or rags
  • Drying mat (optional)
  • Disinfectant spray (optional)
  • Dish soap (optional)

How to do it:

  1. Rest the storage/cleaning tray on the drying mat or towel. You’ll want to do this near a sink, so you don’t risk any spillage. Again, a drying mat or towel isn’t a must, but it is helpful in the mess prevention department.
  2. Put the upright vacuum in the tray, making sure it’s clicked in place.
  3. With one hand, grab the handle on the dirty water tank and pull the release. With your other hand, support the tank, so you don’t drop it.

Note: The two-handed method here is one that some users had to learn to do the hard way, after dropping the tank. Clearly, this would be a mess, but it can also damage the tank.

  1. Holding the tank over the sink or resting it upright over the sink, carefully remove the top of the tank.
  2. From the top that’s been removed, pull out the strainer and tap into the trash can. Any loose debris will fall off.
  3. Rinse the strainer thoroughly with just water. If the strainer is extra gross, use a tiny drop of soap to suds it up. Just be sure to completely rinse, so there’s no soap residue left behind.
  4. Take out the filter and screen to rinse. Again, use soap if necessary, making sure it’s completely rinsed out.
  5. The small float located inside the lid as well, repeat the same cleaning methods with this part.
  6. Allow all of these parts to air dry on a towel, until there’s no moisture left. Not even a little bit. This could trap water inside the parts.
  7. While these parts are drying, wipe out the part of the vacuum that houses the dirty water tank.
  8. While it’s not necessary to do this with every cleaning, some frequent users of the Pet Pro do advise using a gentle disinfectant spray or even just a vinegar and water solution to really get in there and clean.
  9. As always, let this part dry all the way.
  10. Once everything is dry, you can reassemble the pieces to the lid, and secure them back into the tank.
  11. To reinsert the tank into the vacuum, rest the base in the housing unit and, at an angle, push it back into place. You’ll hear a click when it’s locked and loaded.

Then you’re ready for another cleanup!