Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner Review
Boring but brilliant, and it earns its closet space the first time a pet gets sick on the rug.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Verdict: Karen Verified
Karen VerifiedThe short answer: A small, loud, slightly ugly machine that lifts stains a spray bottle cannot. It earns its closet space the first time a pet is sick on the rug.
- Buy it if
- Pet owners, parents, car owners, and anyone with upholstery they cannot throw in a washer.
- Skip it if
- You have no carpet, no upholstery, no car and no kids. Then, fairly, what would you clean?
- Best feature
- Real suction and a spray-and-scrub tool that lifts stains a spray bottle cannot, in a machine small enough to live under a sink.
- Biggest annoyance
- Loud, the tanks are small, and the hose can smell if you store it wet.
- The catch
- You will need to keep buying Bissell's formula or find an alternative, and the dirty tank needs rinsing after every single use or it gets grim.
- Evaluation
- In use for years
- Model
- Bissell 1400B
The 20-second verdict
Boring but brilliant, and it earns its closet space the first time a pet gets sick on the rug. A small, loud, slightly ugly machine that lifts stains a spray bottle cannot. It earns its closet space the first time a pet is sick on the rug. Best for: Pet owners, parents, car owners, and anyone with upholstery they cannot throw in a washer. Skip if: You have no carpet, no upholstery, no car and no kids. Then, fairly, what would you clean?
What we loved, and what annoyed us
What we loved
- Real suction pulls dirty water out of upholstery and carpet
- Small enough to live under a sink
- Works on car interiors
- Cheap to buy and to keep
What annoyed us
- Loud
- Small tanks mean refilling on big jobs
- Hose can smell if stored wet
- Needs Bissell (or compatible) formula
What We Loved
Dog accidents, coffee on the couch, a child's juice on a car seat — it has handled all of them. Spray, scrub, suck, and the stain is gone rather than pushed around. The tools are simple and the clean tank is easy to fill.
What Annoyed Us
It is loud. The dirty tank is small and must be rinsed after every use or it gets grim. The hose holds a little water and will smell if you coil it wet.
The Catch
You will keep buying formula, and you must rinse the dirty tank every single time. Skip that once and you will understand why.
Who it is for
- Pet owners
- Parents
- Anyone with upholstery or car seats
Who should skip it
- Homes with no carpet, no upholstery and no car
How we evaluated it
- Evaluation period
- Years
- Where
- Home and car
- What we did with it
- Pet stains, food and drink stains, car seats, stair carpet
- Compared against
- Spray-and-blot; a full-size carpet cleaner
- What we looked at
- Stain removal, drying time, cleanup effort
- Limitations
- None significant
- Product source
- Purchased at retail
- Dates
- Ongoing
Read how we evaluate products and our editorial standards.
Performance
Very good on fresh stains, good on old ones with a second pass. It leaves fabric damp, not wet.
Ease of use, design, and build quality
Ease of use
Fill, plug in, spray, scrub, vacuum. The trigger sprays; the tool sucks.
Design and build quality
Plastic, functional, sturdy. Tools and hoses are replaceable.
Privacy and connectivity
None applicable.
Safety notes
Nothing notable.
Cleaning, maintenance, and ongoing costs
Rinse both tanks and the hose after use; leave the dirty tank open to dry.
What it keeps costing you
| Consumables | Cleaning formula |
|---|---|
| Replacement parts | Tools, hose, tanks available |
Value
Excellent. It costs less than one professional upholstery clean.
Alternatives
A full-size Bissell or Hoover carpet cleaner for whole-room jobs.
Also in Home
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Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum
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Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E
The cheaper one is better — for most floors, most people, most of the time.
Specifications
| Brand / model | Bissell 1400B |
|---|---|
| Tank | 48 oz clean tank |
| Cord | 15 ft |
| Hose | 4 ft |
| Tools | 3-inch tough stain tool, HydroRinse tool |
| Weight | About 9.6 lb |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
Only specifications that affect the buying decision are listed. Figures marked “manufacturer states” are the maker's claims, not our measurements.
Warranty and returns
One-year limited warranty from Bissell.
Reader questions
Does it work on car seats?
Final verdict
Verdict: Karen Verified
Karen VerifiedKaren Verified. Ugly, loud, and the reason the couch survived the dog.
- Best for
- Pet owners, parents, car owners, and anyone with upholstery they cannot throw in a washer.
- Skip if
- You have no carpet, no upholstery, no car and no kids. Then, fairly, what would you clean?
- Main strength
- Real suction and a spray-and-scrub tool that lifts stains a spray bottle cannot, in a machine small enough to live under a sink.
- Main weakness
- Loud, the tanks are small, and the hose can smell if you store it wet.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Update and correction history
- Routine re-check.Why: Routine.Verdict unchanged
- Published.Why: Initial evaluation.Verdict unchanged
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