I Tried It: My Honest Bissell Little Green Review (2024)

I’ll be honest: Before writing this review, the only experience I had with DIY carpet cleaners (other than a can of Resolve) was a monster unit I rented from a big box store many years ago. The hassle of reserving it, transporting it and learning the ropes wasn’t worth the results (IMHO). Plus, it soaked through my rugs onto my hardwood floors, and I wasn’t happy about it. So, I was skeptical that this little machine would make a difference, even though TikTok and Amazon have tons of Bissell Little Green reviews.

My basement is the dumping ground for old furniture and rugs, so I had plenty of test subjects. I started my cleaning test on a beloved white shag rug with old pet stains. I was excited to try the Bissell on this rug before I called in a professional or tossed it out.

What is the Bissell Little Green Machine?

The Bissell Little Green is a portable carpet and upholstery cleaner. This handy machine has a 48-ounce tank to hold cleaning solutions and a dirty water receptacle. Similar to a wet vacuum, the machine sucks up the liquid as you clean.

The handle has a trigger-activated spray nozzle to release the cleaning solution. And a handy 3-inch soft brush tool snaps into place with the click of a tiny button.

The footprint of this machine is compact, measuring 17 inches by 8 inches, and it’s just under 14 inches tall, so it easily slips into a cabinet when it’s not in use. The carrying handle is strong and substantial for easy transport, and the unit weighs just under 10 pounds when the tanks are empty. Bissell’s Little Green Machine has a 15-foot power cord and a 4-foot hose that accommodates a variety of detachable cleaning tools.

Bissell Little Green Features

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

The Bissell Little Green comes with a 3-inch tool brush, a 32-ounce bottle of Bissell Pet & Stain cleaner and an 8-ounce trial bottle of Spot & Stain cleaner with Febreze.

This machine is ready to go out of the box, except screwing in the hose holder bracket and attaching the tool head. When the job is done, the Bissell Little Green includes a self-cleaning hose tool to keep the machine clean and fresh between uses.

The slim handle doesn’t feel bulky or cumbersome, and the attachment is lighter than my vacuum cleaner attachments, which is helpful for detail work. The Bissell Little Green is perfect for cleaning car upholstery or stairs due to its lightweight and portable design.

The 3-inch brush tool attachment included in the bundle is lightweight and easily snaps into place. The brush is soft yet substantial, with three rows of ½-inch bristles to gently lift out the gunk. Much like an upholstery brush, the soft bristles are gentle on fabrics. As a user, you control the angle and pressure applied to the tool. Outfitted with a clear view edge, the brush tool allows you to monitor the moisture extracted.

It’s easy to fill the tank in the sink. Simply add the Bissell formula to the formula fill line, then add water to the water line. Cleaning takes less water than I imagined, and an entire tank lasted through several cleaning sessions.

Pro tip: Bissell doesn’t recommend storing the machine with water and formula in the tank.

I Treated Every Stain in My House for This Bissell Little Green Review

While I’m usually pretty careful around my furniture, accidents happen. Like this past Sunday morning. I snuggled on the sofa with a blanket and a monster mug of creamy coffee, and suddenly, my dog leaps to the ready at some passer-by, startling me into spilling the coffee on my brand new Grandin Road sectional. Luckily, the blanket and my sweatshirt took the brunt of the spill. But I was left with four big spots on the cushions and pillow.

Coffee Stain on Sofa

I grabbed a Swedish dishcloth to absorb what I could and ran downstairs to fetch the Bissell Little Green machine. I sprayed the stains with a vengeance. I was about eight inches away from the fabric when I pulled the trigger, which resulted in a wide over-spray area. The sprayer is hard to aim because it’s under the handle. Later, I realized I should have been an inch above the spot I was treating to avoid over-spraying.

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman (2)

As a result of my initial panic, I didn’t take the time to do a spot test in advance. After all, this was an emergency. In the meantime, I sprayed some spot remover on my sweatshirt and returned to the scene of the crime 10 minutes later to finish the job.

As the machine sucks the excess moisture out of the fabric, the stains magically disappear. It’s pretty cool because you can watch liquid bubbling through the clear tool head. I let the machine do its thing until I couldn’t see any more liquid extracted.

