Your dog pees on the couch or carpet. You clean the spot. The stain looks better but later you can still smell urine.
So can the BISSELL Little Green actually pull the urine out, or does it only make the surface look clean?
The Little Green makes the most sense for a fresh, localized pet accident. It sprays cleaning solution into the fibers and uses suction to pull contaminated liquid back into its dirty-water tank.
The limit is depth. If urine has already reached carpet backing, padding, or deep couch foam, the visible surface may improve while part of the odor source remains below. [1]
BISSELL Little Green® 1400B
Portable spot cleaner for carpet, upholstery, stairs, auto interiors, and recurring pet messes.
Shop BISSELL Little GreenOfficial BISSELL price checked Sep. 3, 2026. Sale prices can change.Will It Remove the Urine Smell, or Just the Visible Stain?
The machine and the urine-cleaning formula do different parts of the job.
The Little Green applies solution and extracts contaminated liquid and excess moisture, while an appropriate pet-urine formula targets the stain and odor left in the fibers. BISSELL lists PET PRO OXY Spot & Stain Urine Eliminator among formulas intended for the Little Green 1400B. [1][2]
Why Can the Smell Come Back After Using the Little Green?
Urine can spread farther than the stain you can see. BISSELL advises cleaning slightly beyond the visible spot and notes that persistent odor can indicate contamination in carpet backing or padding. [1]
These reports do not prove weak suction. They show why odor can remain when urine has moved below the easily extracted surface layer.
Is the Suction Strong Enough to Pull the Dirty Water Back Out?
Yes. Independent testing found useful extraction suction but not instant drying.
HGTV called suction one of the machine’s stronger points. Bob Vila also found it capable of pulling liquid, dirt, and debris into the dirty-water tank, although cleaned surfaces were still somewhat damp afterward. [3][4]
BISSELL says the suction channel should make solid contact with the surface. After spraying and scrubbing, move the tool slowly backward and continue extraction passes until no more water is visibly entering the nozzle. [5]
Drying varies with fabric thickness, solution amount, extraction, and room airflow, so there is no single reliable drying time.
It can pull dirty water back out, but it will not leave every surface bone-dry immediately.
Using It on a Couch? Check This Before You Start
Do not assume that because someone else cleaned a couch with a Little Green, your upholstery can be cleaned the same way.
W or WS codes are the better match for water-based cleaning. If the tag says S, X, Dry Clean Only, is missing, or is unclear, follow the furniture maker’s guidance.
Test a hidden area first. BISSELL also says not to use the Little Green on silk or velvet. [6]
What Pet Owners Are Actually Running Into After Repeated Use
Repeated pet-mess cleaning also means maintaining the tool and dirty-water system.
BISSELL advises emptying and rinsing the dirty-water tank and keeping the machine and tools clear of debris. The 1400B listing also includes a HydroRinse self-cleaning hose tool. Frequent pet use means this maintenance belongs in the buying decision. [5][2]
Little Green or Deeper Cleaning: Which Problem Do You Have?
- The accident is fresh or recent.
- The mess is small and localized.
- You usually catch accidents quickly.
- You want extraction instead of repeated hand-blotting or scrubbing.
- The same spot has been soaked many times.
- The smell keeps returning after the area dries.
- Urine has reached carpet backing or padding.
- Couch foam itself appears contaminated.
Deeper treatment may mean professional extraction, treating or replacing padding, or another surface-specific fix, depending on how far the urine traveled. [1]
So, Is the BISSELL Little Green Worth Buying for Pet Urine?
Yes, if recurring pet accidents make a portable extractor useful in your home. The main trade-offs are drying time and after-use maintenance.
- Pet accidents happen often enough that manual cleanup is frustrating.
- You usually catch them while they are still fairly localized.
- You want to extract dirty liquid instead of only wiping the surface.
- Your only problem is one old, deeply soaked urine area.
- The odor appears to be coming from padding, backing, or cushion foam.
- You expect the cleaned surface to be completely dry after one pass.
BISSELL Little Green® 1400B
Portable carpet and upholstery cleaner with a 48 oz clean-water tank, 15 ft power cord, and tools for targeted spot cleaning.
Shop BISSELL Little GreenOfficial BISSELL price checked Sep. 3, 2026. Sale prices can change.Sources & references
- BISSELL Pet urine cleaning guidanceOpen source ↗
- BISSELL Little Green 1400B product pageOpen source ↗
- HGTV Little Green hands-on reviewOpen source ↗
- Bob Vila Little Green hands-on reviewOpen source ↗
- BISSELL Little Green operating and after-cleaning guidanceOpen source ↗
- BISSELL Upholstery care guidanceOpen source ↗
- Reddit / r/CleaningTips Large dog urine accident discussionOpen source ↗
- Reddit / r/CleaningTips Soaked-through rug discussionOpen source ↗
- Reddit / r/CleaningTips Repeated-use maintenance discussionOpen source ↗
- Reddit / r/CleaningTips Machine odor discussionOpen source ↗
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