How to Use a Bissell Big Green Carpet Cleaner

On this page (10 sections)

1. What should you do before you start the Big Green?
2. How do you fill and set up the Bissell Big Green?
3. What is the correct stroke pattern for cleaning carpet?
4. How do you pre-treat stains and high-traffic lanes?
5. How do you clean stairs and tight spots with the hose?
6. How do you empty and rinse the Big Green?
7. How long should the carpet dry before you walk on it?
8. How does the Big Green compare with the Deep Clean Pro 4X formula for stains?
9. What mistakes should you avoid when using the Big Green?
10. Which setup works best for most homes?

To use a Bissell Big Green carpet cleaner, fill the clean tank with water and formula, turn the machine on, and pull the trigger on the forward pass, then release it for the dry pull-back pass. Finish with dry passes, then let the carpet dry fully before walking on it.

Learning how to use a Bissell Big Green carpet cleaner comes down to a steady rhythm: wet pass, dry pass, move over, repeat. The machine does the scrubbing, so the results depend on preparation, water control and patience.

What should you do before you start the Big Green?

Vacuum the whole area first and move everything off the carpet. Loose dirt, pet hair and crumbs turn into mud once water hits them, and the cleaner has to pull all of it back out.

Vacuum slowly in overlapping strips so you reach the grit that sits deep in the pile. Pick up small objects, tuck loose cables away and lift any furniture you can move.

Test a hidden patch first. Run one short wet pass and one dry pass in a corner behind a door, then let it dry.

If the color looks even and the fibers sit normally, carry on with the room.

Check the carpet care tag for wool, delicate blends or glued-down installations. Some carpets call for a gentler method or a professional.

How do you fill and set up the Bissell Big Green?

Fill the clean tank with hot tap water and Bissell 2X formula, seat both tanks firmly, and plug the machine in. The Big Green holds 1.75 gallons in its clean tank, so a full tank covers a lot of carpet.

Follow the ratios printed on the formula bottle. Bissell packs 2X Professional Deep Cleaning Formula with the machine, and the bottle tells you how much to add.

Use hot water from the tap, not boiling water. Seat the clean tank and the dirty tank until they click.

Plug the cord into a grounded outlet and keep it behind you as you work. The Big Green draws 12 amps, so avoid running it on the same circuit as another heavy appliance.

What is the correct stroke pattern for cleaning carpet?

Push forward with the trigger held, then pull back with the trigger released. The Big Green cleans on both the forward and backward pass, so one wet stroke and one dry stroke make a complete cycle.

Start at the far corner of the room and work toward the door so you never walk on wet carpet. Overlap each strip by a few inches so you don't leave pale lines between passes.

Keep your pace slow and even. Rushing leaves too much water in the pile, while scrubbing one spot again and again soaks the backing.

Let the rotating brush do the work. The XL DirtLifter PowerBrush turns as you move, lifting dirt from the fibers, so you don't need to press down hard.

How many passes does each area need?

Plan one wet pass and two dry passes over each strip for a normal clean. A dry pass means the trigger is released and the machine is only sucking water back up.

Heavily soiled areas may need a second wet pass, but do the dry passes straight after each one. Empty the dirty tank when it reaches the full line, since a full tank loses suction and leaves more water behind.

How do you pre-treat stains and high-traffic lanes?

Pre-treat spots with formula before you run the machine over them. Give the solution a few minutes to loosen the stain, then clean the area as part of your normal passes.

Spray or pour a small amount of diluted formula on the stain and work it in gently with a brush or your fingers. Don't flood the spot, since extra liquid pushes the stain deeper into the pad.

Treat entryways, walkways and the strip in front of the sofa as high-traffic lanes. A slightly slower wet pass in those areas lifts the ground-in dirt that dulls the carpet.

The Bissell Deep Clean Pro 4X Shampoo is Bissell's most powerful concentrated formula. Bissell says it removes embedded dirt and stains, eliminates odors and forms a protective barrier against future stains.

Its StainProtect technology is designed to help carpet resist new stains. Bissell also says the formula was evaluated by the EPA and is pet and family safe when used as directed.

For pet accidents, blot up as much liquid as you can before cleaning. Then treat the spot with an enzyme product made for pet odors, and run the Big Green over it once the treatment has had time to work.

How do you clean stairs and tight spots with the hose?

Switch to the hose and tough stain tool for stairs, landings and edges the brush roll can't reach. The Big Green includes a 9 inch hose and a 6 inch tough stain tool for hard-to-reach areas.

Park the machine on a steady surface at the top or bottom of the stairs. Never balance it on a step, since the 42 pound body can tip.

Work each stair from the back edge toward the nose. Use short wet strokes with the trigger held, then release and make dry strokes over the same area.

Clean the riser only if the carpet covers it, and keep the tool moving so you don't soak the padding under the nose. Our guide on can you use a carpet cleaner on area rugs covers the smaller rugs and runners you might tackle with the same hose.

Can you use the Big Green on car seats and upholstery?

The tough stain tool works on car seats and small upholstery, as long as the fabric is colorfast. Test a hidden patch first, then use light wet strokes and plenty of dry strokes.

