We Tested the Bissell Little Green Machine—Here’s Our Honest Review
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive commission for purchases made through these links. Price at time of publish date may change.
Keeping your home organized is hard enough, but staying on top of deep cleaning fabric-based items like couches, carpets, and more? Forget about it. It’s a pain to pay a pro to do it, not to mention expensive. But if you want those high-ticket items to stay beautiful for years to come, it’s also a must. That’s where Bissell’s Little Green cleaner comes in.
I’ve heard about this machine for years now but never got around to trying it. However, I moved recently, and I promised myself that I would invest in keeping things very clean from the get-go. That included my couch and new area rugs, because as someone with pets (and a small apartment where my couch is also my dining table), I know how dirty some of my furniture and decor can get… And all the pet hair removers in the world can’t save it. So, I decided to go for it and get the Little Green to see if it lived up to the hype. Short answer: Yes. But keep reading for my official Bissell Little Green review.
First: Here’s What I Bought
Pros
- Gets out tons of dirt and debris
- Easy to use
- Under $120 and goes on sale often
- Good for pets
Cons
- Requires drying time
- Formula bottles are 32 ounces, so could need to repurchase often depending on usage
- Machine needs a decent amount of storage space
Quick Little Green Review
- It’s worth it!
Update: Bissell Little Green Review After One Year
I’ve had the Bissell Little Green for about a year now and can confidently say that my review remains the same. In fact, now that I’ve used it more times, I find it an even faster process because I know what I’m doing and how to work the machine.
I do have one bone to pick: I’m dealing with a lot of pet hair. And while it’s well worth it for my four-legged BFFs, that means the Little Green is picking up a generous amount, even when I’ve pre-vacuumed. Because of that, the suction brush tool has gotten a little backed up with hair. I do my best to clean it out after each use, but I can never get it quite perfect. I’m nitpicking at this point, but wanted to mention for my fellow animal lovers.
That being said, I’m still getting a horrifying amount of dirt out of my surfaces every time I plug in the Bissell Little Green machine. The quality level remains the same and I actually haven’t had to purchase the formula more than once because it goes such a long way. When I originally started, I may have been using too much, but still maintain that it comes down to how frequently you use it.
In closing: If you’re on the fence, get it! The Bissell Little Green machine is a tough cookie.
How to Use the Bissell Little Green
The Bissell Little Green instructions are pretty simple. First, pick a formula. There are a few to choose from: I’ve tried the pet formula and the Spot & Stain with Febreze, both with the same results, as far as I could tell. Then, you mix the formula with warm water and attach one of its tools (for me, it’s usually the standard suction brush it comes with). After that, you turn it on, use the spray trigger to apply the formula, and use the brush to suction everything up. When you’re finished, all the gross gunk will be in its own tank, which you can empty out. One quick note is that you’ll want to build in a few hours for whatever you’re cleaning to dry, as it will get wet from the formula.
What is the Bissell Little Green for?
Bissell states that the Little Green can work on carpet, stairs, upholstery, rugs, auto interiors, and more. But, as with anything that requires a wet formula, you should always check your items’ cleaning instructions first. And be sure to test the Little Green out on a small section of the furnishing to ensure it dries correctly before you tackle the entire thing.
For reference, I’ve used the Little Green on my navy velvet couch and my white and pink Ruggable rug (which is made from polyester with a polyurethane water-resistant barrier). I haven’t had issues with either, however the rug needed a second pass to get out some lingering dirt that was brought to the surface after I used the Little Green on it the first time. Gross, I know!
New Deals Drop Every Week. Don’t Miss Out!
Our Ultimate Home Deals page tracks the best sales in fall decor, furniture, kitchenware, and more—updated weekly.
Can Bissell Little Green be used as a vacuum?
While it does suck up some debris as it goes, I always use a regular vacuum or hand vacuum first to get rid of the pet hair and other unmentionables that are hiding in plain sight. (Here’s a list of our editors’ favorite vacuums, by the way.) The Little Green is more about a deep clean versus your normal maintenance and I found it works better if there’s less going on between its suction brush and the actual item.
So be honest: Is the Little Green machine worth it?
