Bissell Steam Mop

Review by Busy Mom : Love it!

I have never used a steam mop before and never really had a desire to have one until I was lucky enough to get one for a review here at Vine. I just used it for the first time and must say, it is much nicer to see my floor cleaned without having to drag a bucket around. I even used the kitchen brush to clean the top of my trash can (never buy a white kitchen trash container ...). At first, the knocking sound is a bit alarming until my husband told me that it's just priming for the steam. Once I started moving it around, it took some adjustment to push it (it's not as light as a regular mop) and the swivel head can be tough to maneuver around if you're not used to it. My biggest complaint is the cord is so long and it does get in the way when you're mopping. However, having a long cord does come in handy. It cleans the floor and cleaned up some messes that a regular mop cannot do. I must say I love that. I was done mopping in 10 minutes if not less because I am not scrubbing with an useless brush. I have vinyl floor so it helps a lot to use this steam mop. It actually cut the time in half.Since I had water left to spare I decided to clean my trash lid. Like I said, it's white and with two young boys and a dog, it tends to attract dirt. I used the kitchen brush, and cleaned it. My only gripe with the brush is that it's too small. It's more perfect for cleaning the wood under the sink or around the floor or in some corner that a mop can't get to. I have not tried the other attachments yet and hope to eventually soon, especially the grout brush. I do like the ability to move the steam pod to sit on the floor upright while cleaning something other than the floor. However, I do not like the fact that I don't have a button right above the "trigger" where the cleaning brush is attached. It would come in handy if I could do that especially in the shower. I do like the fact that I don't have to use chemicals to clean my house. Steam really is the best way to kill mold and germs and I like that. I do not like having the attachments separate from the mop. I pretty much know where I will stock it in between uses, but I rather have it all together like the attachments on my carpet cleaner are stored. Like I said, I have never used a steam mop before and like having one now. It is a bonus that the floor dries pretty quickly and it does clean up the mess rather well. It's a bonus to have in the house!10/31/11

Review by C. Breedlove : Heavy but Cleans

I used this machine on several types of floors in my house (hardwood, tile, vinyl, and laminate flooring). Without a doubt, it cleans. If you looked at the part you just cleaned vs the "dirty" floor, you'd be go "Yikes." It was that big of a difference.Pros: It cleans and deodorizes. It's easy to assemble. It's a snap to use. For the price, it's durable and cost effective.Cons: It's heavy. The attachments are wonky. You'd expect one attachment to clean several floors but that's not the case. I didn't see much of a difference in cleaning the laminate. But that might just be the cheap laminate.All in all, I'm glad to have it. My hardwood floors are looking awesome. The tiles look new. Even the vinyl floors in my bathrooms look better.

Review by Yolanda S. Bean : Works Wonderfully!

This is the first steam mop that I have ever owned, and I must say that I am completely impressed by the cleaning power of steam! It works so well in the kitchen and bathroom! I can't believe the difference it has made. It is maneuverable, too, making it easy to use.The only thing stopping it from a perfect five stars is that the brush attachments (separate for kitchen, bathroom and other surfaces) don't have a built-in place on the mop itself for storage. I had not been planning on storing the steam mop in its box permanently, but it is the only way to keep all of its parts together. Maybe if you are more organized with your cleaning equipment, this won't bother you as much, but I am just worried about losing these small attachments if I don't keep them directly with the mop.

Review by Robert C. : Very impressive... cleaned the bathroom on the first day! - but there is a leak issue.

