As a long-time household name in reliable floor care appliances, Bissell commands a high level of brand loyalty. Its steam mops come at comfortable price points, and the company places a lot of importance on making its products pet-friendly. If you’re looking for a safe way to sanitize your floors, check out these Bissell steam mops.
Our Recommended Bissell Steam Mops in 2023
Affordable Option
Bissell Powerfresh Deluxe Steam Mop 1806
Handles stubborn messes. The PowerFresh Deluxe‘s 12-inch floor head detaches when you push the foot pedal, revealing a stiff-bristled brush you can use to scrub away sticky grime. Although steam mops require no cleaning chemicals, you can add one of Bissell’s scent discs to the onboard tray to leave a light fragrance on your floors.
A triangular handle makes the 6-pound swiveling steam mop easy to steer. The reservoir holds 16 ounces of water, which means you don’t have to tote it to the sink. You can choose from two levels of continuous steam on the digital control panel, and the 25-foot cord gives you a wide working radius.
- Every Bissell purchase helps save pets. Bissell proudly supports Bissell pet foundation...
- Sanitize your hard floors to eliminate 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria without the use...
Popular Option
Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop 1940
Sanitize your carpets too. If you have carpeting in your house, you’ll appreciate the glider attachment. Touch controls allow you to quickly switch from low to medium or high continuous steam. Once you fill the 16-ounce reservoir and turn on the 1,500-watt PowerFresh mop, it only takes 30 seconds for the water to produce steam.
Bissell includes a regular microfiber pad and a scrubbing pad with the 6-pound PowerFresh 1940 for light and medium-duty cleanup. The pivoting floor head even has a flip-down brush to tackle the most difficult of messes and a fragrance-disc compartment. At 23 feet, the cord length is more than decent, and the ergonomically designed handle offers a comfortable grip.
- Clean and sanitize sealed hard floors without the use of harsh chemicals; Eliminates 99.9...
- Power through tough, sticky messes with the flip down easy scrubber
Best of the Best
Bissell Symphony Pet 1543A
Vacuum while you mop. Save time by pressing the digital vacuum button on the looped handle to suction and steam mop simultaneously. The Symphony produces two levels of on-demand steam in under 1 minute, and there’s onboard storage available for the 12.84-ounce reservoir’s measuring cup. When you’re done, rear hooks allow for neat wrapping of the 25-foot power cord.
A scent disc-compatible reusable mop pad and a scrub pad come with the Symphony, or you can use disposable pads by attaching them to the quick-release tray. The 11-inch-wide floor head is affixed with side brushes that edge clean, and an ingenious lever helps loosen hair from the bottom-opening, stay-dry dirt bin.
- Every BISSELL purchase helps save pets. BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation...
- Vacuum And Steam Your Floors At The Same Time
Alternative Brand
Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner S3501
Twice the mopping time. The Steam Pocket by Shark comes with two dual-sided microfiber pads. When one side gets dirty, a quick flip of the head lets you keep cleaning for longer. You’ll also appreciate the quick-release hooks that wrap the 20-foot power cord and the wide 12-inch cleaning path of the swiveling mop head.
An extendable pole and a soft ring-shaped handle make using the 4.87-pound steam mop an almost effortless endeavor. The integrated 15-ounce tank has a small viewing window, so you can monitor the water level and refill it with the included cup. With a manual control mechanism, you can release steam on demand.
- SUPER-HEATED STEAM: The Shark Steam Pocket Mop turns ordinary water into super-heated...
- QUICK & EFFORTLESS: Get on-demand steam ready in just 30 seconds for quick & easy results.
Bissell Steam Mop Buying Guide
Our buying guide covers everything you need to know about all of Bissell’s steam mops, and there are several kinds. There are those that are meant strictly for floors, while others can clean floors and other surfaces. If you want a floor cleaner that vacuums and mops, Bissell has those too.
Maneuverability
Bissell steam mops are made with maneuverability in mind. No matter your age or mobility, they are lightweight enough for anyone to use. From the Steam Mop Select to the PowerFresh Deluxe, the floor-only steam mops weigh in the 5.5 to 6.5-pound range. This also makes them easy to tote up and down the stairs.
In addition to their lightweight frame, each one of Bissell’s steam mops has a looped handle. If you suffer from arthritis or carpal tunnel, a looped handle will ease the strain on your wrist. This type of handle also helps people steer and control a swiveling steam mop, which is something all of Bissell’s non-suctioning steam mops do.
The Steam Mop Select has one of the shortest cord at 18 feet, which is suitable for almost any bathroom and the average kitchen. In rooms bigger than 200 square feet, you’ll need a steam mop with a power cord 20 feet or longer, such as the PowerFresh or PowerFresh Deluxe with their 23-foot and 25-foot cord, respectively.
