Bissell CrossWave 1785A All-in-One Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vacuum
Bissell CrossWave 1785A is an all-in-one multi-surface wet-dry vacuum cleaner. This multi-surface floor cleaner machine combines a spinning brush roll, cleaning solution, and suction to clean and wash various surfaces, including bare floors and area rugs.
Bissell CrossWave 1785A is designed to vacuum and wash dirty floors at the same time, saving time and effort.
Updated: July 11, 2023.
Bissell CrossWave 1785A Features and Specifications
Bissell CrossWave 1785A is designed to vacuum and wash various floor types simultaneously. Similar floor washers require the user to vacuum the floors first and only then to wash the floors - or the user has to change the microfiber pad or brushroll more often.
Combining two units (washer and vacuum cleaner), Bissell CrossWave 1785A saves time cleaning the floors. However, it also costs more than 'just' floor washers/cleaners - but not much.
The unit is powered via 25 feet (~7.6 m) long power cord wrapped around cord hooks - unit lacks an automatic power cord rewind system, but the power cord is not too long to be difficult to manage manually. During operation, the unit draws ~4.4 Amps of current.
Bissell CrossWave 1785A weighs 11 pounds (~5 kg) with both tanks empty.
The clean water tank capacity is 28 oz. (~0.83 liters), while the dirty tank capacity is 14.5 oz. (0.42 liters). To improve cleaning, it is recommended to use warm, clean water - the emphasis is on 'warm' water, not hot!
Also, the unit doesn't come with a water heater, so warm water is added to the unit just prior to cleaning to avoid getting it cold. Again, don't use hot water.
Although this is a rather simple unit to operate, it is highly recommended to read the manual/instructions before the first use thoroughly.
The cleaning path is 12 inches (~30.5 cm) wide, allowing the user to clean a large area quickly. If the area is dirty, more passes are required to achieve the desired level of cleanliness.
Bissell 1785A is a multi-surface cleaning machine, and it can be used on both sealed hard floors and area rugs. Users can move from one-floor type to the next with ease thanks to the dual action brushroll, which spins at 3000 rpm.
Dual action brush roll comes with microfiber and nylon bristles and mops and picks up the dirt simultaneously. By changing the brush roll and cleaning solution, users can opt for more specialized cleaning combinations for cleaning, for example, just area rugs or even sensitive wooden floors.
When cleaning sealed floors like hardwood floors, laminate, and similar (or area rugs on wooden floors), the amount of cleaning liquid is decreased. Nonetheless, the floors must be certified for this type of cleaning. Any crack in floor sealant/finish can lead to moisture penetration into the wood, making it buckle or even rot.
Bissell Crosswave comes with so-called 'SmartClean' fingertip controls, which allow the user to switch between hard floor and area rug cleaning quickly.
With two on-demand spray levels, the unit can clean multiple floor types by controlling the amount of cleaning solution dispensed with the spray trigger - more cleaning solution and more brush roll passes are required for cleaning hard and stubborn dirt on tiles, stone, and similar, very resistant floors.
However, sensitive wooden floors require a softer brush roll and specialized cleaning solution for wooden floors.
Although Bissell 1785A contains two independent liquid tanks, it is of slim design and comes with a swivel mechanism, allowing the unit to easily maneuver around the objects on the floors, and thanks to its low profile, it can reach and clean under cabinets and beds - it is not as slim as some stick vacuums but can reach areas which some classic uprights can't.
Bissell Crosswave comes with an Easy-Clean storage tray, making unit cleanup easy. The unit is stored in an upright position, while brush rolls can dry faster outside of the unit - the brushroll window can be removed easily, and the brushroll is simply removed from the unit.
There are several types of brush rolls available for Bissell Crosswave 1785A:
- wood floor brush roll comes with gentle microfiber bristles and is used to wash sealed hardwood floors while picking up dry debris at the same time.
- multisurface brush roll comes by default with Bissell 1785A, and it combines microfiber and nylon bristles to mop and scrub the floors and pick up dry debris. It should not be used on sensitive floors without testing first.
- area rug brush roll comes with bristles designed to gently scrub low pile carpets and area rugs and in combination with cleaning solution and vacuum suction to deeply clean/wash carpets and rugs.
Bissell Crosswave 1785A can use several cleaning solutions for improved cleaning:
- multi-surface cleaning formula is used for cleaning all sealed hard floors, carpets, and area rugs. It freshens the floors with the fresh scent of spring breeze, increasing the feeling of cleaned floors.
It is safe to use on sealed hardwood floors, tile, laminate, area rugs, and low-pile carpets, and it is pet and family safe when used according to the instructions.
Bissell 1785A, by default, comes with multi-surface cleaning formula.
