by Janet Martinelli
We’ve all been there using a carpet machine for our carpet wishing there was something similar for our hard floors. Manufacturers have recognized the need and there are several good products out there to make our lives easier when it comes to cleaning your hard floors.
While Bissell’s Cross wave model is probably the most recognizable name there are a couple others out there than warrant a closer look for keeping your hard floors sparkling clean.
I loved doing the test with these models so lets get started!
BEST HARD SURFACE VACUUM MOP OVERALL
CrossWave Cordless Max All in One Wet-Dry Vacuum
Reasons to buy:
- Exceptionally designed vacuum mop that’s able to pick up the biggest messes.
- Very easy to use, with a surprising level of adaptability.
- New design does a better job off picking up large debris than prior models.
- Cord-free operation is simpler to operate.
- Self Cleaning mode does a great job of keeping your roller clean.
Reasons to avoid:
- On smaller jobs that are really messy cleaning the mop after use can all most be more work than just cleaning the mess yourself.
- Can be a pricey for a light duty vacuum mop even if it can do both vaccuming and mopping.
Best Vacuum Mops Reviewed:
Top Pick:
- Bissell CrossWave Cordless Max
Cordless Vacuum Mop Combo:
Corded Vac-Mop Combo:
Comparisons
Guide:
Here's How We Did the Test:
Making this evaluation possible would require us a team of people who will check the pros and cons of each product, a wide variety of models to test, and a specific number of hours to be utilized to assess all the units.
4 USERS
9 MODELS
26 HOURS
Comparison of Best Vac-Mops on the Market
What to consider before getting your Vacuum Mop
What is a wet dry hard floor cleaner?
For purposes of our reviews these are cleaners that have both a vacuum component as well as a washing component. The idea is to save time by first sucking up the dry loose particles (vacuum) followed by washing (mopping) the floor. By picking up the dirt and dust while it is dry you have less change of leaving a muddy residue after the mopping.
Having these features combined in one device saves time and is surprisingly effective.
Will wet dry hard floor cleaner work on carpet?
Yes, in general you can use these machines on carpet, however they are most effective on area rugs and carpet with a lower knap. If you have a more plush carpet you may have more success using a carpet cleaning machine that is made specifically for carpet.
Which is better a steam mop or a vacuum mop combo?
There is no one correct answer for everyone. However in general if you have lots of stains and gooey messes the vacuum mop will usually be a better choice. Steam mops while very effective in killing germs, they be less effective when the pad is getting gummed up with dirt and we messes from the floor. This can be avoided with a wet dry vacuum.
Best Vacuum and Mop All in One Reviews
These are our favorite models and each excels in different functions so take some time to look at the features to make sure it does the things that are important to you and your method of cleaning.
1. BISSELL, 2554A CrossWave Cordless Max All in One Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner
USER RATING:
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Bissell proudly supports Bissell pet foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets.
- Wash and Vacuum your hard surfaces at the same time.
- Improved edge cleaning to easily pick-up pet hair.
- Self-clean design.
PROS
- New tank design for shallow faucets.
- Two-tank technology keeps clean water separate from dirty water.
- Safe for use on sealed wood floors, tile, low pile rugs, laminate, linoleum, rubber floor mats, pressed wood floors, and more.
- Self Cleaning Docking station.
- Solid build and durability.
CONS
- Cleaning vacuum compartments can be tedious after a really messy floor.
When it comes to keeping your home clean without having to own a vacuum and a mop this is the perfect choice. This was our favorite vacuum mop because it was cordless, had an easy to fill tank, and did a great job of scrubbing up dried on messes.
The best use for this vacuum mop is for normal day to day cleaning of your hard services. Cleaning the mop and vacuum components took quite a bit of effort after cleaning up really sticky gooey messes. So our recommendation is to use this more for light to medium use cleaning.
We also liked the way the vacuum could pick up larger debris than some of the older CrossWave models as well as the improved "edge" cleaning.
The Wi-Fi connectivity and the ability to reorder parts through the app is nice, but we really didn't find that we used it very often.
This was probably the most versatile and (expensive) vacuum mop on our list but we think you won't be disappointed with all the features and how well it performs.
2. Tineco iFLOOR3 Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner
USER RATING:
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Vacuums and Mops simultaneously
- Weighs 9.9 lbs.
- Multi-function charging station.
- Keeps clean water separate from dirty water.
- 25 minutes of cleaning per charge.
PROS
- Self Cleaning Charing Station.
- Can use on area rugs and hard surfaces.
- Powerful suction.
