Can You Put Bleach In A Bissell Crosswave? (Find Out Now!)

Matthew Mountain
by Matthew Mountain

Bissell has been a leading manufacturer of home cleaning appliances for more than 140 years, and it’s been said that this company even supplied England’s Queen Victoria with sweepers in the 1890s. Since that time, their products have improved substantially, and one can find their sweepers, washers, vacuum cleaners, and bare-floor vacuums being used by not only homeowners but business owners as well.

One of Bissell’s most popular products is the Crosswave, an all-in-one, multi-surface vacuum cleaner. It’s one of the most versatile cleaning appliances on the market right now, as it mops and vaccums simultaneously.

But what does a Bissell Crosswave owner do when they’re out of Bissell cleaner? Can bleach be put in the Crosswave? Such is the main question this article answers.

While it’s possible to put bleach in the Bissell Crosswave, you should not do so because this will void the warranty that comes with the appliance. Bleach is not a good cleaning agent, so you should use the Bissell cleaning solution instead of this. In general, you should keep alternative cleaning solutions out of the Bissell Crosswave, as these can damage the appliance.

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What Is a Bissell Crosswave?

The Bissell Crosswave vacuums and mops at the same time, and this ability to multi-clean surfaces is one of the qualities that makes this appliance so attractive. It’s been said, however, that Crosswaves don’t do well on carpets, but it’s widely known that these appliances effectively clean rugs, hardwood floors, tile, linoleum, rubber floor mats, vinyl, and laminate.

The Bissell Crosswave is a mid-range, upright vacuum, and tests have shown that it possesses a powerful ability to clean a variety of surfaces. Sucking up debris from the floor is what this appliance does best. It can deliver effective suction when cleaning rugs as well, but Crosswave users agree that cleaning a floor is easier than cleaning a rug.

You can get rid of both wet and dry messes with this appliance, and pet hair won’t stand a chance either. These are also affordable, and there are many models on the market right now. The popular ones are listed below.

Bissell Crosswave Models

  • Bissell Crosswave Pet (2225F) − $499 RRP*
  • Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro (2223H) − $499 RRP*
  • Bissell Crosswave Cordless (2588F) − $629 RRP*
  • Bissell Crosswave Cordless Pro (2582H) − $629 RRP*
  • Bissell Crosswave Max (2765F) − $699 RRP*
  • Bissell Crosswave Max Pro (2767H) − $699 RRP*

How to Properly Use a Bissell Crosswave

Since the Crosswave is a compact and lightweight device, it can be used just about anywhere. Just make sure the appliance actually cleans the surface before you make an attempt. The Crosswave works like a traditional vacuum, in that the appliance uses a rolling brush to dislodge dirt from the surface. This dislodged dirt is then sucked up by the Crosswave.

On the Crosswave’s handle are two buttons, one which activates the hardwood setting and another which activates the carpet setting. And unlike most vacuums, the Crosswave has two tanks mounted to it, one for the cleaning solution and another which holds the dirt that’s been sucked up.

Utilizing the Cleaning Solution Sprayer

With the Crosswave, you don’t have to worry about dirty water being swashed around on the floor, which means the Crosswave is superior to the traditional mop. The Crosswave has a trigger, and this is what one pushes to spray the cleaning solution.

With this mechanism, you can spray a lot or a little cleaner—it’s up to you. This feature makes the Crosswave ideal for cleaning wood floors, as this surface material can get damaged by excessive water.

And when you use the Crosswave as a regular vacuum, just make sure you don’t push the trigger to spray the cleaning solution. The cleaner should only be used when the appliance is serving as a mop, as in this capacity it will be able to suck up both water and dirt.

What to Do When You’re Out of Bissell Cleaner

You should only use Bissell cleaning solution with a Crosswave. Using another kind of cleaner in the appliance will void the warranty that’s included as part of the purchase. Voiding the warranty may not matter to you if you intend to get many years of use out of the appliance.

Moreover, some individuals trust homemade cleaning solutions more than those which are made by companies, as homemade solutions often include less chemicals. Just be careful and ensure that what you’re using to clean the surface is in fact safe. Bissell’s cleaning solution is safe for multiple surfaces, whereas most homemade cleaners aren’t as versatile.

Example: Don’t ever use bleach to clean a hardwood floor.

When you’re using a homemade cleaning solution, you need to make sure the chemicals you’re using—if you are using any—are mixed properly. If you intend to clean with bleach, you must dilute this with water and nothing else. A lot of household ingredients will react negatively with bleach, and some reactions can even be dangerous.

Clean the Bissell Crosswave After Each Use

To ensure your Bissell Crosswave is never inhibited by leftover cleaning solution, clean it after each use. All you need to do is rinse out the tank which holds the cleaning solution. If the tank is not cleaned, cleaner residue may build up and cause the Crosswave spray nozzle to not work properly.

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Avoid Using Bleach as Cleaning an Alternative

As was mentioned earlier, you should never use bleach to clean a wood floor, as wood is a porous surface. The pores in the wood will absorb the bleach, and when this happens the wood will become discolored. Moreover, bleach will damage the wood if it gets inside the pores.

If you’re adamant about cleaning with bleach, you should know that this is only good for cleaning sheet vinyl. While bleach is a good disinfectant, it’s not the best cleaning agent. If you are using bleach, you should dilute a 1/2 cup of bleach with a gallon of water. The Crosswave water tank, which is about 28 ounces, will require about 5 tablespoons of bleach.

Matthew Mountain
Matthew Mountain

Matt loves everything DIY. He has been learning and practicing different trades since he was a kid, and he's often the first one called when a friend or family member needs a helping hand at home. Matt loves to work with wood and stone, and landscaping is by far his most favorite pastime.

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