Although I've wanted to try a steam cleaner for some time, I've never used one before. But I really like the idea of cleaning without chemicals. I was pleasantly surprised with the performance of the Bissell.First, you have to assemble it which is very easy. There were four main parts in the box along with a number of smaller accessories (two small brushes (one labeled kitchen, the other bathroom), counter attachment, a window attachment, a grout brush attachment, two washable cloth mop heads and a washable cloth for the window cleaner). To assemble, you attach the mop head to the mop body, attach the mop handle to the mop body and then dock the removable steam pod into the mop body and viola, you're done! Fully assembled, the unit can freely stand on its own. Freestanding, it's about 44 inches tall and according to my scale, it weighs 9.2 pounds without water. The device has a nicely curved handle and it is the perfect height and shape to maneuver the mop with. The handle also has an easy to use tigger to apply steam.But the main action is with the removable steam pod. The steam pod is the heart of the unit. It contains a removable water tank, a removable water filter, the 1500 watt heating element, the fairly long 3-prong (grounded) power cord and a very flexible, 4.5 foot coil-reinforced steam hose. The steam pod easily snaps out of the mop body by pressing a single blue button on steam pod's handle. The pod weighs in at about 5.6 pounds including the power cord but without water. It can be easily carried by it's grab handle and the steam is activated by the same blue button on the grab handle that is used to remove it from the mop base. On the side of the pod, there is an easy to use steam control knob which controls the flow of steam with markings for light, normal and tough (referring to the difficulty of the job) - in other words, low, medium and high steam flow.I wanted to try it out, but I haven't used it to clean a floor yet. But I did use it to clean my bathroom!Bissell recommends that you use distilled water in the unit to avoid minerals, dirt and contaminants. You can use tap water, but tap water will cause the unit's integrated water filter to wear out prematurely. I didn't have any distilled water around, so I used water from my PUR pitcher. The water tank slides out of the unit easily for filling. I'd say it holds roughly about a quart of water, probably a little less. So you fill the tank, close it up and slide it back into the steam pod. Unwrap the cord (it has a quick release) and the hose, attach one of the included cleaning brush attachments to the hose, plug the pod in to your grounded power outlet, adjust the steam control knob to fit your job and press and hold that one blue button to start the steam.The first time you use it, it takes about a minute from when you first press the button to when the steam starts flowing. There is a loud knocking sound, which is caused by the water pump being primed. When the internals of the unit get enough water, the unit quiets down to the point where you'll mostly hear the steam... and there there will be a lot of steam! It was very impressive! So I started on the bathroom sink and it just melted the residual soap and dirt away with very little effort. I cleaned the basin and the faucet, soap dish, toothbrush holder and the results were very good! They all needed a rinse and wipe down by a sponge to wipe away any residuals, but it turned out nicely.Next, I turned my attention to the tub. I turned up the steam to max and it really cranked up! It steamed away all that hard to clean grime and soap scum from the tub floor (at least, my tub floor!). It took some time because of the size of the tub versus the size of the small brush head, but with very little physical effort. Most of the work was done by the steam with just a light level of force on the brush. Again, I had to rinse and sponge the residual away, but I was very impressed with the results.After the tub I did the bowl and tile floor (still using the small brush on the pod). Boy did it ever clean the grout and the floor! Again, I was impressed. And if you look at some of my other reviews, you'll know that I'm not easily impressed.I had to fill the water bottle three times. And you have to clean the brush at times as you go along because it gathers the dirt it melts off your surfaces. None of which was a problem. At the end, there was no artificial lemon scent or chemical smell, just the smell of a steam from an iron. Just beautiful!I only have two gripes with the unit so far. One, I wish the trigger on the