Again: when cleaning wooden and similar floors, be sure that the floor finish is in excellent condition!
- area rug cleaning formula is used for cleaning area rugs and low-pile carpets. It helps remove stubborn dirt and freshens cleaned surfaces with a fresh linen scent. It is also pet and family safe when used according to the instructions.
- wood floor cleaning formula is used to clean sealed hardwood floors. It also restores wood floors' natural shine and freshens the floors with a fresh lemon scent. If the wood finish is without cracks, it is safe to use on sealed hardwood floors. Also, it is pet and family safe when used according to the instructions.
When filling the clean water tanks, note that it has two measuring volumes, depending on the amount of floor area that has to be cleaned.
For cleaning a large floor area (up to 700 square feet, 65 square meters), fill the clean water tank with warm tap water to the second water fill line and then add the cleaning formula to the second formula fill line.
For cleaning smaller areas (less than 350 square feet, 32.5 square meters), fill the clean water tank with warm tap water to the first water fill line and then add the cleaning formula to the first formula fill line.
Note: tap water is safe for use, but if you live in an area with really hard water and for some reason, there are streaks and marks on the floor, try cleaning your floors using distilled water - it costs more, but it has no deposit to be left on the cleaned floors.
On top of the dirty water tank is a filter that should be washed occasionally, depending on the use of the unit.
Also, occasionally users should clean brush rolls.
The dirty water tank should be emptied after each use. Also, the unit comes with a float which prevents the dirty tank from overflowing.
When the dirty water tank is full, the float will shut off the suction motor, and the unit with create a high-pitched sound to signal that it is time to empty the dirty water tank.
Unit is easy to use and maintain, but for exact procedures, check manual/instructions - better safe than sorry.
Bissell Crosswave 1785A does its job very well - it washes various types of floors and is more than comparable with other similar units in its class.
Bissell Crosswave 1785A vs. Hoover Floormate FH40165
Bissell Crosswave 1785A and Hoover FH40165 FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner are two very similar units, and people often wonder which one is better.
Note that Hoover FH40165 is very similar to Hoover FH40160, except that Hoover FH40165 comes with a foldable handle and Hoover FH40160 doesn't. Also, Bissell 1785A doesn't feature a foldable handle, which can be useful when storing the unit.
On the other hand, Bissell 1785A comes with Easy-Clean Storage Tray, where the unit can be safely placed for drying and for storing.
Water tanks: both units come with two separate water tanks - Bissell's clean water tank capacity is 28 oz. (~0.83 liters), while the dirty tank capacity is 14.5 oz. (0.42 liters) and both Hoover's tanks' capacities are 48 ounces (~1.4 liters), much larger than in Bissell 1784A. Obviously, Hoover FH40165 can clean much larger areas without needing the tanks to be refilled or emptied.
Note that both models have automatic shut-off safety systems built-in.
Power: Bissell 1785A comes with 25 feet long power cord, while Hoover comes with 20 feet long power cord. So, although it has tanks of larger capacities, FH40165 must be more often plugged out and again plugged in, in order to clean the same area.
Bissell 1785A requires more power (4.4 vs 3.5 Amps) to operate.
Note that none of these models have water heaters, but both can and should be used with warm water. Again: warm water, NOT hot water!
Weight: Bissell 1785A weighs 11 pounds, while Hoover FH40165 weighs 13.8 pounds. This almost 3 pounds difference is not very notable when cleaning, but it can be important when having the need to carry the unit up and down the stairs, for example.
Cleaning Brushes and Formulas: Bissell 1785A has 3 optional floor brushes, while Hoover has two. Also, Bissell has 3 optional cleaning formulas, while Hoover has two optional formulas. This might sound as if Bissell has more specialized cleaning options, but in real life, both units do their job well, at least regarding their brushes and cleaning formulas.
Note that these models have other differences, but these are the most significant ones.
Personally, it is up to the individual user's preferences and real-life needs that determine which unit is actually 'better' - both units are designed to do their job, and they do it well.
Note: When we first wrote the Bissell 1785A review, both Bissell 1785A and Hoover FH40165 were very popular units. Last time we checked (July 11, 2023.), Hoover FH40165 is a discontinued product, while Bissell 1785A is still going on strongly, passing the test of time with flying colors.
Long Story Short: Bissell Croswave 1785A is very good floor washer/cleaner and can help the user to keep their floors clean. Although it acts as a vacuum cleaner, too, it is not suitable as the main vacuum cleaner for homes and apartments, but after all, it is not designed for that purpose.
If you have large areas that must be periodically washed and you need a unit to do the job, consider Bissell Croswave 1785A.
For the best offers, check BISSELL CrossWave 1785A Floor and Carpet Cleaner with Wet-Dry Vacuum Amazon link (link opens in the new window).