Glossy Shops considers Bissell’s Big Green carpet cleaner the best in its category. One of our writers has a wealth of experience using several home carpet machines and considers Big Green the number one cleaner. After purchasing, and using four home carpet shampooers before Big Green, she was ready to give up. Tired of too-small tanks, terrible suction/extraction, and leaks, our writer set out to find a better home cleaner/steamer.

For those who prefer a quick read, we are providing a short review here. The main review further down is long and in-depth. We realize not everyone has time to read multiple paragraphs. However, it is an outstanding review, so please bookmark and read its entirety when you have time.

Pros:

• Works on the toughest stains – wine, high traffic areas, and pets
• Good brush and suction – both important for stain removal.
• Easy to use right out of the box
• After five years of use, the tank has only leaked two times – and those leaks were minimal
• Larger water and extraction tanks compared to most home carpet cleaners
• Detachable hose with a mini extractor that lets you clean hard-to-reach areas and even automobile interiors
• Big Green sprays cleaning solution evenly into the carpet. Not too much, but very consistent.
• Thick, durable brush head

Cons:

• More expensive than most home carpet cleaners
• Heavy and cumbersome in small spaces
• Not as wide as some commercial steamers
• At the four year mark, replaced flow indicator

 

Bissell’s Big Green dominates the market with this particular model, and Glossy Shops considers it the best home carpet cleaner. Technically, it’s not a steamer. After all, it is intended for home use and doesn’t come with a heater. However, once one adjusts the water temperature while filling the shampoo tank, it produces enough heat to lift tough stains.

 

Big Green effortlessly balances between both home and professional categories. (Even some professional carpet cleaners are not equipped with heaters to produce steam.) We have noticed this steamer used in rotation among several professional carpet cleaning businesses.

From $469.00 on Amazon.com 

 

Tanks: Big Green’s water/shampoo and extraction tanks are larger than most home carpet cleaning units, and that is a plus. More substantial tanks allow you to clean more extensive square footage before dumping dirty water and adding more shampoo solution.

 

Shampoo Distribution: To release shampoo and water mixture, push the button under the handle as you pass over the carpet. For intense stains, you can release the cleaning solution and pass over the spot more than once. Shampoo distribution is even and leaves no leaks. Glossy Shops recommends releasing shampoo/cleaning solution over the first pass and then extract as you pull Big Green back towards you.

 

Extraction: Extraction is one of the most important steps when cleaning, shampooing, or steaming carpets. Extraction occurs when the pre-treatment and cleaning solution(s) is suctioned up from the carpet fibers. Without proper extraction/suction, too much moisture remains, and stains may reappear. Big Green provides excellent extraction, but it’s up to you to do it properly. Merely passing it over one or two times in quick movements is not proper extraction. You have to put effort and work into it, and we won’t lie – extraction is tedious. The slower you pass Big Green over the cleaning solution, the more it extracts.

 

This machine isn’t a light, flimsy home carpet cleaner. Big Green is robust and even feels heavy at times. You notice its weight and power the most when slowly extracting high-traffic and tough stain areas as recommended above. Because this machine is well made and robust, it’s one of the reasons it removes stains, cleans carpets, and receives such high accolades.

 

Don’t waste your money on sub-par (dinkier) carpet cleaners – we found the top one for you. Go with Bissell’s Big Green – it truly is the best home carpet cleaner.

Bissell Big Green In-Depth Review + Thoughts

I’m sitting in my parents’ home staring at their carpet – its hue is nearly white and monochromatic without a pattern. Who in their right mind chooses such a light shade of carpet? It reminds me of an old lady or museum carpet; where you view the room from behind a velvet rope. It’s a carpet that needs protective rugs on top of it in case someone, or a dog, actually wants to enjoy the space. Resting in their living room, taking a deserved break from shampooing the carpet, I bounce between different thoughts as fatigue settles in behind my eyes. Late summer leaves rustle outside as sun rays bounce off the carpet and I drift off thinking how most people are enjoying their Sunday. I know most are not whooping it up cleaning carpets. I’m not sure why I’ve become known as the Keeper of Carpets in my family, but I’ve earned this moniker. Who knows how it began because I have no recollection of vacuuming or polishing floors as a child or teen. (My chores centered around making the nightly salad and helping keep bathrooms clean- not that you needed this info, but there you have it.) I’m the go-to person for stain removal.

