Bissell has forged ahead and made a few subtle changes to its highly proclaimed ProHeat carpet cleaner. With ProHeat 2X, series 9400, Bissell has added additional brushes to the powerhead.

Now totaling 12 rows of brushes, this count is at least two rows more than the most recent previous version of this machine. The benefit of this is obvious: More agitation results in faster and more complete cleaning.

An even more substantial change to the ProHeat 2X 9400 is the addition of onboard heated water to the attachment hose as well as to the body of the machine. Always a superior performer on carpets because of the onboard heater, Bissell has extended this performance to the hose and tools. Better cleaning of stairs and furniture is the result of this welcome addition. No more wimpy cool water coming through the attachments. Most everyone knows you need hot water to clean well and using carpet cleaner attachments is no exception to this rule.

Bissell has also added little brushes to the side of this model. This addition gives added attention to the edges and allows for better cleaning next to the wall, something that often was missed on previous versions of this machine.

The rest of the machine remains the same, with all the outstanding benefits it has offered for a number of years. The unique bladder system is efficient and easy to use. The heater continues to heat water 25 degrees above tap temperature and keeps it hot and ready for effective cleaning even as you work your way through a room. This model comes with some hand tools that are finally more useful--thanks to the improved heating system. The only real disadvantage here is the cleanup.

The Bissell ProHeat 2X 9400 will last far longer and perform far better if it is thoroughly cleaned and dried after each use. Make sure you allow 15 or so minutes to clean up the machine when finished and you'll have far better results for a far longer period of time.

Pros: Added brushes, edge cleaning, on-board heater for tools
Cons: Cleaning machine is time consuming, seal must be in proper place to operate correctly

Warranty
1 year