If there’s one thing the Bissell SpotClean HydroSteam does well, it’s innovation. Taking the tried-and-tested formula of a spot cleaner, a vacuum cleaner that extracts stains by injecting fabric shampoo, and adding in steam to take that cleaning to the next level, a first for a spot cleaner.
Steam has been building traction in the professional detailing world in the last few years, the gentle but incredible cleaning abilities make it perfect for anything from car interiors to engine bays. It’s proven to be especially good at deep-cleaning upholstery, the super-heated vapour opening up fibres to remove stains, which makes it logical to combine one with a spot cleaner for the ultimate in stain-slaying power.
Like all first attempts, the SpotClean HydroSteam does showcase a couple of teething issues, but it proved to be an incredible proof of concept. For carpets, interior plastics and around the home, it’s without fault. If it had a little more power, it would be a one-stop solution for all upholstery cleaning. At current however, it’s the best way of cleaning carpets.
Score: 4/5
Verdict: Foiled only by car seats, the Bissell HydroSteam is a seriously compelling device.
Pros
- Steam and fabric extraction in one neat product
- Excellent build-quality
- Sanitary properties
Cons
- Struggles on tight weave fabrics
- Needs a little more extraction power
What’s good?
The Bissell SpotClean HyrdoSteam represents excellent efficient design. Offering a 1.9 litre tank for clean and 1.5 litre tank for dirty water, a 4.5 metre cord and 1.5-metre hose in something so compact represents some seriously clever design. The fact it also sports a 1000W motor (the largest we’ve tested for a spot cleaner) and a steam function only makes the packaging more impressive.
A small but very welcome was the inclusion of wheels. The device isn’t overly heavy at 5.9 kg empty, but the wheels did make shifting the unit during testing far nicer than the usual grab handle spot cleaners often rely on.
The first job tackled with the SpotClean were floormats, using the steam and extraction setting to see just how capable the Bissell was at full power. The results were exemplary, Bissell is already renowned or excellent extraction (our test of the SpotClean Pet Pro showed this) and the HyrdroSteam delivered a consistent stream of carpet shampoo to thoroughly clean the fibres.
Adding steam into the equation however was revolutionary. Steam has miracle cleaning properties and when added into the fibres of the carpet, it helped open up the fibres for even deeper cleaning. Best of all, the carpets were touch-dry after a single pass with the extractor. Best of all, steam requires no nasty chemicals, it uses nothing but water, which makes it the perfect trifecta of affordable, non-toxic and effective.
Interior plastics, usually beyond the realm of a spot cleaner can be effectively scrubbed with the steam too. I tested its abilities on both my dashboard and the door card and the steam cleaning abilities definitely improved the overall appearance. It removed the thin layer of grime that had built up on surfaces, as well as thoroughly sanitising everything.
What’s okay?
The 30-second window to heat the steam meant I was never waiting around for it to build, what wasn’t so good was the occasional drip of water while attempting to douse a surface in steam. This was only ever a dribble, but would require mopping up with a microfibre towel. A more consistent flow of steam would be welcome.
The 4.5-metre power cord is perfectly acceptable but does still limit portability. While the included wheels made moving the body a lot easier than not.
The best attachment for steam cleaning plastics was the brush head, but the stiff bristles weren’t the most forgiving to use on more intricate fixtures. A small microfibre-headed attachment would have worked wonders on the high contact points – like the steering wheel – in a car. The brush head did an okay job, but wasn’t the correct shape for curved or awkward locations.
Any negatives?
Following the roaring success the HydroSteam had with the carpets and floor mats, cleaning the car seats was the next logical step. With a healthy injection of the fabric cleaner and steam applied to the tightly-woven seats, the seats were quickly saturated but that moisture simp;y wasn’t coming away quickly enough.
Even switching to the extraction mode alone wasn’t enough to effectively lift the injected carpet shampoo, leaving the seats sodden. A wipe down with a microfibre and some time in the sun did dry the seats fairly quickly, and once dried it had clearly thoroughly removed years of grease and grime. The issue is that the Bissell lacked the power to clean it effectively. At 1000W it’s a powerful spot cleaner, but that power is shared between both extraction and heating the steam, a little more power would have made this an all-time great product.
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Who tested it?
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Commercial Content Editor for Parkers, and is a regular tester of spot cleaners. Having extensively tested stain extraction models from Numatic, Vax and Bissell, a spot washer that incorporated steam into the equation intrigued him.
How this product was tested
The Bissell was first used to clean the floor mats and car seats of a daily driven car. Here I tested the portability, ergonomics and overall performance of the Bissell in all its configurations and with all attachments. It was then tested on interior plastics in the steam setting to test performance before being tested around a home.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. A veteran car cleaner; if it details, waxes or washes he’ll be on hand to make sure it’s worth your money.
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