For me, absolutely. I’ve used it multiple times now, and each time I have emptied out extremely dirty water, proving that, yes, I needed that deep clean. You just can’t fake those results! My couch and rugs also looked better and smelled amazing afterwards, as well. While it does take an investment in time—you do have to wait for the material to dry and diligently vacuum beforehand—I think it’s a tool well worth having in my arsenal. It’s a great way to maintain your high-priced items and ensure they last (and don’t look dingy) for years to come.
More Bissell Little Green Reviews
Need more opinions outside of just me? Don’t worry, I get it. Here are some top reviews from other folks on the internet:
“Would give this 10 stars if I could…I’m still giddy about how well this machine worked.” (Read the full review here.)
“I was hesitant to buy the Bissell Little Green. I’d read reviews mentioning the small tank capacity, and I figured it wouldn’t be powerful enough for serious messes. I was wrong! This little machine is a stain-fighting BEAST.” (Read the full review here.)
“I have three cats and a dog. So, I need an easy way to cleanup the carpets and/or furniture. This works perfectly and is easy to use.” (Read the full review here.)
“I’m actually shocked at how good this cleans! I bought it for my daughter as a Christmas present and she loves it! She cleans up her dogs messes and her car seats.” (Read the full review here.)
Are there other models of the Bissell Little Green?
Yes! While I have not personally tested them, there are several other models that Bissell makes, including the Little Green Pet Pro, the Little Green Pro Heat, the Little Green Hydrosteam, the Little Green Mini, and the Little Green Max. These all vary in size and features, but one thing is the same across the board: They all have thousands of positive reviews touting the machines’ abilities. We broke down some high-level info about the different variations so you can find the option that’s perfect for your needs, whether that’s for pets, steam cleaning, small spaces, or anything in between.
Bissell Little Green Pet Deluxe
Think of the Pet Deluxe like the original Little Green, but designed specifically for houses with pets. This model comes with everything you need to tackle your worst problems, like a 48-ounce tank, two stain tools, a self-cleaning hose tool, and two trial-size formulas, all ready to return your upholstery to its intended state.
Bissell Little Green Pet Pro
This is the grown-up version of the Pet Deluxe. It has a self-cleaning tough stain tool, a specialized pet hair removal tool, a spraying crevice tool, and of course the Pet Pro Oxy Spot & Stain formula. It also has an extra-large tank capacity at 64 ounces, ideal for larger homes with multiple pets.
Little Green Max
You might think of this as the mini version of the Little Green Pet offerings. It comes with one less tool than the Pet Pro and Pet Deluxe, and its tank size is 32 ounces. But its superior suction, smaller footprint, and slightly lesser cost make it ideal for renters or those who have smaller items to clean.
Bissell Little Green Proheat
If you have a bigger home or large surfaces you want to deep clean, the Pro Heat might be the right fit for you. The 37-ounce tank is slightly smaller than the original’s 48 ounces, but it still offers all the benefits and then some. Its heatwave technology is designed to maintain a consistent warm water temperature that will help eliminate grime, dirt, and stains.
Bissell Little Green Hydrosteam
Those battling tough stains on the regular will find the Hydrosteam an important addition to their cleaning kits. The Hydrosteam has three modes: SteamWash for set-in or oily spills; regular Steam for refreshing upholstery and lifting grime off of tile and grout; and Wash for enzyme-based mishaps like pet accidents. (I imagine the last mode resembles the mode of the original Little Green.) It claims to offer up to 50% better cleaning, and has a 64-ounce tank.
Little Green Mini
It’s everything you love in the original Little Green, but in a smaller package! The Little Green Mini is perfect for renters, and in fact, I probably would have opted for the Mini had I seen it before purchasing my model. The tank is only 16 ounces, which would mean more frequent trips to refill if you’re cleaning a large surface area. But for small-space dwellers, this seems ideal.
Shop the Other Little Green Machine Models
More of Our Best Vacuums Guides
Shop More Editor-Favorite Cleaning Products
Megan Stein
Megan is the Senior Director of Editorial and Content Marketing for DrewandJonathan.com. She has over a decade of experience in the home and lifestyle industry, with previous roles at The Pioneer Woman, Country Living, and People magazine. She loves to inspire readers with beautiful, approachable design ideas, as well tips on how to bring their visions to life. She’s also shopping obsessed, and is dedicated to discovering the best products to make life easier, whether it’s testing a top-rated vacuum or the finding the perfect rug to complete your room.
⚖️ How We Choose What to Recommend