Admittedly, I was heavy-handed when spraying the solution on the spots, and it took about eight hours for the spots to dry on the thick foam cushion. The following day, I could still see a faint ring around the treated area, not from the stain but from the over-sprayed detergent. Although faded, the ring is still visible if you know what to look for.

By the way, the stains came out of the sectional but remain on my sweatshirt.

Bissell Little Green Review for Set-in Stains

Overall, I was pleased with the results while removing a fresh spill, but when I tried removing long-standing stains on a few area rugs and runners, I wasn’t as thrilled.

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman (2)

The first test out of the box was on a thick, 3-inch white shag rug with old pet stains. The rug had been banished to the basement five years prior, with the intention of calling in a pro. I used the Bissell Pet Spot & Stain cleaner in the Little Green machine and even treated the stains a second time 48 hours later. The detergent certainly freshened and brightened the rug, but the stains were stubborn. However, I did see a noticeable difference when I worked the detergent through the fibers with the scrub brush. On other stains, I tried a stiffer, longer brush to work through the long thick shag and also treated it with an enzymatic pet stain remover. Unfortunately, the five-year-old stains were set for life.

On other light-colored hallway runners, I spot-treated several mystery stains that were six months old or less. Among these stains were some oily tar-like marks from a repairman’s boots, something sticky, random coffee splatters, ground in muddy paw prints and who knows what else? I was shocked at the black water and embedded dog hair flowing through the machine on these freshly vacuumed rugs. With patience, these stains were lifted, except for the tar-like marks.

What I Learned Using the Bissell Little Green Machine

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

My advice? Get close to the stain, and don’t overspray. The 48-ounce detergent tank is overkill for small messes or spot cleaning, and a little goes a long way. More importantly, I learned to deep clean spills on fibers and for best results, get them when they’re fresh.

Luckily, now that I have the Bissell Little Green machine, it’s convenient to thoroughly clean messes before the stains set in. It’s easy for residue to stay in fibers after simply being blotted or rinsed away. Sticky messes attract more dirt and before you know it, you have a big dark spot.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Lightweight and portable
• Sucks moisture and dirt out of the fibers
• Easy to store
• Long 15-foot power cord for mobility
• Large 48-ounce tank

Cons

• Only Bissell cleaning products are recommended
• Short hose doesn’t swivel at the base
• Loud

FAQ

Does Little Green Bissell work?

If you’re looking for a quick way to thoroughly clean up messes, the Bissell Little Green machine is a good choice. It lets you saturate the fibers, loosen debris with the brush tool, and suck up the extra moisture to protect the fabric. The machine saves time and is easier than scrubbing and blotting. The powerful suction pulls excess moisture out of the fabric to aid in drying time and ensures your upholstery isn’t overly saturated.

Does Bissell Little Green leave couch wet?

I was heavy-handed when spraying a fresh stain on my couch, and it took over eight hours to dry. I learned my lesson and went easy on the spray when I did a quick sweep over a dusty and drab upholstered chair in the basement. The chair was damp to the touch for about an hour. The Bissell Little Green freshened up the old, worn upholstery, but there wasn’t a dramatic contrast once it was cleaned.

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

How long does it take carpet to dry after using Bissell Little Green?

The low-pile polyester carpets that I cleaned felt slightly damp when I was done using the machine, and they dried within an hour. Whereas the thick shag in the cold basement took a few hours to dry.

What Other Bissell Little Green Reviews Say

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

I recently took my dog to the vet and I asked her if she had ever used the Little Green machine. Her eyes widened and she exclaimed, “Oh my God, I couldn’t live without it!” Other Bissell Little Green reviews echo the professional’s sentiments.

Cindi Willette wrote a five-star Bissell Little Green review on Amazon, saying, “Let’s talk about the size of this thing. It’s like a carpet-cleaning sidekick that fits perfectly in your closet, ready to leap into action when spills and stains threaten your home’s dignity. Bissell Little Green is to carpets what Batman is to Gotham—compact, efficient and always ready for a cleanup caper.”

Collin M. also wrote a Bissell Little Green review, giving it five stars on Amazon, writing, “I absolutely love this thing, for certain, it’s simply magic. Super easy to use, there are lines in the clean water tank that show how full to put the cleaning solution vs. clean water, then you simply hook it back into place and flip the machine on. Suction is constant and there is a trigger pull to help spray the fluid or just focus on suction. What’s extra neat as well is there’s a ‘self-cleaning’ nozzle also that simply circulates the clean water through the hose into the dirty tank so you don’t have to take everything apart to clean when you are done.”

