Our Official Review of the Bissell Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Mop

Welcome to Skimm Tested, where we put products to the test and then give 'em a report card. (Check out all of our tried and tested faves here.)

The assignment…

To see if the Bissell CrossWave Cordless Max All-in-One Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Mop ($399.99) is an effective two-in-one product that actually gets the cleaning job done.

Straight A’s in…

• Ease. This is a two-in-one product so you can vacuum and mop at the same time. If you have a pet that sheds (or loves to make a mess), it cleans up hair or accidents fast. And the fact that it’s cordless makes for an even easier and quicker cleaning session, which we love. 

• Versatility. You can use it on your floors, linoleum, wood, tile, and rugs — wet, dry or yep, even both at the same time for a deeper clean. We especially love it for carpet spills too. When you’re ready to switch from carpeting to wooden floors, all you have to do is click a single button. There’s also a lever on the handle that’ll deposit extra cleaning solution onto a given surface if your space feels extra grimey. 

• Smart features. The vacuum can be linked to the Bissell app so you can track battery life, and when to replace the filter, formula, and brush. It also has a hub for instructions, so you don’t have to hold on to the paper manual. Plus, the machine has a self-cleaning feature while in its charging dock to help keep the vacuum’s brush head in good condition.

Room for growth…

• Suction power. While the clean was effective, we found that sometimes switching between the wet and dry settings on one surface made it harder to pick up debris. For example, our editor mopped on hardwood and then attempted to use the dry vacuum setting and found it was difficult for the machine to pick up debris off of an already wet surface. It took a couple passes to get the job done. 

• Machine upkeep. Ironically, cleaning the Bissell after use has more steps than using the vacuum to wipe up your floors. After the self-cleaning cycle, our editor had to disassemble the parts, wash by hand, and leave out to dry before assembling again. 

• Cost. At $399.99, it’s not cheap — though you are getting a mop and a vacuum cleaner in one. 

• Required accessories. You have to use Bissell’s cleaning solution with the device. In the starter pack, you get four 8-ounce samples and a little goes a long way. But, it’s still another product you’ll need to purchase down the line.

Plays well with…

• Those who love fresh, clean floors but don’t want to spend hours using multiple machines and products to get ’em.  

• Parents and pet-owners alike thanks to its ability to clean up hair and messes quickly.

• Anyone sick of being tangled up in wires when they clean. 30 minutes of cordless battery life = a hassle-free win. 

Gets extra credit for…

• At 10 x 10.25 x 45.5 inches, the tool and its sleek charging dock should fit into closets. 

• A two-tank technology (one tank in the back of the vacuum houses the solution and one tank in the front of the vacuum holds any dirty water and debris that gets picked up) so you’re never cleaning with dirt or grime. 

• All the different types of specialized cleaning solutions you can buy. From one for pets and general sanitizing to one for multi-surface and wood floors, there’s something for your every need.

• Every purchase from Bissell supports their foundation to save homeless pets in need.

How we did our homework…

• One Skimm HQ’r cleaned her apartment with the Bissell vacuum over the course of several weeks. She used it on multiple surfaces — from the tile in her bathrooms to the hardwood and carpet in her bedroom and living room. She used the vacuum for deep and quick cleanings in both the mop and vac settings. She was mindful of how clean her space ended up, how much suction power she used, how many passes over a single surface she needed to do in order to entirely pick up detritus, and how long the assembly and general maintenance of the machine took.

Footnotes…

• $399.99, Bissell

• The starter kits comes with four sample-sized bottles of the corresponding cleaning formulas and two replaceable brush rolls

• 30 minutes of cordless cleaning from rechargeable battery

• Safe to use on everything from tile and linoleum to wood floors and rugs