- Swivel steering ensure nearly effortless movement
- Advanced Digital Display.
CONS
- Tank capacity could be Larger.
- Takes a bit longer to charge the battery.
The Tineco iFloor3 holds its own with Bissell's CrossWave. Its has a little bit lower price point which may be attractive is you're looking to cut costs.
In our tests we found that it was equally effective in picking up dirt and particles. The edge cleaning was the best of the models we tested.
The digital display is also a nice touch for this model and we found it more useful than the WiFi that came with Bissell's. Tineco did a good job on the iFloor3 of putting smart technology in place to alert you of things that need your attention.
That being said the the feature that kept this from being our favorite was related to the vacuum/mop feature. It always does them both. We prefer the option to vacuum when we want to vacuum and mop only when we want to mop.
This fits the same space as the Cordless Max, The Tineco iFloor3 is perfect for medium to lighweight vacuming and mopping of hard floor surfaces and saves time by performing both tasks simultaneously.
3. Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro All in One Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner
Small Cleaner for Carpet
USER RATING:
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Vacuum and wash your floors at the same time.
- pet mess cleaning quick and easy.
- Corded for continuous power.
- Separate tanks for clean and dirty water.
- Tangle-free brush rolls.
PROS
- Cord allows you to have power when you need it an not wait for a battery to charge.
- Handles dried-on messes, fresh wet messes, as well as dry powdery messes.
- 25 foot cord allows you to cover larger areas.
- Pet Hair strainer helps with cleanup.
- Roller technology helps avoid tangled hair in rollers.
CONS
- After really messy jobs can be a bit of a hassle to clean.
- Doesn't pick up larger objects as easily as the cordless max model.
We liked the corded version of the CrossWave as much as the cordless version for cleaning performance.
The obvious difference is the cord. For those that don't mind dealing with a power cord they may enjoy the extra power that is provided when your not running from a battery. Also messes don't wait for a battery to be charged. Having the corded version means you'll always be ready.
Other differences: Some areas where this model fell a little short for was was the lack of a self cleaning station, and that lower clearance of the vacuum head which meant you had to raise the head slightly to get over some messes. Not having WiFi wasn't an issue for us, however if that is important to you, only the cordless max has it for bissell.
All in all this is a solid vacuum mop, its just that we fell the newer cordless version is a little better with the self cleaning station and the design of the head.
4. Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner Machine, Wet Dry Vacuum
USER RATING:
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- SpinScrub Brushes deliver while gently scrubbing.
- uses brushes to clean while suctioning up excess water.
- dry mode stops brushes to suction up excess water.
- Clean Boost fingertip control applies extra detergent to stains and heavy traffic areas.
PROS
- Simple Design.
- Larger Tank Capacity.
- Great as sucking up excess water to improve drying time.
- Easy to store.
- Fairly lightweight.
CONS
- Cord is 5 ft shorter than CrossWave.
- Narrower Head means more passes to clean areas.
Hoover Floormate Deluxe is the latest rendition of the floor mate model.
With this model you can expect improvements like the cord clip, the foot pedal, larger water tanks and a slightly quieter motor.
The Bissel models use rollers while this Hoover model uses scrubbers. I liked the idea behind the scrubbers for things like grout, but in the end for our tests it didn't provide a significant improvement in cleaning.
This model is a little less expensive than some of the other model's we've reviewed and if your budget is tight this can fill your need for a vacuum mop. But if you have the extra cash you will get a lot more features with the CrossWave and Tineco Models.
5. Shark VM252 VACMOP Pro Cordless Hard Floor Vacuum Mop
USER RATING:
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Powerful suction spray mopping.
- Disposable Vacmop Pad vacuums up what other pads, push around.
- No filter or maintenance necessary. Just replace the pad.
- A disposable dirt chamber within the pad locks away messes.
PROS
- Great suction power.
- Incredibly simple to use.
- Clean up is easy and the process is no touch keeping your hands clean.
- Perfect for light duty in small to medium rooms.
- Debris trap for suction was surprisingly effective.
CONS
- You have to buy replacement pads.
- You have to do the scrubbing by moving the pad back and forth rather than the roller doing the work.
The Shark VM252 is a different take on the vacuum mop combo.
Buy using a pad it works similar to a Swiffer or similar mop. But the suction on the VacMop works really well. I was concerned that it would create a gooey mess with whatever didn't get vacuumed. But to my surprise it was very effective.
The suction on this model was equivalent or better than any of the other models we reviewed for this category. Part of the trick is the trap Shark has built into the disposable pad. It collects loose debris and traps it before the pad goes over the area.
