The BISSELL 2 in 1 CrossWave OmniForce Edge is a wet-dry vacuum that seamlessly transitions between mopping and traditional vacuuming at the press of a button. On paper, this cordless all-in-one cleaning machine sounds like the ideal time-saving and hassle-reducing addition to one’s cleaning arsenal. Armed with high expectations, we decided to put it to the test.
When it comes to cleaning the house, I am somewhat of a traditionalist. I use an electric vacuum for the carpets and a basic mop and bucket for the hard surfaces. When I was offered the opportunity to test out BISSELL’s 2 in 1 CrossWave® OmniForce™ Edge, a cordless device with a decent run-time that can switch between mopping hard surfaces and vacuuming, my interest was immediately sparked.
When we designed our current home, my husband Paul insisted on installing Karndean flooring on much of the ground floor, with carpets in some rooms and tiled floors in others. Although this looks great, keeping it looking at its best takes time and effort.
I view cleaning as an extra workout. However, anything that could simplify the process and potentially speed things up would be welcome, as I never seem to have enough hours to do all the things I’d like. After reading up on the Crosswave OmniForce Edge and how simple it is to switch between wet and dry cleaning modes, I was eager to test it out.
I have a high regard for BISSELL based on my previous experiences with their machines. However, it’s approaching five years since I last got hands-on with one of their cleaning machines. Back then, it was with their SpotClean Pro, which I am happy to report did exactly what it said it could do on the box.
The CrossWave OmniForce Edge is a cleaning machine that promises a lot, and given my fondness for the brand, I was concerned that it would not meet my lofty expectations. We’ll see if it did at the end of this review.
Before I get into my experience with BISSELL’s newest cleaning machine, let me briefly overview its capabilities.
Key Features of BISSELL’s 2 in 1 CrossWave OmniForce Edge
BISSELL states that its Crosswave OmniForce Edge sets a new standard in home cleaning as it is the only wet-dry vacuum with a Power Mop Mode for vacuuming and mopping simultaneously and a Power Vac Mode for tackling troublesome dry messes. In addition, this revolutionary cleaning machine also boasts 75% more suction power than previous models.
The Crosswave OmniForce Edge’s ‘calling card’ is its ease of use. It lets you switch between mopping and vacuuming modes at the press of a button and works on a variety of surfaces, including laminates, wood floors, tiles, and textiles.
It also benefits from ZeroGap™ Technology, which cleans up to the edges of skirting, etc., and has a Turbo Mode, which provides increased power for cleaning rugs and stubborn messes. The CrossWave OmniForce Edge also has an automatic self-cleaning function and uses a FreshStart™ antimicrobial filter to keep odours at bay.
Getting Hands-on With the CrossWave OmniForce Edge
Per our previous review experiences with BISSELL products, getting started with this 2-in-1 cleaning machine was very straightforward, as it’s pretty much a case of taking it out of the box and off you go.
As an added bonus, it arrived with a tad under 20% charge in the battery, which allowed Paul and me to do some brief tests prior to a full-blown clean.
There are three buttons located on the front of the handle (see above). The bottom of the three buttons is power; when pressed, the machine starts in dry cleaning mode (vacuuming). The middle button is for Power Mop Mode, and the top button engages the Turbo Mode.
Following some pressing of the mode buttons and listening to some pleasant musical tones, we placed the machine onto its charging base and waited. Although we were remiss in recording how long it took to reach a full charge, from what we can recall, it didn’t seem overly long. A nice feature with the charging is that once the battery reaches its capacity, the charging base automatically shuts off.
Dry Vacuuming
As often happens, Paul wanted to be the first to get hands-on with the CrossWave OmniForce Edge. With a broad smile, he enthusiastically whipped around the Karndean surfaces using the vacuum mode, steering the machine with a flick of his wrist. After a thorough going over of the Karndean and tiled surfaces, we were both in agreement that the machine had done an excellent job.
Following this, Paul decided to tackle some of our rugs. The rug vacuuming allowed him to try out the Turbo mode. Although initially excited by the extra power, he preferred the power of the ‘standard’ vacuum mode, feeling that this was more than adequate.
Mopping
With us both impressed with the machine’s dry vacuuming capability, it was now time to test out the Power Mop Mode. Generally, after I had completed the dry vacuuming, I would then have the mundane task of putting away the vacuum, cleaning and filling a bucket, checking that the mop was clean, and putting the cleaning solution into the water before engaging in a vigorous arm, back, and shoulder workout.
Things would be different for the first time since we moved into this house. With a press of a button, I removed the water tank from the rear of the machine, filled it with warm tap water to the required level, popped some cleaning solution into the water, and was ready to go.
My experience using the machine matched Paul’s enjoyable experience. It takes little effort to steer and move backwards and forwards, and in the mopping mode, it’s easy to see what’s been cleaned and missed, as there is a noticeable glisten on the surfaces. Most importantly, the flooring looked much better afterwards.
To complete my initial testing, I spilt some liquids containing birdseed onto the flooring, and as expected, the machine dealt with it with aplomb.
If this were just a dedicated floor-mopping machine, I would’ve been won over, but with the addition of its very effective vacuuming mode, I understand why BISSELL says that its CrossWave OmniForce Edge sets the standard for home cleaning.
Cleaning and Maintenance
As with any cleaning device, disposing of what’s been collected will be necessary. This is done by removing the waste containers, emptying and draining them, and cleaning them with a rinse and a brush. To ensure the machine remains in optimum condition, the machine’s clean-out cycle is engaged by pressing the button on top of the handle. You can see how this works by watching this video from BISSELL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMcSJ2EgvbE.
Paul and I were delighted with how the BISSELL CrossWave OmniForce Edge performed, and both agreed that it met, if not exceeded our lofty expectations. In the week we’ve had the machine, we’ve used it to clean the ground floor four times, and each time, it has done a brilliant job.
The machine is priced at £379.99 and is available to purchase from the company’s website, www.bissell.co.uk.
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