After hearing wonderful things about steam mops from my friends, I starting doing research on them. I was anxious to retire my Swiffer which, as a mop, was better than nothing, but it left my dark hardwood floors streaky and I felt like I was just pushing the dirt around on the ceramic tile in my kitchen. I borrowed my neighbor's Shark and after using it one time knew that I wanted a different mop. I was excited to see this new model from Bissell as I had narrowed it down to a Bissell or the Eureka Enviro-Steam. [...] so I decided on the Bissell. The Bissell 31N1 was easy to put together, and includes a hanger so that you can hang your steam mop for storage. I used distilled water since it is supposed to prolong the life of the filter it comes with. The pads are substantial and easy to attach and stay in place while mopping. The unit took a little while to warm up but has an indicator light to tell you when it is ready. In use I saw hot steam pouring out which was great. The floors stayed wet for a while after use, but just like what happens when you mop a floor. I think I was trigger happy so I probably won't hit the steam button as much next time and try to spread the steam around a little bit better. I did dry the hardwoods after I used it as a precaution and that was fine. I was disappointed to see my hardwood floors were still streaking but a neighbor told me that once all of the other floor cleaners come off the floor (after I continue to use my steam mop), the streaks will go away. I hope so. A cleaning person I used sprayed furniture polish on the hardwoods (argh!) so it might be a while. I still think the floors are wonderfully clean and the mop is easy to swivel around and use with the cord being a nice length. I didn't have water leak on the floor like the other reviewer but perhaps that is because I removed the water tank immediately after use - not sure. I think you would be happy with this mop. I clean up after a 2 and 4 year old so life is good now.

I just purchased the Bissell Steam Mop Deluxe today and couldn't wait to get home to try it out. I vacuumed first, then put it together (pretty easy!). I decided to try out the eucalyptus distilled water that came with it. I was surprised to see that this is the water you use INSTEAD of tap water -- not as an additive. It has a nice but very faint smell, and I really wouldn't waste money buying more when this is gone.

The unit took several minutes to get the water/steam to the mop head for the first time. I think there is only one tiny hole on the bottom of the head where the steam comes out, but after a few pulls of the trigger on the handle, the mop pad gets plenty wet. In fact, I would say that you should only pull the steam trigger when you want more wetness or when you have a particularly tough spot to get off the floor. If you keep the trigger pulled continually for steam, your floors are going to get quite wet.

My floors did get pretty wet anyway -- I will try calling for less steam next time and see if the floors will dry faster that way. I didn't see any streaking while the floors were wet, but after they dried there was a bit. No more than with a mop though. I liked the fact that I knew my floors didn't have any cleaner residue after they were dry but they really didn't feel any different than when I use my old mop.

The thing I like least about this steam mop is that after you're done and you take off the mop pad (nice pads, by the way), you need to stand the mop on a folded towel or something because water continues to slowly leak out of the mop head. You surely don't want to leave the mop standing even for a few minutes on any kind of wood floor or you will have water stains.

When I read back on this review, it sounds like I'm not crazy about this mop. In reality, I'm not sure. I think there is probably a little bit of a learning curve here, and I believe that after I have used it a few more times I will learn how not to get the floor so wet and how to store it quickly without leaving a puddle. As for the specifics of the mop, the cord was plenty long enough for me -- 20 ft. The head swivels but it's not like driving a race car, if you know what I mean. It's not small and maneuverable enough to get all the way behind my toilet. Two mop head pads are included and they are very nice and machine washable. The unit feels sturdy enough to last a long time. With this deluxe unit there is also a "glider" type tray that you can put over the mop pad and "refresh" your carpets or rugs. I don't know how this refreshes anything. It is going to make your rug damp and unless your carpets are already really clean, it seems to me that it will just make it smell. I haven't used this attachment though, so maybe I'm wrong.

I have only used this on ceramic tile floors -- not wood or Pergo type floors. I think it would be too wet for my wood floors, which just have a satin finish.

In conclusion, I don't know if this steam mop it cleans any better than a regular mop, but it's more fun and maybe faster. No emptying buckets of mop water, which is nice! It's a lot to pay for what is essentially not much more than just a wet mop (although the water that makes it wet is hot!), but maybe I'll mop more which will help make it worth the price.

I just bought the Bissell Steam Mop Elite yesterday. I currently have a EuroPro, the handle of which is flimsy, so I decided to splurge on the Bissell as it is much more sturdy than the Shark EuroPro but what a disappointment it is.

