Does Bissell’s Little Green Machine Really Work? We Tried the Viral TikTok Product to Find Out

Updated: Mar. 14, 2024

The Bissell Little Green reviews on TikTok said the cleaning tool was the best—so we put it to the test.

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I’m completely obsessed with finding the best vacuums and stain removers, especially pet vacuums and pet stain removers. I love a clean home and a clean carpet, but I have five young children and two dogs, and, well, stuff happens. I watched the Bissell Little Green reviews show the machine’s virality on TikTok—particularly for getting cat pee and dog poop out of carpet effectively—and was roped in by how effortless it made stain removal seem.

With its built-in spray cleaner and strong suction, it seemed unique from other vacs on the market. So I decided to give it a try to see if it’s strong enough to quickly resolve red wine stains and those awkward mattress stains that come with the parenting territory,

Spoiler alert: It’s everything I’d ever hoped for, rivaling my other favorite cleaning products, The Pink Stuff and the Tineco iFloor vacuum mop combo. It’s so good that it has well over 44,000 perfect five-star Amazon ratings, beating out some of the most popular handheld vacuums and vacuum mop combos. It even got old coffee stains out of my favorite expensive throw rug.

What is the Bissell Little Green machine?

Bissell Little Green Machine a boxCourtesy Bryce Gruber

According to the Bissell Little Green reviews I saw online, the machine is an easy-to-use portable vacuum with a built-in carpet and upholstery cleaner. It’s small enough to be toted easily from room to room, and its various attachments make targeted cleaning simple. The device removes spots and stains from just about every upholstery fabric surface you can think of. It’s even one of the best car vacuums to keep on hand for fabric interiors.

The device boasts a large water tank capacity that holds a whopping 48 ounces of water for easy, continuous spraying. The motor is so strong that its suction can lift old pet stains on furniture and the weird, gunky stuff that’s been caked into your carpets for what seems like forever. Combined with a carpet scraper, you won’t even recognize your clean floors and fabrics. The best part? This amazing little machine is affordable, too.

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Why is the Bissell Little Green viral?

Every so often, a nifty home invention, like the Conair fabric shaver, goes viral on TikTok. This green machine is one of them, racking up over 52.5 million views on the app. The Bissell Little Green reviews were impressive, showing plenty of before and after clips. Hundreds of users demonstrate the machine in action, drawing stubborn dirt, hair and debris from carpets and fabrics.

It’s hard to tear your eyes away from the gross, yet satisfying tank of dirty water that gets magically suctioned from every corner of the couch, carpet, car seats and more. (If you’re dumping the aftermath in the bathtub, you’ll want to clean the tub after.) It’s easy to understand why so many people leave glowing Bissell Little Green reviews, including myself after I gave it a whirl.

@ashley_c__ Maybe i should just buy her a new rug. đŸ«  #fyp #foryoupage #rugrestoration #shagrugcleaning #littlegreenmachine #bissell #bisselllittlegreen ♬ Jackass – TV Theme Players

How we tested it

I put the Bissell Little Green to work on a high-traffic area rug in the den that’s prone to kid-related spills and stains. I also tested it on an antique Turkish kilim rug that suffered an unfortunate pet accident and on the fabric upholstery of an overworked pickup truck. In each scenario, the Little Green Machine worked like a stain-removing dream, taking less than five minutes to fully remove disgusting stains that seemed all too permanent.

The key to getting the machine to work its best is to remove all dirt and debris first (like removing pet hair with a ChomChom roller), and then spritzing the stained areas with a trusted stain-removing agent like Folex Carpet Spot Remover. I allowed the stain remover to soak into both my den’s area rug and the truck’s seats for a good five minutes before using the Bissell Little Green’s water spraying function for further soaking. The dried-in coffee stains lifted almost instantly with the strong suction.

I didn’t use any stain-removing chemicals on my antique, handmade Turkish rug, though. It’s over 200 years old and dyed with natural vegetable pigments that make me fear the strong chemicals of over-the-counter products. Instead, I sprayed the pet urine-soaked portion of my carpet with plenty of warm water and ran the Bissell over it repeatedly until every bit of stain and odor was whisked away. It worked like a charm on my delicate rug, and the color was preserved perfectly.

