Use Bissell on Different Floor Types [Safe Solution]

Cleanliness and tidiness are hard to balance because you need multiple tools and gadgets to keep different types of spaces clean.

This puzzle can create a cleaning appliance clutter which can be challenging to manage. Bissell Crosswave comes as a promising multi-floor cleaning device, but many people don’t know how (or if) to use it on different surfaces.

Key Takeaway:

You can use Bissell Crosswave to clean different floors if you carefully select the cleaning solution and adjust the water temperature to match the surface you want to clean. You can use Bissell Multi-Surface Formula on all Crosswave-compatible surfaces.

In this article, you will learn all you need to know about cleaning different surfaces using Bissell Crosswave. We give you step-by-step instructions to clean vinyl, laminate, and tile floors with the device and which cleaning solutions are the best for each. So let’s start with the types of floors you can use Bissell Crosswave on.

Type of Flooring I Can Use Bissell Crosswave On?

You can use Bissell Crosswave on multiple floor types if you use the proper surface cleaner. The detergent or cleaning solution used to clean a floor has more impact than the cleaning medium.

So the real question is: are there Crosswave-compatible cleaning solutions that work for specific types of floors?

Bissell Crosswave can be used alongside Bissell Multi-Surface Formula to clean laminate, sealed hardwood, and tile floors. You can also vacuum floor covers like area rugs and taut carpets. The cleaning formula is practically non-corrosive and compatible with most heat-vulnerable surfaces.

Still, we recommend caution for different types of floorings, and you should adjust the cleaning methods to match the style of floor you are cleaning.

Can You Use Bissell Crosswave on Floating Floors?

Bissell Crosswave can be used on floating floors if you use cold water and the brand’s multi-surface formula.

Floating floors are merely laminate floors with a floating/locking installation. And Bissell stands by Crosswave’s compatibility with laminate floors.

Can I Use Bissell Cross Wave on Laminate Flooring?

You can clean laminate flooring with Bissell Crosswave if you avoid using hot water in the rinse tank. Heat can damage laminate flooring, so you have to err on the side of caution when choosing cleaning solution temperature.

Fortunately, Multi-Surface Cleaning Solution doesn’t require high heat to work on laminate floors.

Can the Bissell Crosswave Be Used on Luxury Vinyl Plank?

Bissell Crosswave is compatible with Luxury Vinyl Plank but requires cautious use.

You have to use the multi-surface cleaning solution manufactured by Bissell and should minimize the time it drenches the vinyl plank.

How to Use the Bissell Crosswave on Tile and Restore Grout Lines

Before we go over the steps for restoring grout lines with a Crosswave device, we should consider why a regular pass of Crosswave doesn’t get clean dirty grout.

Bissell Crosswave’s brush bristles/hair are too thick to reach and rub grout with enough force to remove the dirt. It requires multiple passes, which results in excess cleaning solution use.

To avoid emptying the Crosswave’s rinse tank multiple times when restoring grout lines, you need to follow these steps:

1. Spray the floor with an all-purpose cleaning solution – This doesn’t have to be an expensive cleaning solution. You can dilute white vinegar or use any solution with grout-clearing capabilities.
2. Wait 15 minutes for the dirt to get mobilized – It takes a while for dirt to get mobilized, especially if it is lodged in a crevasse like deep grout.
3. Fill your Crosswave’s rinse tank with hot water and multi-surface cleaning solution – Unlike laminate floors, tiles get cleaned the best with hot water.
4. Go over the grout lines with short, repetitive passes until clear – It takes multiple passes to get rid of every inch of grout dirt. Short passes increase the cleaning frequency.
5. Get rid of the remaining dirt with a rag – While this method will clear most of the grout dirt, there will be spots that will need harsher passes. Cover your finger with a rag and scrub away these dirty spots.
6. Rinse the floor with water – The final step in this process is to use warm water to rinse the floor. You can do this with a tank full of clean water (sans solution) in your Bissell Crosswave.

Bissell Crosswave on Area Rug

Bissell Crosswave works on area rugs, tight carpets, and similar types of floor cover. But since the machine is a vacuum+mop, you can’t use its full functionality on an area rug.

Bissell Crosswave can be used as a vacuum-only on an area rug and any rug-like surface that cannot be wet and dried with a mop. The vacuum-only mode doesn’t require filling the rinse tank with a cleaning solution or water.

Can You Use the Bissell Crosswave as Just a Vacuum?

You can use a Bissell Crosswave as just a vacuum.

Mopping isn’t mandatory to operate the device, and on surfaces like rugs, it can be counterproductive. That’s why Crosswave has the solo vacuum function.

You need to plug the device into an electric outlet and choose the type of floor you’re trying to vacuum.

What Types of Flooring You Shouldn’t Use a Bissell Crosswave On

Bissell Crosswave can be used on virtually every surface but must be used cautiously. Specific functions of the Crosswave cannot be used on certain types of floors or floor covers.

The following table shows what types of floors you shouldn’t use Bissell Crosswave’s specific features:

Floor Type	Don’t Use	Reason
Vinyl	Hot water in your Bissell Crosswave cleaner	It can warp the vinyl flooring
Area rug	Mopping function in your Crosswave device	The rug shouldn’t get wet
Untreated wood floor	Any Crosswave mode that can wet the floors	Water can damage untreated wood
Laminate floors	Prolonged mopping/cleaning	Water can damage laminate floors
Sealed hardwood floors	Corrosive chemicals in your Crosswave’s rinse tank	Corrosive chemicals can bite through the hardwood seal

Hardwood Floors and Bissell Crosswave

Hardwood floors don’t get damaged if you use Bissess Crosswave on them as long as you use a hardwood-friendly surface cleaner. Bissell Multi-Surface Cleaning Solution is safe to use on hardwood floors.

