BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro Vacuum Review

The BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro feels decently well-built. It's mainly made of hard plastic, although it does have an aluminum wand. It feels more robust than most other BISSELL vacuums, like the BISSELL Adapt Ion, though it can sometimes creak when passing over uneven surfaces like carpeting. Thankfully, it's also quite easy to take apart and reassemble.

This vacuum's handle has a hexagonal textured surface to give you a more secure grip. Most of its controls are within easy reach, with its surface mode switch on top of the handle and a detergent trigger underneath it.

The BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro is reasonably easy to maintain. While there are a few parts that need periodic cleaning, they're easy to access.

• Dirt compartment: You can unlatch the dirt compartment by pressing down on the release button and then simply lifting it free. You should empty it after each use by lifting the cover with the 'Floater' component, which is a safety mechanism when using the vacuum as a mop, as it stops the suction motor and produces an audible 'screech' to let you know that it's full. Also, make sure you remove any large debris stuck in the dirt compartment's strainer. You can wash the dirt compartment under water along with the 'Floater' component if there's a significant amount of dirt built up. The vacuum filter is above the dirt compartment, and you should make sure that it's put back in place before refitting the dirt compartment.
• Brushroll: The brushroll is easy to access, only requiring that you lift the clear plastic brush roll window to access it and pull it free. You should clean it regularly under water to remove any stuck-on dirt or debris. Unfortunately, while it's advertised as being an 'Anti-Tangle' brushroll, long hair can get wrapped around it, forcing you to use a pair of scissors to cut it away.
• Filter: The filter sits on top of the dirt compartment and can simply be pulled free from its housing. The filter has an attached screen to trap any fine debris or small strands of pet hair. You should wash the filter under water after every cleaning session, and you can use mild detergent if necessary.
• Water tank: The water tank is located on the back of the vacuum body and is easy to lift free of its housing. It features two separate markings for both water and detergent levels, one for small areas and the other for large areas. First, fill it up to the desired water level, and then add the required amount of detergent for the size of the room you're planning to mop. Make sure to empty the water tank after every use.

Any parts that you wash under water should be left to dry completely before refitting them.

The BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro incurs fairly low recurring costs.

• Brushroll: No replacement interval is given by the manufacturer for the brushroll, but you can buy a replacement from BISSELL's website.
• Filter: You should replace the filter every six months. You can buy a replacement from BISSELL's website.

Note: The mopping component of the vacuum incurs a separate set of recurring costs.

• Cleaning Solution: The frequency of buying new cleaning solution depends entirely on how frequently you mop and the size of the mopping area. You can buy 80 oz bottles on the manufacturer's website, though other bottle sizes are available.

This vacuum isn't too hard to store. It comes with a 'Rinse and Storage Tray' that you can position it on to let it dry after mopping, and there's even a separate slot to place the brushroll.

The dirt compartment is decently well-sized. It has roughly the same capacity as most standard cordless stick vacuums, like the Dyson V15 Detect. There's a max fill line that lets you know when it's full when vacuuming. A separate 'Floater' component automatically shuts off the suction motor and produces a screeching noise once the dustbin is filled with water while mopping.

• BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro
• Vacuum body
• Vacuum handle with wand
• Dirt compartment
• Water tank
• Filter with filter screen
• 2x Multi-Surface brushrolls
• Strainer
• Brushroll cover
• Various accessories
• 2x 8oz Multi-Surface Pet with Febreze detergent bottles
• Water rinse jar
• Vacuum tray
• Brushroll holder for vacuum tray
• Manuals

Its range is adequate. Its power cord is long enough to allow you to clean most rooms without swapping outlets. Unfortunately, its wand doesn't extend or retract, so you might find it hard to find a height that suits your preferences. If you're looking for a similarly designed hybrid vacuum/mop but don't want to deal with the hassle of a power cord, consider the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max.

This appliance is decently portable. While its overall weight is considerably heavier than cordless vacuums like the BISSELL Adapt Ion, it's much lighter than most conventional uprights like the Shark APEX Upright. It feels very light and has a built-in carrying handle to make it easier to pick up and carry wherever you may need it.

This vacuum doesn't have that many quality-of-life features. There are two surface settings that you can select with a handle-mounted switch: 'Area Rug' or 'Hard Floor'. However, this setting only adjusts the amount of detergent sprayed onto the brushroll when you pull the trigger, and it doesn't adjust brushroll height or suction power.

Note: While the floorhead does have a built-in light, it only turns on to illuminate the brushroll after pulling the detergent release trigger. Since this light doesn't stay on or help you see in darker corners, this isn't considered an actual headlight. As such, we set the 'Headlight' result to 'No'.

There are no additional attachments included with this appliance, though there is an additional replacement brushroll for its floorhead.

Real-world suction performance is okay, though this appliance can lose a significant degree of suction if you don't clean its filter regularly. Since there's no difference in brushroll height or suction power when swapping between the 'Hard Floor' and 'Area Rug' modes, you likely won't experience any changes in debris pickup performance depending on the mode you select.

This vacuum is somewhat loud. At roughly 80 dBA, you'll find it very difficult to hear anyone talking nearby or any other background noise while it's running. Since there are no power adjustment settings or attachments that would impact airflow, you won't notice any significant differences in how loud this vacuum gets. It's worth noting that the 'Floater' component inside the dirt compartment makes a noticeable screeching noise when it fills up with water.

This appliance can be a bit of a hassle to maneuver. Its floorhead pivots, allowing you to maneuver around obstacles pretty easily. However, its bulky body gets in the way when cleaning under tables and chairs. Shag-pile carpeting is also a significant obstacle for this vacuum, as it can get stuck inside the floorhead. Thankfully, you likely won't experience this problem while vacuuming low or moderately high-pile rugs and carpets.

There's no handheld configuration for this vacuum, so it isn't suitable for vacuuming pet hair on furniture.

The BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro seals in most fine particles, but some can still escape from its post-motor exhaust.

This appliance does a mediocre job of dealing with debris in cracks. It lacks the sufficient real-world suction force to lift debris embedded in deeper crevices, but it won't have too much trouble dealing with it in shallower cracks.

The BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro does a good job dealing with stains. Unlike shop vacuums like the RYOBI 18V One+ 3 Gal. Project Wet/Dry, it has a detergent-dispersal function for its floorhead that helps deal with dried-on dirt and debris. The manufacturer recommends using the 'Hard Floor' setting to clear stains on bare surfaces but using the 'Area Rug' mode for stubborn messes since it releases more detergent onto the brushroll. It's worth noting that this vacuum can leave behind a small amount of residue after completing a pass, though thankfully it's pretty easy to clear away. You'll probably need to make several passes to fully clean most stains, and a hand mop will likely be more efficient in cleaning stubborn stains since you can manually provide a greater degree of surface agitation. Alternatively, if you still want an all-in-one cleaner with better stain-clearing performance, you could also check out the BISSELL CrossWave HydroSteam, which has a steam-release function that helps clear away dried-on messes.

The BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro does a great job of sucking up water. It leaves the surface slightly damp but has no trouble clearing the water as a whole.