Bissell Powerfresh Deluxe Steam Mop Review

Mops have been used for cleaning purposes for hundreds of years. In fact, the word itself has been around as early as the late 1400s. Highly versatile, these tools are not only great at soaking up liquid, but they are also fantastic at mopping up dust. In addition to that, they can be used on almost any type of hard surface. Nowadays, most mops are made out of microfiber or sponge; however, there are also ones that are made out of yarn or coarse strings. In any case, the mop head is always the one responsible for picking up dirt and debris. Some “fancier” versions are even able to sanitize the floor using steam—that’s right, they emit steam directly onto the ground! 

As you can probably expect, there are many companies out there that manufacture steam mops. On this page, though, we will be taking a look at one specific model—the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop. How effective is it at eliminating germs and bacteria? Is it easy to maneuver around the house? What is the machine’s lifespan? These are some of the many topics that we’ll be addressing below. Hopefully, we’ll be able to give you a better idea of what the mop is like with our review.

The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop

Bissell is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of vacuum cleaners and floor care products. Based in Michigan, the company has been developing cleaning solutions for more than 100 years. Since their launch in 1876, they have produced hundreds of products, all of which are specifically designed to tackle different messes. In the recent years, they have also moved into the pet care industry with special steam cleaners and vacuums. As a matter of fact, they have helped to raise over $6 million for neglected and lost animals through the Bissell Pet Foundation since 2011.

The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop is capable of eliminating up to 99.9% of all germs without the use of any harsh chemicals. Equipped with a water tank, it uses the power of steam to clean and sanitize the ground; there are two settings to choose from—low or high. Suitable for several different floor types, it can safely be used on linoleum, ceramic, tile, granite, marble, and hardwood. Featuring swivel steering, the mop can easily be maneuvered around and underneath furnitures such as sofas or tables. If you want, you can even add a burst of freshness to your cleaning with their Spring Breeze fragrance disc. For sticky messes, it also comes with an onboard spot boost brush.

What’s Included

The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop kit includes all that you need to start mopping.

• 2 Microfiber Cleaning Pads
• 2 Spring Breeze Scent Discs
• 1 SpotBoost Brush
• 1 Attachable Water Cup

The mop can be assembled quickly and easily. First, attach the lower body to the mop head; you should hear a “click.” Next, insert the handle into the unit—you will have to use a screw to tighten it. From there, just wrap the cord around the back of the machine.

As noted above, it comes with two microfiber pads to get you started. More specifically, it includes one white pad, which is best suited for everyday use and a scrubby pad that is meant for scrubbing tougher messes. Prior to cleaning, you’ll want to attach one of these to the bottom of the mop head. To do this, wrap the pad around the bottom of the foot, ensuring that the grey stitching is at the front and the Quick Grip Release tab is at the back. Unlike other models, the PowerFresh Deluxe does not utilize velcro strips.

In addition to that, the kit comes with a couple of Spring Breeze Scent Discs, which you can use to add fragrance to your cleaning. To use it, just place it into the tray on the mop head. If you want, you can also cut the disc in half if you want a lighter scent.

To help you out with your cleaning, the Bissell PowerFreh Deluxe also comes with a SpotBoost Brush, which is designed for scrubbing away sticky messes. For those who are wondering—yes, it does produce steam when it is in use! Personally, I find that it’s perfect for cleaning bathroom tiles. To use it, step on the back pedal to expose the brush (it is located at the bottom of the unit). With it exposed, you can move back and forth to clean crevices, grout, and sticky messes.

Finally, the mop comes with an attachable cup that is used for filling the water tank (located at the top of the machine). Adding to it is simple—just lift the cap straight up to open the container. Afterwards, pour the water (distilled or demineralized water is recommended) in using the water cup. Do not use chemicals as it can damage the device over time.

Build Quality

Ideally, you want a mop to be both lightweight and durable. Unfortunately, however, they are not always made equal. Before you invest in a particular model, you should always check on its construction. For instance, you want to ask yourself—does the unit seem robust? How is the finishing on the mop?

The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop consists of a metal handle that is attached to the lower unit, which is largely made out of plastic. At the top, there is also a handle that doubles as a hook for storage purposes. In addition to that, there is a spot half way up where the water cup attaches to the pole. The way it’s designed, you also don’t have to worry about the microfiber cloth coming off from the bottom as it securely wraps around the head.

