Bissell CrossWave Max – A New Cordless Mop

The CrossWave Max is the latest addition to the CrossWave family, a line of mopping vacuums from Bissell. Cordless and equipped with advanced features, the new model offers an improved cleaning experience.

Join me in this Bissell CrossWave Max review as I examine the vacuum in detail – its features, how it fits the cleaning needs of most homes, and why you should consider owning it. To start us off, let’s take a quick look at its specs.

Bissell CrossWave Max Features Table

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Looks

Here’s a short video presentation made by Bissell:

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Specifications

Suction/Cleaning Power

The CrossWave Max creates more than 100 Air Watts of suction power. Bissell vacuums are known for their strong airflow, more so those in the CrossWave series that also mop floors. When vacuuming only, Max uses the action of a spinning brush roll to dislodge dirt and the suction port to lift it. The mopping process uses the same cleaning power. The addition is only a spray of cleaning solution consisting of water and Bissell’s hard floor or carpet formula.

Works on carpets too

Input Power

Being cordless, the vacuum relies on battery work. The battery is a 36V Li-ion type that takes 4 hours to charge and powers the CrossWave Max for 30 minutes. Although still short, the runtime is a slight improvement from what the earlier model offered. The vacuum comes with a charging dock. Placing the vacuum there starts the charging process automatically, which means the CrossWave continues to charge even during storage.

Dust Capacity

It’s a dry and wet vacuum that lets you sweep and wash floors. On the unit are two different tanks, one to hold dirty water and the other the cleaning mixture. The dirty water tank capacity is 18.6 oz, and the other’s is 28 oz. The tanks detach from the vacuum easily, which makes emptying easy. The manufacturer provides measurements to use when filling the cleaning solution tanks. These consist of markings for the amounts of cleaning liquid and freshwater.

Filtration System

The CrossWave Max uses the regular filter to trap particles. When using the mopping function, dust and other allergens mix with the water and end in the dirty water tank. This makes having high-efficiency filters unnecessary. A strainer prevents vacuumed debris from entering the dirty water reservoir and can be emptied separately. Likewise, cleaning the filter regularly helps maintain suction power.

Weight and Dimensions

It weighs 11.6 lbs and measures 45.5″ H, 10.25″ W, and 10″ D. At slightly above ten pounds, the CrossWave Max is neither lightweight enough nor too heavy. You shouldn’t worry about carrying it up and downstairs, though. The manufacturer placed an easy-carry handle on the vacuum. The Max is average-sized, with just the right height to allow most people to use it comfortably.

Warranty

Bissell offers a 2-year guarantee for the new model. The warranty only applies if you’re the original owner. Being a manufacturer’s warranty, it also only covers vacuums bought from authorized resellers.

Accessories

The box that comes with the Bissell CrossWave Max contains the following:

• the vacuum
• a docking station that also acts as storage and cleaning tray
• a strainer for the dirty water tank
• 2 brush rolls
• 4 bottles of 8-oz cleaning formula (two for hard floors the other two for both hard floors and carpets or area rugs)

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Special Features

The Bissell CrossWave Max is the latest model in the CrossWave series and should perform better than its predecessor. But does it? Let’s find out by examining features that make the vacuum to stand out.

Cordless Cleaning

It uses no cord and offers you all the advantages of cordless vacuums. Once charged, you can use it anywhere, including places that do not have an outlet. There are no cables to trip you, no dangers of shock from outlets, and no cable to wind after a tiring vacuuming session. The cordless experience makes cleaning easier and more enjoyable, plus you can use the vacuum in places that a corded model wouldn’t reach. The only downside is the short runtime of the battery, which can make cleaning large areas to take longer.

Cleaning a messy spill with Bissell Crosswave Max

Wet and Dry Vacuuming

The CrossWave Max is a multipurpose cleaning appliance. It sweeps and mops, and you get to choose the preferred cleaning method when vacuuming your home. On the handle is a trigger for the cleaning mixture spray. Pressing it sprays cleaning formula-water mixture to wash the floor. Releasing the trigger causes the vacuum to suction dirt without any cleaning liquid. It also helps to dry out the surfaces that you just mopped.

