We’re long-time fans of the Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner here at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Our experts at the Cleaning Lab first tested it nearly 20 years ago — way before it took TikTok and social media by storm — and we still think it lives up to the hype as one of the best portable carpet cleaners on the market.
So when we heard the news that Bissell launched a smaller and less expensive version, the Little Green Mini ($95), our ears perked up. We got hold of the cleaner and are still in the process of testing it — but don't worry, we'll report back once we've thoroughly evaluated it.
“Bissell’s Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner has always aced our Lab tests, so we’re excited to take the mini version for a spin,” says Cleaning Lab Executive Director Carolyn Forté. “It looks ideal for small homes and apartments. The lightweight and compact design will make it super easy to carry and store and even easier than its big brother to use in the car!”
In fact, the Little Green Mini only weighs 7 pounds (nearly 3 pounds lighter than its full-sized counterpart), so you’ll be able to hold it one-handed as you move from room to room, up and down the stairs — wherever and whenever a stain occurs on your rug or upholstery. I bet its compact size means it’ll be great for maneuvering around my car’s cramped backseat where muddy Crocs, juice-box squirts and animal cracker crumbs meld together to form an unsightly paste that gets stomped into the carpet fibers.
And if you don’t have much closet space, the brand says the Little Green Mini can fit in a cupboard, behind a couch or even under a bed, so it’ll be no big deal to whip it out to zap a stain as soon as it happens. The site doesn't have the exact dimensions of the mini portable carpet cleaner itself, but you get a 4-inch hose, a water tank with a 13.5-ounce capacity and a generous 12-foot long cord (note that this is 3 feet shorter than the original). Being able to store it close at hand also eliminates the hassle of having to lug out a full-sized carpet cleaner, which so often leads me to put off the task for another day.
The Little Green Mini already has a 4.7 star rating on the brand's website, and many reviewers noted its great stain-fighting performance and convenience. "My stubborn dog makes spot cleaning a weekly thing unfortunately! But thanks to this compact cleaner, I can keep it close and on stand by!” says one reviewer.
Our Cleaning Lab is looking forward to seeing how the Little Green Mini’s deep-cleaning suction stands up to the larger model. It’s got a few similar accessories that we love about the original: the Little Green cleaning solution, an easy-to-use 4-inch stain tool and a self-cleaning hose tool that keeps the machine from getting funky between uses. We’ll report back soon with our findings.
Yolanda Wikiel is a freelance writer and editor based in New Jersey, where she lives with her husband, overly energetic toddler and supremely lazy calico. She has covered everything from home, food, and life skills to fashion, travel, and consumer goods for over a decade. Her work has appeared in Parents, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Oprah and Woman’s Day.
