Everyone is familiar with the rental carpet cleaning machines available in grocery and discount stores. For people with serious cleaning needs such as pet owners or large families, it’s a better idea to invest in a professional quality carpet cleaning device for the home. Two of the best machines of this type are the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X and the BISSELL Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine. In fact, these devices closely resemble the ones that you can rent at your local store. Both are highly regarded carpet cleaning devices made by an industry leader. To determine the best one for your needs, it’s necessary to look at each device in detail and evaluate their effectiveness for your specific carpet cleaning application.
Rug Doctor Vs Bissell Carpet Cleaners

Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3
Even with the right tools, cleaning carpets is hard work. The Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 is definitely ‘the right tool’ for heavy duty carpet cleaning. It’s big, powerful, somewhat bulky and on the heavy side. The labor required moving the device around from room to room might be surprising to someone not familiar with a professional quality cleaning device. So might the effort necessary to clean the carpets–it’s nothing like using a lightweight, self-propelled vacuum cleaner. This observation isn’t a rap on the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3, but it’s important for the buyer to understand the type of device he’s getting.
There is a substantial upside from all of that weight and heft–the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 is a seriously powerful, structurally sound and high-quality piece of equipment. Properly maintained, it’s a tool that will last a lifetime and provide a carpet cleaning experience that is far superior to any grocery store rental device. The Rug Doctor cleaning solution tank holds three gallons of water and the ‘dirty water’ tank holds 3.9 gallons. This water/solution capacity is substantially larger than most other products in this product segment.
The only criticism possible for this device involves the size, weight and effort required to use it. If moving or using a carpet cleaner that weighs just under 40 points is an issue, you might be better off choosing an alternate product. Otherwise, it’s a perfect tool for anyone willing to put in the work necessary to get professional quality carpet cleaning at home. Note that the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X is available in different versions for different uses including a ‘Pet Pack’ and a ‘Family Pack’. The actual equipment is identical in each pack but comes bundled with different types of application specific cleaning solutions.
BISSELL Big Green 86T3 Deep Cleaning Machine
The BISSELL Big Green 86T3 Deep Cleaning Machine Professional Grade Carpet Cleaner looks more like a traditional upright vacuum cleaner, at least compared to the more ‘squat’ Rug Doctor device. For this reason, it might be easier to use for some people but keep in mind that the weight of the BISSELL device is very similar to that of the Rug Doctor. The BISSELL device might have its weight more evenly distributed, and the better leverage of an upright device could make it easier to manage. That being said, this is by no means a ‘lightweight’ or ‘casual use’ carpet cleaner–it’s a serious piece of equipment constructed to the highest quality for heavy duty use.
As a professional quality, heavy use carpet cleaner the individual BISSELL components are all industrial quality–high capacity solution and ‘dirty water’ tanks as well as a long, flexible cleaning hose and power cord. The primary difference in the construction and component system between the BISSELL and the Rug Doctor is a matter of form factor–simply put, some will prefer the upright design and find it easier to use.
Bissell Big Green or Rug Doctor ?
Both the BISSELL Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine and the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 are highly rated, positively reviewed products. Aside from the form factor differences outlined above whether users prefer one over the other looks more like a matter of ‘personal preference’ than anything else. For that reason, most of the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ in user reviews come down to very minor or highly specific differences. Some users suggest that the BISSELL offers better ‘one pass’ cleaning while the Rug Doctor provides deeper cleaning with a greater effort. Other users have the opinion that this distinction comes at a cost, and the BISSELL 86T3 is ‘harder’ on the carpet fiber than the Rug Doctor Pro X3.
It’s also not possible to distinguish one device as categorically superior for common applications such as pet stains or stains in high traffic areas. Each device has enthusiastic boosters who insist that one or the other is the definitive carpet cleaner for their particular use. Assuming that the form factor difference isn’t an issue these devices look to be identical in terms of quality. It will probably take a head to head ‘test drive’ to determine which is the best for your specific carpet cleaning needs.
That was helpful , thanks