When it comes to tackling unexpected spills and stains on your beloved furniture, a reliable Furniture Shampooer is a must-have. The Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner 1400B stands out as a top contender for those looking for a portable and effective solution. While primarily marketed as a carpet cleaner, its compact design and powerful suction make it an excellent furniture shampooer for spot cleaning upholstery and smaller areas. After rigorous testing, we found the Bissell Little Green to be a dependable tool for quickly addressing messes on sofas, chairs, and other upholstered furniture, though it comes with a few considerations.
The Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner 1400B, our pick for the best portable carpet cleaner.
Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter. A top pick portable carpet cleaner which also serves well as a furniture shampooer.
Why the Bissell Little Green Excels as a Furniture Shampooer
The Bissell Little Green 1400B proves its worth as a furniture shampooer due to several key strengths that translate well from carpet cleaning to upholstery care:
Powerful Stain Removal on Furniture
Just like it performs admirably on carpets, the Bissell Little Green boasts impressive cleaning power on furniture. In our tests, it effectively lifted a range of common household stains from upholstery, including spills from Nutella, peanut butter, caramel syrup, and even tracked-in dirt. While tougher stains like red wine and coffee presented a challenge (as with most portable cleaners), the Little Green still managed to noticeably lighten them, making them less visible, especially on darker or patterned fabrics. For furniture that endures daily life – from food mishaps to pet accidents – this furniture shampooer offers a significant advantage in maintaining a clean and fresh look. One of our team members even recounted successfully removing old cat vomit stains and years of accumulated grime from car seats using this machine, highlighting its ability to tackle both fresh and set-in messes on various furniture types.
The brush attachment for the Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner 1400B.
Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter. The Bissell Little Green comes with a brush attachment suitable for scrubbing furniture upholstery.
Easy to Use and Clean – Essential for Quick Furniture Spot Cleaning
For quick furniture stain removal, ease of use is paramount. The Bissell Little Green scores high in this area. Its straightforward operation means you can quickly grab it to deal with spills as they happen, preventing stains from setting in. Furthermore, cleaning the machine itself is designed to be hassle-free. Bissell includes the HydroRinse Self Cleaning Tool, which allows you to easily flush out the hose and machine after each use. This is crucial for preventing residue buildup and unpleasant odors, ensuring your furniture shampooer is always ready for the next cleaning task.
A person holding the hose of the Little Green 1400B with the Self-Cleaning Tool attached.
Sabine Heinlein/NYT Wirecutter. The self-cleaning tool of the Bissell Little Green makes maintenance easy after shampooing furniture.
Portable and Lightweight for Maneuvering Around Furniture
Weighing in at under 10 pounds, the Bissell Little Green is remarkably lightweight compared to other furniture shampooers. This portability is a major benefit when cleaning furniture. You can easily move it around sofas, chairs, and even car interiors without strain. Its compact size also makes it convenient to store when not in use, a valuable feature for those with limited storage space.
Reliable and Backed by Excellent Customer Support
Reliability is key for any cleaning appliance. The Bissell Little Green has a strong reputation for durability, with many users reporting years of dependable service. Its high rating on platforms like Amazon, with thousands of positive reviews, further attests to its reliability. Moreover, Bissell’s customer service is readily available via text, email, or chat. Our own experience contacting their customer service for a missing part was met with a prompt and helpful response, reinforcing their commitment to customer satisfaction. This peace of mind is important when investing in a furniture shampooer, knowing that support is easily accessible if needed.
Drawbacks to Consider When Using as a Furniture Shampooer
While the Bissell Little Green is a strong contender as a furniture shampooer, there are a few minor drawbacks to keep in mind:
Small Tank Size May Require Refills for Larger Furniture Pieces
The compact design, while beneficial for portability, results in smaller tank capacities. For spot cleaning, this is usually sufficient. However, if you plan to shampoo larger furniture items or entire sofas, you may need to refill the water and cleaning solution tanks more frequently. This isn’t a major issue for typical spot cleaning but is something to consider for larger furniture cleaning tasks.
Basic Brush Attachment May Require More Manual Effort
The Bissell Little Green comes with a single, 3-inch brush attachment. While effective for general cleaning, it requires more manual scrubbing compared to furniture shampooers with larger or specialized brush heads. For heavily soiled areas or larger stains on furniture, you might need to put in a bit more elbow grease. While sufficient for most spot cleaning needs, those tackling frequent or large furniture messes might consider the Bissell Little Green Pet Pro model, which includes a larger brush.
Hose Rigidity and Clunkiness Can Be Slightly Awkward
Although lightweight, the Bissell Little Green is slightly bulkier than some other portable cleaners, and its hose is less flexible. This can make maneuvering around tight corners and crevices of furniture a little less graceful. While not a deal-breaker, it’s a minor inconvenience to be aware of, especially when cleaning more intricately designed furniture.
The left tank of the Little Green 1400B detached and rested in front of the body.
Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter. The tanks of the Bissell Little Green, while functional, have a rounded bottom design.
Conclusion: A Highly Recommended Furniture Shampooer for Spot Cleaning
Overall, the Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner 1400B is an excellent choice as a furniture shampooer, particularly for spot cleaning. Its powerful stain removal, ease of use, portability, and reliability make it a standout option for tackling everyday furniture messes. While the smaller tank and basic brush might require slight adjustments for larger cleaning tasks, its strengths far outweigh its minor drawbacks for most users needing a dependable and effective furniture spot cleaner. If you’re seeking a furniture shampooer to quickly and efficiently address spills and stains, the Bissell Little Green is a highly recommended tool to keep your upholstery looking its best.
