BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner Review: The End of the Mop and Bucket?

Let’s be honest, the traditional method of cleaning hard floors is a relic of a bygone era. First, you drag out the vacuum or sweep, chasing dust bunnies into corners. Then comes the second act: filling a bucket, wrestling with a stringy mop, and sloshing dirty water around your floor in the name of ‘cleaning’. The result? Streaky floors that take an age to dry, a sore back, and the dispiriting knowledge that you’ll have to do it all again in a few days. For years, this was my reality in a busy home with kids and pets, where spills are a daily occurrence and muddy footprints are practically part of the decor. The sheer amount of time and effort required felt disproportionate to the results, which never seemed to last. This inefficient, time-consuming ritual is a universal pain point for anyone with sealed wood, tile, or laminate flooring.

What to Consider Before Buying a Wet and Dry Floor Cleaner

A wet and dry vacuum cleaner, often called a hard floor cleaner, is more than just an appliance; it’s a key solution for reclaiming your time and achieving a higher standard of home hygiene. By combining powerful suction with a wet mopping function, these machines tackle both dry debris like crumbs and pet hair, and wet messes like spills and grime, in a single pass. The main benefit is a dramatic reduction in cleaning time and physical effort. Furthermore, models with separate tanks for clean and dirty water ensure you’re never washing your floors with contaminated water, leading to a genuinely deeper, more sanitary clean that you can see and feel.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone with a significant amount of sealed hard flooring, such as tile, laminate, linoleum, or sealed wood. It’s a game-changer for busy families, pet owners who constantly battle fur and paw prints, and anyone with mobility issues or back problems who finds traditional mopping strenuous. However, it might not be the best fit for those whose homes are predominantly carpeted, as most models are designed specifically for hard surfaces. Similarly, if you live in a very small flat with minimal storage, a more compact, single-function stick vacuum might be a better choice. The alternative is sticking with the old two-step process or hiring a cleaning service, both of which have significant time or financial costs.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Consider the machine’s weight and footprint. A lighter model is easier to carry between floors, while a slim profile and a dedicated storage tray make it easier to tuck away in a utility cupboard. The BISSELL CrossWave HF2 is notable for its low weight of just 3.99 kg, making it far more manageable than many of its bulkier rivals.
• Capacity/Performance: Tank capacity dictates how much area you can clean before needing to refill clean water or empty the dirty tank. A capacity around 0.75 litres, like the one found on the HF2, is generally sufficient for cleaning several large rooms. Also, consider the power source: corded models offer consistent, fade-free power for uninterrupted cleaning, whereas cordless models offer greater freedom at the cost of limited runtime.
• Materials & Durability: Most wet-dry cleaners are constructed from durable plastics to keep the weight down. While some users may perceive plastic as less premium than metal, it’s a practical choice for a device that handles water. Look for a reputable brand with a solid warranty, like the 2-year warranty offered by BISSELL, which provides peace of mind about the product’s longevity.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Features like self-propulsion can make a huge difference, making the machine feel like it’s gliding across the floor with minimal effort. However, the most critical factor is the post-cleaning maintenance. All wet-dry cleaners require their tanks, filters, and brush rolls to be cleaned and dried after each use to maintain performance and prevent odours. A machine with an automated self-cleaning cycle simplifies this process considerably.

Keeping these factors in mind, the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner stands out in several areas, particularly its lightweight design and user-friendly features. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the BISSELL CrossWave HF2: First Impressions and Key Features

The BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner arrived in a compact, well-organised box. From the moment we opened it, the focus on user-friendliness was apparent. Assembly was incredibly intuitive and took less than two minutes, with the main handle simply clicking firmly into the body of the unit—no tools required. Inside the box, we found the main vacuum body, the handle, a storage and clean-out tray, a hard floor brush roll and filter (pre-installed), and a starter bottle of BISSELL’s Natural Multi-Surface Floor Cleaning Solution. It’s everything you need to get cleaning straight away.

Our first impression of the machine itself was its remarkably light weight. At under 4 kg, it felt substantially more manageable than older, clunkier wet-dry vacuums we’ve tested. The Black/Cool Grey & Bossanova Blue colour scheme gives it a modern, clean aesthetic. The plastics feel solid and well-moulded, though some users have noted they don’t feel exceptionally premium. We found the build quality to be perfectly aligned with its price point and functional design, prioritising low weight over heavy-duty materials. Holding it for the first time, it was clear that its design was geared towards effortless manoeuvrability rather than brute force.

