Can I use Dawn dish soap in my carpet cleaner?
Using Dawn dish soap in a Bissell 1699 ProHeat ClearView carpet cleaner is not a good idea for in-tank cleaning because dish soap can create excessive foam and leave residue. For best results, use the machine’s SmartMix settings with the correct carpet cleaning formula, then finish with a water-only rinse (see the owner's manual).
What to use instead (best practice for model 1699)
The manual is built around using SmartMix concentrate and selecting the right mix for the job.
- Use Normal for most carpet cleaning jobs.
- Use High Traffic for heavy soil and ground-in grime.
- Use Water Rinse for gentle cleaning or a final rinse.
- If you select Water Rinse, fill the SmartMix bottle with water as well.
- If you see foam building up in the recovery tank, switch SmartMix to Water Only until the foaming stops.
If you already used Dawn (how to fix the suds and residue)
Dish soap suds can overflow the dirty water tank and reduce suction. We fix it by flushing the system and rinsing the carpet.
- Empty and rinse the recovery (dirty water) tank.
- Rinse the clean water tank and refill with plain warm water.
- Set SmartMix to Water Only (or Water Rinse) and make rinse passes.
- Make extra dry passes (no trigger) to pull out as much moisture and residue as possible.
- Repeat until you no longer see suds in the tank.
| Situation | What you’ll notice | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Too much foam | Suds in tank, possible overflow | Switch to Water Only; empty tank; rinse |
| Residue left behind | Carpet feels sticky, resoils fast | Multiple water-only rinse passes |
| Overwet carpet | Slow drying, odor risk | Fewer wet passes; more dry passes |
Why it matters
Excess suds and leftover detergent reduce extraction performance and can make carpets attract dirt faster. The Bissell 1699 is designed to control mixing through SmartMix and to finish with a water-only rinse for better results.
Last updated: February 2026
What do professionals use to clean carpet?
Professionals typically use hot water extraction (often called steam cleaning): a heated cleaning solution is sprayed into carpet, agitated with brushes, then powerfully extracted with high-suction equipment. Your Bissell ProHeat ClearView 1699 uses the same core method at home with heated formula, a powered brush, and suction (see the owner's manual).
What pros use most often
- Truck-mounted hot water extraction units (very high heat and suction)
- Commercial portable extractors (used in apartments, high-rises, and smaller jobs)
- Pre-spray traffic-lane cleaners (to break down oily soil before extraction)
- Spot removers (enzyme-based for organic stains; oxidizers for some discolorations)
- Agitation tools (counter-rotating brush machines or grooming brushes)
- Carpet protectant (applied after cleaning to help resist future staining)
How that compares to the Bissell 1699
Your ProHeat ClearView is designed to mimic professional extraction on a smaller scale by mixing hot tap water with cleaning formula and heating it as it’s applied. It also supports pretreating for heavily soiled areas.
| Cleaning step | Professional approach | Bissell 1699 approach |
|---|---|---|
| Pretreat | Pre-spray, dwell time | SmartMix set to High Traffic; ReadyTools set to PreTreat |
| Deep clean | Hot water extraction passes | Heated formula + powered brush + suction passes |
| Rinse | Clear-water rinse pass | SmartMix set to Water Only for a final rinse |
| Drying | High extraction, air movers | Extra “dry passes” without spraying; allow dry time |
Pro-style results with your Bissell 1699
- Vacuum thoroughly first; dry soil removal is half the job
- Pretreat high-traffic lanes; let solution dwell 1 to 2 minutes before continuing
- Make slow, controlled wet passes; avoid overwetting
- Follow with multiple dry passes (no trigger) until you see little to no water being pulled up
- Use a final rinse (Water Only) to help remove leftover detergent and loosened soil
- For Berber, avoid repeated strokes in the same spot; test in a hidden area first
Why it matters
Professional-grade cleaning is mostly about controlled chemistry, agitation, and extraction. When you copy that sequence with the right settings and dry passes, you get cleaner carpet, faster drying, and fewer sticky residues that attract new dirt.
Last updated: February 2026
What's the number one rated carpet cleaner?
There is no single “number one rated” carpet cleaner for everyone; the best choice depends on your home (pets, traffic level, carpet type, and whether you need tools for stairs and upholstery). If you already own the Bissell ProHeat ClearView 1699, using the right settings and maintenance delivers strong deep-cleaning results.