steam pod had an option to stay down without having to keep my hand on it. The pod is free standing, so it would have been nice to turn it on and deal with the tub with two hands rather than keep one hand on the steam button. I might use some masking tape next time to keep it down. I just have to keep an eye on the water level as it's probably not a good thing to let the unit run dry.Second, my unit leaks. I believe this is from one of the removable connections in the water tank area, all of which have rubber o-ring seals. But I guess due to the design or the nature of the easy removal of the parts, it may not be possible to stop all water from leaking all the time. Additionally, the leak seems to get worse as you are using it, ie. once the steam pod is heated. I reseated the filter and the tank a few times and that seemed to help, but I could not stop the leak completely. It is only a small leak and while it's not a huge deal, it is annoying. A brand new unit like this just shouldn't leak IMO.Again, I haven't used the mop part yet, and I will update this review when I do.At the moment, I would easily recommend this unit as it powered though my bathroom with ease.One last thing... Keep your kids and hands away from the steam at all times. The steam is extremely scalding hot! Do not allow small children to get access to this unit. It is no joke. If you can do that, I think you'll be very happy with it.UPDATE: 10/31/2011I figured out, at least in part, why the unit leaks more as you're using it. The reason is interesting and not easily avoidable. Here is the skinny:The water tank and filter element reside on the steam pod. The steam pod contains the heating elements and it gets really hot when you use it. That heat radiates through the plastic of the steam pod behind the water tank and filter. That heat slowly heats up the water and the air in the water tank and in the filter. That water and air expands as it is heated (especially the air). This creates pressure. Now, when you're actually using the steam pod, this won't be a problem as the additional pressure will go out through the system as it generates steam. The problem and leaking occurs during the times after you've already heated the system but you're not actually using the steam - when the heating elements are already hot and you have the steam closed. That is when the additional pressure of the heated air and water in the tank cause the water to leak out faster from the connection under the filter. Apparently, the single rubber o-ring seal under the filter is inadequate to stop this from happening. I have not found a solution for this. I may try to put a few layers of duct tape under the rubber o-ring on the filter (where it connects to the pod body) in an effort to to make that connection a little fatter and tighter. But that may only cause the leak to move up to the connection between the tank and the filter. Another thing I may try is putting a piece of duct tape across the tank once it's seated tightly to keep it seated tightly. I'll post my results here after I try it.Still, the steamer does work very well and the amount of water that leaks is minor IMO. When you're using the steam pod outside of the mop body, you'll just have to remember to put a towel down under the pod to collect the water that escapes.I may have to reduce my rating to three stars. Hmmmm....UPDATE: 11/19/2011So I tried to stop the leak by using tape as I mentioned above... and it worked! Well, pretty much... Only when I left it off the steam for awhile did it leak (from the air pressure) and it was from the connection between the tank and the filter at that point. But I went through a whole tank with no leaking until I was done and let what little was left in the tank stand for awhile. Let me explain what I did:First, I removed the tiny rubber o-ring from the connection on the bottom of the filter. Set that aside and don't lose it! Then I cut a piece of masking tape about 1 & 1/2" in length and 1/16" wide (we're talking a tiny little strip here). Then using the tip of the scissor, I stuck one end of that strip of masking tape in the groove where the rubber o-ring was on the bottom of the filter. Wrap the tape around itself into that groove as tight as you can - it should overlap about twice. Now stick the rubber o-ring back on over it and you're done. Now when you insert the filter back into the steam pod, you should encounter some resistance - this is a good thing! It will now sort of snap down and your main leak should be gone.It's amazing how such a tiny gap could make such a difference.

