22 cleaning products that our editors can't stop reaching for
Regular cleaning is a necessity if you want to keep your home feeling fresh and organized, but it's by no means the most high-octane activity on your to-do list. And Underscored editors, we're just like you — we have homes that, whether we like it or not, we have to clean.
Luckily, since we test products for a living, we've found plenty of cleaning essentials that make sprucing up our spaces easy and at times, even borderline fun. Ahead, we're sharing our tried and trusted cleaning products with you.
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Scrub Daddy Scrub Mommy Sponges, 3-Pack
I have yet to find a better sponge than the Scrub Mommy. I love that it's double-sided for all my cleaning needs. It's long-lasting, durable and gets the job done, all without scratching my most delicate dishes or pans. I've even used it to scrub floors. — Carolina Gazal, associate testing writer
Oxo Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set
I've had these mini scrub brushes for years, and they're so handy that I think everyone should have them in their home. I use them for practically everything, whether I need to clean the small parts of my cat's water fountain or scrub away residue from stickers. I also like that the smaller brush has a silicone 'blade' that reaches into tight crevices I'd be otherwise unable to clean. — Amina Lake Abdelrahman, home and gifts editor
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner
When I need to start cleaning, I put on a podcast and pull out my Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Cleaner. I like using it after cooking or to freshen up my space over the weekend. It's safe to use on every surface in my home. Plus, the lavender scent smells incredible. — Gareen Puglia, associate testing writer
Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel
I've used other toilet bowl cleaners, but I like that this one from Lysol clings to the rim and inside of the toilet bowl. The gel's clinginess, combined with the angled bottle shape, makes it easy to coat those hard-to-reach spots before going in with the toilet brush. Plus, the Atlantic Fresh scent has a pleasant, slightly minty smell to it. — Rachel Dennis, associate editor
Shark Vacmop
If you have a lot of hardwood and/or tile flooring in your space, the Shark VacMop is an absolute must-have cleaning tool. I grab it for minor and major messes alike, and it's significantly cut down on the need to do regular deep cleans. I love it so much that I have one for upstairs and one for downstairs. — Daniel Toy, section editor, copy chief
The Laundress Glass & Mirror Cleaner
Windex is usually my go-to glass and mirror cleaner, but these days, I'm loving this one from The Laundress. With notes of lavender, jasmine and eucalyptus, this luxury cleaning product smells incredible — and it leaves my mirrors streak-free when paired with a microfiber cloth. I'm also a fan of the surface cleaner from the same collection. — Amina Lake Abdelrahman, home and gifts editor
Staff Reusable Lint Roller
Who said cleaning products have to be an eyesore? Not Staff, the brand behind all my favorite cleaning products that look like decor. I just got this cute lint roller that I display in my apartment proudly, and it makes catching fuzzies a lot more fun. I also own Staff's toilet plunger, hangers, toilet brush and oven mitts, so I mean business when I say the brand should become a staple in your cleaning and organizing routine too. These items are so cool, I actually look forward to cleaning a dirty toilet (I'm slightly kidding)! — Tamara Kraus, senior lifestyle editor
Clorox Clean-Up All-Purpose Cleaner
I find bleach scary and don't like to use it too regularly for cleaning, but sometimes you need to break out the heavy-duty stuff to get the job done. I'll dilute a tablespoon or two of this Clorox cleaner and bleach into a bucket when I need to give my shower a good scrub or add a splash to my compost bin when I need to get rid of lingering decomposition smells. It's a bit harsh, but good to have on hand when you want something to clean and disinfect effectively. — Jillian Tracy, associate editor
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, 10-Pack
I hesitate to call any cleaning tool 'magical,' but the Magic Eraser comes pretty close. Whether I'm using it to remove weird smudges on my walls or brighten up my white sneakers, this sturdy sponge works on tougher messes to minimize the need for intense scrubbing, often times with just water alone. I always have a pack under my kitchen sink at home, and they're my cleaning go-to when nothing else works. — Chelsea Stone, editorial director
Lysol Disinfectant Spray
