How to Use the Bissell Little Green Machine to Rid Your Home of Dirt

Patricia Shannon is an experienced lifestyle writer specializing in home, decor, garden, and news content with over a decade of writing experience. Patricia worked as a lifestyle editor for over a decade before embarking on her freelance writing career. In addition to contributing to The Spruce, she also works with publications like Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, and Coastal Living.

Becky Rapinchuk is a natural cleaning expert, home-keeping expert, and founder of the lifestyle brand, Clean Mama. She has published 4 best-selling books on cleaning.

The Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner has quickly become a mainstay household cleaning appliance—and for good reason. Weighing under 10 pounds and with dimensions that make it easy to tuck within a lower cabinet or stow on a closet shelf, this small and mighty machine might change the way you clean.

The Bissell Little Green is loved for its price point, effectiveness, and ease of use, but to make the most of its benefits, you need to be aware of all it has to offer. Keep reading to learn everything about The Bissell Little Green including how to assemble it, how to use it, how to clean it, and all of its special features.

Assembly

Initial Setup

1. Attach the flex hose clip to the opening on the front of the machine by sliding it into place. You’ll know it’s secure when you hear a snap.
2. Slide the lower plate onto the opening on the back of the Little Green (be sure to line up the screw holes) and insert the screw. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver and tighten it into place.
3. To secure the flex hose, wrap it around the machine and place the grip into the bracket. Lock it into place by turning the bracket clockwise.
   

Filling the Clean Water/Solution Tank

1. Lift the tank straight up and away from the machine to remove it.
2. Locate the black cap at the bottom of the tank and unscrew it.
3. Use the fill lines to ensure you add the right amount of hot tap water (no hotter than 140 degrees Fahrenheit) and cleaning solution. (You can also use one ounce of Bissell Boost for the toughest stains.)
4. Place the tank back on the machine by using the vertical guides on the left side of the Little Green to slide it back into position.
   

Tip

Bissell advises only using Bissell Cleaning Solution for the machine. Other formulas, both homemade and store-bought, could damage the machine. It will also subsequently void the product’s limited one-year warranty.

Breakdown of Features

Totable Design

If you need to clean all the carpets in your 3,000-square-foot home, the Little Green probably isn’t the tool for the job. But for pet messes, upholstery cleanup, and even car care, its compact size makes it easy to bring along.

Large Collection Tank

While the machine is relatively trim, its 48-oz. tank takes up a bulk of the real estate, ensuring you aren’t running to the sink for a refill more often than not.

Several Included Tools and Cleaning Solution

Each Little Green comes with a HydroRinse self-cleaning hose tool designed to clean out the machine’s hose after every use, a 3-inch Tough Stain Tool that sprays and suctions out hard-to-treat messes, and a trial-size bottle of Spot & Stain with Febreze Freshness.

How to Use the Little Green on Upholstery

Before cleaning upholstery, read the care label to ensure the stuffing won’t bleed through the fabric once wet. This may be a problem for items that utilize colored stuffing. Follow the directions above for filling the clean water/solution tank.

1. Attach the 3-inch Tough Stain Tool to the hose. Place the unit in a place where it will not have to be moved once in use. Plug it in and turn it on using the power button below the handle.
2. Place the tool 1 inch above the area you will be cleaning and press the spray trigger to apply a mist of the solution. Let go of the trigger and scrub the spot gently. The suction starts working when you apply pressure to the tool in a downward fashion as you gradually pull it toward you.
3. Repeat the suction until no more dirt or solution is coming up. To pull out excess moisture, use drying strokes by not pressing the spray trigger as you pull back.

How to Use the Little Green on Carpet

The Little Green isn’t designed to clean an entire room (or house, for that matter) with wall-to-wall carpet, but it can be an effective tool for spot-cleaning spills, stains, and pet messes—whether in the home or the car.

1. To spot clean carpet, start by utilizing the process described in the Assembly section above to fill the clean water tank and place it back on the unit. Once you’ve released the flex hose and your machine is situated properly, plug it in and turn it on.
2. Hold the 3-inch Tough Stain tool 1 inch over the area you wish to clean and release a mist of the solution by pressing the trigger. Release the trigger then begin gently scrubbing using the bristled section of the attachment. Press down on the tool and gently pull it toward you to suction out the stain and solution.
3. Keep repeating until nothing else is lifted. Use drying strokes to remove leftover moisture.

How to Remove Stains

The trick for removing stains with the Little Green is pretreating the area. That means misting the solution on the soiled area by holding the tool an inch over the stain and then letting it sit for 3 to 5 minutes. This simple step can help treat stains more effectively than going at it without the initial solution soak-in.

Tip

You might also opt to purchase the Powered TurboBrush Hand Tool for carpet cleaners if you feel the included 3-inch Tough Stain Brush isn’t up for the job.

Cleaning and Caring for the Machine

After each use, the collection tank should be removed, emptied, and rinsed. If you still have a good bit of water and solution in the clean tank, you can store it with liquid still inside, otherwise, empty and rinse.

Disconnect the cleaning tool by pressing down on the button lock and pulling it off without twisting. The tools can be rinsed with running water to remove any dirt and debris. Use a soft-bristled brush to remove any remaining or accumulated dirt in the spray nozzle. You can also suction up a bowl of clean water using the tools and hose before storing to make sure there’s nothing left behind. Finally, wipe the unit down with a microfiber cloth.

Once your machine is properly cleaned, it’s time to prep for storage. Secure the power cord using the cord wrap on the back of the machine before securing the flex hose and spray trigger into place. If possible, it’s best to store it inside. If that’s not an option, make sure it’s in a dry location that doesn’t see temperatures below 40 degrees and/or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the manufacturer's website, you should use warm tap water (140 degrees F max) to get the best clean. Using water that is too hot can ruin the water tank, which can affect the machine's performance.

The amount of formula depends on the size of the area you are cleaning. For example, a smaller area that uses 14 ounces of water will require 2 ounces of formula, versus a larger area that uses 28 ounces of water and 4 ounces of formula.