Bissell Little Green vs Pet Pro: Which Is Better?

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A tabby cat lying on a beige carpet, the kind of spot where the Little Green vs Pet Pro question starts

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In the Little Green vs Pet Pro choice, the Bissell Little Green Pet Pro 3909 is the better machine for pet homes at $179.99, per Bissell’s site in October 2026. It holds 64 oz of clean water to the original’s 48 oz, adds a pet hair tool and carries a 3-year warranty. The Bissell Little Green 1400B costs $99.99 per Bissell’s site and still handles a spilled drink or the odd accident. So the real question is how often something lands on the carpet.

I have cleaned up after cats and dogs in a hot, humid coastal climate. A urine spot there is never a one-pass job. The stain fades, then the smell comes back on the first muggy afternoon because the pad underneath stayed damp. That is why I look at the dirty tank and the hose before the price.

The picks

  • Best overall: Bissell Little Green Pet Pro 3909. 64 oz clean tank, 48 oz dirty tank, pet hair tool, 3-year warranty, $179.99.
  • Best for pet owners who want steam: Bissell Little Green HydroSteam Pet 3618. Steam mode and a 5-inch stain tool, $199.99.
  • Best budget: Bissell Little Green 1400B. 48 oz clean tank, 9.65 lb, $99.99.
  • Best lightweight: Bissell Little Green Max Pet 3860. 8.2 lb with a pet hair tool, $149.99.

Bissell Little Green vs Pet Pro specs side by side

Bissell charges $80 more for the Pet Pro 3909 than for the Little Green 1400B. That buys 16 more ounces of clean water, a 5-foot hose instead of 4 feet, and two more years of warranty. Every spec below comes from Bissell’s product pages and user guides, checked in October 2026.

ModelPrice at BissellClean / dirty tankHose, weightFormula cost, one full tankWarranty
Little Green 1400B$99.9948 oz / not listed4 ft, 9.65 lb$2.80 (8 oz)1 year
Little Green Pet Pro 3909$179.9964 oz / 48 oz5 ft, 11 lb$2.80 (8 oz); $1.40 small fill3 years
Little Green HydroSteam Pet 3618$199.9964 oz / 51 oz4.8 ft, 13 lb$2.80 (8 oz); $1.40 small fill3 years
Little Green Max Pet 3860$149.9932 oz / 32 oz4.8 ft, 8.2 lbnot listed by Bissellnot listed on its page

The formula math uses one bottle for every machine. Bissell sells its 60 oz Little Green Pet Pro OXY formula for $20.99 on its site. It says the formula works in all Bissell portables. The 1400 Series guide fills formula to an 8 oz line, so one bottle covers 7.5 full tanks and each fill costs about $2.80. The Pet Pro and HydroSteam Pet guides also allow a 4 oz small fill, which costs about $1.40.

That half-dose line matters more than the sticker price. A single cat accident on the Pet Pro takes 28 oz of water and 4 oz of formula. On the 1400B, you fill to the same line every time.

A beagle resting on cream couch cushions
A dog resting on fabric couch cushions.

Which tools come with the Little Green Pet Pro?

The Little Green Pet Pro 3909 ships with a self-cleaning tough stain tool, a pet hair removal tool and a spraying crevice tool, per Bissell. It also includes an 8 oz trial bottle of Pet Pro OXY formula with urine eliminator. The 1400B trades the pet hair tool for a HydroRinse self-cleaning hose tool and ships with 8 oz of Little Green Formula with OXY.

ModelTools in the boxWhat the tools are good for
Little Green 1400B3-inch tough stain tool, spraying crevice tool, HydroRinse hose toolCar seats, seams, and flushing the hose after a mess
Little Green Pet Pro 3909Self-cleaning tough stain tool, pet hair removal tool, spraying crevice toolHair-matted cushions, pet beds, urine spots on carpet
Little Green HydroSteam Pet 36185-inch tough stain tool, multi-surface toolWider stains, plus a steam setting
Little Green Max Pet 3860Pet hair removal tool; self-cleaning tough stain tool shown in Bissell’s product photoPet beds and car mats in a smaller machine

None of the four current models includes a stair tool. The discontinued ProHeat 2513G came with a 3-in-1 stair tool. So on stairs today, you work one tread at a time with a stain tool.

Is the Little Green Pet Pro better than the Little Green?

I would pick the Little Green Pet Pro 3909 for any home with a cat, because hairballs and accidents hit the couch as often as the carpet. Its pet hair tool and 5-foot hose reach cushions without dragging the machine onto the furniture. The 3-year warranty also triples the 1-year term in Bissell’s 1400 Series guide. Bissell says the 3909’s motor is 50% quieter than its previous Pro models.

Still, the 1400B wins two ways. It costs $99.99, and it weighs 9.65 lb against the Pet Pro’s 11 lb. For a car, a rug in a guest room or a few spilled drinks a year, that is enough machine. If you are still comparing brands, our Little Green vs Shark StainStriker comparison covers the other spot cleaner most people shortlist.

Bissell Little Green HydroSteam vs Pet Pro

The Little Green HydroSteam Pet 3618 costs $199.99 per Bissell’s site, $20 more than the Pet Pro, and adds a steam mode. Its user guide says to wait 30 seconds for the steam-ready light before using it. Both machines hold 64 oz of clean water and carry 3-year warranties.

