Life happens, right? Whether it’s a spilled coffee, a dropped plate of spaghetti, or the inevitable pet accident, stubborn spots and stains on carpets and upholstery are just a part of it. I used to dread these moments, frantically dabbing with paper towels or trying ineffective store-bought sprays that often just spread the mess or left behind a residue. This problem needed a real solution; leaving stains unattended meant they’d set in permanently, potentially ruining furniture or carpets and leading to lingering odors. I knew a more powerful tool was needed, something that could genuinely lift and remove messes rather than just treating the surface. A portable carpet cleaner seemed like the answer I wished I’d had sooner.
What to Consider Before Purchasing a Portable Carpet Cleaner
The core purpose of a portable carpet cleaner is to tackle those unexpected spills, pet messes, and set-in stains on carpets, rugs, upholstery, stairs, and even car interiors that a regular vacuum or mop simply can’t handle. Anyone with pets, young children, or who lives in a small space or apartment with limited storage for larger machines would likely find one incredibly useful. They’re also great for tackling specific areas like staircases or vehicle upholstery that are difficult to reach with full-size cleaners. However, if your primary need is to deep clean entire rooms of wall-to-wall carpeting regularly, a larger, upright carpet cleaner would be a more appropriate investment. Before you buy, think about the types of messes you typically encounter, the surfaces you need to clean, how portable you need the machine to be, the capacity of the tanks (how often you’ll need to refill/empty), whether you want a heating element to aid cleaning, and what tools are included for different tasks.
Introducing the Little Green ProHeat
The Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner, 2513G is a compact, powerful spot cleaner designed to quickly and effectively remove tough spots and stains from various surfaces. Its main promise is permanent stain removal when used with the recommended formulas. When you purchase it, you typically get the main unit, a trial-size bottle of BISSELL’s Professional Spot & Stain + Oxy formula, a 3″ Tough Stain Tool, a 3-in-1 Stair Tool, and the very handy HydroRinse Self-Cleaning Hose Tool. Compared to a full-size carpet cleaner, its purpose is strictly targeted cleaning rather than whole-room jobs. It’s an iteration of the classic “Little Green” model, adding Bissell’s HeatWave Technology, which helps maintain warm water temperature during cleaning, a feature not present on the basic model. This makes the Little Green ProHeat ideal for individuals or families dealing with frequent, localized messes, particularly pet owners, who need a quick, effective cleanup solution. It’s not designed for cleaning an entire house worth of carpet in one go.
Here’s a quick look at its pros and cons:
Pros:
* Highly portable and lightweight design
* HeatWave Technology helps improve cleaning effectiveness
* Excellent suction power for removing liquid and debris
* Effective at tackling tough spots and stains (especially pet messes)
* Includes useful tools like the stair tool and self-cleaning hose attachment
* Easy-to-fill and empty tanks
Cons:
* Small tank capacity requires frequent emptying/refilling on larger jobs
* Hose length can be limiting for some tasks
* Tool storage feels a bit flimsy
* Some users report potential durability issues with the hose over time
Detailed Look at Performance and Design
Having used the Bissell Little Green ProHeat for quite a while now, I’ve gotten a real feel for its capabilities and limitations. Let’s dive into the specifics of how its features actually perform in day-to-day use.
HeatWave Technology
One of the standout features of this model is the inclusion of HeatWave Technology. The machine itself doesn’t heat the water from cold, but it’s designed to help maintain the temperature of the warm water you put in. In my experience, this makes a noticeable difference. Warm water combined with the cleaning formula seems to break down and lift stains far more effectively than cold water alone. It feels like it gives the cleaning solution a little extra boost, particularly on dried-on messes or greasy spots. It’s important to note you still need to add warm tap water to the clean tank, but the machine helps keep it warm as you work, which is a definite plus for getting the best results.
Stain Removal Power
This is where the Bissell Little Green ProHeat truly shines. Its process of spraying the cleaning solution, scrubbing with the brush tool, and then powerful suction is incredibly effective on a wide range of stains. Fresh spills disappear almost instantly. For older, set-in stains, a bit of pre-treatment and letting the solution sit for a few minutes before scrubbing and suctioning makes a big difference. Paired with the right BISSELL formula (like the included Spot & Stain + Oxy), I’ve been able to remove everything from pet accidents and mud tracks to spilled drinks and food stains. The suction power is key; it pulls up a surprising amount of dirty water, which is crucial for truly removing the stain rather than just pushing it around. You can actually see the dirt and grime being sucked up into the dirty water tank, which is both satisfying and proof that it’s working.
