The viral Bissell Little Green just got a mini makeover! Here’s how it stacks up

Even though I’m a home writer who tests cleaning products for a living, I used to think I could spot-clean without a machine — that a good brush (or microfiber towel) and solution could suffice in most situations. That was, until I tried the internet-famous Bissell Little Green. It’s powerful. It’s compact. It saved my favorite carpet when I thought there was no going back! So when I heard about the Bissell Little Green Mini, an even more portable, yet still very effective, miniature version, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

The Mini costs $95, about $30 less than the standard-size Bissell Little Green. I waited months for this small wonder to become available and then again when it sold out, but now that I have it at home, I’m happy to report that it was worth all the anticipation. Find out how it managed to secure a place in my heart (and a coveted spot in my apartment) in my Bissell Little Green Mini review. Curious about other cool product launches? We’ve got you!

Kristin Granero/Yahoo

At 7 pounds and just over 12 inches wide, the Bissell Little Green is ideal for anyone who lives in an apartment or small home, has limited storage space — or simply wants an easy solution for occasional refreshes and stains. All of the pieces clip onto the machine, and it has a handle for easy carrying. Just secure the hose around the base and wrap the cord along the back when the job is done!

Pros

• Lightweight, so easier than the original Little Green to tote around the house
• Hose and attachments clip on for compact storage
• Under $100

Cons

• Smaller tanks than the original
• Less reach than the original

$95 at Bissell

Bissell Little Green Mini features

The Bissell Little Green Mini “hub” has two tanks (one for clean water and cleaning solution and another for dirty water), a 4-foot hose and a 12-foot power cord. It comes with a 4-inch brush attachment and a cap that “closes” the hose for running a clean cycle (aka clearing out the hose when you’re done).

The hose wraps around the base and the cord around a holder along the back. There’s a power switch for operating and a handle for transporting it.

What I liked: It’s a cinch to carry and use

Like the original Bissell Little Green, the Mini is incredibly easy to assemble and operate: After the initial setup (which consisted of clipping on two pieces, along with a brush attachment), I just filled the “clean” tank with water and the included cleaning solution (there are fill lines for easy measuring) and popped it back into place. I plugged the machine into a nearby outlet, tapped the power button, and it was off to the races!

I was eager to see how the new Mini stacked up to the Bissell Little Green’s cleaning abilities. I put the Mini to the test by … getting pretty reckless. I splashed coffee, syrup and leftover grenadine I found in my pantry onto my light beige carpet. Then I pressed the switch on the back of the cleaner head attachment to distribute some of the cleaning solution, and watched in amazement.

The Mini was able to remove every substance with ease, and I couldn’t get over how lightweight and compact it was. It weighs 7 pounds (versus the original Little Green’s 9.65 pounds) and measures about 13 inches wide (the Little Green is 17.25 inches wide by comparison). Carrying the Mini was as easy as toting around a small purse (I like to think of it as my little cleaning clutch). And it takes up practically no room for storing — it would fit on a standard utility rack, on a shelf in the average linen closet or in a cabinet under a bathroom sink.

What I would change: An extra tool would be nice

As is typical when miniaturizing an item, Bissell had to make some sacrifices when manufacturing a Mini version: To start with the most obvious, the smaller frame cannot support the same tank sizes (and therefore, capacities) as the original. With the “Mini,” you’re looking at a 16-ounce clean-water tank (versus the original Little Green’s 48-ounce tank), which means you may have to refill it when tackling bigger projects, such as refreshing an entire rug or sofa.

The hoses on both Little Green devices are the same length (4 feet). But when I measured the hose from the back of each machine — with brush attachments affixed — the Mini extended about 4.6 feet (as compared to the original device’s 5 feet), so there’s slightly less reach.

The miniature version has a shorter cord, which stretches 12 feet (as opposed to the original’s 15), but it worked for all of my needs. I also tested it to make sure it would stretch across my full flight of stairs when plugged into an outlet at the bottom, and it did. (That said, if you don’t have an outlet nearby, or are using this to clean a car, an extension cord can easily rectify things).

My original Little Green came with a bonus crevice tool, which is one thing I wish the Mini had. I found one pretty cheap for purchase, but it seems like an optimization Bissell could make without affecting the size or weight of its new, smaller version.

The verdict: The Bissell Little Green Mini has earned a permanent place in my apartment

Overall, the new Bissell Little Green Mini lived up to its promises (and my expectations). It’s smaller, cheaper and — if my ears don’t deceive me — slightly quieter than the original, with a slightly wider brush attachment for tackling a larger cleaning path at once. And it gets the job done: Not only did it make coffee, syrup and grenadine vanish in my initial evaluation, but it managed to remove a mystery stain from a white rug (above), plus refresh a white upholstered armchair.

I’d consider the Mini a good bet for anyone with small living and/or storage spaces, or people who need to deal with only the occasional mess. It’s such a solid buy that I decided to give my original Bissell Little Green to my sister, who owns a house with more carpets and furniture, and keep the Mini for my apartment. Good things do come in small packages.

Bissell

Grab one for your home or as a gift for the clean freak in your life. You may also want to consider stashing a Bissell Little Green Mini in the car for messy road trips!

$95 at Bissell

We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.

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