Weight and tools are the trade-offs. The HydroSteam Pet weighs 13 lb to the Pet Pro’s 11 lb. It also swaps the pet hair tool for a 5-inch stain tool and a multi-surface tool. Reader’s Digest testers called the HydroSteam the heaviest model they tried, at 16.5 lb filled, and also loud. They praised its suction on fresh stains with the 5-inch tool.

Bissell’s guide warns against touching the steam nozzle when it is hot and against steaming any person or animal. The plain HydroSteam 3532 lists at $299.99 per Bissell’s site with only a 3-inch tool. So the Pet version is the one to weigh against the Pet Pro.

A green carpeted staircase with a wooden railing, seen from above
A carpeted staircase seen from the top landing.

Bissell Little Green Pet Pro vs Max Pet

The Little Green Max Pet 3860 costs $149.99 per Bissell’s site, $30 less than the Pet Pro, and weighs 8.2 lb. But its clean tank holds 32 oz, half the Pet Pro’s 64 oz. The dirty tank is 32 oz against 48 oz.

Both include a pet hair removal tool, and both have a 15-foot cord. The difference shows on a big accident. A 32 oz tank means a refill halfway through a large urine spot. And a refill means a trip to the sink with the dirty tank too. Bissell’s Max Pet page also does not state a warranty term, while the Pet Pro’s says 3 years. For a small apartment, a car or one cat, the Max Pet is the lighter carry.

Bissell Little Green vs ProHeat Pet

Bissell lists the Little Green ProHeat 2513G as no longer available on its own site, so it is not a pick here. Its Heatwave Technology, per Bissell, helps maintain water temperature while you clean. It held 37 oz, drew 3 amps and weighed 9.2 lb, with a 2-year warranty.

If a store still has one, compare it with the 1400B. The weight is close, the tank is smaller, and it adds the stair tool the 1400B lacks. The same goes for the older Little Green Pet Pro 2891, which Bissell also lists as no longer available. It had a 3/4-gallon tank, a 20-foot cord and a 13.25 lb body, so a listing with that number is not the 3909.

How does the Bissell Little Green work?

The Bissell Little Green sprays water and formula from the clean tank through the hose. Then the tool scrubs, and suction pulls the dirty water into a separate tank. The 1400 Series guide says to use hot, not boiling, tap water to the water line and formula to the 8 oz line. Then you finish with drying strokes, pulling the tool across the spot without pressing the trigger.

Bissell’s guide also says to empty and rinse the dirty tank after each use. After that, pop the tool off straight, without twisting, and rinse it under the tap. A tool put away with pet urine still in it is the first thing to smell.

How to use the Bissell Little Green Pet Pro

First, lift the clean tank out by its handle. The Pet Pro 3909 guide calls for warm water, 140°F at most. Fill to the 28 oz line for a small area or 56 oz for a large one. Then add formula to the 4 oz or 8 oz line to match.

For a set-in, smelly spot, Reader’s Digest advises spraying solution and letting it sit a few minutes before you clean. After that, scrub with the tough stain tool and make slow passes with the trigger released. On upholstery, read the tag first. Bissell’s HydroSteam guide says to skip fabric marked “Dry Clean Only” or coded S with a strike through it, and to test a hidden spot.

How long does carpet take to dry after spot cleaning?

There is no fixed time, but the EPA says wet carpet and backing should be dried within 24 to 48 hours. Its steps are extraction, a dehumidifier and fans. That guidance is written for water damage, not a cat accident. Still, the point carries over: the less water left in the pad, the less there is to sour.

In hot, humid weather, damp carpet does not dry fast. I have learned that a urine spot left wet will smell again on the next muggy day. So I make dry passes until the nozzle runs clear. That habit matters more than which Little Green you buy.

A gray and white cat sleeping on a patterned rug
A cat asleep on a patterned rug.

Which Bissell Little Green should you skip?

Skip the 1400B if a pet lives with you and accidents come weekly, because the 1-year warranty and the missing small-fill line add up. Skip the plain HydroSteam 3532 too, since the HydroSteam Pet 3618 costs $100 less per Bissell’s site with the same 64 oz tank. And pass on a listing for the 2891 or 2513G unless you accept a model Bissell no longer sells. For whole rooms, a spot cleaner is the wrong tool; see our full-size carpet cleaner comparison of Hoover, Bissell and Tineco.

The Bissell recall in the news this year covers about 1.7 million Steam Shot OmniReach and Steam Shot Omni handheld steam cleaners, per the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It does not include any Little Green model.

Frequently asked questions about little green vs pet pro

Which Bissell Little Green is the best?

Bissell’s Little Green Pet Pro 3909 is the best fit for most homes with pets. It has a 64 oz tank, three tools and a 3-year warranty at $179.99 per Bissell’s site. The 1400B is the better value at $99.99 if pets are not in the picture.

Is the Bissell Little Green worth it?

Yes, for spills and spots on carpet, upholstery and car seats. It is not built for a whole room, where a full-size upright makes more sense.

Does the Little Green Pet Pro work on upholstery?

Yes. Bissell lists upholstery and fabric among the 3909’s surfaces, along with pet beds, stairs and car interiors. Check the furniture tag before you start.

Does a Bissell spot cleaner remove cat urine smell?

It can lift the urine, but the smell tends to return if the pad stays wet. The Pet Pro ships with Pet Pro OXY formula, which Bissell sells with a urine eliminator, so pair it with slow drying passes.

Published October 21, 2026.

Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.