Scrubbing Power
The size and shape of a steam mop’s floor head determine the amount of floor it can cover in one pass and how well it can clean along wall edges, furniture and kick plates. Bissell’s floor-only steam mops come with a triangular or pentagonal floor head, and they are sufficiently wide, ranging from 11.7 to 12 inches.
For floor cleaning, you’ll need a steam mop that has a soft pad and a scrubber. With each steam mop, Bissell includes at least one soft reusable microfiber pad and a washable scrubby pad. If you have children or pets, you’ll need a brush apparatus such as the PowerFresh’s flip-down brush or the Deluxe’s hidden scrubber.
Steam Control
Some steam mops only release steam at a single level while others produce variable levels of steam. If there are no children or animals in your house to make sticky and gross messes, a basic steam mop with one flow level is a fine choice, such as the Steam Mop Select.
If you’re looking for more control over the steam output, go with a model that generates more than one level of steam. With the PowerFresh Deluxe, you can choose between two levels; the standard PowerFresh offers three. Changing the output is incredibly easy thanks to Bissell’s use of digital buttons.
Don’t forget to consider the reservoir’s capacity. The more water it can hold, the longer you can clean without stopping for a refill. Bissell’s floor-only steam mops are equipped with rather large water tanks. The PowerFresh Deluxe’s reservoir is the biggest with a capacity of 19 ounces. While smaller at 16 ounces, the PowerFresh’s tank is still sizeable.
Combo Steam Mops
Bissell also caters to people who want to do more with their steam mop than just sanitize a floor. Several of the brand’s steam mops have a handheld unit that’s designed to detach from the mop’s frame. With these combo steam mops, you can clean anywhere the power cord can reach.
Models like the PowerFresh Lift-Off and its Pet version are great for cleaning toys, appliances and countertops. While they come with microfiber pads for mopping the floor, Bissell also includes above-floor cleaning tools. The Lift-Off has a brush and a grout-scrubber, and the Pet Lift-Off comes with those tools plus 10 others and a storage bag.
The PowerFresh Slim has a rectangular head for floor mopping and a detachable handheld steamer for surface cleaning. To reach high-up areas without pulling out the step ladder, you can remove the head and keep the wand attached. With this steam mop, you get seven tools and a storage hook that mounts on the wall.
Steam Mops That Vacuum
Steam mops that also vacuum provide the ultimate convenience factor. They let you skip the sweeping step that’s usually necessary before steam mopping. Bissell’s Symphony models offer simultaneous steam and suction. The digital control panel has two steam-level choices, and it has an option for vacuuming only.
Although heavier than Bissell’s non-vacuuming steam mops, neither Symphony models weigh more than 10 pounds, and they work with reusable or disposable mop pads. With the Symphony Pet, you also get the benefit of a dirt bin that has a hair-loosening mechanism designed to keep your hands clean.
FAQs
Bissell has been in business for over 140 years. Started in 1876, the founders of Bissell created a floor sweeper to make sawdust cleanup more efficient. Today, Bissell manufactures every type of residential floor-care appliance and tool imaginable.
Like all good companies, Bissell has corporate responsibility goals. Bissell is heavily focused on animal welfare, donating to animal shelters and creating a registry for lost pets. The company’s strong commitment to animals is why many of their products have features specifically designed with pet owners in mind.
The benefit of the Bissell Symphony’s simultaneous-suction feature is obvious – less time spent on floor prep. When run together, the steam and suction functions use 1,500 watts. This number of watts is the standard for steam mops because most homes have 15-amp outlets; 1,500 watt is a safe load for this amperage.
Out of the 1,500 watts, 400 are dedicated to the suction system. 400 watts comes nowhere near what an upright vacuum uses. Therefore, while the Bissell Symphony and Symphony Pet can suck up crumbs on hard floors, they can’t deep-clean carpet. These steam mops also lack a brushroll, which vacuums depend on for lifting debris from carpet fibers.
There are plenty of features on Bissell’s steam mops we like that are universal (or close to it). They are all lightweight and have digital controls, making them easy to use. Almost all of them have a swiveling head for enhanced maneuverability, and their reservoirs are easy to fill.
At 1,500 watts (1,100 for the Symphony models), strong steam power is guaranteed. Plus, each one has a steam-ready light, so you never have to guess when the mop is ready. No matter the water capacity, heating time takes about 30 seconds, which is unbeatable.
The beauty of steam is that it’s 212 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This temperature makes steam naturally germicidal, disinfecting the surfaces and floors with which it comes into contact. Although it’s tempting to add a disinfectant to your Bissell steam mop’s reservoir for extra germ-killing assurance, doing so will damage the tank and release fumes that could be toxic.