Review by Fred : Excellent steam mop

This is everything that we were looking for in a steam mop. It really improved how clean our ceramic tile and wood floors get after use this product vs the swifer wet jet. I have not used the attachments, but plan to use them very soon. This is a must have in every household. Only down sided to this product (and I read reviews before purchasing ours) is that it doesnt have a place to put the attachments on the mop.

Review by K. Futrell : Love it!!

I love my Bissell Lift Off Steam Mop. It is so easy to use on multiple floor types. It's very easy to put together and it comes with instructions on how to use it. The head on the mop pivots so it even gets into those hard to reach areas. Comes with several attachments to make sure that you get the job done the right way. There is no harsh chemicals or fumes so it is safe to use around kids and pets which is a huge deal for me. The pads are washable so you won't have to buy any for a long time if at all. The only things that I do not care for is the weight of the item (a little heavy_ and I wish the cord was longer.For the price this is one of the better Steam Mops on the market.

Review by V. Hutson : I will actually mop more with this!

The Lift-Off steam mop cleans by using plain water that is heated to create steam. The steam is forced through the removable mop head and as you push the mop back and forth it cleans the floor. I didn't realize that detergent or soap is not used in this type of steam mop.I was a bit surprised when I assembled this product that there was only a single water tank. I initially thought this would work similar to my carpet cleaner that has a tank for the clean water/soap, and another tank for the dirty water that is sucked back up into the machine. I was skeptical that the mop head would be able to soak up all of the water--but it did. Partly because the steam is so efficient--it only used a couple cups of water to clean my entire ceramic tile kitchen (it is a large kitchen with a floor space of 12'x18'). The moisture that was left on the floor evaporated in a few minutes.Overall, this is very easy to use and very convenient! My floor wasn't too dirty to begin with, but I was surprised at how easy it was to remove some sticky substances from the floor in front of the refrigerator. Does it clean better or as well as detergent or cleaners do? I couldn't tell from my experience. I understand the chemistry behind the detergent molecule and how it attracts dirt. Steam does not have this affinity to dirt so why the dirt would cling to the mop head and not remain in the water left on the floor is something I still question. I did take a white paper towel and wipe it over some of the water that remained on the floor to see if there was still dirt on the floor--but the paper towel wiped clean.I really like the fact that this came with two mop heads, so I can toss one in the washer and not worry that I don't have a replacement. I also like the fact that I don't have to buy any chemicals or pads for this!It did seem strange that it doesn't have an on-and-off button. Basically plugging it in turns it on (so remember to unplug it when you are done). You then wait for about 30-seconds for a ready light to light, and then you press and hold the steam lever--and presto--you have steam. The cord is extremely long which is a very nice feature if you have a large area you want to use this in.The tank and steam components can be removed from the standing mop and used to steam clean other items as well. Since I'm new at this "steam cleaning" thing I'm not sure what other items I have in my house that I can use this on--but I'm sure I'll discover some things.Bottom line, the floor looked clean and I know that I will mop a lot more with this product since it is so easy to use--no pail of water splashing around, no chemicals, not second rinse pass.

Review by Charles Evans "Call me Kevin" : A Video Review of the Bissell Lift-off Steam-Mop

Length:: 3:52 MinsThe Bissell Steam-mop is a two-in-one tool- a steam mop and a hand-held steamer. The Bissell mop does an excellent job on cleaning and disinfecting wood and ceramic floors. In many ways it works like a giant steam iron - with the squeeze of a trigger you control the amount of steam flowing to the surface.Notes - - Flow control control the amount of steam to the head - some surfaces need more steam while others (like wood floors) require less saturation. - Never had any issues with the unit leaking - although I would take precautions and wouldn't store it directly on top of wood floors. - Once detached - the handheld unit weighs less than 10 pounds (when water tank is full) - Multiple attachments - flat surface cleaner, kitchen cleaner, and grout cleaner (the grout cleaner works well). - Two mop pads included - One flat surface cleaner also included - Set-up is very easy - Very easy to switch from mopping mode to hand held (less than 1 minute). - All of the pads are machine washableFinal Verdict - The Bissell Lift-Off Steam Mop is a very convenient way to clean and disinfect all of your household surfaces. It is easy to use, lightweight, and useful for a variety of tasks. The Bissell Steam Mop is perfect for the home and... it could make a perfect gift!5 Stars

Review by InfoFish "Swimming the Information Streams" : Two hours gone before I knew it.

My seven year old boy LOVED the noise this mop makes when you use it for the first time. It sounds like a machine gun! He came running in, all excited - only to find out - it was cleaning day!The steam mop works about like any other steam mop out there. It does not come with one of the carpet floating things, which I think would have made a really cool feature. Nor does it come with the aromatherapy scents to add to the water, again that would have been a nice touch. Another missing element is an on switch for the steam tools, that stays on. I may make one out of something later on, because your arm does get tired holding the button on while you steam clean away your morning. Those are some things I would have liked to have.Now the great parts - the cord is plenty long - that is a huge plus for me. The unit is substantial, well made, solid. At first the onboard hoses look awkward but they are designed for simple snap connection construction. The most important feature of the onboarding steam unit that detatches - is that it is actually a strong enough flow of air and steam to melt and blast out gunk. And believe me, it gets DISGUSTING - the stuff around your oven, the refrigerator seals, the faucets nooks - GROSSSSS.I started cleaning - mopped the linoleum kitchen floor at around 8:30 and then started to use the steam tools, a few minutes after that. At first to steam blast away the connecting floor seams adjacent to the kitchen. And then on to all the appliances. And the cabinets - the steam stream does a great job liquidating the crap that settles into the nooks around the cabinet cut outs. Down the halls to wash the walls, all the time changing attachments - the kitchen brush, the flat surface steamer, the grout brush, the bathroom scrubber (clever - it is a different color - red - then the black kitchen scrubber). When I was done I got a microfiber cloth, warm water, and swiped up the entire house that was now dripping with grime. Everything looks shiny and new. The grout steam tool is phenomenal. Again, really gross streams of stuff - but that all comes clear off with a swipe of a microfiber cloth. I looked at the clock as I threw the cloths and pads into the laundry, and it was 10:37. Two hours gone! I had used two refills of water during that time. The unit heats instantaneously, no waiting at all.I always wanted one of those hand held steam cleaning tools - this mop and tool set does everything PLUS it mops floors really well. Glad I got it.

