Bissell CrossWave Cordless 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Cleaner review
CLEANING the floor generally requires at least two steps – vacuuming and washing – so it’s not usually a quick job.
Add children and pets into the mix and floor cleaning becomes an almost daily chore, which is where the Bissell CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner comes in.
This has to be one of the best floor cleaners available; it works on different floor surfaces, and vacuums as it washes and even dries your floors – and it’s cordless, so no running (or tripping) over the cable.
Bissell CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner, £229
With multiple kids and a shedding dog in the house, not to mention cooking and eating every meal at home for the past few weeks, I've had a lot of cleaning to do recently.
So I was excited to try the Bissell CrossWave to see if it could cut the amount of time I spend cleaning.
The model I reviewed has been updated with this new version but is otherwise much the same in terms of specs and ease of use.
Pros
- Does three jobs at once
- cordless
- suitable for hard floors and carpet
- easy to use
- separate dirty water tank
- hair collector
- self-cleaning function
Cons:
- Expensive
Rating: 5/5
Bissell CrossWave Cordless review: quick summary
For most people with kids and pets, the cleaning process at the end of each day is pretty laborious.
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It's not unusual to do a light clean involving a dustpan and brush, mop and then vacuum.
That's where the Bissell CrossWave comes in: it wet cleans, vacuums and dries, on laminate, tiles and carpet, in one easy-to-use, cordless device.
From spilled drinks and food mess after a meal, to morning craft sessions that have left the floor covered in paint and glitter, it will wash pretty much any surface (laminate, wood, vinyl, rubber, carpet) and pick up dirt and debris, cutting down on cleaning time.
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Two-button design
I found the Bissell CrossWave incredibly easy to use.
There are buttons for carpet and hard floors depending on what you're cleaning and there's a trigger that controls the wet cleaning function.
If there's a particularly pesky stain or area, you can hold down the trigger for a few seconds to clean it more thoroughly
It's so easy to use that even my kids were asking to help out with the cleaning (a rare treat indeed).
Better yet, while I usually struggle to find the time and inclination to clean, I seem to be gravitating towards this wet-dry vacuum a couple of times a day.
The design is cordless, so you won't be tripping over wires or wasting time extending cords as you move from room to room.
It's also good for accessing and cleaning edges - in the kitchen, for example, where you've dropped potato peelings or have cereal crumbs.
Bissell CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner, £229
Separate tanks and brush roll
The Bissell CrossWave has two separate tanks: one to fill with clean water and detergent, and the other to collect dirty water.
The dirty water tank also has a removable divider for collecting hair and dirt, which is easy to empty out and clean after each session.
You may not have to do this each time, but my shedding dog means the machine collects plenty of hair from each room I use it in.
The front of the device houses a spinning, removable brush roll, which is designed for different floor surfaces. The soft section absorbs the cleaning solution to mop, while bristles help to release dirt so it can be sucked up more easily.
Bissell CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner, £229
Battery life
This cordless design is easily rechargeable on its storage tray stand, and claims to last up to 25 minutes per charge on its 36V battery.
I found that to be pretty accurate; one charge should get you through a quick, end-of-day cleanup on one floor.
For more intensive weekend deep cleans (not really what this device was designed for, but something I thought I’d try anyway) you can easily do every room in a few charges.
I like that you can see the battery display icon as it's charging, so you know when the device is ready to go again. It needs 30-60 minutes on charge before it's ready to use again, although a full charge takes a few hours.
Self-cleaning
The CrossWave has a handy self-cleaning mode: when it's charging, you simply add water to the tray, hold the button down to start the cycle and empty the water tank when dirty.
What attachments do you get?
The CrossWave includes a docking tray, multi-surface brush roll and multi-surface cleaning formula sample.
Bissell CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner, £229
Bissell CrossWave Cordless review: final verdict
After testing, I’ve become a big fan of the Bissell CrossWave Cordless 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Cleaner.
While cleaning can be an arduous task, especially with young kids and pets in the house, the CrossWave made it a lot more enjoyable, and convenient and the floors haven't looked this good in ages.
Plus, instead of feeling like it's a chore to clean, I really enjoyed using it.
The simplicity of shifting from hard floor to carpet with the press of a button, holding down the trigger for deeper stain removal and then having time to sit on the sofa and admire my handiwork, when I'd normally still be cleaning, made me a complete convert.
The cordless design is also really convenient, and it's easy to clean out the dirty water and debris filter afterwards.
If you have pets and kids in the house and typically find yourself using a combination of mop, hoover, dustpan and brush, this device is a real time-saver.
Bissell CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner, £229
Where can I buy Bissell in the UK?
All of Bissell’s cleaning products are available on its website, but the brand is so well-known you’re bound to find it stocked by a wide range of retailers, from homewares shops to department stores, high-street chains to supermarkets.
In addition to multi-floor cleaners, Bissell also offers spot cleaners, vacuums, sweepers, cleaners designed specifically for hard floors, carpet shampooers and steam cleaners. They also sell a variety of detergents and stain removers for carpets, hard floors and wool upholstery, as well as products designed to remove pet odours.
We have found Bissell floor cleaners at:
Is there an alternative to the Bissell CrossWave Cordless?
There are multi-function products available that do the same work as the Bissell CrossWave Cordless, namely vacuum, wash and dry floors. These include the Tineco FLOOR ONE S5 Extreme Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner and the VAX ONEPWR Glide 2, which are comparable in cost, but are for hard floors only as far as we can see, as there’s no mention of cleaning rugs or carpets.
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Alternatively – and if you have a bigger budget – you could go for a state-of-the-art robot vacuum mop such as the iRobot Roomba i5+ we reviewed or the eufy Clean X9 Pro with Auto-Clean Station
You can of course also buy floor cleaners with separate functions – steam mops, cordless vacuums, carpet cleaners and spray mops – if you prefer a dedicated tool for each task. Check out our reviews for help in selecting the best cordless vacuum, the best steam mop or the best floor cleaner for your home; also see our reviews of the Karcher Electric Wiping Mop, the Bissell HydroWave Carpet Cleaner and the Henry Quick Cordless Vacuum for even more floor-cleaning inspiration.