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New Bissell 2-in-1 Steam Mop

Available at BEST BUY

If you can say, all in the same breath, “I want to vacuum and steam mop my floor in one sweep,” then you will certainly be excited to learn that the new Bissell Steam Mop Vacuum at Bestbuy.com – a 2-in-1 steam mop is the next best thing to bread and water.  This steam floor cleaner does just that.  You’ll save time and money when you forgo the broom, all the chemical cleaners, and a dirty old mop.

Take a look at this beauty:

I’m sure you’ve heard many times over that steaming your floors sanitizes them without harsh chemicals being involved to get them clean.  That fact is huge because those floor cleaners that are on the shelves in stores contain carcinogens (cancer causing) chemicals.  In turn, walking on wet floors (you or your pets) without shoes, those chemicals seep into the body through the skin.  It’s a great feeling to know, that, with just water, you can steam clean sticky messes while safely sanitizing your floors using this steam mop.

With having a large dog with long fur, 13 cats, an over-sized customized wheelchair, and all the human traffic that walks through my doors, you can imagine how nasty the laminate floors get in my home.  Oh – let’s not forget that I live in New England which means that we not only have to deal with rain, but snow is on Mother Nature’s agenda for a good five months out of the year, followed by mud season.  I am so tired of cleaning floors – you have no idea!  That said, let me tell you – the Bissell Symphony has simplified my floor cleaning 100%!

Before receiving the Bissell Symphony to review floor washing was a major task.  I was using two vacuums – never a broom.  One is hooked up as a traditional upright vac and the other is an older vac that I have Gerry-rigged the hose so that I can use it like a canister vac.  The latter vac has one of the floor attachments that is long and thin like you’d see on an old canister vac that does the floors that aren’t carpet.  The reason I use both is because I detest having to switch the upright over to the hose setting every time I turn around.  It’s just a royal pain in my butt.  Vacuuming the laminate flooring works much better than using the broom simply because the animal fur doesn’t blow around.

Then to wash the floors I was using another steam mop.  I liked that one for what it did as far as cleaning the floors, but it  was also time consuming.  I’d have to stop to pump the mop to get any degree of steam to come out of it even though it’s said that with every push of the mop steam will eject – well, that didn’t happen in my world.  The Symphony – one just holds the lever down and steam comes out continuously.  And to change the mop pads on the steam mop  – I’d have to lay the machine down undo the Velcro and slide it off.  Then I’d have to replace it over the head of the attachment and Velcro it on.  This Bissell Symphony – all you do is step on the back plate and the attachment is released from the unit.  Then the mop pad easily comes off so that a new one can be put on.  You then simply put the attachment on the floor and set the unit on top of it and you’re good to go.

Then after using the steam mop, I’d have to re-vacuum the floors because between the time I was done with vacuuming the floors,  till the time I was ready to mop them – someone, whether it be human or animal, had come through and dropped particles of dirt or debris or fur on the floor. That debris was then just pushed around by the steam mop often leaving clumps of crap along the way.  So that meant that I’d have to re-vacuum the floors to get that debris off  the floor. Needless to say, cleaning my floors was quite the chore and by the time I am done my lower back is killing me!  But not anymore!

That said, you have to meet my new best friend!  It is the Bissell Symphony Floor Cleaner.  This floor cleaning machine has cut the floor cleaning chore in half for me.  It vacuums my floors and at the same time steams the floor.  Yes, vacuuming and steaming the floor is all done in one sweep.  The machine has two steam settings – high and low.  One can use the steamer simultaneously with the vac on either steam setting, just the vacuum, or just the floor steamer.  That’s called versatility…wouldn’t you say?  I no longer have to re-vacuum the floors after steaming them – yahoo!

Here – take a look at all the Symphony’s features:

Product features

• Save time by vacuuming debris and steaming hard floors at the same time
• Put away the dirty mop and bucket and skip the harsh chemicals. Sanitize with steam, using just water to eliminate 99.9% of germs and bacteria
• Skip the broom and dustpan and let the Powerful Cyclonic Action vacuum clean away fine and large debris
• Easy to use with Easy Touch Digital Controls™, 5-way adjustable handle, and Quick-Release Mop Pad Tray™
• 3 ways to clean—vacuum or steam separately or use both at the same time
• Dry Tank Technology™ keeps your tank dry while you steam
• 2-year limited warranty
• *When use as directed, results may vary.