Review by Jyn Meyer Design "-Jyn" : It's Okay But Not Spectacular

I give it 4 stars because I wasn't blown away.We bought this last night from Target for $149.99 which would probably make it about the same in price minus shipping and handling via Amazon. I was sold on it versus the Shark because it had a 2 yr warranty instead of the 1 year Shark offered. Warranties are a GOOD thing. I think overall the benefit you are getting from the steamer isn't the cleaning capabilities as much as it is a sanitizing capability. It is mostly steam and air. Unless you JUST spilled coffee or something on your counter, years of grime and baked in grease will only come off with a scrubber... or a blade. I have 7 kids. I cook a lot and our bathrooms and floors get a lot of traffic. I thoroughly used every tool on the machine from 9:30 pm until 2:30am (I had to finish what I started!). I first started on my bathroom which has a whirlpool tub as well as a 2+ person shower with LOTS of tiles and 2 VERY LARGE glass walls. We rent this house and the grout is not in great condition. The counter is also made of the same tile. I used the canister outside of the main unit. The first thing I noticed is that in order to work the unit, you must hold down either of the 2 buttons on top of the canister. When you let off- the unit stops steaming. The pictures of people steaming with 2 hands is false. So, say you want to try and steam clean your appliance that needs you to angle with a hand... you cant do it. You have to set it somewhere it wont move around from the scrubbing of the other hand because one of your hands is always busy depressing the button.I feel the grout cleaner attachment was okay, but it was on par with my regular scrub brush and cleaner. It also tends to break up any caulking you might have in the area so you have to be tender with it around caulking. Heating up the area I was cleaning did make it dry faster and it more or less blew away particles I would have to otherwise try and catch with a rag. After using the grout cleaner tool, I pulled it off to use the regular hose head. It was wimpy. I think the attachments actually boost the capabilities of the unit so I found the plain head ineffective as it was a bit too short and fat to properly send out a good blast of steam for nooks and crannies.I did not see a change in any mildew present in my shower from steaming. I contribute that to the fact that it's all under existing caulking and it would be untouchable. Unless the mildew was going to die from the heat and then disappear- the steam will only work on what it can touch.Using the smaller pad tool I first blew some warm steam on the glass windows so that it wouldn't break and then cleaned a small area for a few minutes. It didn't touch the hard water stains. Oh well, so my shower was pretty much off the list of jobs to benefit from this cleaner. If you have soap scum it will probably do something. My glass walls also might have etching involved from years of hard water buildup but I'm not sure since we have only been here a year. All I know is that there was no change in visual cleanliness to them. Holding the small pad tool was also a bit cumbersome. The hose goes almost just to the tool so it's hard to get a good grasp on it without burning yourself on excess steam or having it flip out of your hand.Then I took the unit to my kitchen. We have hard wood floors, black faux-granite counters, wood cupboards, a gas stovetop and oven and stainless steel appliances. I like how it worked on the cover of my oven. Grimy little hands get everywhere, and it left everything shiny without streaks as far as the oven was concerned. The fridge also seemed to fair well, although by this time the small handheld pad tool was soiled and although I had cleaned it in the sink with a little Dawn- it seemed to have enough oily residue to not make for a complete streak-free shine on the fridge.I used the black scrubber tool for the kitchen sink since I have deep tubs (stainless steel). It worked okay but it wasn't long before some of the black bristles actually melted and deformed. Not okay. I am going to try and get it replaced. They also include an identical tool with red bristles (for the bathroom). I used that longer on the bathroom at a high heat and it did not deform or melt. I figure it's a faulty plastics issue. I'm not impressed in it's toilette cleaning ability and I think I will not use it to clean the toilettes but maybe to steam AFTER I clean.After cleaning the upper parts of the kitchen, I moved to the floor. I like the ease in which you can fill the canister (you will do this a lot) and replace it in the unit. It's also fairly light to hold. The bottom swivels and I really like the microfiber pads that come with it. They have lines of a harder fibrous material in between soft microfiber perfect for scrubbing stubborn pieces of uncooked dough or jelly/juice spills/dried jello off the floor but not hard enough to scratch. The large mop-head is rounded, however, which made it tough to get into corners. For that you have to get on your hands and knees.What I would change:the pictures of the people using the unit needs to be corrected since it is NOT hands freethe plastic scrubbers need to have higher quality plastic so they dont meltthe water tank could easily be biggeranother tool with an elongated nozzle for streamlined steam for nooks and crannies would be a plusPutting a better handle on the end of the unit hose would be beneficialPictures in the instructions would also be helpful- they are very minimal and vagueIncluding an angled mop-head would be usefulHaving a way to store the attachments would be nicePluses for this unit:Light and easy to carryEasy to fill and replace water canisterparts seem to be robust and sturdy as not to break easilymicrofiber mop cloth is practical and can be washed and reused (do not machine dry though, you should let it air dry and never use softener)canister removes very simply and hose wraps nicelySafe for wood and tile floors with a steam intensity knobFilter in the unit allows you to use regular tap waterI liked the red over the blue and was happy I had another color option available to meI also used it this morning to steam my milk for my coffee. It worked rather well.