Before lining my trash bins with a fresh bag, I like to spray the inside of the bins with this Lysol disinfectant spray. You only need a few sprays, and it keeps things smelling nice and fresh while disinfecting the surface and killing any lingering germs. — Rachel Dennis, associate editor
Bar Keepers Friend Multipurpose Household Cleanser and Polish
Bar Keepers Friend is one of those must-have cleaning products that you're always going to find under my sink. It works extremely well at removing rust stains and hard water spots in my kitchen sink, and it can also restore scorched stainless steel cookware. The best part? It's so affordable! — Amina Lake Abdelrahman, home and gifts editor Read our review
Wagner Spraytech 925e Elite Steamer
I love using a steamer because once you buy it, all you need to do is add water to get a good clean. From floors to ovens to taking off wallpaper and getting wrinkles out of clothes, this steamer can get any job done. It gets even the worst gunk and grime off ovens in only a few minutes. The whole thing is lightweight and on wheels, so it makes it easy to go from room to room. Plus, it comes with a variety of attachments for whatever you use it for. — Lindsey Smith, newsletter editor
Dyson WashG1
I had the opportunity to finally test this wet vacuum for my best Dyson vacuums guide, and I am in love! I've probably owned about three or four mop vacuums over the years, and this one made the process so much easier. Although, I wish Dyson made the water tank bigger so I didn't have to refill it as often. — Michelle Rae Uy, writer, testing and updates Read our review
Stardrops The Pink Stuff Cleaning Paste
This pink paste was all over my social feeds a few summers ago, and after a while, I was influenced to give it a go. I have no idea what is in this strange, pink paste, but it cleans well. I tend to reach for this when I deep clean and need to cut through built-up grime on my stove top, oven or shower. I've even used it to spruce up a pair of white sneakers. For extra cleaning precision and force, I like to dip an old toothbrush in the paste to get hard-to-reach areas like in-between sink handles, drains and other tight nooks. — Jillian Tracy, associate editor. Read our review
Shark Steam Mop
My friend gave me a Shark Steam Mop because she accidentally received two due to a shipping error, and I'm glad she did. Despite not having a lot of features and being made of mostly plastic, it's an impressive steam mop that you'll want in your spring cleaning arsenal. It gets hot enough — scalding hot, in fact, so be careful — that it'll quickly remove all the months of grime off your floor without requiring that much effort from you. I love using it on days when I'm feeling lazy but know that I absolutely need to clean. It's a cheap alternative to the Dyson WashG1. — Michelle Rae Uy, writer, testing and updates
Bona High Performance Dusting System
I recently got my hands on this extendable duster from Bona, and it has been a game changer at dusting those hard-to-reach areas in my apartment. I had been neglecting to dust my ceiling fan for way too long, but as soon as I got my hands on this long-handled duster with an adjustable head, it was a cleaning task that was borderline kind of fun. Even though it's taller than me while fully extended, it folds up so compact that it'd fit in even the smallest apartments. — Amina Lake Abdelrahman, home and gifts editor
Iucge Rubber Cleaning Gloves
It's my belief that every home should have at least one pair of rubber gloves on hand. Whether you're dealing with harsh chemicals like bleach or dealing with grimy and harrowing messes, it's nice to have something protecting your skin and clothes. These gloves give me the liberty to clean with even more elbow grease and are also great for daily tasks like dishwashing, especially if you have manicured hands you'd like to keep looking sharp. — Jillian Tracy, associate editor
Swiffer PowerMop
Since I live in an NYC apartment, I don't have space for bulky cleaning supplies, which is why I've always opted for Swiffer's space-saving products. The PowerMop is an upgrade to the standard Swiffer Sweeper, with dirt-grabbing mop pads and a fresh-scented cleaning solution that you can spray with the push of a button. The mop itself is battery powered so you aren't hindered by long cords or the availability of outlets. It honestly makes cleaning up my floors a breeze, and I like that I can target specific spots with the spray. — Sophie Shaw, beauty and fashion editor
Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets
