Like many busy homeowners, especially those with furry friends or little ones running around, I was constantly battling sticky messes, paw prints, and the general grime that accumulates on hard floors. The thought of getting down on my hands and knees or wrestling with a heavy, corded machine felt like a chore I’d rather avoid, but leaving the floors dirty wasn’t an option, leading to dull, unhygienic surfaces and lingering odors. Finding a more efficient and less back-breaking way to keep my sealed hard floors sparkling was a persistent problem that needed a real solution.
Before investing in any significant cleaning appliance, it’s wise to pause and consider what you truly need. Why are you even looking at a hard floor cleaner in the first place? Likely because scrubbing floors manually is a time-consuming, physically demanding task that often doesn’t deliver the deep clean you crave, leaving streaks or residue behind. An effective hard floor cleaner aims to take the backbreaking work out of the equation, tackling tough messes more efficiently than a traditional mop and bucket.
The ideal candidate for a powered hard floor cleaner like a spin mop is someone with a significant amount of sealed hard flooring – be it wood, tile, laminate, or linoleum – who needs a quicker, less strenuous way to maintain cleanliness, particularly in homes with pets or kids who are prone to spills and tracked-in dirt. If your home is mostly carpeted, or if you only have a tiny hard floor area that’s easily managed with a quick wipe-up, this category of product might be overkill. For small spaces, a simple spray mop or even a traditional mop might suffice.
When choosing a hard floor cleaner, ponder these crucial aspects: the types of surfaces you need to clean (is it safe for your specific flooring?), whether you prefer corded power for unlimited runtime or cordless convenience for maneuverability (and how long the battery lasts if cordless), the machine’s weight and ease of handling, the type of cleaning action it employs (scrubbing, vacuuming, spinning), and how easy it is to maintain (cleaning tanks, pads, etc.). Thinking through these points ensures you pick a cleaner that genuinely fits your home and cleaning habits.
Introducing the BISSELL SpinWave Cordless PET Mop
Stepping up from traditional manual methods, the BISSELL SpinWave Cordless PET Hard Floor Spin Mop Cleaner 18V, model 23157, presents itself as a modern solution for hard floor cleaning. It promises to make cleaning sealed hard floors significantly easier, leveraging powerful spinning pads to scrub away dirt and sticky messes. This particular model is specifically designed with pet owners in mind, aiming to tackle common pet-related floor challenges.
When you purchase the BISSELL SpinWave Cordless PET, it typically includes the cordless mop unit, four reusable mop pads (two soft-touch pads for everyday cleaning and two scrubby pads for tackling tougher spots), two trial-size bottles of BISSELL cleaning solutions (often a Pet Multi-Surface formula), and a convenient storage tray.
Compared to its corded predecessor, the main draw here is the freedom offered by the cordless design. While corded models offer unlimited runtime, this cordless SpinWave allows you to move seamlessly between rooms without hunting for outlets or dragging a cord. It’s positioned as an easier-to-use alternative to cumbersome corded machines and a powerful upgrade from manual mops or basic spray mops, especially for removing stubborn dirt.
This specific mop is definitely for homeowners with sealed hard floors who need a quick, effective way to clean up messes, particularly those dealing with pets. It’s probably not the best fit if you need a machine that also vacuums (you’d need a CrossWave for that) or if your primary cleaning challenge is deep grout cleaning.
Here’s a quick look at its pros and cons:
Pros:
* Cordless operation provides excellent freedom and maneuverability.
* Powerful spinning pads effectively scrub away dirt and sticky messes.
* Safe for use on various sealed hard floor surfaces like wood, tile, laminate, and linoleum.
* On-demand spray allows targeted cleaning of messes.
* Lightweight design and swivel steering make it easy to handle and get around obstacles.
* Comes with washable, reusable mop pads.
* Supports the BISSELL Pet Foundation.
Cons:
* Limited battery runtime (around 20 minutes) may not be sufficient for very large homes in a single session.
* Pads can get dirty quickly on heavily soiled floors, requiring frequent changes or washing to avoid streaks.
* The spinning action can feel a bit like handling a small polisher initially, requiring a slight adjustment in technique.
