Bissell Crosswave All-in-One – a multi-surface cleaner for every need

I was talking about the new Bissell Crosswave in last month’s newsletter. I promised I will return with a review, so here we are, talking about this new multi-surface cleaner from Bissell which is already featured in the new releases sections on Amazon, QVC, HSN and many other online and offline retail stores out there. As a new product entering the market, I can see the appeal of owning one of these, because it does the job of both vacuuming and scrub-mopping floors. Before I put my hands on the product, I couldn’t help observing the specs similarities with the first Hoover Floormate which I’ve reviewed a year ago, and which was supposed to perform the same type of cleaning (vacuuming and scrubbing at the same time). Unlike its competitors, in the case of the Crosswave the transition between carpets and hard floors is easy and thanks to a light design, the maneuverability is far superior. But these are just a few tiny aspects worth mentioning in the beginning. I would really like to get further into details and I bet you do too, so here’s what you’ll find out from me in the next 2-3 minutes:

• what are the complete product specifications of the Bissell Crosswave
• how usable is this multi-surface cleaner on different types of surfaces
• a guide to choosing the cleaning solutions and their respective brushrolls
• how it compares with Hoover FloorMate SpinScrub and Bissell Symphony
• where to find a good deal for it

The appearance

The specs

Cleaning Power

As I was saying, Bissell Crosswave vacuums and scrubs at the same time. Usually when assessing the cleaning power of a vacuum cleaner, there are 2 things to consider – suction and agitation. The Crosswave however is not only a vacuum cleaner, as it uses a cleaning solution in the cycle, so it’s more closely related to carpet cleaners. That is why I am not rating only the suction here. By the way, the last carpet cleaner from Bissell was the Revolution model, a great lightweight unit. If you have wall to wall carpets, I recommend getting this instead. Now back to our review, I would say that the suction power of the Crosswave is around 100-150 AWs. As for the agitation, the Dual-Action brushroll (which works on both hard floors and area rugs) spins at 3,000 rpm. This provides enough cleaning power to help you tackle virtually any type of floor, from hardwood up to low pile carpet.

Input power

It pulls about 4.4 amps of power when running, so energy wise, this is a very efficient and effective product for normal day-to-day or week-to-week usage.

Water tank(s)

It has a two-tank cleaning system, one for dirty water (which holds about 14.5 ounces of liquid) with an automatic stopping mechanism in place for avoiding the overflow of dirty water back onto your clean floors, and one for clean water and solution, which holds about 28 ounces of liquid. The dual tank system assures that the clean and dirty water never get mixed together and therefore adds a level of cleaning stability. Unfortunately, with a full tank, you can only cover about 700 sq ft., so you will need to refill from time to time, if you plan on using the Crosswave over larger areas. The clean water tank has no level indicator, so you need to check it out from time to time.

Filtration

The filter assembly pictured in the right image is retaining most airborne particles outputted by the unit. This is a washable part, but make sure it is completely dry before inserting it back into the unit. The filtration is not HEPA grade, but I wouldn’t expect having this kind of filtration from an all-in-one machine in the first place. If the filter gets worn out, it can be replaced for less than $10, directly from the manufacturer’s website.

Dimensions

At a mere 11 pounds, 46 inches tall, and a little over 11 inches wide, it is small enough to fit in a corner or closet. It also comes with a tray that you can place under the unit. This will protect your floor from being damaged by the constant storage in the same spot. In fact, I recommend that you remove the brushroll before storage and place it in the specially designed brushroll tray. It is a self-standing device, so there’s no need to find something to lean it against.

Accessories

There aren’t too many accessories to talk about. The easy storage system consists of a nozzle tray and a brush roll attached tray. Other than this, the user manual and the quick start guide, all the components from the package are meant to be assembled into the main unit. Depending on which model you buy, the package may also contain one of the cleaning formulas described below (small bottles, 8 oz).

Special features

The swivel head makes it easy to reach into tighter spaces. It lays down at a very low angle, allowing you to grab the obsolete dust bunnies hiding under your furniture. It swivels around so that when you move into corners or around other objects, you can do so with ease and without the bulkiness, discomfort, and awkwardness of a usual vacuum or carpet cleaner.

The controls are easy to access. Fingertip buttons are strategically placed on the handle in such a way that you don’t actually have to think about which buttons you are pushing for whatever effect you are trying to achieve. Whenever you want to apply more solution, all you need to do is to push the button inside, which also lightens up the LED on the nozzle. Unfortunately, the LED doesn’t stay on, and only lightens when more cleaning solution is added.