I got tired of trying to figure out whether or not my empty bottles of detergent are getting recycled, so I recently switched to these detergent sheets. They're very effective at cleaning my clothes, don't take up much space in my laundry closet and are easier to use — just grab a sheet and toss it in the washer! — Michelle Rae Uy, writer, testing and updates
Swiffer Heavy-Duty Duster Refills
I already have a Swiffer Duster handle, so now, I just buy duster refills whenever I empty a box. They do a great job at picking up dust, and because they're double-sided, I feel like I get more use out of one. The dusters I currently use are unscented, but I may need to pick up a box of scented ones the next time I run out. — Rachel Dennis, associate editor
Febreze Fabric Extra Strength Air Freshener
Having a pleasant-smelling abode is important to me, and after I've swept, wiped, straightened and vacuumed my living spaces, I like to metaphorically seal the deal by locking in the clean with this Febreze fabric spray. I use this liberally on my couch, carpets, curtains, bathmats and pillows to help everything feel extra fresh. — Jillian Tracy, associate editor
Suzanne Somers Suzanne Eco Cleaner Multi-Surface Duo
Tons of cleaning products are made with a lot of chemicals, so finding an eco-friendly product that gets the job done isn't always an easy task. I started using this organic multi-surface cleaner and life has never been easier. I really love that you can use this for almost every household task, from your windows to even your car. It has a light and refreshing scent and makes my space smell clean without being too overpowering. — Gabriella Triolo, social coordinator Here at Underscored, we make it our job to stay up to date on all the latest products, but we don't just find them; we also rigorously test products from hundreds of brands. In addition to hands-on testing products, we also consult top experts to understand what features, benefits and possible downsides each item offers. We also seek out important considerations and advice from our experts to help give you the information you need to make smarter shopping decisions. For this article, associate editor Jillian Tracy curated our editors' favorite cleaning products that help to keep our spaces spotless.
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New York Times
19-04-2025
- New York Times
An Image of Coretta Scott King, Poster in Hand
On Nov. 1, 1963, 350 women picketed the United Nations headquarters in New York City. They were members of Women Strike for Peace, a grass-roots antiwar organization that pushed for global disarmament and warned of the potential harm of nuclear weapons testing on the health of children. The New York Times covered the demonstration, which marked the organization's second anniversary. Accompanying the article was a photograph that showed the women as they marched on United Nations Plaza. A prominent figure leads the crowd: Coretta Scott King, an activist and the wife of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. According to the article, Mrs. King helped to lead the march and addressed the women in the Church Center for the United Nations. Mrs. King was quoted in the article saying 'there will be no peace outside our nation until there is peace within.' She later joined Dagmar Wilson, a founder of Women Strike for Peace, for a similar event in Washington. A few months ago, another image of Mrs. King from the U.N. march was discovered on a contact sheet in The Times's archive libraries. The portrait was taken by the Times photographer Neal Boenzi, who worked at the paper for more than 40 years and was known for the New York City street scenes he captured. (He died in 2023 at age 97.) The image shows Mrs. King, wearing a hat and gloves, holding a poster sign that reads: 'Let's Make Our Earth a Nuclear-Free Zone.' Though similar images have of Mrs. King from the event been published elsewhere, this frame had gone unseen, until now. During her life, Mrs. King, a leading voice in the civil rights movement, championed women's rights, racial equality and other social issues and spoke out against apartheid in South Africa. In the years after her husband's assassination, she led the charge to introduce a federal holiday in his name and founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. She understood, and preached, that women were crucial to the success of the civil rights movement. On June 19, 1968, at the Poor People's Campaign at the Lincoln Memorial, she encouraged women 'to unite and form a solid block of women power to fight the three great evils of racism, poverty and war.' She died in 2006 at age 78. Per her Times obituary, 'Mrs. King has been seen as an inspirational figure, a woman of enormous spiritual depth who came to personify the ideals Dr. King fought for.'