Putting the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 to the Test: A Performance Deep-Dive

A product can have a long list of features, but the only thing that truly matters is how it performs in a real-world home environment. We put the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner through its paces for several weeks on a variety of hard floors, including ceramic kitchen tiles and laminate flooring in a high-traffic hallway. We wanted to see if it could truly replace the tedious mop and vacuum routine and handle the daily chaos of family life.

The Two-in-One Revolution: Vacuuming and Mopping Simultaneously

The core promise of the CrossWave line is its ability to vacuum and wash in one go, and the HF2 delivers on this brilliantly. Our first test was the morning-after kitchen floor, littered with stray cereal crumbs, a few drops of dried juice, and the usual dust and pet hair. After filling the clean water tank with warm water and the included BISSELL solution up to the marked lines, we got to work. The moment you recline the handle, the brush roll whirs to life and the machine gently pulls itself forward. This self-propulsion is a standout feature, making the machine feel almost weightless as you guide it. It completely removes the physical strain of scrubbing, a point echoed by a user with back problems who found it “excellent” and felt no strain at all.

The machine glided over the tiles, effortlessly sucking up the cereal and hair while simultaneously washing the floor. The automatic water dispensing takes the guesswork out of the equation, laying down just enough solution to clean effectively without flooding the surface. After cleaning the entire kitchen, which took about seven minutes, the floor was left visibly cleaner and had a fresh scent. Most impressively, the floor was dry to the touch in under ten minutes, a huge improvement over the half-hour drying time of a traditional mop. The true “wow” moment, as one user described it, comes when you empty the dirty water tank. Seeing the disgustingly murky water is undeniable proof that you’ve removed grime you didn’t even know was there, rather than just pushing it around. On laminate, we found a slower, more deliberate forward and backward pass was key. This gives the powerful suction more time to pull up the dirty water, addressing the concern some users had about it leaving the surface “too wet.” With proper technique, our laminate floors were left clean, streak-free, and safely dry in minutes.

Design and Ergonomics: Is It Truly “Lightweight & Easy to Carry”?

Absolutely. At 3.99 kg, the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner is a featherweight in its category. This makes a tangible difference not just when carrying it up and down stairs, but during use. The low weight, combined with the self-propelled steering, makes it incredibly nimble. We could easily pivot around table legs and navigate tight spaces in the utility room without feeling like we were wrestling with a heavy piece of machinery. One user with a physical disability called it “super,” praising its ease of use and manoeuvrability as a life-changing addition to their daily routine.

The corded design is a subject of debate. On one hand, it means you never have to worry about a battery dying mid-clean. The power is consistent from start to finish. The power cord is described as “extra-long,” and we found it sufficient for cleaning a large open-plan kitchen and dining area from a single socket. However, as one user correctly pointed out, for cleaning an entire ground floor, you will likely need to stop and switch sockets. This is the fundamental trade-off: unlimited runtime for the minor inconvenience of managing a cord. For those who prioritize power and don’t want the anxiety of a fading battery, the corded HF2 is the superior choice.

The Dual-Tank System and Post-Clean Maintenance Routine

The two-tank system is the unsung hero of the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner. It is the key feature that elevates it far beyond a traditional mop. By keeping the clean water and cleaning solution completely separate from the dirty water and debris it collects, it guarantees that every single pass on your floor is with a fresh, clean solution. This is fundamental to achieving a hygienic clean.

However, this advanced cleaning comes with a non-negotiable responsibility: the post-use clean-up. Several users highlighted this as a “dislike,” and they’re not wrong—it is a chore. But it’s a necessary one. The process begins with the excellent self-cleaning cycle. You simply place the machine on its storage tray, ensure there’s clean water in the tank, and press a button. The machine flushes water and suction through the system, cleaning the brush roll and internal pathways. But it doesn’t end there. For best results and to prevent odours, you must then empty and thoroughly rinse the dirty water tank. A very helpful user tip we can confirm is to empty this tank *before* it reaches the absolute max line to prevent any potential leaks. After rinsing the tank, we removed the brush roll and the filter and placed them in the designated spots on the storage tray to air dry completely. One user rightly warned that if you leave the components wet inside the machine for 24 hours, they will develop a “stale water” smell. This entire process takes about five minutes, and while it’s an extra step, it’s a small price to pay for the machine’s incredible performance and longevity.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the sentiment for the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner is overwhelmingly positive, particularly from users who feel it has revolutionised their cleaning routine. Many, like the parent of three who used to put off mopping, praise it as a massive time-saver that delivers visibly better results. Another declared it the “best household item I have bought for years,” celebrating its effectiveness on daily messes like sand and dog hair.