Usability

The easy transition from hard floors to rugs is one of the main reasons why I like this product. Bissell continues its line of innovative and useful products. Instead of using the traditional cleaning methods (a normal vacuum and a mop) you can now get the Bissell Crosswave and have all the functionalities in a single device.

It does not have a water filtration system nor does it have a built-in water heating system. For an effective and deep clean, you are instructed in the owner’s manual to mix warm water with the solution that is included or which can be bought separately. Don’t worry, I will cover the cleaning solutions in dept in the next section.

The cord is about 25 feet long. Moving from room to room is easy, and you save time by not having to stop and unplug just to re-plug in another outlet in another room. The length would do, but unfortunately, it is not retractable and may get under the machine from time to time.

It is also very easy to assemble: just a few click-into-place pieces and you are ready to use your new product. It makes a high pitch sound when the dirty tank has reached its full capacity. Then you just simply unhook the dirty tank and dump it out to finish the job you are currently doing. Speaking of sounds, the unit operates under 62 db. It leaves no residue from the cleaning solution and dries quickly so you can avoid any slips or falls or worse, any damp carpets. It is ideal for high traffic areas. The only drawback I see is that it takes some time to spray the solution and go back over it. However, watching the dirt and nastiness being sucked up into the tank is liberating.

One more thing you may find uncomfortable: once you snip the handle on, you can’t detach it back.

Warranty

Usually comes with a 2-year limited warranty; it is a Bissell product so it is very reputable, as Bissell is one of the top manufacturers of home cleaning equipment. If you buy it directly from BissellCrosswave.com, you get an additional 2-year extension, summing up to 4 years of warranty, which is a lot for a product such as this.

Price

The price of this unit is about $250. Occasionally, you may snap some discounts. At the moment, you can get a good deal on the Crosswave here. Other places from where you can buy it include the producer’s main site and the official page of the product, BissellCrosswave.com.

Brushrolls and Cleaning solutions

Depending on which type of floor you want to clean, you may choose among 3 different brush rolls/cleaning solutions. By the way, before buying Bissell cleaning solutions, make sure you check out my special guide on cleaning products:

	Multi-Surface	Wood Floors	Area rugs
Type of brushroll	Multi-Surface brushroll	Wood Floors brushroll	Area rugs brushroll
Type of cleaning formula	32 oz. Multi-Surface cleaning formula	32 oz. Wood Floors cleaning formula	32 oz. Area rugs cleaning formula

Bissell Crosswave vs Hoover Floormate SpinScrub vs Bissell Symphony

I wanted to compare the Crosswave with some devices which do a similar job, but it is very hard since there aren’t many products which can mop and vacuum at the same time. Here’s the chart I’ve come up with:

	Bissell Crosswave	Hoover Floormate SpinScrub	Bissell Symphony
Vacuums	Yes	Yes	Yes
Scrubs	Yes / sort of	Yes	No
Steams	No	No	Yes
Tank Capacity	28 oz	32 oz.	13.5 oz.
Weight	11 lbs.	16 lbs.	10 lbs.
Cord Length	25 ft.	27 ft.	25 ft.
Nozzle Width	11 inches	13 inches	11 inches
Warranty	2 years / 4 years	1 year	2 years / 3 years
Wood Floor Brush	Yes	No	No
Area Rug Brush	Yes	No	No

Final thoughts and VGMhy

In conclusion, the Bissell Crosswave is not really the ultimate two-in-one cleaning machine, but it is a worthy appliance. There are many who don’t trust or use any product that claims to do 2 things at once. Usually, there is always one or the other which is lacking, but this is not the case here. The 1785A does exactly what it says it does, and thus it eliminates the need of owning 2 or 3 separate cleaning instruments. The fact that all you have to do when you are done is to simply unsnap the tanks and to dump them is a great time saver for families who are way too busy to tote a bucket or dustpan from room to room. And the titanium and white sleek design ensures that if it is stored somewhat out in the open, it doesn’t provoke a horrible eye sore. The only real drawbacks I could find on this product are the small tank and that it takes a while to clean with it, as you need to move slowly. Otherwise, I am overall satisfied, so here’s my VGMhy:

VGMhy table for Bissell Crosswave

What do you think about the Bissell Crosswave 1785 series? Would you say it is revolutionary piece of home cleaning equipment? I am looking forward to reading your comments!