For the past decade, I’ve steamed my parents’ carpets and polished their wood floors and furniture. Tedious chores don’t necessarily bother me; however, this particular carpet induces loads of frustration. This specific color of their carpet has riled me up more than a few times. Again, who in their right mind chooses a shade of carpet that is even lighter than off-white? Insanity, I tell you. If I were to pinpoint this carpets exact color, I’d say it’s light eggshell. In theory, eggshell colored carpet sounds appealing. It’s light and lends an airy feeling to a room. Light carpet is neutral enough that it lifts the eye rather than down and sets a calm tone showcasing a room’s furniture and decor. However, it’s a beast to keep clean, especially since it’s not wool. (I’ve long suspected it wasn’t the quality they initially chose and purchased – someone switched before installing.)

Perhaps you are wondering why I steam my parents’ carpets in the first place. After all, they aren’t my white carpets, so why clean them since they could do the job themselves. First of all, I love my parents and would do nearly anything for them. The other reason I do this every year is that I’ve perfected what I think is an outstanding technique, and one I couldn’t do without the perfect carpet cleaner. For my own home, I’ve purchased four different steamers, rented one dirty red monstrosity, and hired a team, all with the hope of dazzling my eyes with sparkling clean carpets. I know what works. 

The only carpet cleaner that has never let me down is Bissell’s Big Green. It’s not perfect, but it removes the toughest stains, and the tank has had only minor leaks. If you have experience cleaning/steaming carpets, you know one of the biggest frustrations with home steamers is a leaky tank. There is nothing more frustrating than passing the cleaner over a swath of carpet until it’s clean, and then the tank leaks depositing heavy dark stains.

Amazon Rabbit Hole

Let’s go back nearly five years one humid July. Frustrated by a brand new carpet cleaner that worked ok, but leaked a narrow stream of dark water, I found myself browsing Amazon. At first, I searched professional steamers, but quickly realized they’d be too expensive. What I wanted was a machine that mimicked a professional steamer, but for home use. I also steered away from any cleaner that used a plastic bag for water storage. (Those jelly-like bags are the worst offenders!) From thin, sleekly designed steamers to old-fashioned models used in hotels, there was an overwhelming amount of choices to tread through. Deciding on a better method, I refined the options based on reviews. (This was before many fake reviews flooded Amazon.) Across the Internet, reviews are often paid for or made up without the person ever trying the product, but reviews for Big Green seemed genuine. As I do with many purchases, I turned to other sites such as Youtube for more comments and demonstrations. After watching several videos, consider my arm twisted. The purchase price was tough, but at the same time, I felt confident that I’d made the right choice.

Not All Carpet Cleaners are Equal

Those who shampoo/steam/clean carpets understand that not all machines are the same. Home steamers are especially weak. As consumers, we know costlier products do not always equate better performance, but as far as carpet cleaners, I’ve found the opposite to be true. The most expensive carpet cleaning machine I purchased worked the best. Had I bought Big Green first, my bank account and I would be happier. Even though they are budget-friendly, most home steamers do not lift intense stains. Most home carpet cleaners don’t come equipped with heat, suction is sub-par, and they usually leak. Shampooing carpets is frustrating enough; but when you are nearly finished cleaning a large-ish room and the feeling of accomplishment sets in, everything comes crashing down when the machine leaks on the last lap. A leaky machine has caused me to nearly rip carpets from the floorboards more times than I care to admit – it’s worse than defeat. (Leaky cleaners don’t want you to win.)

Another essential aspect of stain-free carpets is the cleaner’s suction. Most home machines do not adequately extract moisture and spot treatment from carpet fibers. Mose home machines come equipped with extraction plates that are too wide, so there isn’t enough forced air to properly remove moisture. Also, many home steamers are manufactured as a vacuum steamer combo. Again, this sort of machine will not properly remove severe stains and debris. In theory, it sounds good, but never purchase any kind of carpet shampooer that doubles as another cleaning device. For serious carpet cleaning and stain removal, it’s a must for the machine to do only one task.