Speaking of the pads, they are fairly thick with a good amount of absorbency. As mentioned earlier, you’ll want to use the white ones for everyday use; the scrubby ones should be reserved for cleaning tougher messes. While they give you three to start off with, I highly recommend that you buy a few extras—it’s not that they don’t hold up, but it’s way more convenient to have multiple on hand when you’re mopping the house. As with most Bissell mops, the microfiber pads are also reusable. Once you’re done with them (aka they’ve turned grey), you can pop them into the wash for a good cleaning. Just don’t put it in the dryer; you always want to let them air dry. Depending on how frequently you mop, the pads can last you several weeks to months. After a while though, they will start to wear down—that’s when you should get some replacements.

As far as the water tank goes, it’s generally easy to use. Built into the lower body, it has a total capacity of 560ml. There is one thing though—the container is not removable. That is, you’ll have to put the entire steamer over the sink in order to empty it out. Other than that though, the design is great as it allows for quick refills; the cap is also relatively sturdy.

Some Possible Issues with the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop

On Amazon, most of the reviews are positive. As you can expect, however, there are a few issues that some people have experienced with the mop.

Perhaps one of the most common complaints is that the machine can stop working after a few months. As you can imagine though, this can be an aggravating issue. According to some of the online reviews, the heating element tends to be one of the first things to go when this happens; as a result, it also stops producing steam, which defeats the purpose of the mop. With that said, this only appears to be a problem with some of the machines. Considering that, the situation most likely has to do with faulty units. If this occurs with your Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe, it may be worth it to look into their 2-year warranty.

Depending on the type of floor that you have, the mop might also leak streak marks (most of them go away after a while though). It might seem obvious but you may be able to prevent this by making sure that your pads are washed and clean prior to mopping. In addition to that, you might want to play around with the two different steam settings to see which is more suitable for your floors. 

Rarely, the water tank may also leak. From what some people have said, the liquid often comes out from the side at the seam. As you can imagine, this would mean that you’d have to do a bit of extra mopping while you’re cleaning. If we were to wager a guess, we’d say that that it has to do with the quality of the plastic. With that said, it only seems to occur in some of the units. If anything, the majority of the tanks hold the water just fine. 

Lastly, the steam mop tends to leave the floors quite wet. For this reason, it usually takes  a while for it to dry thoroughly. To avoid slips and falls, you might want to avoid stepping in or walking on the surface after you’re done mopping—at least until it dries. If you want to save time, you can always dry it with a towel, though.

Does it Clean Well?

There’s no doubt that the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe is capable of producing hot steam (watch your feet when you’re using it!). If you don’t mind temporary streaks, it does a wonderful job of cleaning and sanitizing hard floors such as tile and wood; it even comes with two different settings—high and low. Despite being a “larger” model, its swivel head makes it easy to mop around furniture. Given that you do slow and steady passes, the mop should be able to pick up most of the debris that is on the ground. As for the grout, you can clean it using the SpotBoost brush, which is located at the bottom of the unit.

The microfiber pads work exactly as they should. With every pass, the white ones remove a significant amount of dirt and particles from the floor. Not only are they great for dust bunnies and food crumbs, but they also get rid of spills in a matter of seconds. If you have a cat or dog though, you might want to do a bit of vacuuming first for the best results. As for the scrubby pads, they are great for getting rid of those stubborn stains; it also cleans the grouts quite well. Remember though, you’ll want to change the cloths when they start to turn grey. Assuming that you’ll be cleaning multiple areas at once, you’ll most likely need to use more than one pad (unless you decide to just rinse it when it gets dirty). 

Honestly, the mop is so versatile that it can literally be used in almost any kind of setting. With just water, you’ll be able to clean not just your rooms, but the kitchen and bathroom as well. Outside of the family home, I can also see the device being used in office settings.

In short, the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop works great for hard surfaces such as tile and hardwood. Sure, there may be some temporary streaking, but it does a good job of sanitizing and cleaning the floor with hot steam.

Cost and Pricing Information

The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop is priced competitively. Currently, the model sells for $99.99 on Amazon, which is in the range of most steam mops. To give you a better idea, Shark has a similar cleaning system that sells for $105, which is also capable of steaming and mopping. For those of you who’d prefer to buy it at a local store, you can find the mop at several retailers such as Costco, Best Buy, and Lowe’s.

In terms of replenishment items, you will need to buy extra cleaning pads when you run out; this might range anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on your usage. As far as where you can buy them, Amazon has a two-pack that you can get for $17.76 (a little under $9 each). Alternatively, you can get off-brand pads, which are a bit cheaper (a pack of four for $15.49).

Aside from the microfiber pads, you might want to get more of their scented discs, if you’re a fan of their fragrances. Luckily, they’re pretty affordable—you can get a pack of eight for $17 on Amazon (approximately $2 each). As mentioned earlier, you can also cut them in half, which would lighten the scent and make them last twice as long.

The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop Overall – Is It Worth It?