The machine itself is just fine and well made but the 2 pads that came with the item are simply terrible. The company has obviously changed the pads from microfiber terry to these black and white striped POLYESTER/NYLON material pads which do NOT pick up the moisture left behind at all effectively. This is probably why people are posting in reviews that their floors are left too wet. Mine certainly are, and they take about 5 times longer to dry than they do when I use the Shark steam mop. Also, the design of the Bissell cleaning pads makes it more difficult to fit them over the mop head. The velcro-like attachment that Shark has is much more efficient, faster and easier.

So, while I like the actual mop part and the size of the water tank better in the Bissell than the Shark, I don't like the wet floors I'm left with due to these horrible POLY/NYLON material pads. What is Bissell thinking? No doubt these dingy and ugly looking b&w striped pads are cheaper to make than some good quality microfiber ones (i.e. like the piece of material on the cuff of these pad which sits around the top of the mop head and can be seen in the above picture) but COME ON, the cleaning pads are as important as the appliance itself. Unfortunately, I'll be taking this Bissell back to the store ASAP, good Black Friday deal or not!

I just don't get these companies any more. Don't they know that polyester/nylon is NOT absorbant.

Just recently purchased a Bissell 3 in 1 steam mop after much research. I had a Shark steam mop for the last couple of years which I loved but wanted something I didn't have to pump for steam and a sturdier build. Out of the box the Bissell is a beauty and everything I wanted in a steam mop. Very sturdy and well built. The cord seemed a bit heavier than it needed to be for a 1500 watt, same as my Shark. The cord is also two feet shorter than the Shark's 20' cord. I couldn't wait to start! Then disappointment seeped in. The little bit of steam coming from the Bissell didn't seem like it could possibly clean my floors but I have to say it maneuvered nicely and fit under all the cabinets. I started on the hard linoleum floors and then made my way downstairs to the tile floors.
Just like so many of the reviews I had read I noticed the floors were way to wet but went in choosing to ignore what many reviews had complained about. I was willing to wait for floors to dry.
As my floors were drying the streaking and spotting started to appear. Not to noticeable on the linoleum floors but as the tiled floors dried they looked dirtier than before I had mopped them and they didn't feel clean like when I used my Shark. Then the ultimate disappointment. I took the pad off the mop and even though it was soaking wet it wasn't very dirty. As a rule when I'm done mopping the pad is quite dark. Dismayed I got out my Shark and went over the floors again. I noticed that the steam was so much more than the Bissell which in turn left minimal water on the floor and the drying time was 5-7 minutes compared to the 20 plus with the Bissell. Now for the last but most important test. I took the pad off the Shark and yes my floors really had been
dirty. It was all there on the bottom of the Shark pad. I realized then that the Bissell just doesn't put out the steam needed to clean my floors and even though I loved the looks of the Bissell I really need a mop that will clean. I would give the Bissell three stars but only for the build of the mop. If I graded the Bissell on the way it worked there would be no stars because it just doesn't work which in my opinion is rather unfortunate.

This is the second Bissell Steam Mop that I've owned. I did a lot of research so I know the pros and cons of pretty much everything that's out there. I've had 30+ years of cleaning hardwood floors and nothing beats cleaning floors the old fashioned way - with elbow grease and a wring mop. But, I don't like using a wring mop. It's a hassle and now that I've got small kids, I want clean and I want convenience. A steam mop gives me that and it doesn't take up any more space than a regular mop.

The key to getting clean, streak free floors is to change the pad frequently (you'll need to buy extra pads if you have a lot of floor like I do) and lay off the steam button. If you keep the button depressed too much it'll just saturate the pad and you'll just be moving water around. You also need to vacuum the floors before you mop (we do this even when we use a wring mop). The steam mop pad will pick up dust but it won't pick up the gritty stuff. Also, if it's been a while since your floors have been steam cleaned or you used other products on the floors, it will take a while before the residue comes off. We vacuum and steam mop pretty regularly and are very happy with the results. I can always tell when the floors have been mopped. They really feel and look good.

Some of the things I think could be improved are the pads. Next time I need to buy new pads, I plan on just buying some microfiber pads and attaching them to the mop with velcro. It'll be cheaper and I think the results will be just as good. The pads are just okay and for $100 we deserve something better or more of them. (BTW when you wash them, DON'T put any fabric softener or dryer sheets in with them, it'll diminish the absorbancy until you wash it out of the pad). I would like to see an ON/OFF button rather than just plugging it and it's on. A retractable handle would also be nice. It's not reasonable to expect the mop to fit someone who's 6'0" as well as it does someone who's 5'0".