* May leave residue or streaks if the wrong solution is used or pads are saturated/dirty.
Exploring the Features and Benefits in Detail
Having used the BISSELL SpinWave Cordless PET Mop for quite some time, I’ve really gotten to know its capabilities and how its design translates into real-world cleaning performance. Let’s delve into the features that make this machine stand out and the practical benefits they provide.
Cordless Convenience and Battery Life
The most significant feature of the BISSELL SpinWave Cordless PET is, undoubtedly, its cordless nature. The freedom to move around your home without being tethered to a wall outlet is a game-changer. It means I can grab the mop and quickly tackle a spill in the kitchen, clean the entryway, or do a pass through the living room without having to replug in different areas. This seamless movement saves time and makes cleaning feel less like a chore.
BISSELL states the battery provides up to 20 minutes of runtime. In practice, this holds true for quick cleanups or focusing on specific problem areas. For my moderate-sized home, I find 20 minutes is often enough to do a thorough pass in my main hard floor areas (kitchen, dining, hallway). However, if you live in a large house with extensive hard flooring you want to clean all at once, 20 minutes will likely require splitting the task over multiple sessions or remembering to recharge between areas. While it’s a drawback for marathon cleaning, the convenience for daily spot cleaning or doing one section of the house at a time is invaluable.
Powerful Rotating Pads
The core cleaning mechanism of the SpinWave relies on its two rotating mop pads. These pads spin at a good speed, providing a mechanical scrubbing action that a manual mop just can’t replicate without significant elbow grease. It genuinely feels like the machine is doing the scrubbing for you. This is fantastic for breaking down sticky spills, dried-on food, and muddy paw prints that would otherwise require soaking and heavy manual work.
Initially, as some users have noted, the spinning action can feel a bit different, almost like a small floor polisher wanting to move on its own. It takes a minute to get used to the slight pull, but once you do, the swivel steering makes it very easy to control. You guide it rather than push and pull it back and forth vigorously.
The inclusion of two types of pads – soft-touch and scrubby – is a great benefit. The soft pads are perfect for general cleaning and polishing, leaving floors looking shiny. The scrubby pads are essential for those tougher, set-in messes. I’ve found that for particularly stubborn areas or even just for a deeper clean, using the scrubby pads makes a noticeable difference in lifting grime. One user review mentioned seeking out “heavy-duty” orange pads online for even better performance, suggesting that while the included pads are good, there’s potential for even more scrubbing power with aftermarket options, which is something to keep in mind for challenging floor types or heavy-duty cleaning needs.
Targeted Cleaning with On-Demand Spray
The on-demand spray feature is simple but incredibly effective. Located conveniently on the handle, a simple press dispenses the cleaning solution directly onto the floor in front of the pads. This control is crucial. It means I can add more solution where needed, like on a dried spill, and use less on areas that just need a quick refresh. This prevents over-saturating sensitive floors like sealed wood and helps manage formula usage. It ensures the right amount of moisture is applied for the pads to work effectively without leaving excess liquid sitting on the floor.
Lightweight and Highly Maneuverable
Weighing in at just 11 pounds, the BISSELL SpinWave Cordless PET is genuinely easy to handle. Compared to bulkier cleaning machines or even a bucket full of water, this is a breeze to maneuver. The swivel steering allows it to glide effortlessly around furniture legs, under chairs, and right up along baseboards. This ease of movement means I can clean those awkward spots that manual mops struggle with or that require getting on hands and knees. It reduces strain on my back and arms, making the cleaning process much less tiring, which is a significant plus if you have mobility issues or just prefer an easier way to clean. One user specifically highlighted how well the extended pads get right up to edges and into nooks, a definite advantage in older homes with irregular layouts.
Versatility Across Sealed Hard Floors
One machine that can handle multiple sealed hard floor types is a huge plus. The SpinWave Cordless PET is safe for use on sealed wood floors, tile, laminate, linoleum, and more. This versatility means I don’t need different tools for different rooms. The spinning pads, combined with the appropriate BISSELL formula, provide effective cleaning without being overly abrasive, protecting my floors while getting them clean. Using the correct solution is key here; BISSELL offers various formulas tailored to different needs, including wood floor-specific and sanitizing options, which adds to the cleaner’s adaptability.