Best Cleaning Solutions/Detergents for Bissell Crosswave

As mentioned earlier, the kind of detergent or cleaning liquid you use to clean a floor has more of an impact on the surface than the cleaning machine. Poor choice of detergent impacts a floor adversely, while the right selection leads to reduced cleaning time. Let’s look at the different products you can use with a Crosswave cleaner.

Bissell Multi-Surface Floor Cleaning Formula

Formulated by the people behind Bissell, it is a given that Bissell Multi-Surface Cleaning Formula is the best cleaning solution to use with a Bissell Crosswave.

It works on almost all Crosswave-cleanable surfaces, including sealed hardwood, laminate, and vinyl floors. It isn’t as effective at removing grout dirt if used without priming the tiles with a grout cleaner.

Aside from that, the Bissell Multi-Surface formula is truly a catchall solution for different types of floors. The manufacturer’s website has over 1,000 reviews and ratings with an almost-perfect 5-star rating.

Goo Gone Grout & Tile Cleaner

Grout line restoration requires more than a multi-surface cleaning formula. A specialized grout cleaning solution should be used to prime the tiles and grout lines.

Goo Gone Grout Cleaner comes in a practical spray bottle that you can use directly on the grout instead of the entire tile. Use it in conjunction with the multi-surface formula to eliminate dirty grout.

The Best Practices of Using Bissell Crosswave on Different Floors

Since Crosswave multi-surface cleaner can be used on almost every floor surface or cover, it is reasonable to assume that the cleaning methods for each floor have to differ, even if slightly.

This section will explore how you can use the cleaning device on various surfaces.

Vinyl Floors

Use water that’s lukewarm or slightly warmer but avoid piping hot water. It is advisable to use a few drops of a compatible cleaning solution instead of an entire tank full of it. Vinyl floors are easy to clean.

Laminate Floors

Start with vacuum-only mode to pick up easy-to-grab debris and dirt. After that, wet the floor and start using standard Crosswave operation to get a deep clean in a short period.

Tiles

Pre-spray the tiles with a cleaning solution or diluted vinegar to get tough dirt to loosen up. After 15 to 30 minutes of waiting, you can proceed with the Crosswave operation.

Wood

Use an organic cleaning solution and avoid letting water sit on the wooden floor for an extended period. If the surface has too much dry dust and dirt, you can opt to vacuum first and then use the standard Crosswave settings.

Carpet/Rug

Exclusively use vacuum mode on rugs and carpeted surfaces. The mopping function of your Bissell Crosswave can drench the rug leaving it midway through a wash and a vacuum. While simultaneous mopping and vacuuming work on hard surfaces, it is not helpful on carpeted ones.

Stone

You can afford to be harsh with your chemical choices on stone floors but must be cautious with the Crosswave use. Don’t press the mop downward or into the stone, and avoid using chemicals that will affect the Crosswave’s rinse tank.

Top Mistakes When Using a Bissell Crosswave Device To Clean Floors

The Crosswave multiple surface cleaning machine is the first of its kind. It combines vacuuming when mopping, preventing dirty water from getting remopped all over the semi-clean floor.

It can also be used as a solo vacuum and clean everything from stone to the carpet.

But with plenty of possibilities come plenty of potential mistakes…

Let’s explore people’s most common mistakes when using a Bissell Crosswave cleaner.

Not Cleaning After Every Use

When people use Bissell Crosswave to clean a floor, they treat it like a vacuum cleaner and forget that water plays a major role in how the cleaner operates. After each cleaning cycle, leaving a wet brush with stubborn stains is not a good idea.

After a while, you can start smelling mildew and mold on a dirty Bissell brush roll and filter. Cleaning your Bissell Crosswave after each use is essential for longevity.

Using the Same Cleaning Solution for Every Floor

You can use the Crosswave device for different types of floors. However, that doesn’t mean that every Crosswave-compatible liquid also works for every floor that the Crosswave can clean. Bissell’s Multi-Surface cleaning solution works for almost every surface.

Still, you need to alter its concentration based on the type of floor you clean. Stone floors and tiles require a more concentrated dose of detergent, while vinyl planks and floating floors need a minimal amount.

Not Using “Vacuum-Only Mode”

The Bissell Crosswave device allows you to vacuum floors without activating the mop.

Surprisingly, many people use separate vacuum cleaners for their rugs while limiting their Crosswave use to hard floors.

Alternative Floor Cleaning Solutions (Hands-Free)

Although the Bissell kicks butt as a floor cleaning solution, I’ve since upgraded to more of a hands-off floor cleaning solution.

Robot vacuums are quickly becoming one of the best hands-off cleaning solutions. I’ve owned several over the years, and I can never go back to something I have to push manually to clean my floors.

Some might call it being lazy, but I call it valuing my time and reallocating my time-savings (the time I would have spent cleaning the floors) to something else. To me, Bissell has always been a trusted source when it comes to cleaning. But did you know Bissell also makes a 2-in-1 Robot mop and vacuum?

There is still a bit of manual intervention when using the above Bissell bot vac.

In my opinion, the holy grail of hands-off floor cleaning is the Roborock S7 MaxV ultra. Don’t let the price shock you, this robot vac is pretty much Rosie from the Jetsons. If you don’t get the reference- Rosie is a cleaning-obsessed robot maid character in a futuristic cartoon.

A few lifesaving features

• Self-cleaning mop pad
• Self-emptying dirt bin
• Scheduled cleaning
• Zone/spot cleaning (I use this feature every day after I feed my son, love it)
• Remote cleaning (for the days when you’re not home and you have that unexpected guest drop by)
• Avoids objects (This thing is amazing at avoiding kid’s toys and animal waste on the floor)
• Tangle-free vacuum brush roller

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