How to choose the best carpet cleaner for your needs
When we help customers compare carpet cleaners, these factors matter most:
- Cleaning performance: powered brush roll plus strong suction for deep soil
- Tank system: separate clean water and dirty water tanks; easy fill and empty
- Heat feature: whether the unit heats the solution during floor cleaning
- Tools and attachments: upholstery tool, crevice tool, stain brush for edges and furniture
- Ease of use: cord length, hose reach, weight, and storage
- Carpet type compatibility: especially for delicate rugs and Berber
What your Bissell 1699 does well (model-specific)
The Bissell ProHeat ClearView 1699 is designed to mix hot tap water with cleaning formula and apply heated solution during carpet and bare floor cleaning (not through accessory tools). It also includes SmartMix settings to match the job (Water Rinse, Normal, High Traffic) and a ReadyTools selector for floor cleaning vs tools.
Quick settings guide (common use cases)
| Cleaning task | SmartMix setting | ReadyTools setting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine carpet cleaning | Normal | Floor cleaning | Good everyday deep clean |
| Heavy soil, entryways | High Traffic | PreTreat then Floor cleaning | PreTreat improves results; avoid overwetting |
| Final rinse | Water Rinse | Floor cleaning | Fill SmartMix bottle with water for rinse mode |
| Delicate rugs | Normal or Water Rinse | Floor cleaning | Consider turning off SmartTemp for delicate wool/oriental rugs |
Why “top rated” lists vary
Rankings change because reviewers weigh different things (pet hair pickup, cordless convenience, tool performance, drying time, price). A machine can be “best overall” for one tester but a poor fit for your carpet type or cleaning habits.
Tips to get the best results from the Bissell 1699
- Use hot tap water in the clean water tank (the unit heats as it applies to carpet)
- Match SmartMix to the soil level; use Water Rinse for the final pass
- If you see excessive foam, switch SmartMix to Water Only/Water Rinse until it stops
- Do not overwet; use slow, controlled passes
- For stains, blot and pre-test spot solutions in a hidden area first (especially on Berber)
For diagrams, settings, and troubleshooting steps specific to this model, use the owner's manual.
Last updated: February 2026
Is the 1699 worth the money?
Yes, the Bissell 1699 ProHeat ClearView is worth the money when you regularly need deep cleaning for carpets, stairs, and upholstery. It is built as a heated formula deep cleaner with multiple tools and a 120V design, so it delivers stronger stain and soil removal than basic spot cleaners for whole-room jobs.
When it’s a good value
- You clean high-traffic carpet areas a few times per year (mud, spills, tracked-in grime).
- You have pets or kids and need repeatable deep-clean results.
- You want above-floor cleaning with a hose and attachments (stairs, furniture, car mats).
- You prefer a machine you can maintain yourself (tanks, brushes, belts, and tools).
- You are willing to do routine cleanup after each use to keep suction and spray strong.
What you get with this model (practical expectations)
The 1699 series is designed as a full-size carpet cleaner, not a lightweight spot unit. Depending on the exact configuration, accessories can include tools like a 4-inch small area tool, 6-inch stair tool, spraying crevice tool, TurboBrush, PreTreat wand, and tough stain brush (some tools are model-configuration dependent).
| If you need this most often | The 1699 makes sense because | A smaller option may fit better if |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-room carpet cleaning | Wider cleaning path and recovery for larger areas | You only clean occasional small spills |
| Pet and kid messes | Better deep extraction than a handheld | You need ultra-quiet operation |
| Stairs and upholstery | Hose plus targeted tools | You hate cleaning tanks and tools after use |
Costs to plan for (ownership reality)
- Cleaning formula and pretreat (ongoing)
- Occasional replacement tools or wear items (belt, brush components, tank seals)
- Time for post-clean maintenance (rinsing tanks, clearing hair/debris)
Why it matters
A carpet cleaner pays off when you use it enough to avoid repeated rental fees and you can respond quickly to stains. With the 1699, the biggest “value driver” is consistent deep cleaning performance across carpets plus attachments for stairs and upholstery.
Quick tips to get the best results
- Vacuum thoroughly first; hair and grit reduce cleaning performance.
- Clean in small sections and avoid overwetting.
- Empty and rinse the recovery tank as soon as it fills.
- Rinse tools and let everything dry before storage.
- Follow the maintenance and troubleshooting steps in the owner's manual.
Last updated: February 2026





