Let's hope the Little Green is a precursor to greater models. I have owned a larger model Bissell for nearly 2 decades and am fully aware of its reputation for getting things clean. I decided I wanted a smaller, more portable model for my car, the stairs, furniture, and small stains due to people and pets. This way I would only have to lug out the larger model for the large jobs like the carpeting, which is truly a once in a blue moon event. With a little vigorous scrubbing and chemical solutions, virtually any stain is a thing of the past, however I have come to realize certain design characteristics could be better.
When I clean the stairs, I can't keep the unit more or less than two stairs away at all times. A step closer and it's too close to my cleaning area. A step down and the hose just won't allow me to reach. If only the hose could be a little longer it would help immensely. I also find the base of the unit hovers over the edge by a couple inches, which doesn't challenge its center of gravity, but a single unfortunate move could cause it to topple so it's good to pay attention to everything around you. Considering the shortness of the hose, it would've been nice if it could pivot or have free-range flexibility where it connects to the unit.
The sprayer doesn't just spray the immediate area being cleaned; it fans out by several inches to either side. When I try to clean a small area, the last thing I want is to have excess moisture to eventually remove. Let's face it all material retains some moisture even after vacuuming with "drying strokes." This increases the drying time and consumes more solution than needed which is wasteful.
The vessel for mixing the solution with water is clearly marked, however it's capacity is fairly small so after about 10 minutes of solid use, such as the stairs or furniture, I need to go mix some more. That in itself is not a problem so much as it's a bit of a drag to interrupt one's flow of progress to go mix more cleaning solution. I have yet to be challenged with emptying the collection vessel before my task is complete so I would say it is a fair size, yet I am astonished that the liquid I collect is far less proportionate to the liquid spent, i.e. for every tub of cleaning solution used, I only retrieve about a quarter, if that much. That means a lot of moisture is still soaked into what I've cleaned and The drying time is considerable (5-8 hours for a mattress), while less absorbent things such as the stairs only need and hour or two at best. One can cut down on how much cleaning solution is used by spending a little time pre-treating the designated area once or twice before cleaning.
Another design flaw that caught my attention is the lack of a handle. this may sound silly to some: it's a big tube, grab it anywhere. However I am 34 and have had arthritis for over a decade already. After about 10-15 minutes of use, my hands hurt because I can't get a proper grip. I've tried holding it various ways to no avail. I wish it was easier to grab. I am glad most of my cleaning tasks are done in that amount of time or I would be ready to call it quits.
On the whole, this unit is great. It is easy to use and easy to clean. It is also convenient to stow away almost anywhere. I feel the power cord is an appreciable length. I also feel most people would love it. Bissell makes reliable products that last and last, however I feel the folks at Bissell's research and development department could have spent a little more time developing the design of the Little Green. Whomever tested the prototype couldn't possibly have used it in a home environment, which is unfortunate because it leaves avid consumers, such as myself, to discover all the design flaws. After all, this unit is supposed to make life's little cleanup tasks considerably easier. Would I recommend it? Most likely, I would.
