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For this review, we took a break from testing vacuum cleaners to try out the Bissell Steam and Sweep Pet hard floor cleaner. This two-in-one sweeper and floor cleaner uses only heated water to clean and sanitize sealed hardwood, stone, vinyl, and, in our case, tile floors.
The Steam and Sweep Pet's water tank was easy to remove from its housing, and was easy to replace once it was filled with water. About thirty seconds after it was plugged in, an indicator light on the unit's front showed us that the Steam and Sweep was ready to go.
While the Steam and Sweep Pet's regular steam output was sufficient for picking dirt and debris off the floor, we needed a bit more elbow grease to tackle scuff marks, foot prints, and other stuck-on grime. Luckily, the Steam and Sweep has a trigger switch under the handle that saturates the pad with additional water and soaks away the more stubborn messes. After just one pass with the saturated pad, the scuff marks and other grime vanished. Pressing down a toggle switch on the front of the unit will activate its sweeper capabilities, which easily picks up paper, pet hair, and other debris from the floor.
Just a few minutes after cleaning, all traces of water had disappeared from our tile floor. Perhaps the mostexciting thing about sanitizing with this Bissell steam cleaner is the fact that it does not leave behind any harsh chemical smells or residue: it simply leaves behind a thin coat of water that dissipates very quickly.
When we decided that our cleaning duties were finished, we emptied out the remaining water from our Steam and Sweep's reservoir and removed the cleaning pad from the bottom. This is also easily done: a tag on the edge of the cleaning pad allowed us to pull it off the cleaner head without having to touch the fibers. When this Steam and Sweep is used in a home, this quick-release tab allows the user to quickly and hygienically remove the pad and toss it straight into the washing machine. (This is especially helpful in the event that your steamer is used to clean up pet messes!)
To dispose of the paper scraps and other debris that the Steam and Sweep picked up while on sweeper mode, all we had to do was press a button on the cleaner head to release its dirt container. Once that was emptied, we put the Steam and Sweep back together, wrapped up its power cord, and carried it back into storage.
If you're a pet owner in search of a natural, chemical-free way to sanitize hard surfaces throughout your home, we readily recommend the Bissell Steam and Sweep Pet hard floor cleaner. For more information about any of the Bissell steam cleaners we carry, or to place an order over the phone, please call (866) 972-8227.