Car seats are shallow, so a little water goes a long way. Our guide on can you use a carpet cleaner on car seats walks through the fabric types to avoid and the drying steps.

How do you empty and rinse the Big Green?

Empty the dirty tank as soon as you finish, then rinse both tanks and the brush area with clean water. Standing dirty water and formula leave an odor in the machine and on the next carpet you clean.

Unplug the machine before you open the tanks. Carry the dirty tank to a toilet or utility sink and pour it away, then rinse it until the water runs clear.

Wipe the brush roll and the nozzle with a damp cloth. Hair and fibers wrap around the brush, so pull them out before they harden.

Leave the tanks off and the lid open to air-dry. A closed, damp machine grows mildew quickly, and that smell transfers to carpet on the next job.

How long should the carpet dry before you walk on it?

Give the carpet several hours to dry, with fans and open windows speeding it up. Bissell says the Big Green dries faster than competing rental cleaners because it cleans on the forward and backward pass.

Set a box fan or two in the room and point them across the carpet. Open windows if the weather allows, or run the air conditioning to pull moisture out of the air.

Keep pets and children off the carpet until it feels dry underfoot. Lift furniture back into place once the surface is dry.

If the carpet still feels cool and damp after a day, run the machine over it with dry passes only.

How does the Big Green compare with the Deep Clean Pro 4X formula for stains?

The Big Green supplies the cleaning power and the Deep Clean Pro 4X formula handles the tough stains and odors. The two work together, and matching the formula strength to the job gives you the best results.

The Big Green's 1.75 gallon tanks and 12 amp motor mean fewer trips to the sink. Its large brush roll and rotating DirtLifter brushes do the lifting, so the formula can reach dirt below the surface.

The Deep Clean Pro 4X formula is the stronger of the two for problem areas. Bissell describes it as its most powerful formula, best for tough ground-in dirt and stains, with odor elimination and StainProtect.

The Big Green comes with Bissell 2X Professional Deep Cleaning Formula, so you can start cleaning as soon as you unbox it. Bissell backs the machine with a limited 5 year warranty.

Use the included formula for routine whole-room cleans. Switch to the Deep Clean Pro 4X for pet areas, traffic lanes and stains that have set in.

What mistakes should you avoid when using the Big Green?

The main mistakes are over-wetting, skipping the vacuum, and walking on the carpet too soon. Each one slows drying or leaves dirt behind.

Don't hold the trigger the whole time you move. Press it on the forward stroke only, then release and pull back to extract.

Don't keep scrubbing a stubborn stain without drying between passes. Repeat wet and dry cycles with a short pause instead, and let the formula do its work.

Don't leave the machine assembled and wet between jobs. Empty, rinse and air-dry it so it's ready the next time.

Which setup works best for most homes?

For most homes, the Bissell Big Green with its included formula handles routine whole-room cleans, and a bottle of Deep Clean Pro 4X covers the tough spots. Vacuum first, test a hidden patch, then work in slow overlapping strips.

Stick to one wet pass and two dry passes per strip. Use the hose and tough stain tool for stairs and tight edges.

Empty and rinse the tanks as soon as you finish.

Then let the room dry fully before furniture and feet return. If you're still comparing machines before you buy, our guide to carpet steam cleaner options and our roundup of cheap carpet cleaner picks can help you weigh the Big Green against smaller machines.

Frequently asked questions

How much water and formula go in the Bissell Big Green?

The Big Green has a 1.75 gallon clean tank. Bissell packs 2X Professional Deep Cleaning Formula with the machine, and the bottle tells you how much to add to hot tap water.

Mix only as much as you'll use in one session, since a mixed tank shouldn't sit for long.

How long does a carpet take to dry after using the Big Green?

Bissell says the Big Green dries faster than competing rental cleaners because it cleans on both the forward and backward pass. Even so, plan on several hours with fans and open windows, and keep foot traffic off the carpet until it feels dry to the touch.

Can you use the Bissell Big Green on stairs and upholstery?

Yes. The Big Green includes a 9 inch hose and a 6 inch tough stain tool for hard-to-reach areas, so you can clean stairs and small upholstery spots without dragging the whole machine onto them.

Keep the machine on a steady surface and work the tool slowly.

Do you have to vacuum before using a carpet cleaner?

Yes. Vacuum the carpet thoroughly first to lift loose dirt, crumbs and pet hair.

A cleaner pushes water into the fibers, and loose debris turns into muddy sludge that the machine has to pull back out, which means more passes and slower drying.

How often should you deep clean carpet with the Big Green?

Most homes do well with a deep clean every 6 to 12 months. High-traffic rooms and homes with pets may need it every 3 to 4 months.

Spot-clean spills right away between full cleans so stains don't set into the fibers.

Can you over-wet carpet with a carpet cleaner?

Yes. Too much water or too many trigger pulls in one spot can soak the pad underneath, which slows drying and can lead to odors.

Keep the trigger pressed only on the forward stroke, then release it and make dry passes to pull water back out.