Buzz Feed
18-04-2025
- Buzz Feed
25 Target Kitchen Items That Are Made For Parents With No Time On Their Hands
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. From the cookin' to the cleanin', we've got you. 1. An apple slicer that makes 16 perfect, thin, snack-size slices every single time. Listen, kids demand a LOT of snacks, so you'll want this secret weapon in your tool belt. Target Promising review:"This slicer works great! I love how smooth it cuts regardless of the shape of the apple. I also love that it has the bottom part to finish, pushing it through at the end. Last, I purposely bought it for the smaller slices, and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend for moms and anyone else who loves apple slices for snacks and meals." — Toddler Mom 2. A 4.5-quart KitchenAid Mixer — a cute and colorful classic because hand mixing takes SO LONG and you are over it. Plus, how adorable will this look on your counter? Target Promising review: " This is a great investment for anyone who loves to cook. We look forward to getting the food mill and pasta maker attachments soon!" — Great Investment 3. A hard-working, multitasking Scrub Mommy sponge that can quickly tackle that dried-out mac 'n' cheese in your favorite pot. It's so efficient both you and the sponge will be smiling at the end. Target 4. A space-saving vertical bottle rack, because dishes already take up enough of your day but this helps dry out the essentials — and quickly. Psst... you can keep using long after you put away the bottles. (It's also great for sippy cups, water bottles... wineglasses.) Target Promising review:"I originally started with using the grass drying rack but had to wash it every day because the water would pool in the tray, and it wasn't very sanitary. This rack has been a lifesaver! I wish I would have started with it. It stands perfectly by itself and holds a good bit! My only complaint is that the top pegs are a little too close to the basket for my Avent bottles to fit very well. Overall, I would highly recommend!" — Reviewer Price: $24.99 5. A Dash egg cooker that will be your absolute favorite thing — no matter what time of day it is. Choose how you want the eggs cooked, set the time, and wait for it to go off. It makes breakfast so easy. Plus, adding hard-boiled eggs to lunchboxes is also a great way to add protein. Target Promising review:"I love this little egg cooker! I used it for hard-boiled eggs, and it cooked the eggs perfectly! The best thing is that they peeled easily! No more tiny pieces of shells that you have to pick off. Easy cleanup, lightweight little machine, and easy to store away." — PB 6. A three-pack of Dr. Brown's bottle cleaners to help get the job done faster than you can say "old milk." Best part? These won't leave any residue or spoiled smell... you know what I'm talking about. It's the worst! Target Promising review:"I love how durable these are! I've been using them for over two years. They do last a good while until you need to replace them. I did so much research on which ones to choose, and these definitely get into every nook and cranny. I love that the bottom can stick onto the sink, and it's removable and easy to clean also. Don't look further; these are definitely the ones you need!" — MamaJ 7. A super durable and leakproof bento box, which will actually help you organize your brain and figure out what you need to put in there. Pssst: If you want to include a sweet treat, M&Ms look pretty cute in the circle compartment. Target Promising review:"I purchased this for my 7-year-old daughter. She had been asking for it after seeing some friends at her school lunch use one. She loves it! She specifically likes that her food stays in its own compartment and doesn't touch. She is a very picky eater, so this is a way to get her to help me get creative and think of ideas for each section. She takes it five days a week to school and has been very happy. No leaks!! Easy to open on her own. Very easy to clean." — mommymo 8. A Dash mini waffle maker that is not only sweet but — more importantly — will get breakfast on the table very, very quickly. Make a few extra and put them in your kiddo's snack bag for later! Target Promising review:"I cannot say enough good things about this little waffle maker. It may be small but it's mighty. It doesn't take up much room, is easy to store/clean, and makes fresh waffles for my family on busy mornings super fast. I just keep some waffle batter in my fridge throughout the week and use a few servings each morning. I never thought I would get as much use out of this as I do." — TeddyOats 9. A Packit freezable lunch bag, so you can load it up with all the goods (sandwiches, berries, cheese sticks, yogurt tubes, etc.) and not worry about being able to find one of those ice packs that always seem to disappear in your freezer. Target Promising review:"My son loves this lunch bag! Best for school lunches. Don't have to worry about ice packs anymore. Going to buy his brother one too." — Scd Price: $20.99 10. A bottle of Dawn Platinum Powerwash spray soap that is really one of those magical products that people use on almost everything. I've even used it to pull a grease stain out of a rug after one of my kids accidentally dropped their dinner. 