Bissell PowerFresh Slim 3-in-1 Review
Our Verdict
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Bissell PowerFresh Slim 3-in-1 | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $165 List $150.00 at Amazon | $93 List $92.69 at Amazon | $103 List $102.95 at Amazon | $145 List $97.00 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Great for narrow spaces, plenty of accessories, solid cleaning performance | Built-in scrub brush, stands unsupported, articulating head | Powerful, maneuverable, great scrubbing brush, reasonably priced | Tons of attachments, great handling, good spot cleaning, versatile for more than just the floor | Many accessories, huge tank, great at cleaning heavy stains |
Cons | Top heavy, doesn't stand up alone, poor cord management | Limited accessories, designed for floors only, scrub brush is a bit small | No hands-free cleaning pad changing, few accesorries | Switching between attachments isn't convenient, tank fills on side | Hard to fill tank, bulky and heavy, expensive |
Bottom Line | One of the best options for getting in tight spaces and narrow openings | A simple, easy-to-operate, highly effective steam-cleaning device with a motivating price tag | The best, most effective model we've tested at an impeccably fair price | Tons of attachments offer unique, high-quality cleaning options for all throughout your home | A steam-cleaning powerhouse that comes with many accessories but is a bit of a pain for quick clean-ups |
Rating Categories | Bissell PowerFresh... | Bissell PowerFresh | Bissell PowerFresh... | Bissell PowerFresh... | McCulloch MC1385 De... |
Cleaning Performance (40%) | |||||
Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
Maneuverability (20%) | |||||
Features (15%) | |||||
Specs | Bissell PowerFresh... | Bissell PowerFresh | Bissell PowerFresh... | Bissell PowerFresh... | McCulloch MC1385 De... |
Steam Adjustability | Low, high | Low, med, high | Low, high | Low, high | Dial |
Water Tank Capacity | 349 ml | 455 ml | 474 ml | 399 ml | 1893 ml |
Water Fill Opening Diameter | 1.25" | 1" | 1" | 0.75" | 1" |
Pad Attachment | Elastic | Elastic | Elastic | Elastic | Velcro |
Additional Mop Head? | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Included Pads | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Cleaning Brush? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Hose Attachment? | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Cord Length | 25' | 23' | 25' | 25' | 18' |
Additional Accessories Included | Hose, medium cleaning head, small cleaning head, grout tool, small scraper, precision power nozzle, 2 small scrubbing brushes | Microfiber soft pad, microfiber scrubby pad, spring breeze fragrance discs and a carpet glider | Built-in scrubber | Built-in scrubber, squeegee, hose, medium cleaning head, small cleaning head, grout tool, small scraper, precision power nozzle, 3 small scrubbing brushes, microfiber cloth | Large mop head and 16.5" extension wands, microfiber mop pad, scrubbing mop pad, and bristle brush attachment, large brush and 4" triangle brush, jet nozzle, angled nozzle, 3" scrapper, and 9" squeegee, 2.5" round scrub pad and 2.5" round brush, nylon utility brush and 1.5" brass utility brush, storage bag, accessory net, and fill cup |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Bissell PowerFresh Slim has a 349ml water tank with a 1.25-inch opening, and the cord is 25-feet long. Its two different mop pads attach with elastic, and numerous brushes, scrapers, and precision cleaning instruments can be attached after the tank is removed from the main body.
Performance Comparison
Cleaning Performance
The PowerFresh Slim, like most other Bissell steam mops we tested, glides along every steam-safe floor we tested with relative ease. It doesn't get caught up on even the deepest grout grooves or most textured tiles. The two mop pads are effective at their jobs — the softer one scrubs everyday dirt impressively well, while the more textured pad has that little something extra for caked-on messes. To use a scrub brush for truly stubborn stains, however, is a process. There's no bristled surface on the main body of the mop. Instead, you have to remove the whole tank and attach the brush to dig deep. Switching back and forth isn't the easiest, but both configurations do a great job of getting things clean.
Ease of Use
The 349ml water tank is on the lower end of average capacity among the models we tested. Crystal clear tank walls make it easy to keep an eye on your water level, and we found it more than adequate to clean several rooms before needing a refill. The flip-top lid makes that process easy, though this top-heavy mop's inability to stand up on its own works against it here. Both mop pads attach with elastic and are straightforward to replace and clean. They're both well made and stand up to serious scrubbing.
Maneuverability
As much as we already liked using this handy unit, it blows just about every other mop in the lineup out of the water when it comes to maneuverability. It lives up to its name, with a slim mop head that slides sideways easily into narrow spaces. Perhaps more impressive is how well it fits under low clearance furniture, as it can lay down impressively thin and flat, making it that much easier to keep the floor under your couch clean without actually having to move your couch. All four sides of the mop head are straight and totally covered by the pad, giving this model top-notch edge cleaning abilities. A 25-foot cord is among the longest we tested, and here again, helps keep you mobile.
Features
Though switching from mop to attachment and back again isn't the quickest, swapping accessories as you move from cleaning bathroom counters to shower tiles is easy — and the Slim comes with plenty of tools to choose from. This complete package includes multiple sizes of cleaning heads, a grout tool, a scraper, a precision power nozzle, and two scrubbing brushes. It has two steam settings as well, to kick it up a notch when you need the extra oomph.
Value
The PowerFresh Slim falls about in the middle of the road in terms of steam mop price. It's not the best all-around steam mop out there, but where it really shines is in the slender slots in which it can fit. If you need a thin mop that's good for more than just the floors, this package price is worth the dough. If a regular-sized mop is fine for your home, there are others that we think are a little better and more worth their prices.
Conclusion
The Bissell PowerFresh Slim is a pretty great mop overall. It does great in everyday situations and has tons of accessories to help you clean more than just the floor. If you have low clearance furniture you want to mop under, this trim and maneuverable unit is precisely the tool you want in your hands.
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