Bissell
Steam Mop PowerFresh Deluxe 1806
About the product
Does it tackle tough messes as well as Bissell claims?
If you’re tired of using harsh chemicals in your home and want an easy solution to keeping your floors clean and sanitized, a steam mop could be the answer. The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806 Steam Mop claims to wipe out 99.9% of germs and bacteria with steam alone, eliminating the need for expensive cleaning solutions. Plus, it also kills most dust mites on the floor’s surface to cut down on allergens.
With a large water tank, several steam levels and a built-in scrubber, it’s a versatile tool to keep in any household’s cleaning arsenal. To determine whether the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop truly tackles tough messes, the BestReviews Testing Lab put it to the test. We looked at maneuverability, heating time, overall performance and more in a real-world situation. Here’s what we found.
The 60-second scoop
Product Specifications
Weight: 6.2 lb | Water Tank Capacity: 19 oz (560 mL) | Steam Control: High or low | Cleaning Path Width: 12”
Steam mops are certainly not one-size-fits-all, and some might be more suitable for your home or cleaning needs than others. The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe looks like most steam mops, with an easy-to-fill water tank, a cleaning head that emits powerful steam and two types of scrubbing pads. The brand also touts its ability to effectively sanitize and remove 99.9% of dust mites, germs and bacteria, including some coronavirus and influenza viruses, using the natural power of steam and no harsh chemicals.
However, this Bissell model also has a few other handy features, starting with its swivel steering that conveniently maneuvers around chairs, under furniture and into corners. It also includes fragrance discs for those who still want that freshly cleaned smell without the use of detergents and chemical solutions. What really separates the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe from other models is its SpotBoost Brush, which detaches from the cleaning head to tackle tough, sticky messes.
See how it compares to other products in its space. Check out our reviews for the best steam mops.
Price and where to buy
The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806 Steam Mop retails on Amazon and Bissell for $102.99.
Why we like it
Based on our testing, we found a lot of convenient features to like about the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop. For some basics, the cord is 25 feet long, which is the longest of any steam mop we’ve tested. The water tank has a 19-ounce capacity and lasts for 20 minutes on high steam, making it the biggest water tank with the longest run time. It also stands on its own, making it convenient when you need to grab something or pause your mopping to do something else.
The best thing we liked about this steam mop is that it just works really well. Between the soft pad, the scrubby pad and the spot-cleaning brush, this steam mop removed stains as well as any other mop we’ve tested. Plus, there is nothing complicated or confusing about the settings or features.
What we don’t like
While most steam mop water tanks are not removable, we think having a removable tank would have elevated this steam mop even further. In order to remove the unused water from the tank before putting the mop away, we had to turn the steam mop upside down. Someone with limited mobility might not be able to do that.
The scent discs aren’t necessarily a negative in everyone’s estimation, but we found the fragrance to be rather strong. You don’t have to use the two included scent discs, but if you want to continue using them, you’ll have to purchase more separately. This mop also doesn’t come with a plethora of accessories. We didn’t mind this, but it’s important to note for anyone looking for an all-in-one machine.
Setup
Unboxing the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe was effortless. Everything was packaged well and didn’t appear to have shifted during shipping. The box came with the handle and screw to attach it, the cleaning head, the main body, a water cup, two scent discs, a soft mop pad and a scrubby mop pad. First, we attached the main body to the cleaning head until it clicked, then we slid the handle into the body and screwed it in. The entire process took less than five minutes.
Water tank and refilling
After looking at the water tank opening, our first thought was that it was too small and water would spill everywhere. However, we were impressed with the design of the cup, which efficiently poured water into the tank without spilling a drop. The cup also attaches to the handle for convenient storage. One odd feature we noticed is that the water refill cup goes up to 474 milliliters, or 15 ounces, which doesn’t fill the 19-ounce tank completely. It’s not a make-or-break feature, but it was curious that the cup volume doesn’t match that of the water tank.
Heating time and steam output
The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe begins to heat up as soon as it’s plugged in, and a blue light starts to blink. The manual says it takes about 30 seconds, and you’ll know it’s ready when the blue light stops blinking. We timed it at exactly 30 seconds from plugging it in until the light stopped blinking. Select the required steam level (low or high) and begin mopping. While it started to let off steam immediately, we didn’t think the steam was at full power for another 30 seconds. Compared to other steam mops, we think the heating time is average, if not slightly quicker than average.
