Which carpet cleaner do professionals use?
Most professionals use hot water extraction (often called steam cleaning) with either a truck-mounted system or a high-performance portable extractor. Your Bissell model 1400 (Little Green portable deep cleaner) is a consumer-grade spot and upholstery machine; it is ideal for small areas, not whole-house “pro” carpet cleaning.
- Truck-mounted extractor: highest heat, strongest vacuum, fastest drying
- Commercial portable extractor: used for apartments, high-rises, or where hoses cannot reach
- CRB or rotary scrubber: agitates prespray to release soil before extraction
- Grooming rake: resets carpet pile and helps drying consistency
- Air movers: speeds dry time and reduces wick-back
We see the Bissell 1400 used most like a “detail tool” for:
- Pet accidents and organic stains on small sections
- Stairs, car interiors, and upholstery
- Spot cleaning between professional deep cleans
| Machine type | Best for | Typical strength | Dry time (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck-mounted extractor | Whole-home carpet | Highest heat and suction | Fastest |
| Commercial portable extractor | Whole-home carpet where truck-mount cannot be used | High | Medium |
| Bissell 1400 portable deep cleaner | Spots, stairs, upholstery | Moderate | Medium to slow (small-area) |
- Vacuum thoroughly before you wet-clean
- Use warm (not boiling) water and the correct dilution
- Do 1 wet pass, then 2 to 4 slow dry-only suction passes
- Avoid over-wetting; it causes long dry times and wick-back
- Rinse with clean water after heavy detergent use to reduce residue
Professional results come from a combination of heat, agitation, chemistry, and strong extraction. A compact cleaner like the Bissell 1400 can clean very well in its lane, but it cannot match the airflow and recovery of pro extractors on large carpeted areas.
For parts and diagrams for your Bissell 1400, start with the model parts list, or search by model on Sears PartsDirect.
Last updated: February 2026
What's the number one rated carpet cleaner?
For the Bissell 1400 little green portable deep cleaner, there is no single “number one rated carpet cleaner” that stays true across all tests; ratings change by year and by what you’re cleaning (pets, stairs, cars, or whole-room carpet). We recommend choosing based on cleaning area, suction, and tank size, then matching parts by model number on Sears PartsDirect.
Different designs win for different jobs; portable spot cleaners (like model 1400) are built for stains and small areas, not wall-to-wall deep cleaning.
- Portable spot cleaner: best for stairs, upholstery, car interiors, quick spills
- Upright carpet cleaner: best for whole rooms and larger carpeted areas
- Pet-focused models: prioritize hair pickup and odor control
- Cord length and hose reach: matter more than you think for stairs and vehicles
- Tank capacity: larger tanks reduce refill trips; smaller tanks are easier to carry
| Feature | Portable spot cleaner (Bissell 1400 type) | Upright carpet cleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Best use | Spots, stairs, upholstery, cars | Whole-room carpet cleaning |
| Typical weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| Typical tank size | Smaller | Larger |
| Storage | Easier | Takes more space |
If you buy based only on a “#1 rated” list, you can end up with the wrong tool. A portable deep cleaner like the Bissell 1400 is a strong choice when you need targeted stain removal and above-floor cleaning, while an upright unit is the better fit for routine full-carpet refreshes.
Performance complaints that look like “it’s not cleaning” are often maintenance-related.
- Rinse tanks after each use
- Keep the nozzle path clear of lint and debris
- Check hoses for clogs and air leaks
- Use the correct cleaning formula dilution
Last updated: February 2026
What do professionals use to get stains out of carpet?
Professionals most often use hot water extraction (sometimes called steam cleaning) to remove carpet stains: a machine sprays hot water and cleaning solution deep into the fibers, then immediately extracts the dirty water. Your Bissell 1400 Little Green portable deep cleaner uses the same core method on a smaller scale.
- Pre-treat the stain with a compatible carpet spotter
- Inject hot water plus cleaning solution into the carpet fibers
- Agitate lightly to break up soil (brush or tool head)
- Extract the water and loosened soil with strong suction
- Repeat passes until the recovery water runs mostly clear
- Blot first, do not rub: remove as much liquid as possible before you add water.
- Use hot tap water, not boiling: hot water improves cleaning, but excessive heat can damage some fibers and backings.
- Do more dry passes than wet passes: after spraying, make multiple suction-only passes to reduce wick-back and speed drying.
- Work from the outside in: prevents spreading the stain.
- Rinse when needed: a final pass with plain water helps remove leftover detergent that can attract soil.
| Stain type | Best first move | Best “pro” method | Key caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee, soda, juice | Blot, pre-treat | Hot water extraction | Avoid over-wetting |
| Pet accidents | Enzyme pre-treat | Hot water extraction + rinse | Fully extract to prevent odor |
| Grease/oil | Solvent-safe pre-treat | Hot water extraction after pre-treat | Test for colorfastness |
| Mud/soil | Let dry, vacuum | Hot water extraction | Vacuum first for best results |
Most stains are a mix of pigment, sugar/protein, and oily residue. Hot water extraction removes what you cannot reach with surface blotting by flushing and extracting soil from deeper in the carpet pile.
We recommend matching the cleaning formula and tools to the stain type (pet, oily, tannin-based). You can look up compatible items by model number and category on the parts list for this model, or search by model on Sears PartsDirect.
Last updated: February 2026
What is the best suction power for carpets?
For carpet cleaning, the “best” suction power is the highest level that still lets your tool head seal to the surface and pull up soil effectively. With the Bissell 1400 little green portable deep cleaner, strong suction plus proper airflow and a clean recovery path matter more than chasing a single number.
Suction is often marketed in different ways (Air Watts, sealed suction, CFM), so we focus on what you can compare and feel in use:
- Air Watts (AW): Many carpet-focused machines perform well in the 150 to 300 AW range.
- Airflow and seal: A good seal at the nozzle and steady airflow usually beats a “big number” with leaks.
- Wet pickup performance: For deep cleaning, strong water recovery (how dry the carpet feels after a pass) is the real test.
- Consistent suction under load: Suction should stay strong when the tank is partly full and the hose is extended.
- Tool match: Upholstery tools and stain tools need different “feel” than wide floor tools.
| Spec you see | What it tells you | Best use for carpets |
|---|---|---|
| Air Watts (AW) | Combined suction and airflow at the nozzle | Most useful single number when available |
| Sealed suction | Max vacuum with airflow blocked | Less predictive of real carpet cleaning |
| CFM (airflow) | Volume of air moved | Helps lift debris and improve drying |
Even a strong cleaner loses performance when airflow is restricted. Use this checklist:
- Empty and rinse the recovery tank before it gets too full.
- Check the tank lid and gaskets for a tight seal; reseat them carefully.
- Clear the hose and nozzle of lint, pet hair, and clogs.
- Clean or replace any filters/screens your unit uses (if equipped).
- Keep the float/auto shutoff area clean so it does not trip early.
Higher effective suction improves soil removal and speeds drying. That reduces re-soiling, helps prevent odors, and makes spot cleaning faster, especially on high-traffic carpet and stairs.
For replacement parts and diagrams for your Bissell 1400, start with the model parts list, or search by model number on Sears PartsDirect.
Last updated: February 2026