11. A 6-quart Instant Pot, which is basically like having a sous chef on staff because this 9-in-1 appliance does it all... except put itself in the dishwasher for cleanup (but the lid and inner pot are dishwasher safe)! Target Promising review:"Time and life saver! I get out of work late, so this helps put dinner on the table and in bellies at an appropriate hour. Love it and can't wait to try out all the functions!" — Reviewer 12. An Oxo chopper that will chop, dice, mince, cut, and slice its way into your heart (and kitchen). This time-saver chops vegetables and fruits right into the container, so it keeps things neat and tidy. Did you just whip up a fruit salad? On a weeknight?! Impressive. Target Promising review:"The only thing I regretted about this chopper was not purchasing it sooner! It has saved so much time and effort in chopping vegetables I couldn't be happier." — Jessica 13. A trusty little iRobot Roomba vacuum-and-mop combo to quietly do two of your least favorite chores for you — and it's probably much more effective than having your dog eat any food that your baby threw on the ground. Yes, you really do need to clean under the table. Target Promising review:"The fringe on the rugs is no problem. I was very worried about that. It can get under furniture our vacuum cleaner could never reach. The mop works better than the robot mop I have had for many years." — MCL 14. A set of Souper Cubes so you can save your leftovers, pop them in the freezer, and enjoy them when you need a quick meal later. These are also the MVP of meal prep. (If you have the time to do that!) Target Promising review:"Love these freezing trays. Great for meal prep." — AmosAndy Mom Price: $19.99 15. A stainless-steel, hands-free step trash can that'll really come in handy when your hands are full. Not only gets the job done but is actually surprisingly chic for something that, ya know, holds garbage. Target Promising review:"It looks amazing, very slick and practical! Big but not bulky. I like how there is a plastic bin inside of it, makes it easier to wash if needed." — MarylovesTarget 16. A small-but-mighty Ninja food processor that will quite literally chop your food prep time in half — and can then go right into the dishwasher for easy cleanup. Target Promising review:"I got this tool with low expectations and it has blown me away. I can make dressings that are perfectly blended quickly and it dices onions and garlic in seconds. I don't know how I lived without it. Be careful cleaning it, it's sharp!" — hah 17. A pack of stainless steel wipes because while you absolutely cherish your little's sweet handprints, you'd rather see them on arts and crafts projects than on your appliances. These make cleaning a breeze. Target Promising review:"I've tried a few different stainless steel cleaners, and by far, this one from Weiman is top of the mark! I even use it on my sink when it's wet, and it always dries to a beautiful shine when used on my enamel stove; it is the best for cleaning stainless steel and kitchen appliances! Thank you, Weiman, you're the best!" — Kat Price: $5.99 18. A four-pack sandwich cutter set so you feel like one of those Pinterest-y grown-ups who spends hours making super cute lunches... even though in reality, you threw together a lunch in under five minutes. 19. A pack of Seventh Generation multipurpose cleaning wipes you can use to speedily handle spills and other disasters. I've used these to take marker off our kitchen table... the uses are endless. Target 20. An Oxo mandoline with four interchangeable blades that will make slicing vegetables easy and maybe even a little fun? You'll feel so fancy that you'll start calling recipe prep "mise en place." Target Promising review:"I can't live without it anymore. I sliced an onion in seconds, tomatoes, even pepper, carrots everything. I use to have a chopper but I end up breaking it so I tried this one. I love to have my food ready all the time and it's easy to clean it and has never rusted or broken. I've owned it for 5 months now." — Rain 21. An air fryer, which is totally another one of those "what can't it do?" products. Cook delicious full dinners with it, or reheat leftovers and get those wings and fries extra crispy again. You'll be particularly grateful when your kids are hollering at you! Target Promising review:"Spacious enough to feed my three boys and very easy to use and clean." — phoenix52 22. An oven thermometer to help you get a sense of your oven's actual temperature while you cook and bake. How does this save you time? Well, very often our ovens aren't actually calibrated, so when you *think* the oven is pre-heated, it might actually not be fully there. And then your meal takes even longer to cook than you thought. Or maybe, it's too hot and you accidentally burn it! You get the gist. Target Promising review:"I've used this on my grill and my oven. I primarily use it in my oven now to ensure the temperature is what I want it to be. It has saved me from burning some baked goods. If you're not