You say – okay, when used as directed – results may vary.  That statement shouldn’t scare you if you work with the machine.  It only took me all of a few sweeps of the cleaner to realize that it is imperative to pull the machine back in the exact same track as when I moved it forward.  Doing that made it so that the floor was vacuumed and steamed at the same time, but more importantly, by pulling the machine back in the same path made it so that there were no wheel tracks left behind.  And be sure to follow the directions of washing the mop pads –  NO chlorine, NO fabric softeners, and Liquid detergent only.  Air dry for best results.

And if you’re going to use it to steam mop a large area – expect to have to change the microfiber pad.  Let’s face it, the pads get wet and when that happens the machine can’t do it’s job.  The pads are now making sludge from the dirt on your floors.  That in turn doesn’t leave your floor sparkling clean…rather a film being left behind.

And if you’re saying – well, Bissell put out the Flip It (vac/steamer),  which did the same thing – what’s so great about the Symphony?  Yes,the Flip It was an all in one vacuum/steam hard floor cleaner – but it isn’t nearly as efficient as the Symphony.  Having to vacuum then flip the machine over to steam mop – that extra flipping takes up your precious time.  I can say this because I owned one of those too many years ago.  And don’t forget with each flipping – you have to mess with the cord.  Don’t get me wrong – I liked that steam cleaner but it just isn’t anywhere near as efficient as this new Symphony.

Now you ask – how good can that vacuum really be – that unit isn’t all that big.  Well, the vacuum has Cyclonic Action – described as “easily picking up fine and large debris that leaves your floors barefoot-clean.”  I find the vacuum to be extremely worthy.  The vacuum easily picks up debris off the floor and effectively at that.  Our flooring has gaps in a couple areas between slats as you come in the door.  Those gaps have sand and debris get into them.  The vacuum in this cleaner is able to clean the debris out of those gaps without a problem.  I had another traditional upright vacuum that could not do that.  Now if you’re looking to have it suck up larger pieces of paper or something of the like, well, you’re only asking for trouble, as vacuums, in general, aren’t designed to do that and this one is no different.

Here are some frequent Q&A’s asked about this product:

Q.  How do I use a steam mop to sanitize my floor?

A.  By holding the steam mop in place for 15–20 seconds, you can sanitize your floors by killing germs such as E. coli and salmonella.

Q.  Is it okay to use steam on my wood floors?

A.  Yes, BISSELL steam mops are designed to clean sealed hard flooring such as ceramic tile, vinyl, laminate, marble, stone, and hardwood floors. Steam is not recommended for use on unsealed wood floors. Before cleaning, test in an inconspicuous area and check the care instructions from your flooring manufacturer.

Q.  How long will it take my steam mop to heat up?

A.  The steam mop is ready to clean in approximately 30 seconds. It is normal to hear a knocking sound as it heats up. When the indicator light on the front of the unit comes on, you’re ready to clean. During the first use it might take a little longer to begin steaming since the water needs to flow through the filter to the heater. This delay will occur only during the initial use or when using a new filter.

***My findings:  The time needed to make steam is just about 30 seconds.  There is a knocking sound as it heats up and knowing that ahead of time (I read the instructions) I saved myself from spazzing over thinking I got a defective product.

Q.  How can it vacuum and steam at the same time?

A.  It’s all thanks to an innovative design that utilizes a powerful cyclonic action vacuum to pick up small to large, dry debris off the floor before it comes into contact with our specially designed steam foot. Steam then cuts through grease and grime to clean sticky, stuck-on messes. It wasn’t easy, but that’s why it’s the only product on the market that can vacuum and steam at the same time.

Here’s what you’ll get in the box:

The Bissell Symphony  purchased at Best Buy comes with additional pack-ins including:

• 1 Symphony™ All in One Vacuum and Steam Mop
• 1 Water Filter
• 1 Water Cup
• 4 Microfiber mop pads (2 soft, 2 scrubby) Microfiber mop pads are infused with Microban antimicrobial protection to help fight odor-causing bacteria (I wasn’t too sure I’d like the scrubby pads – I was afraid they’d fall off as I moved forward and backwards – but you know what?  These pads are super!  Neither design of pads fall off and they both do a superb job at sucking up the dirt).

ONLINE DEAL:

Buy the Bissell Steam Mop Vacuum at Bestbuy.com, and receive a FREE pack of mop pads using the online code BISSELLSYMPHONY.

I am super pleased with the Bissell Symphony Steam Mop.  Do you have one?  What are your thoughts?  I’d love to hear them.

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

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