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Looking for an automatic carpet stain remover? Check out the Bissell SpotBot Pet! My review and demo video will help you decide if it’s right for you!
Soda spills, pet stains, dirt tracks, you name it. My carpet was TRASHED. Honestly, it was pretty embarrassing! I did everything I could think of to hide my gross-looking carpet, until I found the perfect automatic carpet stain remover – and all my carpet stains literally washed away.
Stain-free carpet is one of the basics of a clean house. However, I totally get that it can be scary to spend a chunk of money on an automatic carpet stain remover. Today, I want to help you decide if the Bissell SpotBot Pet machine is right for you. I’ll tell you about it, show you how it works in a video, and explain why I LOVE it!
Does Bissell SpotBot Pet Automatic Carpet Stain Remover Work?
Short answer, yes. The Bissell SpotBot Pet absolutely works.
I’m on my second SpotBot Pet in about 10 or 11 years (The first one got broken when I lent it to a friend). I have 2 cats in my household, and I love them dearly! Sometimes though, they make messes outside of the litterbox. Any time I have a pet stain from urine, vomit, etc, I immediately reach for my SpotBot Pet. It’s quick, easy to operate, and eliminates even tough stains pretty much 100% of the time.
I work a lot at my day job, and I don’t have time to sit and scrub carpet messes clean. The Bissell SpotBot Pet is awesome for working women, because you push a button and walk away. A few minutes later, that carpet stain is history! I let it run while I’m cleaning other parts of my house, and it’s like having an assistant to spot-clean my carpets.
How Does the Bissell SpotBot Pet Remove Stains?
The Bissell SpotBot Pet is an electric-powered automatic carpet stain remover. It uses a tank filled with water and cleaning solution to saturate a stain. You start the machine by selecting a cycle using buttons located on top. A cleaning head featuring plastic nubs and brushes agitates on the carpet to scrub the stain away. Finally, it sucks up most of the water/cleaning solution and empties it into a waste tank.
These pictures will help you get a better idea of exactly what the SpotBot Pet is.
First, a full frontal view of the SpotBot Pet:
Next, the controls and carrying handle on top of the machine:
Here’s a look at the water/solution tank:
And finally, the brush/suction assembly (Please excuse all the pet hair, I had just used the SpotBot Pet when I took these pictures):
How Do You Use the Bissell SpotBot Pet?
Using the Bissell SpotBot Pet is soooo simple. There are a few supplies you’ll need in order to use this automatic carpet stain remover:
- Warm water (tap is fine)
- SpotBot Pet cleaning solution
- Optional: Bissell Pet Boost Oxy Formula
Here’s a quick rundown of how to use the Bissell SpotBot Pet. And yes, it really is that easy.
- Remove any solids from the carpet stain (vomit, lint, etc)
- Fill the SpotBot Pet tank with warm water up to the “water” line
- Optional: Fill the tank with Pet Boost Oxy Formula up to the “oxy” line
- Fill the tank with SpotBot cleaning solution up to the “solution” line
- Place the cleaning head over the stain
- Press either the “surface stain” or “set-in stain” button
- Walk away while the automatic carpet stain remover works
- Press the “stop” button once the SpotBot Pet beeps and the red “Finish” light illuminates
- Empty the waste water tank once the water reaches the “full” line
Want to see exactly how the Bissell SpotBot Pet automatic carpet stain remover works? Check out my video demo below!
Bissell SpotBot Pet FAQs
As a longtime user of the Bissell SpotBot Pet, I get tons of questions from people I know about it. Let’s answer the most common questions now!
Q: How does the Bissell SpotBot Pet operate?
A: It has an agitating/rotating head with 2 brushes. It moves up and down and rotates from side to side to gently scrub the stain, while it dispenses cleaning solution onto the carpet. It has 2 small suction vents to suck up excess cleaning solution as it cleans, which empties into a waste tank onboard.
Q: Does the Bissell SpotBot Pet clean more than just pet stains?
A: Yes! I’ve used my SpotBot Pet on tons of different stains – Diet Coke, wine (that took a few cycles), dirt/mud, food stains, etc. It’s definitely not just for pet stains, although it does a great job on them!
