PurSteam vs Bissell: Steam Mop Comparison

The PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner and the Bissell 1940 have gained quite a bit of popularity for their exceptional cleaning performance and user-friendliness. But which of the two should you get—the convertible PurSteam beast or the customizable Bissell? Read our comparison of the two steam mops to find out.

PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner Review
PurSteam

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Tank Capacity and Runtime

PurSteam

At first glance, the PurSteam’s water tank looks pretty small considering its overall size because it needs to be compact for better maneuverability, both on and off the handle. The convertible 10-in-1 PurSteam comes with an 11.5-ounce tank that supplies in a span of 20 and 25 minutes of steam. Based on reports, the PurSteam’s onboard boiler takes under a minute before steam begins pouring out of the mop head or nozzle.

Bissell

The Bissell can hold onto 16 ounces of water at a time. Like the PurSteam, each tankful of water heats up past boiling point in under a minute hence you begin the steam-cleaning cycle almost immediately after plugging this steam mop. In addition, the Bissell exerts more steam per second and has a maximum runtime rating of 20 minutes.

BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop 1940 Review
Bissell 1940

Conclusion

From a purely technical standpoint, the Bissell’s boiler is slightly more efficient in terms of preheating-to-runtime but by a very narrow margin. The good news is that both of these units perform excellently at cleaning and sanitizing floors by killing up to 99.99% of bacteria and germs thriving on the surface.

Versatility

PurSteam

The PurSteam is marketed as a 10-in-1 model, though 2-in-1 would make more sense. The steam pod is detachable from the mop handle, instantly turning it into a spot-cleaning handheld unit that sprays steam in any orientation. We’ll get into its various attachments in a bit, but what’s important is that the steam “mop” label doesn’t do this device any justice.

PurSteam Steam Mop
PurSteam

Bissell

As for the Bissell, unfortunately, it’s a one-trick pony designed to clean floors. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing since it extraordinarily does clean floors. However, in terms of versatility, or rather how many types of surfaces it can clean, you should not get your hopes up.

Conclusion

As you can see, the PurSteam and Bissell are two very different steam mops. The PurSteam is a convertible steam mop that transforms into a handheld unit for spot-cleaning all sorts of surfaces, whereas the Bissell is strictly a floor mop. If you want the option to steam-clean garments, wall tiles, along with floors, the PurSteam is, by far, the better choice.

Cleaning Attachments

PurSteam

As a convertible handheld device, the PurSteam needs an assortment of cleaning attachments to complete spot-cleaning jobs more quickly. This steam mop comes with ten accessories, including three types of nylon brushes, a bent nozzle, two washable microfiber pads, a high-precision straight nozzle, and a window squeegee.

Bissell

The Bissell comes with its fair share of cleaning attachments and tools. In the box, you will find two microfiber pads (one soft, one scrubby), a carpet glider, and a flip-down easy scrubber to remove caked-on messes. There are even two Spring Fragrant Discs that pop into the mop head to produce a refreshing fragrance as you clean.

BISSELL PowerFresh 1940
Bissell 1940

Conclusion

It’s not about how many tools the steam mop comes with but how well they work. The PurSteam’s wide assortment of attachments makes spot-cleaning all sorts of surfaces—from soft clothes to compact oven grills—a breeze. The Bissell help in removing stains off of floors complete with a single swipe. Both steam mop models come with excellent attachments that improve user experience by simplifying steam-cleaning tasks.

Variable Steam

PurSteam and Bissell

Both the PurSteam and Bissell do not offer on-demand steam. It means no trigger allows you to shoot the right amount of steam to remove spills and stains of all sizes. However, these mops have a variable steam feature where users can adjust how much steam shoots out of the nozzle/mop head. Both models offer three levels of steam power to remove stains by using as little steam and water as needed.

PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner

PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner vs. Bissell 1940: Which Steam Mop Should I Get?

If you’re looking for a steam mop exclusively for floors, then the Bissell 1940 is a better option. Its scrubby pad, flip-down easy scrubber, and fragrant discs will add a sheen and scent to your floor that traditional mopping never could.

BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop 1940

However, if you’re like us and prioritize versatility, then the PurSteam is the better option. The ability to clean above-ground surfaces as well as floors outshines the unitasker Bissell by a wide margin.


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