The self-propelled motion is frequently cited as a major benefit, especially by those who find cleaning physically demanding. One happy customer, who identifies as being in a situation of disability, called the machine a “super” tool that brought “ease” and “simplicity” to their daily life, underscoring how transformative the product can be.

However, the feedback isn’t without criticism. A recurring negative point is the machine’s inability to clean right up to the edges of skirting boards, leaving a 2-3 centimetre gap that needs to be wiped manually. Another valid concern was raised by a user who felt the machine left their laminate floor too wet; this highlights the importance of using a slow, methodical technique on more sensitive flooring. The most serious complaint came from a user whose machine broke just after the return window closed, raising a valid question about long-term durability, though this appears to be an isolated incident rather than a widespread issue.

How Does the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Compare to the Competition?

The BISSELL CrossWave HF2 occupies a specific niche as a wet-dry cleaner for hard floors. While it excels in this role, it’s useful to compare it against other popular types of stick vacuums to understand who might prefer a different solution. The alternatives below are primarily dry vacuums, catering to those who may not need the integrated mopping function or who prioritize other features like cordless convenience or high-powered suction for carpets.

1. Amazon Basics 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

The Amazon Basics 2-in-1 is a straightforward, budget-friendly cordless stick vacuum. Its primary advantage over the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 is its cordless freedom and lower price point. It’s designed for quick, dry clean-ups and can convert to a handheld unit for cleaning stairs or upholstery. However, it lacks any wet cleaning capabilities and its suction power is more suited for light daily tasks rather than deep cleaning. Someone living in a smaller, carpeted apartment who just needs a tool for quick touch-ups might prefer this, whereas the CrossWave HF2 is for those who want a single, powerful machine to deep clean their hard floors.

2. Duronic VC8 BK Lightweight Stick Vacuum HEPA Filter

The Duronic VC8 BK is similar to the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 in that it is a corded, lightweight upright vacuum. It’s a direct competitor in the dry vacuum space, offering consistent power without battery concerns. Its key selling point is the HEPA filter, which is a significant benefit for allergy sufferers as it traps fine dust and allergens more effectively. However, it is a vacuum only. A user who already has a preferred mopping system but wants a lightweight, corded vacuum with enhanced air filtration would be the ideal customer for the Duronic. It cannot, however, match the all-in-one, time-saving cleaning of the CrossWave HF2.

3. Stanew 33Kpa Wireless Vacuum Cleaner 40min

The Stanew Wireless Vacuum represents the high-power cordless category. With an impressive 33Kpa of suction and a 40-minute runtime, it’s built for serious dry vacuuming on both hard floors and carpets. Its key advantages are its raw power and cordless flexibility, making it a versatile whole-home cleaning tool. This is the best choice for someone who prioritizes maximum suction power for dealing with deeply embedded dirt in carpets and values the go-anywhere convenience of a cordless design. They would be sacrificing the integrated washing function of the BISSELL CrossWave HF2, which remains the superior choice for a true, deep clean of hard surfaces.

The Final Verdict: Is the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner for You?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict is clear: the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner is a truly transformative appliance for the right home. If your house has a significant amount of sealed hard flooring and you’re tired of the time and effort wasted on the separate vacuuming and mopping process, this machine is an outstanding investment. It saves an incredible amount of time, is wonderfully easy to use thanks to its lightweight and self-propelled design, and delivers a visibly superior, more hygienic clean than a traditional mop.

It’s not perfect. The inability to clean right to the edge is a minor annoyance, and the mandatory post-clean maintenance routine requires a few minutes of diligence. However, we believe these are very reasonable trade-offs for the performance it offers. For busy families, pet owners, and anyone looking to simplify their cleaning routine and achieve better results, the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 is not just a gadget; it’s a solution. It effectively makes the old mop and bucket obsolete.

If you’ve decided the BISSELL CrossWave HF2 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.