Is your old bucket and mop just not enough to keep your floors dry anymore? Do you need something a little more powerful to get rid of the dirt and grease on your floors?
A steam mop is a great addition to your cleaning arsenal, and we recently tested the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806 to see how it performs. Its cleaning power and ease of installation are as good as advertised, and we explain in detail why it gets the “family handyman’s” seal of approval.
I’ve tried a few other steam mops before, but the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806 is the most user-friendly product I’ve tried.
This steam mop uses steam to break down and remove dirt from hard floors, killing germs without the use of any chemicals. It comes with a machine-washable microfiber soft and hard pad, as well as two aromatherapy discs and a graduated water cup. You can add water to the mop by opening the flap on the top of the water tank. There’s a clear screen inside the mop that makes it easy to check the water level.
The scent disc is located in a compartment just above the base of the mop head. You can choose to use the whole disc or break it in half, depending on your needs. I used the whole disc, and the scent was not overpowering at all. You can purchase additional scent discs online. However, they are not necessary to adequately clean your floors.
I used this mop in the kitchen, which has tile floors, and in the family room at the back of the house, which also has hardwood floors. We usually come out of the car and often bring in dirt and mud from the backyard.
Each room provided a different type of mess for me to test. There were a few spots in the kitchen around the oven and garbage can that had accumulated dirt, and I cleaned them up. The family room had more dirt and dust than the kitchen, which was reflected in how dirty the mop head was.
The removable Spotboost cleaning brush on the top of the mop base made it easy to clean even the toughest areas. Its tough bristles easily cleaned all the messes I tested.
I cleaned both rooms first, then filled the steam mop with tap water. The owner’s manual recommends using distilled or deionized water, but regular tap water works just fine for cleaning floors.
This steam mop met all my expectations and more.
Our two black schnauzers love to lie on the bed in the living room, and the mop head picks up almost all the pet hair that the broom doesn’t pick up. The mop head was almost completely black after mopping, and it seems that I should have switched to a more powerful mop a long time ago!
Performance: This mop works better than other similar products I’ve tried. It removes dirt and heats water quickly.
Value for money: At about $100, the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806 is a mid-priced steam mop. Other models may have more features, but if you’re looking for a standard steam mop to clean a medium-sized house, this is a good choice.
Reliability and durability: The mop head still works well the second time after being washed in the washing machine. You need to use some force to get those caked-on messes off, but it takes a lot of force to damage the mop’s frame.
Easy to use: It takes only a few minutes to set up. Once you pour water into the mop, it heats up and is ready to use in 30 seconds. The mop comes with a 25-foot power cord, which was long enough to clean the two rooms I tested it in. However, if you have a larger house, you can choose a longer extension cord to avoid changing outlets.
One thing that caught me off guard was the sound of the mop making a popping noise as it heated up. I initially thought something was wrong or broken. However, the noise disappeared after a few seconds, and the mop heated up in 30 seconds, which is consistent with the instructions in the user manual.
If you’re looking for a steam mop, I highly recommend the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806. It cleans more powerfully than regular mops. The swivel head makes it easy to use in tight spaces, whether it’s by the coffee table in the living room or by the cabinets in the kitchen.
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