Big Green Works

Immediately out of the box, before its first test run, I knew Big Green would be with me for the long term. The top reasons ‘I’ve yet to sway from this steamer for five years are threefold: 

Big Green’s brush head makes a difference in stain removal. The machine is equipped with a fantastic water container (no plastic/jelly bag insert!). And third, it has incredible suction. 

Make note, Big Green does not heat water like some commercial steamers. Warm water supply depends on how hot you make the tap water. It’s suggested not to get the water too hot.

If your steamer/cleaner doesn’t correctly remove as much cleaning solution and moisture as possible, stains may not fully lift, or they may reoccur in the future. For deep stains, I make sure to slowly pass Big Green over several times so the suction can take up as much moisture as possible.

Two downsides I notice with every use: weight and width of the machine. I can feel the weight of the machine in my upper arms and legs, but the cleansing results are incredible; especially on a nearly white carpet. When the cleaner is in use with a full tank of water, it’s bulky and hard to move depending on where I’m cleaning. Tight corners are a struggle. Wide-open spaces are easy, but in contained parts of a room, this is not a steamer that quickly turns on a dime. I’m also not a gym buff so that could be part of the problem.

If the base of this machine was broader, it could easily clean more carpet with each pass. However, because of its weight, a wider base would make it even heavier.

Big Green working its magic on my parents’ carpet. It’s hard to push the machine and snap pics.

(Bissell Big Green is a workhorse that also burns calories.)

Take Your Time and Plan Accordingly

Since Big Green doesn’t have a wide base and motor power as some industrial steamers, it’s time consuming steaming a heavily trafficked carpet. I allow myself a block of time to shampoo a room. For instance, my parents’ living room takes longer to clean than their dining room, and I plan accordingly. 

My scheduling strategy looks something like this: I break the two rooms up over two weekends. On a Friday evening after work, I head over to their place to begin prep. I like to tackle the largest room first, so I dive into the living room and remove specific furniture. Next, I vacuum and then apply pretreatment. (More on my favorite spot treatments below.) I know this carpet and its problem areas like a well-read book, so I know exactly where to apply an overnight pretreatment. I recently started using another spot treatment on tough stains that don’t require an overnight application.

The next day is when the fun and sweat begin. I fill Big Green’s tank with warm water (Not hot water. More on that lesson learned later.) Add the required amount of cleaning solution and sometimes (not always) two teaspoons of powdered Borax. Borax adds a subtle, yet noticeable kick, and when I’m working with very light carpets, I need every extra tip that works.

I begin steaming the back part of the room and work my way towards the front. This way, I don’t step on damp carpet. (It sounds obvious, but I want to state where I start in a room for people who have never used a steamer.) As I pass over a section, I don’t rush. I’m deliberately slow when using Bissell’s Big Green machine. 

Slow Movements

There are two reasons I take my time and work in slow motion when passing Big Green forwards and backward. First, the forward pass releases cleaning solution into carpet fibers. (You push a button while moving the machine forward.) If you quickly push the machine while releasing cleaning fluid, it won’t evenly saturate the carpet. Secondly, pulling Big Green back towards you is when it suctions up shampoo and water. A tip to removing stains and steaming carpets is proper and thorough water extraction. Many experts in the carpet and flooring industries believe home steamers and rental units are not powerful enough to extract all of the water from the fibers.

Good professional cleaners have the proper equipment to extract moisture from the carpet, leaving it almost dry. If you do find that your carpet is wet after cleaning, then use fans to help it dry faster before wicking can occur. Should you decided to purchase Big Green, do not quickly pass over the moisture extraction step. Too damp carpets dry unevenly and often cause stains to reoccur days or weeks later. Big Green excels in moisture extraction. However, the passes you make during extraction should be slow. The longer you take with each extraction pass, the more it suctions up water and shampoo.

(Glossy Shops Suggestion: Rent a carpet cleaning machine or hire someone if you don’t want to own a cleaning machine, or you don’t have time and patience to do it yourself. Big Green is the best home carpet cleaner; however, it’s not a machine to use hastily or if you are in a rush. We can’t stress enough – moisture extraction is incredibly vital for clean, stain-free carpets.)

Extraction

Let’s go back to extraction/suction for a steaming minute. Moisture removal is one of the most critical steps in cleaning and stain removal. 