Review by Rich Ball : Excellent cleaner

This is, hands down, one of the best steam cleaners I have used. In trying both the kitchen and bathroom, it left floors spotless - including in the grout. After the steam cleaning, I went back over the same floor with my Swiffer Wet Mop and that pad was as clean 600 sq ft later as it was when I put it on, meaning the Bissell had already gotten the dirt.Especially with kids around, I appreciate a steamer's ability to sterilize as it cleans, and the Bissell Lift-Off seems to do both beautifully. Like other reviewers, I had a slight issue with leakage from the water container, but when I took it back out and re-seated it carefully the problem was resolved (Bissell could fix this in future production with a better fit guide to ensure the opening snaps exactly over the o-ring). In all, I would definitely recommend it!

Review by amaJONdotcom : Good for cleaning, less so for disinfecting

This steam mop helps because you exert less effort while cleaning, but does little to make it any faster if you want to clean AND disinfect. The mop loosens and wipes away tough, caked-on grime quite well, but you have to go very slowly or it won't work.To disinfect an area, you need to hold the pad 15 TO 20 SECONDS over the surface (according to the manual) for it to actually sanitize... so it would actually take an inordinate amount of time (and water, and electricity) to disinfect an entire kitchen or bathroom floor as advertised.Some other observations:- Some of the comments here mention vague instructions. Bissell must have heard you all, because an addendum to the instruction manual was included, which made the assembly process a bit clearer.- The heating element works very quickly! You plug it in, and in just a few moments, the "ready" light switches on.- Unit is fairly quiet in "mop mode", but emits a pretty loud hissing noise from the hose in "handheld mode". Not sure if that amount of noise is normal for portable steam cleaners.- Though the steam mop works best with distilled water (which costs just 80 cents a gallon at my local grocery store), the manual says you can also use demineralized water. Tap water will also work in a pinch, but it will wear out the filter faster.- As mentioned in other reviews, the unit requires that you keep the "steam" button constantly depressed to keep it going. Not a big deal if you're doing some quick cleaning, but expect some hand-cramping and fatigue if you're cleaning multiple rooms or surfaces. Also, my wife has arthritis, so she can't use the product AT ALL without severe discomfort.- The water canister is doesn't hold much water. This keeps the mop small and light, but the constant refilling can get annoying.- The neck is not adjustable, like a vacuum cleaner -- the height is fixed. Not a huge deal, but cleaning can get tricky if you're very tall or short (and/or, if the floorspace is small).- This is nitpicky, but out-of-the-box, the cleaning head was covered with a large sticker that said "Bissell" and "2 products in 1" (or something like that), and it took longer to peel it off than it did to assemble the mop!- After steam mopping, the product seems to leave a strange organic-y odor. Has anyone else noticed this? My wife thinks it's the smell of the new mop head, and that it will go away after we machine wash it.Overall, the product works OK. We'll use it for "first pass" cleaning and continue to use spray cleaning products to disinfect and leave surfaces smelling pleasant. If you're on the fence on this item, you might want to wait a few generations for Bissell to work out the kinks and bring the price down. It's not worth the price right now.PROTIP: the attachments can be a pain to clean. After using the attachments, try sanitizing them with the steam hose. Just be careful not to cinge your fingers!