Another Five-star user, Mona, says, “I recently bought the Bissell Little Green Pet Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner, and let me tell you, it has been a game changer in our house. With a baby and a pet, you can imagine the kind of messes I deal with daily. This little machine has made cleaning up so much easier.”

Bissell Little Green Product Comparison

As a leader and innovator in the clean-up business, Bissell makes machines that tackle tough messes.

If you’re looking for a heavy-duty carpet cleaner, Bissell has a style, bundle or size to suit your needs. For a few dollars more than the original, grab the Bissell Little Green Pet Deluxein gray or blue. This bundle comes with the 3-inch brush tool, self-cleaning hose attachment, plus, a stain trapper tool, as well as an 8-ounce trial bottle of Pet Oxy Boost and Pet Spot & Stain formula.

Pet owners aren’t the only people who need carpet cleaning tools that can work for multiple surfaces. Similar to the original Bissell Little Green, the portable Little Green Hydrosteam is a multi-tasking machine. Not only does it deep clean carpet and upholstery, but it also includes a hard surface cleaning tool for tile or hardwood floors.

What’s even better is that the HydroSteam adds the deep cleaning power of steam. The Hydrosteam model has three clean settings for more control, in addition to more powerful suction for quicker drying times. The larger tanks make this steam cleaner a little heavier, but the portable profile makes it easy to store and transport.

The Revolution HydroSteam adds a heightened level of deep cleaning to this upright machine with steam. Our editors tested the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam Pet Carpet Cleaner with incredible results. In addition to its easy-to-use upright wheeled design, the HydroSteam has a hose attachment for cleaning upholstery and hard-to-reach places.

To compare other Bissell carpet and upholstery cleaning tools, check out our best Bissell carpet cleaning machine recommendations.

Final Verdict

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

This Little Green machine works great for upholstery and spot-cleaning carpets. I like the lightweight portability and compact footprint of the Little Green machine. Whether you need to clean your car or treat a stain in the middle of your staircase, the 15-foot power cord gives you the flexibility to do it.

I’m confident that the Bissell Little Green machine cleans deeper than my old blotting method or spraying and vacuuming any kind of mess. Luckily, I never noted any scent of soured milk on my sectional, because the Bissell washed it away.

The machine is stable and steady when sitting on the floor. It’s durable and works well to spot clean fresh messes. Plus, it’s user-friendly and simple to operate. The only flaw I found while using this machine for several months, was the 4-foot hose. Honestly, it could use a few more feet to reach the back of a tall chair, upholstered headboard or deep couch. Another downside is that the hose doesn’t swivel at the base, and as a result, I spent a lot of time adjusting the angle of the machine for a comfortable reach. Not a deal-breaker, but worthy of noting just the same.

I’m not a fan of the manufacturer’s recommendation to exclusively use Bissell cleaners in the machine. However, I was pleased that the cleaner was included in the bundle and the bottle should last me a long time.

Noise Levels

As someone who suffers from hearing loss, I found this machine to be annoyingly loud, so I did a noise level check on it. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) app on my phone, the Bissell Little Green scored 82.2 decibels, which is similar to a loud vacuum cleaner. For reference, my vacuum cleaner clocked in at 67.8 dB. According to the Hearing Health Foundation, noise levels above 70 dB will damage hearing over time. The NIOSH considers 85 dB hazardous when exposed to that level eight hours a day, but you’re likely not using the machine that long.

Overall, I was so relieved that I had the Bissell Little Green when I made a mess on my new sectional. It sucked up the stains in minutes. And what was even more rewarding was watching them disappear. If you want to save your furniture and carpet from unsightly stains, this affordable little unit is worth having on hand.

Where to Buy the Bissell Little Green

The Little Green Machine is available on Amazon, Bissell, Wayfair, Walmart, and Target. Pet lovers have looked to Bissell for cleaning solutions for years with a high satisfaction rating. Don’t worry, you don’t have to own a pet to get the cleaning power of the Bissell Little Green because it works on human messes equally well.