Those with experience using standard, home carpet cleaners will relate to this scenario: First, you spray pretreatment to stains before steaming. Let it sit for 15 minutes or longer. Next, you prepare steamer with water and cleaning solution. So far, all is good. Right? Eager for clean, sparkling results, you begin passing the machine over small amounts of carpet. As you work across the room, it looks like you are removing stains and built-in grime. The carpet starts to look uniform and clean. Finally, you are finished steaming the room and stand back to take in your work. But you left the carpet cleaner in the middle of the room, and it starts to leak.

It’s the sort of leak that produces lots of swearing. You watch as water droplets create new stains – almost black. You emptied the dirty water, so the inky leak is more than surprising. After several years and different machines, you begin to realize the curse of most home carpet steamers. That jelly bag holding the water? Fuggetaboutit. The poor suction and extraction? Fuggetaboutit.

There are two main points concerning most home carpet cleaners: 1.) They leak without warning. 2.) Home steamers do not extract water and cleaning solution properly.

Extraction is hugely important when choosing the best carpet cleaner. The machine deposits a mixture of water and cleaning solution. (Some home shampooers only deposit cleaning solution separate from the main water tank.) If the cleaning solution is not correctly extracted, two things may occur: You are left with stains not successfully lifted and sometimes even watermarks are left behind. For novices, the final passes, when cleaning/steaming, are when you extract water/moisture. Extraction is arguably the most crucial step. Without proper moisture extraction, sticky cleaning solution sometimes remains on the carpet fibers, which later attracts more dirt. 

This is what I consider a quick pass extraction. I’d already slowly extracted several times before, but I couldn’t film it since I needed one hand to hold the phone.

Let’s go back to the scenario mentioned above after cleaning up the leak. With the charcoal leak spots removed, you step back to admire your work – it looks nice when still damp. A day later, you realize that the dampness covered a multitude of sins. With the carpet nearly dry, you begin to notice recurring stains. Sure, they are lighter after steaming, but they are still there.

Poor extraction leads to wicking and stains that reappear – even after cleaning. (Wicking and leftover residue are two main reasons stains reappear.) The first time using Big Green, I was floored by its extraction.

Glossy Shops recommends extracting moisture until carpet fibers feel about 88 percent dry.

Wicking

What is wicking? It’s when stains resurface because they originated below the carpet fibers. The original stain traveled deeper into the carpet, backing, and, padding compared to surface stains.

Since these types of stains are extensive and stubborn, they may take more moisture when steaming; especially during the rinsing phase. Once the water reaches deeper behind the carpet fibers, it mixes with the stains and becomes splotchy and dirty. When wicking occurs, spots usually reappear because not all moisture was adequately extracted.  

If spots and stains reappear after the carpet dries, wicking is most likely to blame. Wicking occurs when over-wetting the carpet, backer, and pad.

When using Big Green, I’m careful to take several slow passes over the area I’m working on to make sure I extract as much moisture as possible. The machine lets you see the moisture as it’s sucked up and deposited in the dirty water tank. I pass over until I sill no moisture coming up through the machine.

Residue

Residue is a culprit with some stains not lifting or reappearing. Stains due to residue originate in the carpet fibers. Residue stains are not as deep as those found below carpet fibers. Soap, shampoo, and other cleaning agents left behind during shampooing cause residue stains. Because shampoo and spot treatments are sticky, they attract dirt and dust. Every time someone walks on the carpet, soil, and dirt from their shoes will stick to the carpet fibers.

Residue stains on newly shampooed carpets are due to excessive shampoo. To avoid residue marks, thoroughly extract all shampoo properly from the carpet.

We found this excellent explanation online concerning extraction, wicking, and residue:

“Without proper extraction, you’re loading an already filthy carpet with detergent that later gets STICKY and attracts more dirt. If you deposit water and soap only, everything seeps further into the carpet pad and the minute it dries it wicks back up. 

Extraction, extraction, extraction. Glossy Shops will harp on extraction as long as we have to – and then some. Most home carpet cleaners are not manufactured with top of the line extraction – Big Green delivers with incredible extraction.

P.S. Please consider supporting our small, review-loving team by clicking our links before shopping or checking out at your favorite online retailers like Amazon. We truly appreciate your support!

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by sally

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