In testing there was hardly any film left behind on with this model. The only short coming was messes that had a large volume of liquid. But for average spills it was more than adequate.
I didn't feel this mop was particularly good for carpets other than maybe freshening up an area rug.
So that leaves you with a choice if you don't mind the need to purchase more pads on a regular basis, this can be perfect for keeping offices clean and other medium sized rooms. If you are adverse to buying pads and/or you have a lot of carpet on the hard floor this may not be the best choice for you.
Conclusion
BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max
After going through these tests we found that while all of these vacuum mops work, there are some key differences that set them apart.
After considering cordless/corded, self-cleaning/manual, rollers/scubbers/pads, as well as how well the suction worked; the Bissell Crosswave Cordless seemed to check all the boxes.
We were really impress with the Shark VacMop as a vacuum mop for a small apartment that had hard floors. But not having the rollers for a carpet limited it some what for mopping.
We hope you enjoyed our takes on these popular models on the market.
Vacuum Mop Frequently Asked Questions and Buying Guide
What is the best hard floor scrubber?
There are several terrific floor scrubbers out there. While vacuum mop combos do a great job picking up messes, a scrubber with rub out those particularly difficult area on a hard floor and will also provide shine if you use the buffer attachments. We have an entire article dedicated to floor scrubbers and buffers.
Is there a vacuum that also mops?
There aren’t a lot of good ones available, but there are a handful of quality vacuum mops that exist. The big players Bissell, Hoover, and Shark make them and there are a couple of lesser known brands that make a quality vacuum mop.
How do you vacuum and mop at the same time?
It’s actually quite easy with the click of a trigger or button you can be simultaneously vacuuming and mopping. Some still swear by vacuuming first then going over it again as a mop. In our tests however, we didn’t notice too much difference except for a little bit of residue on really difficult messes.
Do vacuum mops work?
Yes they do work. In our testing we found the better known models tended to perform well. We especially liked the models that washed the brushes while the device is at the charging station. One of our biggest issues with wet dry vacuums were that you really had to think twice before using it on super messy situations because cleaning the brushes would almost be more trouble than cleaning the mess yourself.
Does the Bissell CrossWave vacuum and mop at the same time?
The Bissell CrossWave does operate both as a vacuum cleaner and a mop simultaneously. The Bissell CrossWave is part one of our 5 favorites and is one of the models we have reviewed.
Which brands sell the best vacuum and mop combos?
These vacuum brands sell the best vacuum mops:
Bissell
Hoover
Shark
Tineco
Ticwell
Everything You Need To Know Before Buying a Vacuum Mop
Before you choose a vacuum mop and buy it, it’s important to understand what features are important to you.
Benefits of Using a Vacuum and Mop Combo
There are many reasons why you would want to use a vacuum mop to clean your home. Whether you need a mop vacuum for hardwood floors, or for your laminate floors, mop vacuums come with many benefits.
You save time because you'll vacuum up dirt and dust while mopping floors all at once.
Most vacuum mops will give you the option to vacuum independently or simultaneously depending on your preference. Some mops only vaccum and mop simultaneously. If performing these tasks independently is important to you be sure the vacuum you chose has that feature.
You only need to have one mop rather than two specialty mops.
For the models that are cordless you are free to vacuum any hard surface in the house without the hassles of working around the cord or looking for a power supply.
Pet hair will find its way everywhere on your hard surfaces. Mop vacuums make cleaning up pet hair a snap.
Types of upright Vacuum Mops
When looking at upright vacuum mops there are a couple choices you’ll be faced with.
To Cord or not to Cord
Corded vacuums do have a little more oomph in them that the battery operated versions so if you like the security of knowing you are always at full power you’ll probably be happiest with a corded vacuum.
Another plus is that you don’t have to wait for it to charge, you plug it in and your ready to go.
If you don’t have a lot of outlets in your house and you really hate dealing with the chord as you clean your tendency will like be towards the cordless variety.
One other thing to consider with cordless mops are charge times, batteries can go bad over time requiring replacement not to mention the limited time to vacuum before having to re-charge.
Eco-friendly washable pads vs disposable pads?
Another choice you will need to make regarding your vacuum mop is the type pad you use. Some mops use a disposable mop while others offer the washable pads saving you money and are friendly to the environment.
Everyone has a preference, but I will say the disposable pads are clean and easy to dispose of without having to hassle with the gunk on the pad.
Recap of Top Hard Surface Vac-Mop For Your Needs
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Last Updated on November 9, 2023