Review by Miss Kitty "Timid Observer" : Steamy!

I only have carpet in the bedrooms of my house, the rest of the floors are either tile or hardwood. This mop cleans it all, including the stairs. And believe me it is HOT! so be careful. It has a pop out pod that can be used to clean counter tops etc., but I haven't used it yet. I am hoping to use it to clean the hard water stains from around the faucets in the bathrooms and kitchen. I will report back. Other than the a few complaints listed below, the mop is awesome and it sure beats the Swiffer type mops since the pads are removable and can be tossed in the washing machine. No more spending tons of money on replacement padsThe complaints that I have are minimal, there is no place to store the attachements, which means I have to find a place for them and then remember where they are when I need them. The water tank is rather small. I had to refill it a couple of times which was frustrating and plain steam just didn't clean my grout in the kitchen (no reflection on the mop), I ended up scrubbing it with a toothbrush and bleach and mopping away the soapy residue with the mop.Overall this is a really handy appliance to have, it makes cleaning up easy and mess free. I do wish there was some scented water to put in it. I like a nice lilac smell...anyway, I give it an A!.

Review by MarvelousMarla "MarvyM" : Great everyday appliance

I have the Bissell 1867 Steam Mop, and the Lift-Off steam mop is a nice upgrade. The Lift off's pads are large, the pad fabric feels more substanstial, and you get accessories like a grout tool and deep-scrub pads. I use this for my kitchen and bathroom floors, and it really does make it easier to keep these high traffic areas clean..

Review by Apache Pearl : Steam Mop

This was really easy to put together. The instructions were actually readable. The mop is great on smooth surfaces. It requires really tightening the mop head cover for floors with wide or deep grout lines (I have wide spaced satillo tile in several rooms). On light or medium steam, the floor is dry by the time you move onto the next section of flooring. On heavy steam, it takes about 5 minutes to dry. I really like the fact I can just remove the mop cover and throw in the washer. I detached the pod with the hose attachment(very light) and cleaned my countertops. It was great, no chemicals, and it left them sanitized. The unit is so light that younger and older people can use it with ease.

Review by Caren H : Love it for cleaning multiple surfaces

As part of going green, I moved toward steam mops a few years ago and have never looked back. This Bissell actually replaced my Shark and I'm very happy with it.One of the main features that I like best is the pivoting head (think Dyson-esque) and this was, at first, a little hard to get used to since I was used to a straight Shark that didn't pivot. Once I got handle on the pivot motion, I rather liked it for getting into corners and other harder to reach sections of my floor. Another feature I like is the settings. I can turn the nob full on for my kitchen flooring and then knock it back to low to transition to the more delicate laminate I have throughout the house. The pads are washable and I liked that they can be tightened up to a snug fit.Things I didn't like as much... the pads still left a dirt line. No getting away from that, I guess. If you have animals, you're just going to have a fur line occasionally. This was the same thing with the Shark this Bissell replaced. I had hopes! But I can just finish it off with a quick swipe of a towel or rag to pick that debris up. I wish the cord were a bit longer, but that is mainly because my living room is huge (a great room). For smaller rooms, the cord was pretty close to good enough length. The steam comes out when you pull the trigger on the handle. If you plan to mop a whole lot of area at once, it can be a little tiresome to hold the trigger down. I wish there was a way to lock it in place, which would be something someone with arthritis would appreciate.What I didn't test: The tank is removable and you can use the steaming portion to clean other than as a mop. Since I didn't test that, I can't testify to how that feature works, though I keep looking for things to clean so I can give it a try.Note: The first time you use it, expect it to purr loudly as the water makes its way through. It was kind of loud, but quieted down (don't assume it's broken and stop too soon). As with most pads, it's best to wash them first before use. I am very happy overall and feel that the Bissell does a great job of cleaning up my floors..