Designed for Pet Messes
As the “PET” in its name suggests, this SpinWave model is specifically engineered to handle the challenges that come with pets. From tracked-in dirt to minor accidents, the combination of the scrubbing pads and BISSELL’s pet formulas works effectively to clean up these messes. The pet-specific formulas also help to eliminate odors, not just mask them, leaving the house smelling fresh. Knowing that the machine is designed with these common issues in mind provides confidence that it can tackle the daily realities of living with pets. Furthermore, every BISSELL purchase helps support the BISSELL Pet Foundation, adding a feel-good element to the purchase.
Simple Maintenance: Washable Pads and Storage Tray
Keeping the machine itself clean is relatively straightforward. The mop pads are machine washable, which is a cost-saving and environmentally friendly feature compared to disposable pads. You get two sets, so you can swap them out when one gets dirty and wash them later. However, it’s worth noting, as one user pointed out, that the pads can sometimes still look stained or dirty even after washing, which can be a bit disheartening, though it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t clean. Having multiple sets of pads is beneficial, especially for larger areas or heavily soiled floors, to ensure you’re always cleaning with fresh pads and avoiding potential streaking.
The included dual-purpose storage tray is also a convenient addition. It provides a stable base for storing the unit and also helps with attaching the pads easily to the foot of the machine. One important user tip, however, is to always empty the water tank and avoid storing the machine with solution left inside, as it can potentially leak – a simple step to remember for proper maintenance and preventing spills.
While the SpinWave Cordless PET offers significant advantages in ease of use and cleaning power compared to manual methods, it’s not entirely without its quirks. The primary limitation for me has been the battery life, as a full house clean requires planning or breaking it up. Also, as mentioned, on very dirty floors, the pads can become saturated quickly, and continuing to use them will lead to streaks. Carrying a couple of extra pairs of clean pads is essential if you plan to clean a large, dirty area continuously. Some users have also experienced issues with a foggy or filmy residue or even swirl marks, particularly on older or sensitive wood floors. This seems to be linked to pad cleanliness, the type and amount of solution used, or potentially the specific floor finish. Careful attention to using clean pads and the recommended solutions, potentially pre-wetting the floor slightly for heavy messes as one user suggested, can help mitigate this. Despite these points, the overall experience of using this mop is far superior to traditional mopping for routine cleaning and tackling everyday messes.
What Other Users Are Saying
Looking online, I found many people share positive experiences with the BISSELL SpinWave Cordless PET. Users frequently praise its effectiveness on spills and muddy footprints, noting how it makes quick work of cleaning compared to manual mops. The cordless design is a popular highlight, offering easy maneuverability around furniture. While some agree that the battery life could be longer, especially for large homes, many find it sufficient for typical use or cleaning rooms individually. Some reviewers mention the potential for streaking or a filmy residue if the pads aren’t clean or if too much solution is used, reinforcing the need to swap out dirty pads frequently and manage the spray. Despite minor criticisms like battery life or pad maintenance, the general consensus is that it’s a valuable tool, particularly for homes with pets, significantly simplifying hard floor cleaning.
Final Assessment
Struggling to keep hard floors clean, especially when dealing with the constant challenge of pets or active families, is a common frustration. The complications of neglecting this task – from unsightly messes and lingering odors to the sheer effort of manual scrubbing – make finding an effective cleaning solution essential. The BISSELL SpinWave Cordless PET Hard Floor Spin Mop Cleaner offers a compelling way to tackle this problem. Its cordless design provides unmatched convenience for quick cleanups and moving around your home. The powerful spinning pads deliver a level of scrubbing effectiveness that surpasses traditional mops, making short work of even tough, sticky messes. And its design specifically caters to pet owners, helping to clean up common pet accidents and eliminate odors. If you’re tired of the mop-and-bucket routine and want a more efficient way to maintain your sealed hard floors, this cleaner is definitely worth considering. Click here to check out the BISSELL SpinWave Cordless PET Mop and see if it’s the right fit for your home.