If leaving a post-mopping scent is your main goal, Bissell has products you can use that are safe for steam mops. The PowerFresh steam mops are compatible with Bissell’s Spring Breeze fragrance discs. These scented discs tuck into the mop pad or sit in a dedicated compartment, depending on the model.
You also have the option of adding scented water to the reservoir. Bissell has three scents from which to choose – Citrus, Eucalyptus Mint and Spring Breeze. Created just for steam mops, these scented waters are demineralized, and they won’t leave behind residue that will dull the sheen on your floor.
In our buying guide, we briefly discussed the advantage that steam mops with a triangular or pentagonal floor head have over those with a rectangular head. Triangular and pentagonal floor heads can zip along the edges of walls. They also do well at cleaning in corners, particularly triangular heads.
However, steam mops with rectangular heads do offer their own benefits. Bissell’s sole steam mop with a rectangular head, the PowerFresh Slim, boasts a wider cleaning path than the triangular/pentagonal models. Since it swivels and has a low profile, it can fit in tighter spots such as that area of floor between your toilet and the wall.
While browsing for steam mops, you’ve probably noticed that their specs describe the steam output as either on-demand or continuous. On-demand steam mops are controlled by a trigger you squeeze to release steam. When you want to stop the steam flow, let go of the trigger. The Bissell Steam Mop Select produces steam on demand.
Generating steam from continuous steam mops only requires a quick button press. To halt the flow, you press the button again. You don’t need to keep the button depressed to release steam, and many people prefer this setup because it’s easier on the hand. Most of Bissell’s steam mops make continuous steam, including the PowerFresh, PowerFresh Deluxe and Symphony.
Overall, steam mops are more effective floor cleaners than wet-pad and string mops. No matter the features any particular steam mop has, the mere fact that it produces hot steam gives them the advantage.
Combined, the heat and moisture from the steam can loosen messes that are so stubborn you’d need a paint scraper to remove otherwise. This power doesn’t mean that you can effortlessly lift hardened, stuck-on grime. For those messes, you’ll need to use some elbow grease. Bissell’s steam mops that have a built-in brush make these tasks easier.
For the same reason you shouldn’t put a floor-cleaning solution in a steam mop’s reservoir, you shouldn’t add bleach to it. Bleach is highly corrosive, and it will break down the integrity of the steam mop’s internal components and the reservoir too. While vinegar seems like a safe, natural alternative to bleach, it’s too acidic for a steam mop.
There are a few steam mops such as the original PowerFresh that come with a carpet glider, which is simply a frame that attaches to the bottom of the floor head. This frame elevates the head, putting a safe distance between the steam outlet and the carpet and allowing the mop to move smoothly.
When you steam mop your carpet, you can kill bacteria and dust mites at the surface. Allergy sufferers find a carpet glider particularly useful. The lower the carpet pile, the better the result. Still, a steam mop is not a replacement for a carpet steam cleaner, which has the ability to thoroughly clean your carpet below the surface.
Hardwood and stone floors are often protected by a sealant that prevents moisture and dirt from damaging the surface. Tile grout is also sealed to resist stains. Any floor that is sealed is safe to clean with a steam mop as long as you don’t overexpose them to steam by leaving the mop in one place for too long.
On the other hand, unsealed floors are a no-go for steam mopping. Without that protective coat, unsealed grout, stone and hardwood will be destroyed by the heat and water. If unsealed and cleaned regularly with a steam mop, grout will erode, stone will stain and hardwoods will swell and warp.
Minerals in water can clog steam mops. Even those made by well-known manufacturers like Bissell are not impervious to the occasional clog. To unclog a steam mop, push a paper clip through the nozzle and run the mop on a full tank filled with an inexpensive descaler.
There is no appliance or chemical that destroys 100 percent of all germs. The best products eliminate 99.9 percent of germs, and steam mops are one such product. Among its long list of contaminants it can kill, steam mops get rid of mold, cold viruses and bacteria like E. coli and staphylococcus.
If you’re steam mopping after a nasty cold has circulated through your house, you’ll need to go over the floor at least twice. Most bacteria die after 3 minutes of exposure to heat at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Since you shouldn’t let your steam mop linger too long in one spot, a twice-over will be necessary.
Buying Guides
Are Bissell Steam Mops Worth the Money?
Bissell Steam Mops: Takeaways
Bissell has a long-standing reputation for making reliable household appliances, and its steam mops are no exception. There are models to suit budgets of all sizes, and Bissell offers a nice selection of floor-only, combo and simultaneous-suction steam mops. When affordability, dependability and usability matter equally, a Bissell steam mop is the way to go.
Our Recommended Steam Mops
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Last Update: 2024-04-17 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