Review by Altar Boy "Pax Vobis" : Need more instructions

There were inadequate instructions on the use of the machine. Had to learn to use it on my own. Had to look at pictures of the box to get an idea as to how to use. May have to take pictures of the box for future reference (or else keep the box). So the big negative to me is the lack of instructions. They (Bissell) should get their act together if they want loyal customers (or referral business).Now that I have (through trial and error) learned to use the machine it works fine. I like the feature of removal of the microfiber pads for steaming the floors and having an additional one as well. The pads can be washed and reused again. I like that. I like the feature of taking the floor attachment off and use the hand held features. It steams fine but it does not do in all instances a "Billy Maze" cleaning. Stubborn areas don't get clean (like grout) and then you have to do the cleaning by hand. The word that comes to mind is "fine" . . . it does a fine job as a cleaning machine. I do like how it dries really fast. So I would probably give the Bissell Lift-Off 4 stars had the instructions been provided. Hey, how about a U-Tube video of the various uses and assembly of the unit? If I were CEO of this company I would make that a priority..

Review by H. Brichta : User Guides for product

I saw the review complaining about the lack of instructions. See: [...] for the quick start guide, the user guide, and part replacements..

Review by Sunday "SundayAtDusk" : Happily Steaming Away . . . .

This steam mop has become one of my favorite cleaning tools. First, I used it on two ceramic floors, one white and one black, with excellent results. I like not using chemicals. Next, I used it in the bathroom, and that is where it really excels. The grout brush does an outstanding job on grout. It will remove caulking, however, if your bathtub caulking is old. Also, you either have to be tall or stand on something to clean the highest parts of the shower walls, because the steam can come back down in your face, if you hold the hose too high. But other than that, use the grout brush to clean first, than the flat surface cleaning tool with the small mop pad, and then put on the small red brush so you can use the hose as a steam wand, and just blow out steam all over the tile walls and tub. Steaming everything just makes it all seem so clean!In the kitchen, I really have no use for it unless you can use it to clean pots; or use it to clean out the refrigerator, when you have it off to do a complete cleaning. I don't know if you can, however. I also do not intend to use it on windows, as suggested, because I fear they might break. Someone told me that windows with double or triple glass might even explode if you use hot steam. One thing I knew the steam pod would be great for was plastic storage crates. I bought loads of those long ago to store things, and can't seem to give them up. Yet, unless you religiously vacuum them with the dust brush, they get very dusty. Now, I steam clean them and then wash them off with the hose. There are probably lots more things you can use this Bissell for, too, that is not mentioned in the included booklet. I'm sure I'll come up with more things it can clean.The steam mop very easy to put together, and very easy to use as either a mop or with the pod cleaner. It has no on/off switch, and once when I used it, I forgot to unplug it. It was plugged in for about four hours, just sitting there. That did not cause any harm to it, however. I'm not using distilled water, so I guess one day I'll have to buy a new filter. It costs $10.78, with free shipping, at the present time at Amazon. (Bissell Part#218-5600 - Genuine Calcium Water Filter for Bissell Steam Mop Cleaners 1865 series, 1867 series, 31N1 series, 21H6 series, 46B4 Series and 39W7 Series) I'll have to keep track of how many times I use the steam mop before needing a new filter. Oh, and the mop pads are very easy to clean--machine wash and air dry. This is the first Bissell product I have ever owned; I'll have to pay more attention to Bissell products when I shop in the future..