Multi-Surface Brush Roll

The vacuum is designed to clean any type of floor, from the delicate hardwood, the slippery tile, to the soft carpet or area rug. It uses a soft micro-fiber brush roll that ensures the perfect removal of dirt without causing damage. Although it spins, the brush can be used on sealed hardwood, linoleum, laminate, low-pile carpets, and area rugs. Bissell provides two Multi-surface brush rolls with the CrossWave Max, and it will be a long time before you need to buy a new one. However, if you need specialized cleaning, you can purchase separately other types of rolls:

• Pet Multi-Surface Brush Roll
• Wood Floor Brush Roll
• Area Rug Brush Roll

Different brush rolls

Separate Tanks

Some mopping vacuums use a single tank for both the clean and dirty water. The CrossWave Max doesn’t. Water that’s sucked up from surfaces during cleaning goes to a separate container. As a result, the cleaning liquid remains fresh. Because the clean and dirty water doesn’t mix, using the CrossWave Max means sweet-smelling carpets or area rugs, bare floors, and any other surface in your home. The design of these tanks has been improved, and they fit even under small sinks and fixtures.

Separate tanks

Self-Cleaning Mechanism

The CrossWave Max cleans itself. It comes with a button which, when pressed, initiates a cleaning cycle. The process removes dirt from the brush roll and other parts, relieving you of the hard work to do it manually. However, that’s only for regular maintenance practices. Occasionally, you will still need to detach the brush roll and filters for a thorough clean up.

Self-cleaning cycle button

WiFi Connectivity

It’s one of the advanced features of this new model. The WiFi connection allows the CrossWave Max to send reports to your smartphone app so you can keep track of the vacuum’s performance and condition. Through the alerts, you get to know which component has become faulty or worn out and needs to be replaced or repaired. A visual icon indicates when the device is connected to your smart phone’s network.

Headlights

You won’t miss dirt when using this vacuum. Two lights illuminate the cleaning path revealing every spot that requires additional passes of the cleaning head. When vacuuming or mopping dark areas, the LED lamps light up the surfaces and ensure efficient cleaning. The headlights are not adequately strong, though. Being only two, the level of luminance they achieve is not as high as one would expect. That may not be a big problem, though, unless you intend to be cleaning lots of poorly lit places.

Swivel

The CrossWave Max swivels at the neck, allowing you to maneuver the floor head around obstacles effortlessly. When cleaning rooms with many pieces of furniture, the swivel ensures you do not hit things. It also allows you to clean areas around the legs of furniture effectively. When guiding the cleaning head under furniture, too. Combined with the headlight, the swiveling head makes vacuuming hidden areas more thorough.

Visual Indicators

The vacuum communicates various cleaning functions by lighting up graphics on a display. There’s the battery condition alert that indicates the remaining charge, the full tank indicator to alert you of a tank that needs emptying, and the mode icons that show the cleaning setting in operation. When connected to your smartphone, the vacuum lights up a WiFi sign.  These icons make cleaning with the CrossWave Max more engaging. You get to see the vacuum’s condition at a glance, quickly and on the go.

Digital display

Fingertip Controls

Besides the visual alerts, the buttons to control different functions on the CrossWave Max are conveniently placed. The power button is located on the handle, and you can easily access it at any time and without bending. There’s also the button to change cleaning modes from hard floor to area rugs. A trigger underneath the handle lets you operate the cleaning liquid spray instantly while still pushing the vacuum. Another button that you can access easily is the one that works the self-cleaning function. It sits on the upper part of the vacuum, conspicuous and within reach.

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Usability

Bissell intended the CrossWave Max to be easy to assemble, maneuver, store as well as maintain. With only a few parts to put together, getting the vacuum ready takes less than five minutes. There’s only the handle to slip into place, the brush roll to install, the water tank to fill and the strainer to place on the dirty water tank.

Being a cordless vac, it requires charging before you can use it and comes with a charging dock for that purpose. The charging dock also acts as a tray on which to clean, dry, and store the vacuum. Charging happens automatically when you place the CrossWave Max of the dock, and you do not need to press any buttons. Bars of LED lights indicate the charging progress, allowing you to tell when the battery is full.