sure if you oven temperature is accurate, this is a must own. It's cheap but will keep you from burning the food you worked so hard on. It also has a hand hook to the top, so you can hang it on the oven racks." — Kara 23. A salad spinner that isn't just for lettuce (though we love it for that, too). All those berries you're constantly feeding to your kids? Yeah, take those babies for a spin and they'll dry off and last longer! Target Promsing review:"I don't know how I ever washed lettuce (or any other fruits or veggies) before I had this! It makes it so much easier to prep meals." — Dani S Price: $29.99 24. A two-piece grape cutter that will save you time and give you peace of mind as you're frantically putting together lunches and snacks. No judging if you find yourself cutting grapes (and berries, olives, and cherry tomatoes) for yourself later... it's a fun little tool to use. Target Price: $9.99 25. A silicone baking mat, which is a home cook and baker's BFF as they're a dream to work with and super easy to clean. They make sheet pan dinners even easier! And we all LOVE a sheet pan dinner. Target Promising review:"Game changer! Makes cleaning up after cooking so much easier. My sink and dishwasher are small, so washing baking sheets was always a hassle. This solves that problem!" — momo Price: $21.99 Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
CNN
11-04-2025
- CNN
I tried the latest version of the internet-famous Bissell Little Green. Here's my review
Here at Underscored, we're big fans of the Bissell Little Green. So when a miniature version of the TikTok-famous carpet cleaner came out, I was obviously intrigued. How well would it stack up to the original that's won over so many people? To find out, I put the new Bissell Little Green Mini to the test, purposely staining an area rug and thick carpet with everything from red wine to dirt to see how well it can deep-clean those surfaces. Curious if you should add it to your cleaning arsenal? Keep reading for my full review. Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet Cleaner The latest version of the Little Green has all the features we love about the OG (which has been around since 1993!), but in an even cuter miniature size. It's a great choice for cleaning carpets, mattresses, furniture and more in small homes with limited storage space. Its compact size is great for small spaces (and small messes) My first task while testing the Bissell Little Green Mini was to refresh the middle seat on my couch. I don't have a kitchen table (small apartment problems), so I eat dinner on the couch whenever I'm home. And since I'm a creature of habit, I always sit in the same exact spot — you could tell from the slight discoloration on the lower left of the cushion. I gave the middle cushion a once-over by spraying the solution and extracting until the appliance stopped sucking up liquid, and that was all it took to refresh it. Is it a super noticeable difference? Not really, but I can tell — and I feel good knowing that if I did spill something, I have a good way to clean it up. In the future, I'm sure I'll clean the entire sofa at once. However, it's important to know that this machine is definitely designed for small spaces and minor messes. That's because the main difference between the Little Green and the Little Green Mini is their size. The new model is significantly more compact, so it's easier to store in small spaces — you could easily stash it in a cabinet or under the bed. And as someone who lives in a one-bedroom apartment, I appreciated that I didn't have to scramble to make room for another bulky cleaning tool — it easily fits in my cramped closet. The Little Green Mini also weighs just 7 pounds, compared to the original's nearly 10-pound weight, making it easier to hold in one hand and carry around the house. It comes with a 4-inch nozzle (surprisingly bigger than the original's 3-inch nozzle), which sprays, scrubs and extracts all in one tool. It also has a generous 4-foot hose and 12-foot cord, which allows for plenty of movement without unplugging and finding a closer outlet. If you're trying to deep-clean anything big (like an entire couch), you'll likely need a lot of passes with this portable carpet cleaner. You'll also have to refill the clean water tank and empty the dirty water tank because they're pretty small — but more on that later. You can see exactly what it's extracting Next up, I stained a small, low-pile area rug and a high-pile carpet square with red wine, coffee, olive oil, ketchup, sriracha, soy sauce and dirt. I wanted to see the full potential of the Little Green Mini, so I let those stains set for 24 hours before tackling them with the carpet cleaner. (After all, it's not always possible to clean up messes right away!) This was how I could really get a good look at how the appliance works. As I passed over every stain with the tool, I was able see exactly what it was sucking up since the nozzle has a clear cover. So while I passed over the red wine stain, the liquid getting extracted was tinted burgundy, while the ketchup and sriracha were bright red. Then once most of the stains were