Bissell Lift Off Steam Mop - Model 39W7

The new Lift-Off Steam Mop from Bissell does just what it says.  The detachable 'steam pod' lifts off the body of the mop and can be used independently as a hand held steam cleaner.

I really like the 2-in-1 design of this type of mop.  Having the one appliance to clean floors as well as above-floor surfaces is really very useful.

In operation...

The 39W7 has a built-in water purification system.  This means that you can use normal tap water and the filter will remove minerals and other impurities from the water.  This should help prevent the build-up of mineral deposits and lime scale that tends to occur with appliances such as steam mops and irons.

According to the user manual, the purification system will need to be replaced once the grains inside turn from a bright green to a blue color.  However, it also says you can use distilled water instead of tap water and this will maximize the performance of the filter.

Once you've added your water and turned on the power, the unit warms up in around 30 seconds.  The ready light will come on to tell you that the unit is warmed up and ready to go.

The power cord is 28 feet long.  This seems adequate but it will depend on your needs.  In my opinion, longer is always better.  It's a pain having to change power outlets halfway through mopping the floors.

As with most steam mops, this model from Bissell is suitable on most hard surfaces.  These include sealed timber, ceramic tiles, vinyl and laminate.

Once you're finished cleaning the floors, the steam pod can be detached and used as a hand held steam cleaner.  It comes with a 4 foot hose which should provide reasonable reach and is useful for getting into hard to reach places.  And there are a number of attachments designed for cleaning different surfaces.

The grout brush attachment is for use on those tough to clean spots between tiles in the bathroom or kitchen.  There are also a couple of small circular brushes of different bristle-stiffness for cleaning things like stove tops and sinks.  Lastly, it comes with a microfiber flat surface cleaning attachment.  This is kind of like a small mop head, but for use in 'portable steam cleaner' mode.

Variable control

Befitting the versatile nature of this mop / steam cleaner is the variable flow control.  On the side of the detachable steam pod is a knob which you can turn to control the amount (or pressure) of the steam coming out.  There is a light setting for delicate surfaces, medium for normal everyday use and a tough setting for heavy duty cleaning jobs.  There's also a trigger for controlling the flow of steam - pull the trigger to start the flow and release it to stop.

What's in the box?

The Lift Off Steam Mop comes with the following:

•  the mop handle, body and head
• the detatchable 'steam pod' with 4 ft hose
• 3 washable microfiber pads (this number may vary depending on where you buy - so make sure you check)
• a flat surface microfiber cleaning tool
• a grout brush
• 2 circular brushes
• 39W7 Series User Guide

The Bissell Lift Off Steam Mop comes with a 2 year warranty and is available for around $150.