One last tip. In cold weather, we use tap water in the resevoir. In warmer weather, we use the water from the de-humidifier. It is, after all, pretty much the same as distilled water.

I was so excited to get this...i talked my husband into giving it to me now instead of waiting for Christmas. I love the idea of this product but it did NOT meet my expectations. Now...I do not use mops or swiffers. I do the old fashion scrubbing on my hands and knees, mop bucket, and scrub brush. So, i really wasn't expecting too much dirt on the pad of the bissell when I was done. I did the whole house with this machine and the pad was still not dirty...now I know I am clean but not THAT clean. So...i got a white towel ran it under hot water (no cleaner) and went over a few tiles by the entry way. Yep, the towel was dirty! Now, it may have been sanitized like it claimed, but I do not what my socks dirty after I just mopped! I am not impressed with the bissell...but then again my standards may be different than many. On another note...i did press the trigger the whole time I mopped. The floors did not dry instantly but didn't take long to dry. The only reason I am returning this is due to the fact that my floors are still dirty. What is the point in mopping with this machine when plain hot water and a rag will get better results. I am not giving up on this idea though, i may try the Shark or Haan. The bissell is just not for me.

I have had this mop for three months now, & I still love it. Like everything, there are some pros and cons.
Pros
1. Cleans really well, even on stuck-on food
2. No chemical residue to worry about
3. Easy to maneuver
4. Long cord
5. No streaking (we have ceramic tile)
6. Cleans some of the grout stains, not all
7. It has a water filter, so you can use tap water
Cons
1. Floors can get pretty wet. What I do to help is change the mop pad after half the floor is done, and when I'm done with everything, I walk on the floor with a towel to get rid of the excess (which is equivalent to what a mop leaves behind anyway)
2. I would like a steam mop that has an attachment to clean the grout, the mop pads don't really clean most grout stains

All in all, I think this is a great mop. I haven't had any issues about standing water or leaking water... the only water left behind by mine is from the steam & the mop pads when they get really wet. We had purchased the Wagner Steam Cleaner prior to this, and it did a lousy job. Walking on floors after using the Wagner, your white socks still turned brown from dirt. With the Bissel, walking on the floors after cleaning them leaves your socks still white! Finally, a really clean floor without having to get on my hands and knees or use any cleaners!!! The pros totally outweigh the cons, totally worth the purchase. I would definitely recommend.

I bought this product the Day after Thanksgiving and decided it would be a Christmas present to myself. I was so excited to have a steam mop and at a good price! However, I just got it out of the box and went to use it after assembling it. The water started to shoot out the side of the mop!!! Well, I called customer service and they weren't helpful at all. The first person I couldn't even understand. All I could get from them was that there was something clogging it and that I needed to take the mop apart. Well, I turned the duties over to my husband and he called another time and spoke to someone we could understand. They kept going on and on about it being clogged or the filter being dirty. We kept explaining it was a NEW product and had NEVER been used before. Well, he humored them and took the mop apart and it was completely clear. In the end, there was nothing they would do for us. They suggested they would send it in for service. We would have been stuck with the bill for shipping and that seems silly since it was a BRAND NEW MOP!!! I am not pleased with their customer service so I sure hope that you guys don't get a defective mop if you do purchase it. Wish I could say how the product actually worked!

I was excited to use this, as it was a great Black Friday deal, however, it leaves way too much water on the floor. It is a good idea, but I think Bissel needs to improve their product. I wasn't going to get the Shark Pocket Steam Mop because it costs more, but now I am going to return this Bissel for the other one because it has more heads and is supposed to dry almost instantly. I also didn't like that there really is no on/off switch, so as soon as it is plugged in it is on, and when you go to unplug it I saw a huge spark both times, and I had it grounded. Says alot when I opened it and am returning it same day.

Product is just what I expected. It very easy to put together and run. The only thing, for me, keeping it from being a 5 is that you must hold the trigger for steam - there is no On/Off switch for it. I have about 1,000 sq ft of ceramic tile so it takes awhile to clean.

I ordered two additional pads which was a good idea. This way as a pad gets dirty you can switch them off. Throw into washer afterward without softener and they clean up just great - ready to use again.