Q: How many stains will 1 tank of water/solution clean?
A: I can get about 3 set-in stain cycles, or about 5 surface stain cycles, out of 1 tank of water/solution.
Q: How long does 1 bottle of cleaning solution last?
A: This particular automatic carpet cleaner doesn’t require a ton of the regular solution for each fill of the tank. As a result, 1 bottle will last for several fills of the tank with water/solution. I’d estimate probably 4-6 fills of the tank per bottle. The optional Boost Pet Oxy formula goes much more quickly, because the machine requires a LOT more of it, if you choose to use it.
Q: What if I don’t need to use the entire tank of water/solution? Do I have to empty it and waste the solution?
A: Not at all! The cap for the tank is located on the bottom. If I have leftover water/solution, I remove the tank and store it cap-side up to prevent leaks. Some people empty the leftover water/solution into a bottle for storage, but I choose to leave it in the tank.
Q: When should you use surface stain vs. set-in stain?
A: I used to only use set-in stain. Several years ago, I realized that the surface stain cycle does a great job on most stains, so I use that setting most of the time. If it’s a dark or really old stain, you might want to try the set-in stain cycle. Personally, I always try surface stain first.
Q: Is the Bissell SpotBot Pet loud?
A: The machine does make noise, and would probably wake a sleeping baby in the same room, for example. But it’s much quieter than a vacuum for most of the cycle. It does get a little loud during the vacuum/suction phase.
Q: Is the Boost Pet Oxy formula necessary?
A: I used to use the Boost product every time I ran my automatic carpet stain remover. However, I’ve realized over time that the SpotBot Pet does a great job on most stains without the Boost product.
Q: Is the Bissell SpotBot Pet heavy?
A: The machine weighs about 13 pounds. It has a carrying handle built into the upper assembly. It’s easy to carry up and down stairs, and maneuver into place over stains.
Q: Does the SpotBot Pet a manual cleaning option?
A: Yes. There is an on-board hose/brush attachment. However, I prefer to use the automatic stain remover cycle, because it’s virtually no work and successfully removes almost all stains.
Bissell SpotBot Pet Drawbacks
Although I LOVE my automatic carpet stain remover from Bissell, there are a few drawbacks. They’re minor overall, and won’t keep me from purchasing another SpotBot Pet in the future.
First, the SpotBot Pet is a little pricey at over $100 new. However, I’m on my second SpotBot Pet, and both of my machines lasted for many years. I use my automatic carpet stain remover at least once a week to remove pet stains and other stains. As a result, the cost per use over time is just pennies.
Next, the SpotBot Pet won’t last forever. It’s made mostly of plastic like many modern cleaning machines, and will break down eventually. My first Bissell SpotBot Pet lasted for about 4 years before it got broken when I lent it to a friend. I’ve had my second SpotBot for 6 or 7 years, and it just started losing suction about 8 or 9 months ago.
Finally, the optional Boost Oxy Pet product doesn’t last very long. That’s because the instructions tell you to fill the tank up most of the way with the Boost. However, I’ve found that the SpotBot Pet does a great job removing most stains the first time with just warm water and the regular solution.
Best Automatic Carpet Stain Remover: Conclusion
I hope this review of the Bissel SpotBot Pet has given you some insight into how this automatic carpet stain remover works, and whether it’s the right fit for your home. I like it because it’s quick and easy to use. It’s also a huge time saver, because you push a button and walk away while it removes stains. It’s just about the best way to remove carpet stains that I can think of!
Bottom line – if you need to deal with carpet stains in your house and don’t want to scrub them manually, then the Bissell SpotBot Pet is for you! It’s perfect for crazy busy people who are trying to keep a clean house.
Do you have questions about the SpotBot Pet? Pop them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them!
This is a great review, I think you have convinced me to get a Bissell SpotBot Pet. I just got a new puppy, and I have already had my regular carpet cleaners over a few times to clean stains. This would let me clean it all myself and save money! Thanks for the thoughtful and helpful review.