extracted, the tool just suctioned up the remaining water and cleaning solution mixture. The dirty water tank was also a great visual of how much work this little cleaner was doing. I was honestly shocked by how disgusting the water in the dirty tank was — a true testament to the fact that it was working. It's easy to set up, use and clean The Little Green Mini required very little assembly before it was ready to use. All I had to do was attach the hose clip and cord bracket. Then, I simply filled the clean water tank with warm tap water and a bit of the included cleaning formula. That's it! Using it is pretty easy too: Just press down on the trigger to spray the solution, scrub the mess with the tool's bristles and then pull the tool toward you to suction it up. And once I was done using the appliance, cleanup was simple. I emptied and rinsed the dirty water tank, and I removed the cleaning tool and rinsed its clear cover and bristles. It also came with a HydroRinse Self-Cleaning Tool, which is designed to rinse the hose so gunk doesn't build up over time. Instructions for using it were pretty self-explanatory: Attach the tool to the hose, hold it upright and press down on the trigger for 30 seconds. (It's worth noting that I experienced a bit of leaking while using this tool, which I'll touch on more later.) A post shared by CNN Underscored (@cnnunderscored) Set-in stains will require pretreatment and a lot of manual work Unfortunately, the Little Green Mini wasn't able to remove most of the set-in stains from the carpet sample or area rug. The coffee and soy sauce stains definitely showed the most improvement, but the red wine stain looked like it was barely touched — and I gave it many, many passes. (Maybe pretreating it with Wine Away would have given better results.) Surprisingly, I had just about the same results when I tested this cleaner out on fresh stains. If you're dealing with major messes (especially set-in stains), I'd strongly suggest pretreating them with a dedicated stain remover before attempting to remove them with the Little Green Mini. It leaks a bit I wasn't initially concerned about the leaking I noticed while cleaning with the Bissell, but once I was done and tidying up, I saw quite a bit of water on my floor, which made me reconsider. In my experience, the clean water tank started dripping the second I turned it upside down, so I suggest waiting until you're right above the appliance before flipping it over and installing it. The troubleshooting guide says leaking would really only be caused by a damaged tank or improperly installed cap, but I tried several times and experienced a bit of leaking no matter what I did. I also noticed some water leaking from the hose nozzle while using the HydroRinse tool, so I wish I had used that over the sink. The tanks don't hold as much as they seem to Even though the water tanks are pretty big, the size is actually quite misleading. Both the clean and dirty tanks seem like they could actually hold so much more liquid than the max fill lines indicate. I'm sure there's some reason why they can't be filled to the top, but it just feels like there's a lot of empty, wasted space. The clean tank is designed to hold 16 ounces, while the dirty tank can hold 13.5 ounces — and that's significantly different compared to the capacity of the original Little Green, which could hold 48 ounces in the clean tank and 45 ounces in the dirty tank. I had to refill the clean tank twice and empty the dirty tank once while cleaning the area rug. Another reason why the Mini is better suited for small spaces! Is this appliance a miracle worker when it comes to stains? Definitely not. But still, at just under $100, it's a great portable carpet cleaner for people who live in small spaces or simply don't want to deal with a bulky full-size model. And it has such a small footprint that I honestly won't mind keeping it on hand for the occasional spill or yearly spring cleaning refresh. (And yes, I will update this review with more insights as I continue to use the Little Green Mini over time.) Should you use hot or cold water in the Bissell Little Green Mini? Should you use hot or cold water in the Bissell Little Green Mini? Bissell recommends using warm tap water (140 degrees Fahrenheit max) in the Little Green Mini. During testing, I used warm water from my kitchen faucet, which was about 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to my Oxo instant-read thermometer. Does the Bissell Little Green Mini need a cleaning solution? Does the Bissell Little Green Mini need a cleaning solution? For best results, you'll need more than just water in the Bissell Little Green Mini — especially if you're dealing with stains. The brand recommends using its Little Green Oxy Spot & Stain solution (a sample bottle comes with the appliance), but you may have success with other types of carpet cleaner formulas. I also suggest pretreating deep stains with a stain remover first. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, our home and gifts editor Amina Lake Patel tested the new Bissell Little Green Mini on multiple surfaces to see how well it works.