The steam isn’t steady throughout the entire process but follows a pattern. It emits a lot of steam for a minute or two and then stops for a few seconds. This is likely so it doesn’t heat up too much or create too much water. It consistently follows this pattern the entire time you mop.
Cleaning performance
Two pads come with the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe. The soft, white pad is for everyday messes or delicate floors. The textured, scrubby pad with gray lines is better suited for tough messes. We thought it was fairly quiet for a steam mop and didn’t notice any loud noise. The main area we cleaned was about 250 square feet, and we were able to do it all with one tank of water running for about 20 minutes on high.
Laminate flooring performance
First, we tested the mop using the soft pad on everyday messes. These included laminate flooring with muddy dog tracks and accumulated stains from years of foot traffic through the area. To get the full sanitizing benefits, the user manual recommends going over an area at least three times. We rarely needed to go over areas more than the required three passes. There were still a few stains that were likely years old, which the soft pad did not remove.
Spill performance
For spills like dried ketchup or coffee, we used the scrubby mop pad and the spot brush. While the scrubby pad removed most of the mess, we also used the spot brush to remove any stickiness. However, we were very impressed that the spot brush not only removed the entire mess but also started to remove the old stains that the soft pad wasn’t able to pick up.
Ease of use
The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806 Steam Mop was effortless to use, starting with the swivel head that let us reach under furniture and around dining room chair legs without moving anything out of the way. Some mop heads have a touchless removable pad, and while this Bissell model isn’t touchless, it was still easy to remove the pads by grabbing the tab at the corner. After learning how the scrubbing brush detaches and reattaches, it is also easy to use.
How does it compare to other steam mops we tested?
We tested several steam mops, including a few from Bissell and Shark. One we tested was the Pur 10-in-1 Steam Mop, which came with a lot of extra accessories. However, it didn’t clean floors as well as the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806. When directly compared it to the Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop 1940A, it cleaned just as well, plus it has a larger water tank and longer power cord. However, the Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop 1940A has a removable water tank that we really liked. When compared to Shark models, it’s comparable to the Shark S5003D Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System Pocket Steam Mop and functions much better than the Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop.
An overall lack of accessories
A few steam mops come with additional nozzles to clean grout or brushes to refresh upholstery. The only accessory the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe includes is the scrubbing brush, which only works on floors. However, we didn’t find this to be a problem, especially since the steam mop function worked so well. In our experience, steam mops with many accessories don’t have a strong functioning steam mop.
How we tested the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806
We tested the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe in a real-world environment with laminate floors subject to regular foot traffic, small feet running back and forth and an 80-pound golden retriever who enjoys digging. However, we also performed specific tests to determine each function’s efficacy and offer additional insight.
Water tank and usage time
Although the water refill cup only holds 474 mL, or 15 ounces, we added a few more ounces of water to fill the water tank completely, since the manual says its capacity is 19 ounces. Then we timed how long this model took to get up to temperature and how long it took to empty. The total time was about 20 minutes on high steam, and we were able to clean about 250 square feet as well as go over a few spots with the scrubbing brush with that one tank.
Navigating around obstacles
No one wants to move furniture before they mop their floors. To test the swivel steering and see how well this steam mop maneuvered around obstacles, we cleaned the entire kitchen and dining area without pushing dining room chairs out of the way. This mop was able to efficiently maneuver in small spaces. We also checked the corners of the room and beneath cabinets to make sure the steam mop was getting to these hard to reach spaces.
Scrubbing brush effectiveness
With small children and a dog, we had ample spills to clean, but we also purposely spilled ketchup and coffee and let them dry so we could test the effectiveness of the scrubbing brush. Not only did the brush completely remove any residue, but it also got out tough stains that had been on the floor for years.
The final verdict
Based on our testing, we recommend the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806 Steam Mop to most individuals and households looking for a steam mop. Not only is it reasonably priced, but it’s also extremely effective. Plus, the long power cord and large water tank capacity mean it’s capable of tackling both small and large spaces without refilling the tank. However, those who want attachments for cleaning upholstery or bathtubs might want to consider a different model.