Cleaning with the CrossWave Max is almost effortless. It moves smoothly on surfaces thanks to the large wheels and average weight. Its neck swivels wide enough to let you guide the nozzle around things without difficulty. When cleaning dark areas such as dimly lit rooms or under furniture, the headlights on the floor head light up the area ahead for thorough removal of dirt.

The easy-to-reach controls is another usability feature you will like about this new model from Bissell. The button to change floor mode is located on the handle. The power and self-cleaning buttons too. On the handle is also the spray trigger that you press to release the cleaning liquid.

Maintaining the Bissell CrossWave Max is also less demanding. There’s a button to press when you want the vacuum to clean itself after every vacuuming session. Besides the self-cleaning action, the vacuum is designed to be easy to take apart for periodic cleanups. The nozzle window detaches without difficulty. The water tanks too, and so does the strainer. On top of all that, there’s the WiFi connectivity that lets you link the vacuum to your smartphone to receive alerts. The alerts help you to replace worn parts on time.

The vacuum size and weight are average. To make moving it around easy, there’s a carry handle to hold it by. When it comes to storage, Bissell provides a tray on which to place the vacuum. The tray is also the charging dock and where you clean and dry the vacuum from. The vacuum self cleans and relieves you of the hard work to do it manually.

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Bissell CrossWave Max Pros and Cons

To help you make a quick decision regarding the suitability of the new CrossWave vacuum, here is a summary of the good and the bad sides.

Pros

• It’s a multipurpose cleaning device that vacuums and mops floors
• It’s cordless and more convenient to use
• The self-cleaning feature that helps keep the vacuum in good condition
• The vacuum uses separate tanks for the clean and dirty water, which ensures cleaner floors
• The controls are within easy reach and can be operated on the go
• It comes with WiFi connectivity and sends maintenance alerts to your smartphone
• You can automatically order supplies via Amazon Dash Replenishment

Cons

• You have to disassemble and clean the entire unit every once in a while
• It’s pricey

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Bissell CrossWave Max vs Bissell CrossWave Cordless vs Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro

Here’s a comparison chart between the 3 versions of CrossWave, the Max, the Cordless and the Pet Pro:

Product	Bissell CrossWave Max	Bissell CrossWave Cordless	Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro
Looks
Dimensions	45.5 x 10.25 x 10 inches	46.5 x 13.6 x 12.9 inches	46 x 12 x 10.5 inches
Battery	36 V	36 V	corded
Weight	11.5 lbs	12.5 lbs	11.5 lbs
Bin capacity	28/18.6 oz	28/14.5 oz	28/14.5 oz
Cleaning path width	10.5 inches	12 inches	12 inches
WiFi connectivity	Yes	No	No
Auto-Cleaning	Yes	No	No
Expected run-time	30 minutes	25 minutes	corded
Noise	66-70 dB	66-70 dB	70-76 dB
Price	$399.99	$543.00	$269.99

Bissell Crosswave Cordless (left) vs Bissell Crosswave Max (right)

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Bissell CrossWave Max vs Hoover ONEPWR FloorMate Jet

As you see, the Crosswave Max is better at almost all chapters. Unfortunately, it’s also much more expensive:

Product	Bissell CrossWave Max	Hoover ONEPWR FloorMate Jet
Looks
Dimensions	45.5 x 10.25 x 10 inches	44.9 x 11.4 x 9.8 inches
Battery	36 V	20 V
Weight	11.5 lbs	10.4 lbs
Bin capacity	28/18.6 oz	22/11 oz
Cleaning path width	10.5 inches	11.4 inches
WiFi connectivity	Yes	No
Auto-Cleaning	Yes	No
Expected run-time	30 minutes	20 minutes
Noise	66-70 dB	72 dB
Price	$399.99	Price not available

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Final Thoughts

The Bissell CrossWave Max offers a lot in terms of cleaning abilities. It vacuums powerfully and mops different floors efficiently. Being a multi-surface cleaner, the vacuum uses soft brush rolls to protect your delicate floors from damage. You can use it on any surface, whether bare or covered by an area rug. The CrossWave Max is also easy to operate, with only a few control options. If looking for a vacuum that can sweep and mop your home, I would recommend this newest model from Bissell. It offers features that any user would be looking for, from decent suction,  excellent mopping action, to maneuverability and easy maintenance.