Bissell Little Green product features

Close up of Little Green Machine brushCourtesy Bryce Gruber

One of the Bissell Little Green’s best features is that it’s as portable as a handheld vacuum. It’s lightweight and small enough that even kids can help out with household chores. The large tank capacity makes cleaning bigger areas a simple task and offers enough stain-fighting power to easily cover all five upholstered seats and floor mats in my family’s extended-cab pickup truck. The spray function is also impressive, cutting down on scrubbing time by allowing stains to briefly soak so the yucky stuff can be sucked up.

The included stain-removing attachments also work well. I reached for the self-cleaning hose attachment time and time again. It makes cleaning most surfaces a sort of fun spectator sport, as you watch the dirty fluid get sucked up in real-time. Gross, but gratifying.

Pros

  • Effectively removes spots and stains from carpets, upholstery, car interiors and other fabric surfaces
  • Large 48-ounce water tank capacity
  • More affordable price than other smart vacuums
  • Eliminates the need for large carpet cleaning machines in most homes
  • 58,000 Amazon ratings and a 4.6-star average
  • Comes with a three-inch tough stain tool, a HydroRinse self-cleaning hose and an eight-ounce spot and stain remover product
  • Weighs less than 10 pounds for easy transportation

Cons

  • Meant for spot cleaning relatively small areas; not ideal for cleaning large areas or commercial spaces
  • Tough stains on synthetic fabrics may require a stain-removing spray or powder (the included stain remover is trial-sized and only lasts for two to three uses)

FAQ

Is the Bissell Little Green good for carpeted stairs?

Yes! Because of its compact size, the machine is ideal for carpeted stairs and other small or hard-to-reach areas with high traffic. For other surfaces, try a steam cleaner for glistening floors (we recommend the Bissell Steam Shot!).

Can the Little Green machine be used on a mattress?

Yes, you can use the machine to clean a mattress. Just make sure you allow your mattress to fully air dry before putting a mattress protector, sheets or other items back on.

Does it come with a floor brush attachment?

No, because the Bissell Little Green machine is better suited for smaller spaces and area rugs than large rooms. To cover larger areas with little to no elbow grease, check out these robot vacuums.

Can you use vinegar in the water tank?

Bissell does not recommend using vinegar in the Little Green machine (along with these other areas unsafe for vinegar), as the acidity can potentially damage its components. However, many reviewers note that if a stain-removing solution is sprayed directly on your focus area and then sucked up in a diluted way, the machine continues to work well.

What other reviewers had to say

“This has made my list of top five Amazon purchases EVER,” writes verified Amazon purchaser Ivy. “I have two Australian shepherds and make extra money by dog sitting. As you can imagine, my couch takes a lot of damage from the constant flow of pups. These cushions have been vomited on, stepped on with muddy paws and licked until damp (I know; disgusting). I had planned to use it as a spot cleaner, but after watching the dirty water come off of the ‘clean’ areas of the cushion? I’m considering just cleaning the whole couch!”

Brittany B., another verified Amazon purchaser, says, “I am absolutely obsessed with this thing. I wish I had more rugs to clean, and if you have pets, this is an absolute must. No spray-on carpet cleaner in the world is going to get your carpet and rugs as clean as something that actually sucks the dirt, spills and stains up and out of the material. It really is that simple. Overall, this thing is amazing, and I would recommend it to literally everyone.”

Final verdict

If you like truly clean carpets and upholstery, the Bissell Little Green is one of the best purchases you can make. It not only soaks and scrubs the stain itself, but sucks away all the dirty water and cleaning fluid immediately after. It’s a satisfying alternative to other cordless vacuums and even robot vacuums.

Fair warning: The addictive nature of this device will have you cleaning things you never expected to clean. Before you know it, a whole hour will go by and all of your car’s upholstery will look factory fresh.

Where to buy the Bissell Little Green

Bissell Little Green Machinevia merchant

Head to Amazon to get your own Bissell Little Green machine, where it has well over 58,000 ratings. It’s also available at Walmart and directly on Bissell’s site.

You’ll want to order yours quickly, though, because every time it goes viral on TikTok, it tends to sell out.

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