The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam is a corded multi-surface cleaner. It builds on older units like the BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro with a steaming function meant to clean sticky stains more effectively. It features a slightly more powerful motor than that older model but shares many other components, including its filter arrangement and brushroll design.
Our Verdict
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam is okay for bare floors. It's quite good at its intended purpose, which is removing stains from hard floors, and its solid debris pickup performance isn't bad either. That said, this is a somewhat bulky, heavy machine that can be challenging to maneuver in cramped quarters. It also incurs somewhat high recurring costs and has several parts that you need to clean periodically, though thankfully, this is an easy appliance to take apart and reassemble.
- Decent build quality.
- Good debris pickup performance on bare floors.
- Excellent stain-clearing capability.
- Bulky, heavy design.
- Range is a little short for some situations.
- Not intended for clearing away heavier debris.
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam is a sub-par choice for low-pile carpet. Its soft roller provides little surface agitation on this kind of surface, and as such, it struggles with finer debris caught in carpet fibers. It also lacks any surface adjustment features and can easily get caught on lighter area rugs.
- Decent build quality.
- Bulky, heavy design.
- Poor debris pickup on carpets.
- Range is a little short for some situations.
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam's performance on high-pile carpet is passable. If you have a lot of high-pile carpeting in your home, you could do better with a more conventional vacuum. Its floorhead lacks a height adjustment function, so it can get stuck on thick rugs. It doesn't provide enough power or surface agitation to dig deep into high-pile carpet fibers and pull up heavily embedded debris. Beyond that, it does an okay job of handling medium-sized and bulky debris.
- Decent build quality.
- Bulky, heavy design.
- Poor debris pickup on carpets.
- Range is a little short for some situations.
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam is a poor choice for pet owners. It has a really hard time dealing with pet hair on carpets, and it can't be reconfigured into a semi-handheld vacuum to clean hair on furniture or in tight corners. Its filter also does very little to capture fine allergens, which can be blown free from its exhaust. It's also loud enough to startle pets that are especially sensitive to louder noises. On the upside, its mopping function does a good job of clearing away dried-on stains, which is handy if your pet tracks in mud or dirt into your home.
- Decent build quality.
- Excellent stain-clearing capability.
- No handheld configuration.
- A little loud while running.
- Does a terrible job of trapping fine allergens.
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam is a middling option for cleaning stairs. It's quite heavy and can't be reconfigured into a handheld vacuum to clean risers or tight corners. Its power cord is also a little on the short side, and you might run out of slack if you don't have any outlets close to your stairs.
- Decent build quality.
- Good debris pickup performance on bare floors.
- Bulky, heavy design.
- No handheld configuration.
- Poor debris pickup on carpets.
- Range is a little short for some situations.
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam isn't designed to clean your car's interior.
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam isn't designed for workshop cleaning but isn't necessarily bad for light-duty cleanups. It'll do a good job of clearing away lightweight household debris, but it isn't meant for picking up workshop debris like wood or metal shavings.
- Decent build quality.
- Good debris pickup performance on bare floors.
- Range is a little short for some situations.
- Not intended for clearing away heavier debris.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
There's only one colorway for the BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam: 'Black/Titanium with Copper Harbor accents.' You can see the label of the model we tested here. You can buy this vacuum as part of a bundle, which comes with two Pet Multi-Surface Brush Rolls, one FreshStart™ Multi-Surface Brush Roll, two 8oz Hard Floor Tough Mess + Odour Eliminator Formula bottles, one 8oz PET Clean + Natural Multi-Surface Formula bottle, two CrossWave® Filters, and one FreshStart™ Filter.
Let us know in the discussions below if you come across another variant of this vacuum.
Popular Vacuum Comparisons
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam is a multi-surface cleaner. It's mostly an improvement on other CrossWave models, such as the BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro and BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max, with a more powerful motor and a steaming function that results in superior stain-clearing performance. That said, it's also quite heavy and has a somewhat bulky design that makes it rather difficult to maneuver.
If you're looking for an alternative, see our recommendations for the best vacuums for tile floors, the best vacuums for hardwood floors, and the best laminate floor vacuums.
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam is a slight improvement on the BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro, but the latter does have its own advantages. The HydroSteam offers better stain-clearing performance, and its more powerful motor allows it to clear away debris in cracks and crevices a little more easily. However, the CrossWave Pet Pro is noticeably lighter and easier to maneuver, and it has an easier time dealing with pet hair on carpets.
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam is better than the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max. The HydroSteam provides better debris-pickup performance on bare floors, and its steam-release function results in superior stain-clearing performance. On the other hand, the CrossWave Cordless Max has a lighter, more maneuverable build, and its cordless design makes it easier to clean faraway areas.
The BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam and the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine are somewhat different propositions. The Dyson is essentially a conventional cordless stick vacuum that's bundled with a specialized attachment for dealing with stains; unlike the BISSELL, it's unable to suck up liquids, and it lacks a detergent dispersal or steam release function to help clear away stains. As such, it comes as no surprise that the BISSELL is better-suited to the latter. However, the Dyson is simply a much better vacuum, with vastly better debris-pickup performance on most surfaces and a much lighter, more maneuverable design.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for videos & test results