Portability & Design
At just 9 pounds, the Little Green ProHeat is genuinely lightweight and easy to carry around. This is a huge benefit when you need to quickly grab it for a spill across the room or lug it up and down stairs. Its compact footprint (16.44″D x 10.75″W x 14″H) means it doesn’t take up much storage space, fitting easily into a cupboard or closet. The design is intuitive – the tanks are clearly marked and separate, one for clean solution and one for dirty water. This grab-and-go convenience is exactly what you need for tackling unexpected messes before they set.
Easy Fill/Empty Tanks
The design of the clean and dirty water tanks is straightforward for the most part. The clean tank has a clear fill line, and the dirty tank is easy to detach and empty into a sink or toilet. Rinsing them out is also simple. However, one minor frustration, echoed by some other users, is getting the rubber gasket on the clean tank lid seated perfectly. It sometimes takes a second attempt to ensure it’s sealed properly before placing it back on the machine. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it can be a little finicky. The clean tank holds 37 oz, which is sufficient for small spots or a few larger areas, but for cleaning something like an entire couch, you will definitely need to refill the clean tank and empty the dirty tank multiple times.
Included Tools
The accessories included with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner, 2513G add significant versatility. The standard 3″ Tough Stain Tool is great for general spot cleaning on flat surfaces. The 3-in-1 Stair Tool is particularly clever; it’s shaped to wrap around the edges of stair treads but also works well on curved furniture edges or tight corners. A feature I truly appreciate is the HydroRinse Self-Cleaning Hose Tool. After cleaning a messy spot, you attach this tool to the end of the hose and hold it over the dirty water tank opening while running the machine with clean water in the other tank. It flushes water through the hose, sucking it back up into the dirty tank, effectively rinsing out residual cleaning solution and debris. This is essential for preventing clogs and odors in the hose itself and keeping the this spot cleaner in good working order. The onboard tool storage is a nice idea, but as others have mentioned, the clip that holds the tools can be a bit loose, and they occasionally fall off during transport.
Hose & Cord Length
The machine features a 4.5-foot hose and a 15-foot power cord. The cord length is generally sufficient for reaching most spots within a room without needing to constantly switch outlets. The hose length is adequate for cleaning spills directly around the machine’s location or reaching down stair treads from the top. However, when trying to clean larger areas like a full-size sofa or reaching into the back of a car interior while the unit sits outside, the 4.5-foot hose can feel a bit restrictive, requiring you to move the machine more frequently.
Hearing from Other Users
I’ve looked around online to see what other people who use this portable carpet cleaner think, and generally, the feedback is quite positive, although a few consistent points come up. Many users praise its effectiveness on pet accidents and tough stains, often calling it a lifesaver for keeping their homes clean with animals or kids. Some mention being influenced by seeing it used effectively on social media and being pleased with its performance on smaller areas like rugs or furniture.
A few users did mention the effort required for cleaning larger rug areas, finding it somewhat strenuous on their arms, and noted that the onboard tool storage doesn’t feel very secure. A couple of reviews specifically highlighted durability issues with the hose, reporting that it became brittle and broke near the handle after relatively light use within a year. One user also found the rubber gasket on the clean tank lid tricky to re-seat properly. Overall, while praised for its cleaning power on spots and convenience, there are occasional concerns raised about the durability of certain components and the ergonomics for more extensive cleaning jobs.
Wrapping Things Up
Dealing with unexpected spills and stubborn stains is a reality for many households, and if not addressed quickly and effectively, these messes can lead to permanent damage, unsightly spots, and unpleasant odors. That’s why having the right tool on hand is so important. The Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner, 2513G is an excellent fit for solving this problem because it’s specifically designed for targeted spot and stain removal. Its portability means you can grab it the moment a mess happens, and the combination of powerful suction, scrubbing action, and HeatWave Technology provides the cleaning power needed to lift tough stains permanently when used with appropriate formulas. Plus, features like the HydroRinse tool make maintaining the machine much easier. To learn more and get your hands on this handy machine, Click here to check out the product.