Should I buy an upright carpet cleaner or a portable spot cleaner?

Verified-purchase buyers consistently describe these as complementary rather than interchangeable. Full-size uprights like the Bissell Big Green, Hoover PowerScrub and Bissell ProHeat are built for cleaning whole rooms of wall-to-wall carpet, while compact units like the Bissell Little Green are praised for spot-treating stains, stairs, upholstery and car interiors. Many households end up owning both.